title: Seychelles

text: Since independence in 1976, per capita output has expanded to roughly seven times the old near-subsistence level. Growth has been led by the tourist sector, which employs about 30% of the labour force, compared to agriculture which today employs about 3% of the labour force. Despite the growth of tourism, farming and fishing continue to employ some people, as do industries that process coconuts and vanilla.


title: Seychelles

text: The prime agricultural products currently produced in Seychelles include sweet potatoes, vanilla, coconuts and cinnamon. These products provide much of the economic support of the locals. Frozen and canned fish, copra, cinnamon and vanilla are the main export commodities.


title: Seychelles

text: The Seychelles government has prioritised a curbing of the budget deficit, including the containment of social welfare costs and further privatisation of public enterprises. The government has a pervasive presence in economic activity, with public enterprises active in petroleum product distribution, banking, imports of basic products, telecommunications and a wide range of other businesses. According to the 2013 Index of Economic Freedom, which measures the degree of limited government, market openness, regulatory efficiency, rule of law, and other factors, economic freedom has been increasing each year since 2010.


title: Seychelles

text: The national currency of Seychelles is the Seychellois rupee. Initially tied to a basket of international currencies, it was unpegged and allowed to be devalued and float freely in 2008 on the presumed hopes of attracting further foreign investment in the Seychelles economy.


title: Seychelles

text: Seychelles has emerged as the least corrupt country in Africa in the latest Corruption Perception Index report released by Transparency International in January 2020.


title: Seychelles

text: In 1971, with the opening of Seychelles International Airport, tourism became a significant industry, essentially dividing the economy into plantations and tourism. The tourism sector paid better, and the plantation economy could expand only so far. The plantation sector of the economy declined in prominence, and tourism became the primary industry of Seychelles. Consequently, there was a sustained spate of hotel construction throughout almost the entire 1970s which included the opening of Coral Strand Smart Choice, Vista Do Mar and Bougainville Hotel in 1972.


title: Seychelles

text: In recent years the government has encouraged foreign investment to upgrade hotels and other services. These incentives have given rise to an enormous amount of investment in real estate projects and new resort properties, such as project TIME, distributed by the World Bank, along with its predecessor project MAGIC. Despite its growth, the vulnerability of the tourist sector was illustrated by the sharp drop in 1991–1992 due largely to the Gulf War.


title: Seychelles

text: Since then the government has moved to reduce the dependence on tourism by promoting the development of farming, fishing, small-scale manufacturing and most recently the offshore financial sector, through the establishment of the Financial Services Authority and the enactment of several pieces of legislation (such as the International Corporate Service Providers Act, the International Business Companies Act, the Securities Act, the Mutual Funds and Hedge Fund Act, amongst others). In March 2015, Seychelles allocated Assumption Island to be developed by India.


title: Seychelles

text: Owing to the effects of COVID-19, Seychelles shut down its borders to international tourism in the year 2020. The nation is slated to reopen its borders to international tourists from 25 March 2021. As the national vaccination program progressed well, the nation's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Tourism has taken the decision to allow foreign tourists while keeping public health measures in place, such as wearing of face masks, social distancing, regular sanitisation, and washing of hands.


title: Seychelles

text: Although multinational oil companies have explored the waters around the islands, no oil or gas has been found. In 2005, a deal was signed with US firm Petroquest, giving it exploration rights to about 30,000 km around Constant, Topaz, Farquhar and Coëtivy islands until 2014. Seychelles imports oil from the Persian Gulf in the form of refined petroleum derivatives at the rate of about .


title: Seychelles

text: In recent years oil has been imported from Kuwait and also from Bahrain. Seychelles imports three times more oil than is needed for internal uses because it re-exports the surplus oil in the form of bunker for ships and aircraft calling at Mahé. There are no refining capacities on the islands. Oil and gas imports, distribution and re-export are the responsibility of Seychelles Petroleum (Sepec), while oil exploration is the responsibility of the Seychelles National Oil Company (SNOC).


title: Seychelles

text: A National Art Gallery was inaugurated in 1994 on the occasion of the official opening of the National Cultural Centre, which houses the National Library and National Archives with other offices of the Ministry of Culture.


title: Seychelles

text: At its inauguration, the Minister of Culture decreed that the exhibition of works of Seychellois artists, painters and sculptors was a testimony to the development of art in Seychelles as a creative form of expression, and provided a view of the state of the country's contemporary art.


title: Seychelles

text: Painters have traditionally been inspired by Seychelles’ natural features to produce a wide range of works in media ranging from watercolours to oils, acrylics, collages, metals, aluminium, wood, fabrics, gouache, varnishes, recycled materials, pastels, charcoal, embossing, etching, and giclee prints. Local sculptors produce fine works in wood, stone, bronze and cartonnage.


title: Seychelles

text: Music and dance have always played prominent roles in Seychelles culture and local festivities. Rooted in African, Malagasy and European cultures, music characteristically features drums such as the tambour and tam-tam, and simple string instruments. The violin and guitar are relatively recent foreign imports which play a prominent role in contemporary music.


title: Seychelles

text: Among popular dances are the Sega, with hip-swaying and shuffling of the feet, and the Moutya, a dance dating back to the days of slavery, when it was often used to express strong emotions and discontent.


title: Seychelles

text: The music of Seychelles is diverse, a reflection of the fusion of cultures through its history. The folk music of the islands incorporates multiple influences in a syncretic fashion. It includes African rhythms, aesthetic and instrumentation, such as the "zez" and the "bom" (known in Brazil as berimbau); European contredanse, polka and mazurka; French folk and pop; "sega" from Mauritius and Réunion; taarab, soukous and other pan-African genres; and Polynesian, Indian and Arcadian music.


title: Seychelles

text: Contombley is a popular form of percussion music, as is Moutya, a fusion of native folk rhythms with Kenyan benga. Kontredans, based on European contra dance, is also popular, especially in district and school competitions during the annual Festival Kreol (International Creole Festival). Moutya playing and dancing often occur at beach bazaars. Music is sung in the Seychellois Creole of the French language, and in French and English.


title: Seychelles

text: In 2021, the Moutya, a slave trade-era dance, was added to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List as a symbol of psychological comfort in its role of resistance against hardship, poverty, servitude and social injustice.


