# Who succeeds Michael Jackson in terms of Q-factor? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 2, 2009, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-succeeds-michael-jackson-in-terms-of-q-factor/501735 "2009-07-02T20:30:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 8:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-succeeds-michael-jackson-in-terms-of-q-factor/501735/21 "2009-07-03T08:40:34Z")
> [@Hippy\_Hollow](#): > > The world of film may resemble the music scene of the 80s regarding saturation. So I think one candidate - keeping in mind there will probably not be someone of the magnitude of MJ any time soon - would be Will Smith. Competent music career with credibility - not a celebrity that made an album, several blockbuster films that have been popular worldwide, Hollywood-glamour marriage and family, and a little tabloid interest (his supposed dabbling/affiliation with the Church of Scientology). You’re right. I can’t believe I forgot Will Smith. I remember reading an article years ago (maybe even last year about Hancock) that movie industry analysts are shocked that Will Smith can generate huge ticket sales even in countries that are horribly racist against black people. If that doesn’t count as worldwide appeal, I’m not sure what does. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-succeeds-michael-jackson-in-terms-of-q-factor/501735/22 "2009-07-03T09:07:59Z")
Will Smith is also the first actor in decades who can successfully “open” dramas, comedies \*and \*action/SF films. Another person who may qualify is someone more famous for being behind the camera: Steven Speilberg. Is there anyone on the planet who doesn’t know who he is? ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-succeeds-michael-jackson-in-terms-of-q-factor/501735/23 "2009-07-03T11:12:23Z")
… oh, god. George Lucas. ---
**Author:** ![Meurglys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@Meurglys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meurglys)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-succeeds-michael-jackson-in-terms-of-q-factor/501735/24 "2009-07-03T13:51:33Z")
He’s mellowed in recent years - decades, even! - but if _Mick Jagger_ died while the Stones were touring, that would generate a huge amount of coverage. If he died quietly at home, probably not so much! ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-succeeds-michael-jackson-in-terms-of-q-factor/501735/25 "2009-07-03T13:53:13Z")
Good call on Will Smith. He’s just so damned likeable, even though I haven’t seen that many of his films. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-succeeds-michael-jackson-in-terms-of-q-factor/501735/26 "2009-07-03T14:24:16Z")
Not persons, but individual events can get pretty big. The movie Titanic…I think everyone across the globe who has access to a TV has seen it. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-succeeds-michael-jackson-in-terms-of-q-factor/501735/27 "2009-07-03T14:27:54Z")
> [@Maastricht](#): > > Not persons, but individual events can get pretty big. The movie Titanic…I think everyone across the globe who has access to a TV has seen it. Ha! Not me! I take great pride in this. ---
**Author:** ![Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8c91f0/32.png) [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bam_Boo_Gut)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-succeeds-michael-jackson-in-terms-of-q-factor/501735/28 "2009-07-03T14:36:59Z")
Pele has the superhuman thing going on, but none of the mad and bad. Millions will mourn his passing the world over, with the exception of the USA since they’re not into footie. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-succeeds-michael-jackson-in-terms-of-q-factor/501735/29 "2009-07-03T14:45:07Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > I agree. Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods are the only people who could even come close to sniffing MJ’s worldwide appeal. A few non-Americans have heard of Muhammed Ali. ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-succeeds-michael-jackson-in-terms-of-q-factor/501735/30 "2009-07-03T15:00:10Z")
> [@BrandonR](#): > > Wait, Madonna is still _alive_? Does someone really want to tell me [this](http://photos.posh24.com/p/285276/l/madonna/madonnas_scary_biceps.jpg) [thing](http://twistedphysics.typepad.com/cocktail_party_physics/images/2007/11/01/madonnafingerxps_800x844.jpg) isn’t some sort of day-walking [zombie](http://www.strangecosmos.com/images/content/142395.jpg)? How is that worse than what MJ was before he died. Because she’s woman? ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-succeeds-michael-jackson-in-terms-of-q-factor/501735/31 "2009-07-03T15:09:32Z")
> [@PlainJain](#): > > How is that worse than what MJ was before he died. Because she’s woman? Hear her roar. ---
**Author:** ![Tamex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Tamex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamex)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-succeeds-michael-jackson-in-terms-of-q-factor/501735/32 "2009-07-03T15:22:37Z")
My daughter, who is 12 now, didn’t have any idea who Madonna was when her aunt brought her up last year. “Who’s Madonna?” she asked, and she didn’t even know why the rest of us adults were laughing so hard! So, when Michael Jackson died, I asked her if she knew who he was. She rolled her eyes as only a 12-year-old girl can and said, “Of course I know who Michael Jackson is!” That’s the verdict from the children of the world: “Who’s Madonna?” ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-succeeds-michael-jackson-in-terms-of-q-factor/501735/33 "2009-07-03T15:25:16Z")
Any major soccer star beats anyone in this thread, including Jackson. Only Americans wouldn’t realize this. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-succeeds-michael-jackson-in-terms-of-q-factor/501735/34 "2009-07-03T15:47:01Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > Any major soccer star beats anyone in this thread, including Jackson. Only Americans wouldn’t realize this. 😛 Are there worldwide soccer stars anymore? Is Beckham beloved everywhere and not just in Europe/Asia? ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-succeeds-michael-jackson-in-terms-of-q-factor/501735/35 "2009-07-03T16:07:35Z")
[Cristiano Ronaldo](http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=658814&sec=global&root=global&cc=5901). ---
**Author:** ![mr.jp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/48db29/32.png) [@mr.jp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mr.jp)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-succeeds-michael-jackson-in-terms-of-q-factor/501735/36 "2009-07-03T16:15:32Z")
It’s a good question, who is the most well known now person worldwide now. I don’t think it’s a sports star. I don’t even know what Ronaldo looks like, although I have heard the name. And I’m sure a huge number of women feel the same. Madonna, Brad Pitt and Johnny Depp are good bets. If factor #3 is important, I would go for Madonna. If not, then my guess is Obama. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-succeeds-michael-jackson-in-terms-of-q-factor/501735/37 "2009-07-03T17:59:42Z")
> [@SmackFu](#): > > More crying. I really haven’t heard anyone calling up to the radio stations in tears for MJ. I have. In the week or so since his death, any time they play his songs, the DJs get all solemn sounding and people call up weeping. That’s here in Bakersfield and when I was down in LA for work. ---
**Author:** ![FordTaurusSHO94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f07891/32.png) [@FordTaurusSHO94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordTaurusSHO94)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-succeeds-michael-jackson-in-terms-of-q-factor/501735/38 "2009-07-03T18:39:17Z")
In the early 90’s Garth Brooks was pretty well known. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/96bed5/32.png) [@Cat\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Jones)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-succeeds-michael-jackson-in-terms-of-q-factor/501735/39 "2009-07-03T20:08:50Z")
As a Brit who’s lived in various European countries I’m bemused why people think Tiger Woods would have such a big impact ? ---
**Author:** ![BrandonR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@BrandonR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrandonR)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2009, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-succeeds-michael-jackson-in-terms-of-q-factor/501735/40 "2009-07-03T21:01:19Z")
> [@PlainJain](#): > > How is that worse than what MJ was before he died. Because she’s woman? Because MJ didn’t prance around in skimpy outfits like he was still a teenager. Madonna still thinks she has the body she had 30 years ago. At least MJ had the decency to wear a surgical mask in public to cover his nose up most of the time… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-succeeds-michael-jackson-in-terms-of-q-factor/501735.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-succeeds-michael-jackson-in-terms-of-q-factor/501735.md?page=3)