Michael Jacksons This Is It 2009 Extras 1 -

In 2009, we watched This Is It looking for signs of sickness. In the Extras, we find signs of life. We see Michael joking with the choreographers, arguing about the speed of a cue, and drinking juice between takes.

These bonus features strip away the tragedy and leave you with the artist. They prove that even at 50, even under the weight of the world, Michael Jackson was still the most electric person in the room.

Final Verdict: If you only own the digital version of This Is It, you are missing out. Find the physical copy. Watch the Extras. It turns a sad documentary into a joyful masterclass.

Did you catch the "Earth Song" full rehearsal in the extras? Let me know in the comments.

The first major segment of Extras 1 is a 23-minute mini-doc titled Staging the Return: The Adventure Begins. Narrated by Kenny Ortega, this piece is arguably more insightful than the main film.

Why? Because the main film is focused on Michael. Staging the Return focuses on the impossible logistics. michael jacksons this is it 2009 extras 1

If you only watch the theatrical cut, you miss the tragedy of what could have been. Watching Extras 1 provides the full context of the $40 million production that vanished on June 25, 2009.

One of the most viral moments within Extras 1 is the extended rehearsal for Human Nature. In the theatrical version, we see Michael finish the song gracefully. In the extras, we see the lead-up.

Michael stops the band mid-chord. The music is too fast. He doesn't yell; he whispers. "No... it’s dragging... but it’s rushing? We need the lilt." He then scats the rhythm to pianist Michael Bearden, conducting the silence between the notes. Watching "Extras 1," you realize Jackson wasn't just singing the song; he was sculpting the air. He apologizes to the crew—"God bless you, forgive me"—before running the segment six more times. It is a portrait of kindness under pressure.

Perhaps the most sought-after clip in Extras 1 is the Dance Rehearsal for "Smooth Criminal." Here, the audio track is removed. There is no singing. There is no band. There is only the squeak of loafers on a polished stage and the metronome.

We see Michael Jackson counting. We see him teaching Kenny Ortega the angle of the lean. He wears his soft grey trousers and a V-neck sweater, looking more like a university professor than a pop star. He drills the backup dancers on the "anti-gravity lean" by showing them how to tense their calves. This segment strips away the iconography and leaves you with the athlete—the man who knew exactly how many millimeters his heel needed to slide to catch the beat. In 2009, we watched This Is It looking

Date: October 28, 2009 (Archived/Republished) Tags: Michael Jackson, This Is It, Documentary, Music Legacy, DVD Extras

When Sony Pictures released Michael Jackson’s This Is It in theaters in late 2009, it was presented as a solemn tribute—a final bow for the King of Pop. It was a concert film that never was, pieced together from grainy rehearsal footage. It was emotional, yes. It was polished to a shine.

But if you picked up the DVD or Blu-ray and skipped straight to the movie, you missed half the story.

For the die-hard fans and the production nerds, the treasure trove wasn't the main feature—it was the section labeled "Extras 1" (often titled "Staging the Returns" or "The Gloved One" depending on your region). Today, we’re looking back at why these specific extras remain some of the most fascinating footage of MJ’s career.

When the documentary Michael Jackson's This Is It premiered in October 2009, it was more than a film; it was a eulogy, a celebration, and a time capsule. Directed by Kenny Ortega, the film cobbled together over 100 hours of rehearsal footage from the Staples Center in Los Angeles. But for the dedicated fan, the theatrical release was only the appetizer. If you only watch the theatrical cut, you

The main course came with the home video release. On the DVD, Blu-ray, and digital downloads, a specific menu item has intrigued and delighted fans for over a decade: "Michael Jackson's This Is It 2009 Extras 1."

This article breaks down exactly what that menu tab contains, why it is essential viewing for any MJ scholar, and how it differs from the standard theatrical cut.

The final segment of Extras 1 is usually the hardest for fans to watch. It is the last recorded rehearsal for Heal the World, shot two nights before his death.

In the theatrical cut, Michael looks strong. In the extras, the camera lingers on the moments between takes. He is thin. He is shivering in the cold arena. A production assistant brings him a heater. He asks for the lights to be dimmed because his eyes hurt. Yet, when director Kenny Ortega suggests they "save his voice" and just lip-sync the run-through, Michael refuses. "No, Kenny. The kids need to hear it real."

He then proceeds to sing Heal the World with a ferocity that seems to come from a man trying to save his own life. His eyes are closed. He holds the last note for sixteen seconds. When he opens his eyes, he sees the crew crying. He smiles and says, "That’s it. That’s the one."