title: Seychelles

text: Staple foods of Sechelles include fish, seafood and shellfish dishes, often accompanied with rice. Fish dishes are cooked several ways, such as steamed, grilled, wrapped in banana leaves, baked, salted and smoked. Curry dishes with rice are also a significant part of the country's cuisine.


title: Seychelles

text: Other staples include coconut, breadfruit, mangoes and "kordonnyen" fish. Dishes are often garnished with fresh flowers.


title: Seychelles

text: The main daily newspaper is the "Seychelles Nation", dedicated to local government views and current topics. Other political parties operate papers such as "Regar". Foreign newspapers and magazines are readily available at most bookshops and newsagents. The papers are published mostly in Seychellois Creole, French and English.


title: Seychelles

text: The main television and radio network, operated by the Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation, offers locally produced news and discussion programmes in the Seychellois Creole language, between 3 pm and 11:30 pm on weekdays and longer hours on weekends. There are also imported English- and French-language television programmes on Seychellois terrestrial television, and international satellite television has grown rapidly in recent years.


title: Seychelles

text: Seychelles' most popular sport is basketball, which has significantly grown in popularity in the last decade. The country's national team qualified for the 2015 African Games, where it competed against some of the continent's largest countries, such as Egypt.


title: Seychelles

text: Seychellois society is essentially matrilineal. Mothers tend to be dominant in the household, controlling most expenditures and looking after children's interests. Unwed mothers are the societal norm, and the law requires fathers to support their children. Men are important for their earning ability, but their domestic role is relatively peripheral.


title: Seychelles

text: Same-sex sexual activity has been legal since 2016. The bill decriminalizing homosexuality was approved in a 14–0 vote. The employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is banned in the Seychelles, making it one of the few African countries to have such protections for LGBT people.


title: Seychelles

text: Seychelles has the highest literacy rate of any country in sub-Saharan Africa. According to The World Factbook of the Central Intelligence Agency, as of 2018, 95.9% of the population aged 15 and over can read and write in the Seychelles.


title: Seychelles

text: Until the mid-19th century, little formal education was available in Seychelles. The Catholic and Anglican churches opened mission schools in 1851. The Catholic mission later operated boys' and girls' secondary schools with religious brothers and nuns from abroad even after the government became responsible for them in 1944.


title: Seychelles

text: A teacher training college opened in 1959, when the supply of locally trained teachers began to grow, and in short time many new schools were established. Since 1981 a system of free education has been in effect, requiring attendance by all children in grades one to nine, beginning at age five. Ninety percent of all children attend nursery school at age four.


title: Seychelles

text: The literacy rate for school-age children rose to more than 90% by the late 1980s. Many older Seychellois had not been taught to read or write in their childhood; adult education classes helped raise adult literacy from 60% to a claimed 100% in 2014.


title: Seychelles

text: There are a total of 68 schools in Seychelles. The public school system consists of 23 crèches, 25 primary schools and 13 secondary schools. They are located on Mahé, Praslin, La Digue and Silhouette. Additionally, there are three private schools: École Française, International School and the independent school. All the private schools are on Mahé, and the International School has a branch on Praslin. There are seven post-secondary (non-tertiary) schools: the Seychelles Polytechnic, School of Advanced Level Studies, Seychelles Tourism Academy, University of Seychelles Education, Seychelles Institute of Technology, Maritime Training Center, Seychelles Agricultural and Horticultural Training Center and the National Institute for Health and Social Studies.


title: Seychelles

text: The administration launched plans to open a university in an attempt to slow down the brain drain that has occurred. University of Seychelles, initiated in conjunction with the University of London, opened on 17 September 2009 in three locations, and offers qualifications from the University of London.


title: Vijay (actor)

text: Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar (born 22 June 1974), known as Vijay, is an Indian actor, dancer and singer who works predominantly in Tamil cinema. He is among the highest paid actors in India. He has played the lead in 66 films and the International Business Times framed him as a "consistent performer". Referred to by the fans and media as "Thalapathy", he has a significant fan following globally. He has won several awards, including the International Achievement Recognition Award and the South Indian International Movie Award.


title: Vijay (actor)

text: Vijay was born in Madras (now Chennai), Tamil Nadu. His father S. A. Chandrasekhar is a film director and his mother Shoba Chandrasekhar is a playback singer and carnatic vocalist. His father is of Christian descent and his mother is Hindu. Vijay was baptised at the of age of 12. Vijay had a sister, Vidhya, who died when she was two years old.


title: Vijay (actor)

text: Initially attending Fathima Matriculation Higher Secondary School at Kodambakkam, Vijay later joined the Balalok Matriculation Higher Secondary School at Virugambakkam and went on to pursue a degree in Visual Communications from Loyola College. While studying, at the age of 18, he asked his father if "he would launch him".


title: Vijay (actor)

text: At the age of 10, Vijay started his film career as a child actor in "Vetri" (1984), making his first paycheck of 500 rupees paid for by actor-and-producer P. S. Veerappa. He then performed as a child actor in films such as "Kudumbam" (1984), "Vasantha Raagam" (1986), "Sattam Oru Vilayaattu" (1987) and "Ithu Engal Neethi" (1988). He also performed in "Naan Sigappu Manithan" (1985) as a co-star to Rajinikanth, who was the lead actor.


title: Vijay (actor)

text: Vijay started to play lead roles at the age of 18 starting with "Naalaiya Theerpu" (1992). Vijay then appeared in the films "Sendhoorapandi", "Rasigan", "Deva" and "Coimbatore Mappillai." They were commercially successful, though not critically acclaimed.


title: Vijay (actor)

text: In 1996, Vijay performed in the Vikraman-directed "Poove Unakkaga", which he states gave him his "initial breaks" and caused his popularity to "reach great heights". In 1997, Vijay acted in "Kaalamellam Kaathiruppen" which received positive response from critics, and "Love Today," which was applauded by audiences.


title: Vijay (actor)

text: He also starred in the films "Nerrukku Ner", "Kadhalukku Mariyadhai", "Ninaithen Vandhai", "Priyamudan" and "Thulladha Manamum Thullum" which released to positive reviews and were commercially successful. He then performed in "Nilaave Vaa". This was followed by the films "Endrendrum Kadhal", "Nenjinile," and "Minsara Kanna".


