By Lana K. Wilson-Combs | OBSERVER CORRESPONDENT

"The Jacksons: A Family Dynasty" airs on Sundays, at 10 p.m. on A&E. Photo (c) A&E.

LOS ANGELES - Those Jacksons and the Arts and Entertainment Network sure do know how to throw a party.

To kick off the premiere of their six episode series, "The Jacksons: A Family Dynasty," which debuted Dec. 13 at 9 p.m. on A&E, The
Jacksons - Jermaine, Marlon, Tito and Jackie - were recently honored by the network and several of their biggest fans and friends with a lavish gala at the trendy Boulevard 3 club in Hollywood. Their mother, Katherine Jackson,
was in attendance as well.

The champagne flowed as freely as the old school J-5 music mix that kept the dance floor packed. Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, who starred as Joe Jackson in the 1992, Emmy Award-winning TV mini-series, "The Jackson's: An American Dream," was among several familiar faces in the crowd as was Flavor Flav, Flex Alexander, The Wayans Brothers, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Jazsmin Lewis and Sean Patrick Thomas.

The Jacksons who graciously mingled among the audience. Prior to the event, Jermaine, in a conference call about "The Jacksons: A Family Dynasty, talked at length about life after Michael, how the family is coping with the superstar's death, and their future plans which do include continuing to make music.

In addition, Jodi Gomes, the executive producer of "The Jacksons: A Family Dynasty," chatted about the new reality series.

LANA K. WILSON-COMBS: What do you hope "The Jackson's: A Family Dynasty" accomplishes? And now that you've seen all the episodes, what do you think of it?

JERMAINE JACKSON: Well I'm very happy with it because for so many years we've never sort of revealed who we really are. We put music out there but this is who we are. And I think the world will see that we're a family and there are a lot of lessons to be learned from this. It shows how we go about everyday life and how we approach things.

LKWC: Do you hope to provide a different image or a different light on you and your family?

JJ: Yes. There's a lot about the family that's been written that isn't true. This was a chance to connect with the fans and weigh it with the world to show them that we're a family like everyone else. But we have our moments as well. So it has all of those different elements to create a very exciting show. We're very, very happy with it because we've got a chance to just be ourselves off the stage.

LKWC: Jodi can you talk about the mechanics like when taping began and how much time you spent with the family and how things changed as events unfolded?

JODI GOMES: Well, Jermaine and I actually started developing the show with the brothers probably in mid 2008 or early 2008. And it was a decision that the brothers all came to since it was the 40th Anniversary heading into 2009, 2010. They wanted to share that special time with their fans. And so we approached the A&E Network and it just felt like the right collaboration because A&E has a great take on real life drama. And we just felt like that would match the element of the Jacksons in which the level of which the Jacksons were used to portraying themselves. So we started production in I believe January 2009.

LKWC: How many episodes did you guys completely wrap before Michael's death?

JG: Well we had completed the first hour which was the first pilot special. And it was completely wrapped, delivered, and ready to go and we were in the middle of prepping for the series. Michael passed while we happened to be down on hiatus. We literally wrapped on I think it was June 19th and called it a day. Michael passed on June 25th. So of course for the pilot we went back and we re-cut the ending so that we could make sure we could reflect the world changes and also reflect the brother's feelings on things that were happening in the moment.

LKWC: If Michael was still with us, what do you think he'd say about this show?

JJ and JG: I feel he would be very, very proud. And I'll tell you why. This reality series shows that we are no more different from what we do every day. It's not scripted; it's what our lives are all about. He would be satisfied with it. Jodi Gomes--And also if I can add to that, Michael was very aware of the show and aware that we were filming it and was very helpful with us in terms of clearing music and the use of his music. He was just very supportive of his brothers. Even when he was rehearsing, he would check in and make sure we had all the music clearances and things we needed to take care of his brothers.

LKWC: What makes this reality show so different?

