History Trivia / TheJacksonsAnAmericanDream

* RoleReprise: Sort of. Kip Lennon, who had stood in as Michael Jackson's singing voice in ''Franchise/TheSimpsons'' two years earlier, dubs over Wylie Draper in certain scenes where Michael's original vocals aren't used.

* SeparatedAtBirthCasting: Even before being cast, Wylie Draper was noted for his resemblance to ''Thriller''-era Michael Jackson. So when the time came for him to audition in front of Jackson's mother, Katherine, who helped oversee the auditioning process, she cried immediately upon seeing him, which all but sealed his place in the cast.
* TheCastShowoff: Any time he wasn't lip syncing to the original tracks, Jason Weaver's singing was genuinely his. Likewise, Wylie Draper, an accomplished dancer who had already been on Michael Jackson's payroll, was able to pull off many of Jackson's famous moves effortlessly, and even assisted with the choreography for the various dance scenes in the miniseries.

* TheCastShowoff: Any time he wasn't lip syncing to the original tracks, Jason Weaver's singing was genuinely his. Likewise, Wylie Draper, an accomplished dancer who had already been on Michael Jackson's payroll, was able to pull off many of Jackson's famous moves effortlessly.

* TheCastShowoff: Any time he wasn't lip syncing to the original tracks, Jason Weaver's singing was genuinely his.
** This is actually true of Alex Burral and Wylie Draper, as well.

* BreakawayPopHit: Music/BoyzIIMen's cover of "In the Still of the Night (I'll Remember)" became a worldwide smash when it was released as a single, and was added onto a reissue of ''Cooleyhighharmony'' a few months later. You'd be hard-pressed to find anyone who remembered their recording actually originated from this movie.

-->'''[[Series/AmericanIdol Randy Jackson]]:''' I worked with the Jackson family, and that film holds back. He was a ''way'' bigger bastard to those kids!

* RealLifeRelative[=/=]TimeShiftedActor: Jermaine Jackson's actual son Jermaine Jackson II portrays him as a teen.
* RoleReprisal: Sort of. Kip Lennon, who had stood in as Michael Jackson's singing voice in ''Franchise/TheSimpsons'' two years earlier, dubs over Wylie Draper in certain scenes where Michael's original vocals aren't used.

* ArtisticLicenseHistory: The Victory Tour at the end is presented as a big triumphant event where the Jacksons finally come back together and perform. It very much was ''not'' that in real life. The tour was such a troubled affair and put Michael under so much stress that he quit the group after their final show at Dodgers Stadium, focusing instead on his massively successful solo career.
* RealityIsUnrealistic: The Jacksons themselves had a say in how they were portrayed in the film, so while Joe Jackson's abuse and manipulation are present, they're still severely toned down from reality. When it's revealed he's cheating on Katherine towards the end, very little specifics are revealed. In reality, he had carried on a ''twenty-three year long affair'' with another woman and had a child with her, Joh'Vonnie Jackson, whom to this day the Jackson family refuses to acknowledge. The film portrays Joe and Katherine making up, but in reality the only reason she didn't divorce him was because her faith as a Jehovah's Witness prevented her from it. By all accounts, it was the end of their marriage and they opted to live mostly separately until Joe's death in 2018 (although Katherine publicly denied the estrangement).

* RealityIsUnrealistic: The Jacksons themselves had a say in how they were portrayed in the film, so while Joe Jackson's abuse and manipulation are present, they're still severely toned down from reality. When it's revealed he's cheating on Katherine towards the end, very little specifics are revealed. In reality, he had gotten a Jackson Five groupie pregnant and had a child out of wedlock, which to this day the Jackson family refuses to acknowledge. The film portrays Joe and Katherine making up, but in reality the only reason she didn't divorce him was because of her Jehovah's Witness faith. By all accounts, it was the end of their marriage and they opted to live mostly separately until Joe's death.

-->'''[[AmericanIdol Randy Jackson]]:''' I worked with the Jackson family, and that film holds back. He was a ''way'' bigger bastard to those kids!

-->'''Randy Jackson:''' I worked with the Jackson family, and that's film holds back. He was a ''way'' bigger bastard to those kids!

* * RoleReprisal: Sort of. Kip Lennon, who had stood in as Michael Jackson's singing voice in ''Franchise/TheSimpsons'' two years earlier, dubs over Wylie Draper in certain scenes where Michael's original vocals aren't used.

* RetroactiveRecognition: Wylie Draper originally appeared as a nondescript backup dancer in Music/MichaelJackson's "Remember The Time" music video. He ended up impressing The King of Pop enough to be selected to play him in the miniseries.
** Terrance Howard, now probably best known for ''{{Series/Empire}}'', broke into the film and TV industry portraying an adult Jackie Jackson in the miniseries.
** Likewise Jason Weaver, who appeared as Motown-era Michael Jackson, became best known for his role as Marcus in ''Series/SmartGuy''.
** Alex Burral also appears in ''Roll Bounce''.

** Terrance Howard, Now probably best known for ''{{Series/Empire}}'', broke into the film and TV industry portraying an adult Jackie Jackson in the miniseries.

** This is actually true of Alex Burial and Wylie Draper, as well.

* HeyItsThatGuy: The group Boyz II Men makes a short appearance here, as a group of thuggish DooWop singers.

** Alex Burial also appears in ''Roll Bounce''.

** Likewise Jason Weaver, who appeared as Motown-era Michael Jackson, became best known for his role as Marcus in ''Series/SmartGuy''.

* RetoractiveRecognition: Wylie Draper originally appeared as a nondescript backup dancer in Music/MichaelJackson's "Remember The Time" music video. He ended up impressing The King of Pop enough to be selected to play him in the miniseries.