title: Vijay (actor)

text: In 2000, he performed in "Kannukkul Nilavu", which was Vijay's 25th critically successful film, alongside two commercially successful romance films, "Kushi" and "Priyamaanavale". His next successful films were "Friends," "Badri" and "Shahjahan." In 2002, he starred in the action film "Thamizhan" alongside Hindi actress Priyanka Chopra. Later, he featured in the romantic film "Youth" and the action film "Bagavathi".


title: Vijay (actor)

text: Following the action-romance flick "Thirumalai" in 2003"," "Ghilli", a film directed by S. Dharani and produced by A. M. Rathnam, was released. It co-starred Trisha and Prakash Raj with Vijay as the lead. "Ghilli" was the first Tamil film of all time to gross over 500 million, or 50 crore, in the domestic box office. The film grossed nearly $500,000 in the Malaysian market. "Ghilli" also broke the record for the most people seeing a movie in the first week of its release, previously held by M. G. Ramachandran's "Adimai Penn" (1969). "Ghilli" received favourable reviews. "The Hindu" stated that "Vijay, the hero whom the masses today identify with, and Prakash Raj, the inimitable villain in tow, this flick, "Ghilli"...on a winning track".


title: Vijay (actor)

text: "Ghilli" was followed by commercially successful films "Madhurey" and "Thirupaachi" in 2005. Later, Vijay starred in the commercially and critically successful films "Sachein", "Sivakasi" and "Pokkiri". "Pokkiri" was one of the highest-grossing films in his career at that time.


title: Vijay (actor)

text: In late 2007, Vijay starred in the romantic thriller film "Azhagiya Tamil Magan", where he played the role of the protagonist and antagonist at the same time. "Azhagiya Tamil Magan" collected $1.043 million overseas, a top grosser at overseas box offices in 2007. "Screen Daily, a" British magazine, reported that "Azhagiya Tamil Magan" had entered the top ten Asian films box office hit chart in Malaysia in 2007. Barring the commercially successful "Vettaikaaran" (2009), all of his subsequent releases from "Azhagiya Tamil Magan", "Kuruvi" and "Villu" were average successes; all three films were more successful overseas. In 2009, Vijay became one of the highest paid actors in South India. In 2010, he acted in the action comedy film "Sura", which was a box office failure.


title: Vijay (actor)

text: In early 2011, Vijay joined up with director Siddique for the romantic comedy "Kaavalan." It received positive responses from both viewers and critics, with a box office collection of 102 crore worldwide. "Kaavalan" was screened at the Shanghai International Film Festival in China. "Kaavalan" was a commercial success in China. During Diwali the same year, his next film, the action film "Velayudham", directed by M. Raja and produced by Venu Ravichandran, was released. "Velayudham" became one of the top-grossing films of 2011. "Velayudham" was a critical success among Japanese audiences.


title: Vijay (actor)

text: Vijay's next release in 2012 was "Nanban". "Nanban" was screened at the Melbourne International Film Festival in Australia. Vijay's performance in the film received positive critical acclaim. "Nanban" went on to have a 100 day theatrical run. "The Indian Express" reported the film "Nanban" grossed 150 crore at the box office. The action thriller "Thuppakki", directed by A. R. Murugadoss and produced by S. Dhanu, was released on Diwali 2012 to positive reviews. The film became the third Tamil film to enter the 1 billion club domestically. "Thuppakki" became the highest-grossing film of Vijay's career at the time, and the first of his films to gross over 1,800,000,000. "Thuppakki" was screened at the Russian film festival. His next film "Thalaivaa", directed by A. L. Vijay, was released on 9 August 2013 worldwide to mixed reports, and had a delayed release in Tamil Nadu. "Thalaivaa" was overall a box office failure.


title: Vijay (actor)

text: The film "Jilla" released in 2014 and ended up as a box office hit. Vijay again worked with AR Murugadoss in the action thriller "Kaththi". The film released to generally positive reviews. The "Los Angeles Times" called "Kaththi" a "success in style". "Kaththi" collected 130 crore at the box office. It was the second-highest-grossing Tamil film of 2014.


title: Vijay (actor)

text: In 2015, the fairy tale fantasy film "Puli" was released, directed by Chimbu Deven. "Puli" received mixed reviews from critics, though Vijay was praised for venturing into a new genre. "Puli" was one of the highest-grossing films of 2015 in its entire run. The film's satellite rights and areawise distribution rights were sold for 100 crore. Since director Deven is a cartoonist, the film's half-demon theme was partially based on Japanese hit anime manga series "Inuyasha", similar to which, Vijay played a "Tiger-demon" with tiger's teeth and blue eyes. "The Sydney Morning Herald" stated Vijay excels as a "Tiger-demon" in the film. "IB Times" reported "Puli" was successful in foreign markets and is regarded as one of the Indian films that took the standard to an international level.


title: Vijay (actor)

text: The action-thriller "Theri" directed by Atlee was released in April 2016 to mixed reviews from critics and audiences, with one reviewer criticizing the actor's performance and the "predictable" storyline. It was the second-highest-grossing Tamil film of 2016 and Vijay's second film to gross over 1,710,000,000. In 2017, the masala film "Bairavaa" was released. It received mixed reviews and it collected 115 crore at the box office.


title: Vijay (actor)

text: His 61st film, the action thriller "Mersal", was directed by Atlee. It was both a critical and commercial success, becoming the first of Vijay's films to gross over 2.5 billion. The film was also released in Japan in the cities of Tokyo, Ebina, Osaka and Nakaya. For his role in "Mersal", Vijay was nominated for Best Actor at the National Film Awards UK in 2018. The film won the Best Foreign Language Film award at the same event. The film was Vijay's third film to be released in China after "Kaavalan" (2011) and "Puli" (2015). The film was also screened at the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival in South Korea.


title: Vijay (actor)

text: In 2018 the political film "Sarkar" was released with Vijay in the lead role, directed by AR Murugadoss. Keerthi Suresh played the female supporting role, it being her second collaboration with Vijay after "Bairavaa". Following its release on Diwali 2018, "Sarkar" broke several collection records and entered the 100 Crore Club within two days. "The Hollywood Reporter" mentioned Vijay as a man with "swag" in the film. "Sarkar" was his second film to gross over 2.5 billion. "Sarkar" was released in Spain and screened in France and Japan.