JG: Just by nature of whom this family is. They are iconic and they are global. Anytime they do something you know. It's not that we had to move mountains, but it's just a huge thing to work with the Jacksons and to be able to capture how larger than life they are. It's an enormous show. And we also felt an obligation to uphold the images of the Jacksons in terms of every time they set foot on stage or do anything it has to be top notch. It is you know, pioneering in standards of technology. So visually our show doesn't look like a reality show, it looks like a mini movie. It's a beautifully shot show.

LKWC: Can you give us a glimpse of how it all came together?

JG: We started off by announcing that the brothers were getting back together as the Jackson 5 to celebrate their 40th Anniversary. And with that announcement came a lot of long term plans from a live show and touring to putting together a 40th Anniversary Record. Obviously Michael's death caught everybody off guard. And we paused for a little while to give the family their privacy. But at the same time there was such a huge inundating of letters and flowers and fan mail all other the globe. So I think once we forwarded a lot of the emails and the flowers on to the family, it just became clear that they should continue on with the show. And really continue on with the legacy.

LKWC: Jermaine at some point did you say we can't do this or we don't want to do this or was it a joint decision to carry on?

JJ: With all the consensus from the fans and all the different outpouring of support and the letters from Michael's passing, we felt that this was just the best connection to give the fans something back. The fact that it happened right during the time when we were filming was one thing, but we never had any questions in our minds to stop the show. We wanted to keep the legacy alive in a dignified way. We had to stop to mourn and we're still mourning. We'll be mourning for God knows how long. But it's just that we feel that the fans are the reason why we're here and to continue that connection is really important. It's really important.

LKWC: How are you guys doing, both the family and individually?

JJ: Well to be honest we think of Michael every moment. And it's really hard because to lose a sibling is very, very tough. We're finding it tough to sort of hear the old music and just to look at certain things like certain old footage because it brings back a lot of memories especially for Jackie, myself and Marlon and Tito again. We'll never be the Jackson 5 again, never. And that bond that we had as a band and a group, there is a certain part of it that is not there. And so it's tough - it makes us really sad when we think about that because we had a lot of plans of going out there and touring again after the 02 shows and doing a lot of things.

LKWC: Was there anything off limits when you were making the show?

JJ: Nothing was off limits.

LKWC: Was it hard to adjust to the cameras being there at all times?

JJ: Well, no because we have cameras on us all the time anyway. So it was just part of our daily life to tell you the truth. We can't go anywhere where there is not a paparazzi or just somebody sending something to create a story of their own.

LKWC: Does this show accomplish then what you guys wanted to in these six hours.

JJ: This is a great start to accomplish part of what we're about. You've got to keep in mind 40 years in the business, 40 years of history in the business and there were many years before that. We cannot achieve everything in six hours. Just like when we had the miniseries, "The Jackson's: An American Dream" there was no way we could achieve that in four hours or just a feature on the screen. But, it's a great start to open up all the eyes that have questions about who we were and who we are.

LKWC: Are you nervous at all about how the show will be received?

JACKIE JACKSON: Not too nervous. I'm more excited than anything and I'm sure all my brothers are too. We're already hearing good feedback from the fans so that means a lot to us. This show is really for them.

LKWC: So if the show is a ratings bonanza, will you automatically do additional ones?

MARLON JACKSON: We'll see. I can't spoil too much about the next few steps we're planning, but there may be some additional things in the works.

LKWC: Tito you seem somewhat overwhelmed by the support and turn out for this event. What are your thoughts?

TITO JACKSON: Well, it's very humbling for sure, especially when I talk to so many fans and listen to their stories about how our music has impacted their lives over the years and continues to. It's just very humbling. We're so honored to be part of this. It's also bittersweet, since Michael isn't with us.

LKWC: How is brother Randy holding up and will we see him at all on the show?

JJ: Randy hasn't made up his mind whether he wants to come to TV yet. But I think he's going to come after he sees the shows.