title: Vijay (actor)

text: "Bigil" was released in 2019, directed by Atlee, is a football action film. Vijay underwent "special training" for his role in the film. "Bigil" was Vijay's last film of the decade. "Bigil" received mixed reviews from critics, but Vijay was praised for the portrayal of his character within the film. It was a commercial success, collecting more than 300 crore, became both the highest-grossing Tamil film of 2019—within three months of its release—and the highest-grossing film of Vijay's career. "Bigil" was also the first Tamil film released in Egypt and Jordan. In 2020, "Bigil" was the first Tamil film re-released in Germany.


title: Vijay (actor)

text: During the same year, Lokesh Kanagaraj was selected as the director of Vijay's film "Master" produced by Xavier Britto. "Master" was originally scheduled to be released on 9 April 2020, however, it was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was released on 13 January 2021 in theatres. "Master" was the highest-grossing film in United Arab Emirates (UAE) with a box office collection of $1.4 million within two days, surpassing the Hollywood releases "Wonder Woman 1984" and "Tenet" within the same country. The film was screened at the International film festival of Alberta, Canada. Upon release, it received both positive and mixed reviews from viewers and critics. "Eastern Eye, a" British magazine, called "Master" "an entertaining massy action film" but stated that "the runtime is a bit long". The film collected 300 crore worldwide and it was declared as a box office hit. The combined gross earnings of "Mersal", "Sarkar", "Bigil" and "Master" was determined to be over 1000 crore according to trade analysts. "Beast" released theatrically on 13 April 2022 worldwide. "Beast" received mixed reviews from critics. Roger Ebert, an American film critic website, reviewed the film "Beast" with 3/5 stars and called "Vijay as a multifaced tiger with a multifaceted avatar". "Beast" was the highest grossing Tamil film in US premiere shows. "Beast" made box office collection records in the international markets of New Zealand, Australia and Singapore. The film was commercially successful, collecting 250 crore worldwide, and was one of the most viewed films on Netflix globally in 2022. It was the first Tamil film released theatrically in Uzbekistan.


title: Vijay (actor)

text: Vijay's 66th film "Varisu" was produced by Telugu film producer Dil Raju and directed by Vamshi Paidipally. Thaman S composed music and background score for the film. "Varisu" will be released theatrically in January 2023.


title: Vijay (actor)

text: His 67th film will be directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj his second collaboration with Vijay titled "Dragon" co-starring Janany as Vijay's romantic pair along with Sanjay Dutt and Azeem in pivotal roles. Music will be composed by Anirudh.


title: Vijay (actor)

text: Vijay married Sangeetha Sornalingam, a Sri Lankan Tamil whom he met in the United Kingdom, on 25 August 1999. They have two children. Vijay's son made a cameo appearance with his father in "Vettaikaaran" (2009) and his daughter portrayed a small role as her father's pre-teen daughter in "Theri" (2016).


title: Vijay (actor)

text: On 5 February 2020, the Income Tax Department raided Vijay's residence in Chennai and inquired about potential tax evasion, making note of his investment in immovable properties, which he inherited from the production studio AGS Entertainment. It was reported that Vijay and AGS Entertainment producer Anbu Cheliyan were suspected of undisclosed payments and alleged tax fraud. Nearly 65 crore was seized by the officials from Cheliyan's residence. The investigation took place while Vijay was shooting for his film "Master" in Cuddalore. On 12 March, officials stated that nothing significant was found during the raid. Opponents of the Bharatiya Janata Party accused them of politically targeting Vijay through such raids because he was critical of the them on demonetization and Goods and Services Tax (India) in the film "Mersal".


title: Vijay (actor)

text: On 13 July 2021, the Madras High Court dismissed a writ petition filed by Vijay in 2012 seeking exemption of the Entry Tax for his Rolls Royce Ghost car that was imported from England. It imposed a fine of ₹1 lakh which was allotted to the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister's Public COVID relief fund. Justice S.M. Subramaniam said that Vijay's fan base considers him as a hero and he was expected to be one instead of a "reel" hero, further calling it an anti-national habit. On 15 July 2021, Vijay filed an appeal against defamatory statements made by the judge against him in Madras High court. On 20 July 2021, Vijay's appeal against the tax exemption case issue and defamatory statements was moved to a different tax bench sector of the court. On 27 July 2021, a two-judge bench of Madras High court stayed the earlier passed order by Judge S.M. Subramaniam that included the critical remarks and also stayed the order of a ₹1 lakh fine amount. On 25 January 2022, the court dismissed and removed the defamatory critical statements made by Judge S.M. Subramaniam against Vijay. On 15 July 2022, the court declared that no fine should be imposed on the car imported by since he had paid the full entry tax before January 2019, closing out the case in the process.


title: Vijay (actor)

text: As of 2021, Vijay's net worth is 4200 million or 420 crore. Vijay earned 100 crore salary for "Beast", and also earned an estimated 120 crore—150 crore for his 66th film, marking him among the highest paid Indian actors.


title: Vijay (actor)

text: Vijay's wax figures were unveiled in several parts of India, especially in Kanyakumari Museum. The "Arabic Kuthu-Halamithi Habibo" music dance video from the film "Beast" garnered 20 million views in 1 day. "Ranjithamae" song from his film "Varisu" was well received in Pakistan and Bangladesh.


title: Vijay (actor)

text: News 18 describes Vijay as a "versatile actor" and a "fantastic playback singer, dancer and philanthropist". Odisha TV reported that "While fans are crazy for [Vijay's] movies, he has a set of dedicated audience who enjoy his dance moves". Zee media reported that Vijay amazed audiences with his acting and screen presence.


title: Vijay (actor)

text: Vijay received an honorary doctorate from the Dr. M.G.R. Educational and Research Institute in 2007 in honour of his achievements in the film industry. Vijay was awarded the 'Best International Actor of 2018' in the United Kingdom.


title: The Sandman (TV series)

text: The Sandman is an American fantasy drama television series based on the 1989–1996 comic book written by Neil Gaiman and published by DC Comics. The series was developed by Gaiman, David S. Goyer, and Allan Heinberg for the streaming service Netflix and is produced by DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. Television. Like the comic, "The Sandman" tells the story of Dream/Morpheus, the titular Sandman. The series stars Tom Sturridge as the title character, with Boyd Holbrook, Vivienne Acheampong, and Patton Oswalt in supporting roles.


title: The Sandman (TV series)

text: Efforts to adapt "The Sandman" to film began in 1991 but floundered in development hell for many years. In 2013, Goyer pitched a film adaptation of the series to Warner Bros. Goyer and Gaiman were set to produce alongside Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who was planned to star and possibly direct. However, Gordon-Levitt exited over creative differences in 2016. Due to the prolonged development of the film, Warner Bros. shifted its focus to television. Netflix signed a deal to produce the series in June 2019, and filming lasted from October 2020 to August 2021.


title: The Sandman (TV series)

text: "The Sandman" premiered on August 5, 2022, with an additional episode premiering on August 19. In November 2022, it was renewed for a second season. The series has received generally positive reviews from critics, with praise going towards the casting, production design, costumes, faithfulness to its source material, visual effects, and performances, particularly those of Sturridge and David Thewlis.


title: The Sandman (TV series)

text: Morpheus, the personification of dreams and one of the seven Endless, is captured in an occult ritual in 1916. After being held captive for 106 years, Dream escapes and sets out to restore order to his realm, the Dreaming.


title: The Sandman (TV series)

text: "Dream of a Thousand Cats" features the voices of Sandra Oh as the Prophet, Rosie Day as the Tabby Kitten, David Gyasi as the Grey Cat, Joe Lycett as the Black Cat, Neil Gaiman as the Skull Crow, James McAvoy as the Golden-Haired Man, David Tennant as Don, Georgia Tennant as Laura Lynn, Michael Sheen as Paul, Anna Lundberg as Marion, Nonso Anozie as the Wyvern, Diane Morgan as the Gryphon, and Tom Wu as the Pegasus.


title: The Sandman (TV series)

text: Attempts to adapt "The Sandman", an American comic book written by Neil Gaiman and published by DC Comics from 1989 to 1996, had languished in development hell since the 1990s. "Inquisitr" wrote that ""Sandman" nature as a comic has been a very unique and life-changing experience for many and that made it very difficult and challenging to translate into the small and big screens."


title: The Sandman (TV series)

text: Gaiman was first asked about a film adaptation by DC's corporate sibling Warner Bros. in 1991, an offer to which he was apprehensive. Development on a film adaptation began in 1996, with Roger Avary attached to direct and Ted Elliot and Terry Rossio writing the script. Elliot and Rossio's script merged the first two "Sandman" storylines, "" and "", into a single story. While Gaiman enjoyed the script, Avary was fired due to creative issues with executive producer Jon Peters. Following this, William Farmer wrote a screenplay in 1998, which Gaiman did not like and called it "not only the worst "Sandman" script I've ever seen, but quite easily the worst script I've ever read." His script featured radical differences from the source material, such as casting Dream as a villain and making him Lucifer Morningstar's brother.


title: The Sandman (TV series)

text: After reading Farmer's script, Gaiman became doubtful that "The Sandman" would be adapted into a film. In 2007, he remarked that he would "rather see no "Sandman" movie made than a bad "Sandman" movie", but added that he "[felt] like the time for a "Sandman" movie is coming soon. We need someone who has the same obsession with the source material as Peter Jackson had with "Lord of the Rings" or Sam Raimi had with "Spider-Man"." He said that he could see Terry Gilliam directing the adaptation: "I would always give anything to Terry Gilliam, forever, so if Terry Gilliam ever wants to do "Sandman" then as far as I'm concerned Terry Gilliam should do "Sandman"." In 2013, DC Entertainment president Diane Nelson said that a "Sandman" film was a project she considered a priority, considering the prospect as rich as the "Harry Potter" universe.


title: The Sandman (TV series)

text: David S. Goyer, who had worked on the "Dark Knight" trilogy, pitched a "Sandman" adaptation to Warner Bros. in 2013 and by February 2014 was set to produce the film alongside Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Gaiman, with Jack Thorne writing. Warner Bros. planned for Gordon-Levitt to star and possibly direct. The film was set to be produced by New Line Cinema as part of a slate of films based on properties published under DC's Vertigo imprint, separate from the DC Extended Universe. Eric Heisserer was hired to rewrite the film's script in March 2016; immediately afterwards, Gordon-Levitt departed due to disagreements with Warner Bros. over the creative direction of the film. The following November, Heisserer turned in his draft but departed, stating that the project should be an HBO series instead of a film: "I … came to the conclusion that the best version of this property exists as an HBO series or limited series, not as a feature film, not even as a trilogy. The structure of the feature film really doesn't mesh with this."


title: The Sandman (TV series)

text: Due to the prolonged development period of the film, in 2010 DC Entertainment shifted focus onto developing a television adaptation. Film director James Mangold pitched a series concept to HBO while consulting with Gaiman on an unofficial basis, but it did not materialize due to a "political turf war at WB". It was reported in September 2010 that Warner Bros. Television was licensing the rights to produce a TV series, and that "Supernatural" creator Eric Kripke was their preferred candidate to adapt the saga. Gaiman later revealed that he disapproved of Kripke's take, and development on the television adaptation halted because Goyer's film was progressing smoothly.


title: The Sandman (TV series)

text: Around 2018, Gaiman was working on the television adaption of "Good Omens", the book he had cowritten with Terry Pratchett, when Goyer approached him again about a television adaption of "The Sandman". By that point, Goyer had several additional successful screenplays including "The Dark Knight" trilogy. Goyer connected Gaiman to screenwriter Allan Heinberg, a fan of Gaiman's work. While Heinberg initially refused his offer to work on the series as he initially perceived it as "unfilmable", Goyer managed to convince him to do so as he was planning to adapt the comics as a series. Heinberg became the showrunner and executive producer and collaborated with Gaiman, who was also an executive producer, while creating the series.


title: The Sandman (TV series)

text: In June 2019, Netflix signed a deal with Warner Bros. to produce the series and gave it an order of eleven episodes, the first ten of which were initially released together, and the eleventh as a bonus episode. According to "The Hollywood Reporter", Warner Bros. pitched the series to multiple networks—including HBO, which declined to move ahead with it due to its massive budget. Netflix "snapped it up" as part of its attempts to obtain big intellectual properties and attract subscribers. The series was developed by Gaiman, Goyer, and Allan Heinberg, who also serve as executive producers. Gaiman said he would be more involved than he was with the 2017–2021 television adaptation of "American Gods" (2001) but less than he was with the 2019 adaptation of "Good Omens" (1990).