JG: Also one of the creative focuses was about the original Jackson 5 reunion. And so Randy came along after the Motown split. So part of it was specifically focused on the four that we have. And Randy is always welcome because he is family and we love him.

LKWC: How closely were you guys involved in the editing of the final product?

JJ: Well Jodi (Gomes) and I first put the whole thing together from the very beginning. And so we've always had hands on. My involvement was pretty much representative of the brothers. I think the challenge was to edit it to tell the best story. But it was nothing that we had to come back and say well take that out, or take this out, no. It was just the challenge of capturing that story that we wanted to tell in the editing room and making the best presentation of the Jacksons.

LKWC: Will Michael's children be on the show?

JJ: There was never any intentions of putting Michael's kids in the show prior to when Michael was alive and we would never do that. There are many, many, many, many other Jacksons that can generate some kids who are just raring to go. This show is about the Jackson Family. We wouldn't want to send off the wrong signal by putting his kids in there then all of a sudden there is a big wave of media saying we're exploiting his kids now that he's not here.

LKWC: What were some of the highlights for you making this reality show?

JG: I have to say as a producer it's quite interesting to see the Jacksons. I've worked for a lot of people in the past and it's just so fun to see them you know, fall right into place. The discipline that the Jacksons have it's just amazing to me. And I give that credit to both Mr. and Mrs. Jackson for the discipline they have. These guys you know, I'm in my 40s and I see them get up there and within 10 minutes they fall right back into J5 days. It just cracks me up to see them up there do their thing; it's such a great
treat. It really is.

LKWC: Jodi were there any particular tearjerker moments for you?

JG: Yes there were. And I think there continues to be tear jerking moments. The biggest moment I had during the time that we were filming is when Jermaine finally sat down and talked to his brothers about the split from Motown. Growing up watching these guys, even I hadn't and did not know the background and the backdrop of how the split went down. I basically was a fan on the outside looking in. So to learn the truth of it and the pain that was behind that and how a family can go these many years without actually discussing it was very real to me and just very poignant to me. During that filming I was crying my eyes out. And the loss of Michael. I mean for me it'sŠthey've lost a brother, they've lost a family member. But I've lost a hero. And I'm in this industry as an African-American person because of Michael and his brothers and his family and all the sacrifices that they've made and doors that they've opened. So for me personally it was just devastating to hear the news of Michael. And it still chokes me up today.

LKWC: Jermaine Even as you say you can no longer be the Jackson 5, are there still plans for at least the four of you or more to get back together on stage again?

JJ and JG: Actually Jermaine can I answer that? That's sort of a surprise ending in Episode 5 of the show. So you kind of have to stay tuned for that. And quite frankly the guys live all of those answers out on camera throughout the ark of the first season.

LKWC: And what about you Jermaine? Will we hear some additional music, some new recordings from you? Even if you have to come back and redo "That's How Love Goes" again your fans would love it.

JJ: I'm going to continue to do music. It's just the timing. And there is so much going on. We're everywhere. I mean that we have different responsibilities around the world and we want to continue to do that. This show has only given us a chance to be together every day to do like the daily stuff. We do as fathers and sons and so we're trying to capture that the best way and continue our music at the same time. But we definitely deal with music all throughout the show.

LKWC: Did you see "This is It? What were some of your favorite moments in it?

JJ: There were lots of favorite moments like just seeing Michael and knowing him. And I guess a lot of people don't know, but when we rehearse we don't go all out. We make sure that everybody else knows what they are supposed to do. In the movie Michael is not giving a third of what he does because he was just going through the motions, making sure that the lighting is right and the musicians knew what they were doing. So that was expected. It was just kind of pulling my heart out when he was just so concerned about people and the environment and the way he does everything with L-O-V-E.

Lana K. Wilson-Combs is a Sacramento based syndicated music and entertainment writer and has been a huge J-5 fan all her life.