title: The Sandman (TV series)

text: The creative team sought to faithfully adapt the source material, beginning with the first season adapting "", "", and the first two issues of "". The creators made significant narrative changes from the source material with Gaiman's approval and also received feedback while creating the sets, with Heinberg saying, "Everything gets Neil’s eyes and his feedback." The team was inspired by the art from the comics, with the props and sets being created to be faithful to the comics. The series features changes intended to modernize the source material for a contemporary audience. For example, it begins in 2021 rather than 1989, with Dream now having been imprisoned for 105 years instead of 75 years. Other characters were similarly updated, as "... if we were creating this character now, what gender would the character be? ... who would they be? What would they be doing?". Changes included expanding the role of The Corinthian into being the Big Bad for the first season, altering various characters and storylines, and removing references to other DC Comics characters such as Martian Manhunter and Mister Miracle. John Dee was not depicted as Doctor Destiny and John Constantine was reimagined as a female character, Joanna Constantine. Gaiman opted to remove references to the DC Universe as the overall "Sandman" series moved away from the initial ties with the DC Universe to avoid potential implications that the series would tie into other DC Comics adaptions in the future. The role of Matthew was also expanded in the series for Morpheus to have someone with which he can share his thoughts, which were depicted as thought bubbles in the comics and impractical to do in live action. Gaiman was particular about Morpheus' dialogue in the series and described it as the "thing I [Gaiman] was most obsessive about". Upon rereading the comics, Gaiman felt he "in a weird way did all the work" as he thought the comics "had kind of been rather ahead of its time", with Heinberg adding, "The "Sandman" comics were leagues ahead of everybody in the late '80s in terms of the depiction of women, race, sexuality and gender", while noting that changes were made for the series.


title: The Sandman (TV series)

text: Goyer, Heinberg, and Gaiman met at Gaiman's house to discuss the first season, where they came up with the story for the first episode in two days. They often discussed "Why is it essential that we tell the story of "The Sandman" right now?", with Heinberg stating that the answer "has informed every creative decision we’ve made since: "The Sandman" is an exploration of what it means to be human. To be mortal and therefore vulnerable. Capable of being hurt, but also capable of loving and being loved. "The Sandman" is the story of an honorable, arrogant king who slowly—very slowly—learns how to love. How to be a loving friend, a loving brother, a loving father." Goyer summarized the series as "a story about a god who, over the course of the story, sheds his godhood and becomes mortal and learns what it means to be mortal ... It’s a story about a really fucked-up dysfunctional family. The Endless, even though they are godlike beings, they all have their petty squabbles. Some of them hate each other. Some of them love each other. It’s just that when they have fights, entire worlds and universes suffer" and called it a melodrama. He opted to include the stand-alone issues in the series in which Morpheus did not appear since he felt that it was "one of the things that’s wonderful about "Sandman"" and felt those issues did not involve Morpheus but were set in that world. He added that Morpheus was sometimes a protagonist and catalyst for events in the series. He described Morpheus as a character who "cares about humanity in the abstract, but not in the specific". Gaiman also felt that the Sleeping Sickness epidemic in the series was "incredibly apt" due to "some incredibly dreamlike moments because we were shooting during a pandemic".


title: The Sandman (TV series)

text: Writing for a potential second season had already begun by August 2022. Netflix confirmed they had green-lit a second season on November 2, 2022, following rumors earlier that day from DC Comics and Gaiman that the series had been renewed.


title: The Sandman (TV series)

text: Patton Oswalt, a longtime "Sandman" fan, was the first actor who was cast in the series; he was cast as the voice of Matthew the Raven the day before "The Sandman" was pitched to Netflix. In September 2020, Tom Sturridge entered negotiations to portray Dream, after screen testing alongside Tom York and Colin Morgan, while Liam Hemsworth and Dacre Montgomery were under consideration for the role of the Corinthian. Gaiman had said he had watched over 1,500 casting auditions for Morpheus and felt Sturridge was right for the role after watching his audition tapes. Sturridge had been unfamiliar with the source material but became a devoted fan after he was cast. Casting news was kept tightly under wraps and was not publicly released when the first season began filming. According to Boyd Holbrook, the casting process was long, recalling that he auditioned around January 2020 but did not receive any further information until September. In January 2021, Sturridge, Gwendoline Christie, Vivienne Acheampong, Holbrook, Charles Dance, Asim Chaudhry, and Sanjeev Bhaskar were announced to be starring in the series.


title: The Sandman (TV series)

text: Twelve more cast members were announced in May 2021: Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Mason Alexander Park, Donna Preston, Jenna Coleman, Niamh Walsh, Joely Richardson, David Thewlis, Kyo Ra, Stephen Fry, Razane Jammal, Sandra James Young, and Oswalt. Park, who was also a fan of the source material, decided to contact Gaiman on Twitter for their role as Desire. Gaiman had sent their videos to Heinberg, who both agreed on casting Park. The second casting announcement was met with backlash from a section of the "Sandman" fanbase, with some criticizing the casting of black actors as characters traditionally depicted as white in the comics, such as Howell-Baptiste as Death. Mehrul Bari of "The Daily Star" felt that while the backlash against the casting announcement was clearly "rooted in flagrant phobias", some of the casting choices seemed like "stunt casting" that continued tokenism in Netflix productions and comic book adaptations. For example, Bari noted that aside from Death, the rest of the Endless, including Dream, were still played by white actors. Gaiman dismissed the fan backlash and defended both Baptiste's casting as Death and Park's casting as Desire, with the latter being depicted as androgynous in the comics.


title: The Sandman (TV series)

text: Costume designer Sarah Arthur worked closely with property master Gordon Fitzgerald to recreate items and costumes found in the comic book as accurately as possible. The Helmet of Dreams was designed by costumers to be four feet long and foldable, allowing it to be fitted inside a bag. Dream's ruby and bag of sand, like most items in the series, were created as physical objects and later enhanced by the visual effects team in post production. Lucifer's contrasting white and black costumes were designed by Giles Deacon with input from Gwendoline Christie. The team researched androgynous figures, including David Bowie, to intentionally convey Lucifer as an androgynous character. Wherever possible, the production team attempted to mimic the artwork from the source material, such as Lucienne's costume and glasses. For the set designs, the production team conducted research into various periods in history, particularly for the tavern scenes featuring Dream and Hob Gadling, which span several hundred years. The sets, costumes and props were redesigned for each century based on historical reference. To design the Palace of Dreaming, supervisor Ian Markiewicz took inspiration from the artwork of Kris Kuksi. Markiewicz conceived the palace as a "dream mosaic". He was opposed to creating scenes using full green screen stages, so most scenes were filmed on location and augmented, including Dream's throne room, which was represented by the interior of Guildford Cathedral. The team used St. Peter's Square as the inspiration for the design of the balcony and rear of Lucifer's Palace in reference to Lucifer as a fallen angel. Production designer Gary Steele created the set for the Threshold of Desire as a curved arch by carving foam blocks. For Episode 5, "24/7", Gaiman consulted with artist Mike Dringenberg about the original diner design in the comic book. Dringenberg provided him with the setting and menu of a real Salt Lake City diner, which was subsequently used in the show.


title: The Sandman (TV series)

text: The series was originally to begin filming towards the end of May 2020, but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In September 2020, Gaiman revealed on his Twitter that filming was expected to begin in October "lockdown permitting". Principal photography began on October 15, 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, filming for the first season was limited to the United Kingdom. Holbrook began shooting his scenes in December 2020. Production for the first season was expected to last until June 2021. In August 2021, Gaiman revealed on his Tumblr account that the first season had wrapped filming.


title: The Sandman (TV series)

text: Filming for the first season took place in Greater London, Surrey, Watford, Poole, and Sussex. As the production team was limited to filming in the United Kingdom, scenes set in New York City were filmed at Canary Wharf. Filming locations in Surrey included Shepperton Studios and Guildford Cathedral. Hankley Common was chosen as the filming location for Hell. Other prominent filming locations included Warner Bros. Studios, Leavesden in Watford, Sandbanks beach located in Poole and the town of Petworth.


title: The Sandman (TV series)

text: The comic series' cover artist, Dave McKean, came out of retirement to design the end-credits sequences for each episode.


title: The Sandman (TV series)

text: To achieve the many visual effects in the series, One of Us and Untold Studios were hired to provide VFX shots for the first 11 episodes. One of Us supplied visual effects for several scenes, including a tower room ceiling sequence in which, "the stone walls break down like a fabric of reality", the backdrop for Desire's red room, and the visual effects for the Corinthian. Untold Studios supplied the effects for several sequences, including a scene in which Morpheus is engulfed in Hell, Stephen Fry's transformation into a forest as Fiddler's Green, and the animated cats in the bonus episode, "A Dream Of A Thousand Cats". VFX supervisor James Hattsmith said that the VFX team approached the source material with an aim to, "bring it into the “real” world whilst balancing the feeling of the fantastical with maintaining tangibility." Other companies involved in creating the 2,900 visual effects for the show included Framestore, Industrial Light and Magic (ILM), Important Looking Pirates, Rodeo FX, Union FX and Chicken Bone VFX. Framestore created the visuals for Matthew the Raven, which required an intricate feather system, puppets and live-action ravens to create realistic visuals. Rodeo FX produced visual concepts for Morpheus' palace that took inspiration from various world sculptures. The Rodeo FX team conceived the palace's fall into ruin as a representation of the collective consciousness and consequently the palace "reflected a broad cultural context". For the entrance to The Dreaming, the Gate of Horn was moulded by production designer Jon Gary Steele in the form of a small 20 x 25 foot section that was used to augment a gate measuring 300 feet wide by 300 feet tall. The Undercroft in which Morpheus is imprisoned was built as a set with a moat, smoke, wind effects, flame bars and self-igniting candles. To create Lucifer's Palace, the VFX team was concerned about viewers' preconceived ideas of how it should appear and began by using Google Images to research previous depictions. The final design used a combination of traditional architecture and photorealistic imagery from the comic book.


title: The Sandman (TV series)

text: The series was released on August 5, 2022, and consists of ten episodes. An eleventh episode was released on August 19 as a "two-part story collection".


title: The Sandman (TV series)

text: Gaiman, Heinberg, and the cast promoted the series at San Diego Comic-Con in July 2022, where an official trailer debuted. Charles Pulliam-Moore of "The Verge" felt the trailer confirmed the series would retain the comic's "focus on the macabre" and featured "a sense of scale... that's hopefully going to be consistent throughout the show".


title: The Sandman (TV series)

text: "The Sandman" ranked at number one globally on Netflix's Top 10 titles three days after its release with 69.5 million hours viewed. In its first full week of streaming, "The Sandman" remained the most-watched show on Netflix's weekly Top 10 list of the most-watched TV shows, with 127.5 million hours viewed between August 8–14. "The Sandman" remained the most-watched English-language TV show on Netflix for the third time in a row between August 15–21. The show had been watched over 393.14 million hours in total by September 18.


title: The Sandman (TV series)

text: The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported an approval rating of 87% with an average rating of 7.6/10, based on 97 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "While it may hold few surprises for fans of the source material, "The Sandman"s first season satisfyingly adapts an allegedly unfilmable classic." Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 66 out of 100 based on 27 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".


title: The Sandman (TV series)

text: Amelia Emberwing of "IGN" gave a score of 9 out 10, praising the cast performances, particularly Sturridge's. She also praised the production values of the series, and felt that the series adapted its source material well, though was unsure if viewers who were unfamiliar with the source material would enjoy the series. "The Guardian"'s Rebecca Nicholson gave it a four out of five stars and summarized it as "transportive, playful at times, and certainly grand." She also praised the performances, the delivery of dialogue, and its faithfulness to the source material and singled out the episode "24/7" as one of the best episodes of the year, though she expressed concerns as to how fans unfamiliar with the source material would enjoy the series. Judy Berman of "Time" also gave a positive review, praising its production design and casting, while also highlighting the standalone episodes, calling the series "easily one of the best small-screen comic adaptations ever made." Similarly, Glen Weldon of NPR also gave a positive review, highlighting its accuracy to the source material and felt that its changes improved the narrative of the series, writing "the changes introduced into the adaptation offer intriguing new variations on now-familiar themes without erasing what we love". He also praised its visuals and the performances, especially Sturridge's, whom he felt "captures the competing aspects of Morpheus that are forever roiling under his impassive surface — his haughtiness, his wounded vulnerability; his stiffness, his longing for connection. Also, his brittle anger, his ability to — almost, not quite, but almost — laugh at himself". Iana Murray writing for GQ Magazine praised David Thewlis for his performance and opined that his portrayal of John Dee, "delivers perhaps the show's standout performance." At "Variety", Caroline Framke praised the narrative structure of the series and story, writing that it "metes out its material with an economical approach (no episode runs over 54 minutes)", but criticized some of the visual effects and use of computer-generated imagery (CGI) and felt it did not replicate the art from the comics. However, she did state that the episode "24/7" had the best visuals in the series. The series was ranked the tenth best TV show of 2022 by "Entertainment.ie", with one of the website's writers saying, "The Sandman is one of the finest examples of escapist television this year. Under the expert guidance of comic book creator Neil Gaiman, Netflix was able to streamline this mind-bending and rich anthology into a cohesive and beautiful series full of characters that each had their own defining outlook on the world in which they lived - or survived - in". "Los Angeles Times" included the series in its unranked list of "10 best TV shows of 2022" and called it "a shimmering, magical, moving masterpiece that defies the odds". Meanwhile, "Collider" named it one of the best new TV shows of the year and wrote, "The Sandman introduces audiences to a rich, layered, enchanting world of pure imagination. Tom Sturridge delivers an amazingly accurate performance as the show's lead character Lord Morpheus. As a whole, the show has a fully realized screenplay and an outstanding cast that manages to present a full rounded fantasy series".


title: The Sandman (TV series)

text: In a mixed review, Karama Horne of "TheWrap" called the series "visually stunning" and further praised its costumes, sound design, and the cast performances, while criticizing its pacing and noting that its "anthology style of storytelling" caused the plot to suffer, especially towards the season's end. Giving the series a B- grade, Sam Barsanti of "The A.V. Club" called "The Sandman" a "generic fantasy series" that is too faithful to its source material, "doing what is essentially the bare minimum in replicating an acclaimed work of art and transferring it into a different medium", though he praised some of the performances. CNN's Brian Lowry felt that the performances were "blunted by the narrative structure and dream-like storytelling". He gave a more critical review, praising its visuals, but noting the faithfulness to the source material as both a good and bad thing. He said that the "meticulous detail in replicating the look and tone [of the comic] doesn't create much emotional investment", noting the "episodic" chapters in the series which he thought negatively affected its pacing, but also felt that it would satisfy fans familiar with the source material. Writing for "The Hollywood Reporter", Angie Han also noted its faithfulness to source material, and thought the series "prioritizes fidelity over creativity" which she thought "makes for a decent echo of the comics — but it stops well short of becoming a classic in its own right". She was mixed towards the changes in the series, saying they were "not too bad, and sometimes they're good", and praised the episode "The Sound of Her Wings" as the best in the series. She summarized her thoughts on the series by writing "it’s difficult not to notice that for a series all about the power of dreams to spark creativity, to inspire our best selves or our worst ones, to change the course of a life or a universe, "The Sandman" itself feels a bit short on imagination". In a negative review, Kelly Lawler of "USA Today" gave the series 1.5 out of 4 stars, calling the first season "a total failure", criticizing its pacing and its story, which she felt was "a pile of stories and moods randomly tossed on top of each other".


title: The Sandman (TV series)

text: In October 2022, Johanna Constantine actress Jenna Coleman confirmed that she, Neil Gaiman, and Allan Heinberg had discussed a potential "Johanna Constantine" spin-off solo series of "The Sandman" about her character, stating that it was a "good idea" that they were "really behind".


title: Janet Jackson

text: Janet Damita Jo Jackson (born May 16, 1966) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and dancer. She is noted for her innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows. Her sound and choreography became a catalyst in the growth of MTV, enabling her to rise to prominence while breaking gender and racial barriers in the process. Lyrical content which focused on social issues and lived experiences set her reputation as a role model for youth.


title: Janet Jackson

text: The tenth and youngest child of the Jackson family, she began performing at the MGM Grand. She starred in the variety television series "The Jacksons" in 1976 and went on to appear in other television shows throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, including "Good Times", "Diff'rent Strokes", and "Fame". After signing a recording contract with A&M Records in 1982, she became a pop icon following the release of her third and fourth studio albums "Control" (1986) and "Rhythm Nation 1814" (1989). Her collaborations with record producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis incorporated elements of rhythm and blues, funk, disco, rap, and industrial beats, which led to crossover success in popular music.


title: Janet Jackson

text: In 1991, Jackson signed the first of two record-breaking multimillion-dollar contracts with Virgin Records, establishing her as one of the highest-paid artists in the industry. Prior to her first studio project with Virgin, she appeared in her first of several lead film roles in "Poetic Justice" (1993). Her two studio albums which followed, "Janet" (1993) and "The Velvet Rope" (1997), saw her develop a public image as a sex symbol. These records, along with their promotional music videos and live performances in concert tours, branded Jackson as one of the world's most erotic performers, garnering both criticism and praise. By the end of the 1990s, she was named by "Billboard" magazine as the second most successful recording artist of the decade in the United States after Mariah Carey. The release of her seventh studio album "All for You" in 2001 coincided with a celebration of her impact on the recording industry as the subject of the inaugural "MTV Icon" special.


title: Janet Jackson

text: The backlash from the 2004 Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show controversy resulted in an industry blacklisting under the direction of Les Moonves, then-CEO of CBS Corporation. Jackson subsequently experienced reduced radio airplay, televised promotion and sales figures from that point forward. After parting ways with Virgin Records, she released her tenth studio album "Discipline" (2008), her first and only album with Island Records. In 2015, she partnered with BMG Rights Management to launch her own record label, Rhythm Nation and released her eleventh studio album "Unbreakable" the same year. Since then she has continued to release music as an independent artist.


title: Janet Jackson

text: Jackson has sold over 100 million records, making her one of the world's best-selling music artists. She has amassed an extensive catalog, with singles such as "Nasty", "Rhythm Nation", "That's the Way Love Goes", "Together Again", and "All for You"; she holds the record for the most consecutive top-ten entries on the US "Billboard" Hot 100 singles chart by a female artist with 18. She is also the only artist in the history of the chart to have seven commercial singles from one album ("Rhythm Nation 1814") peak within the top five positions. In 2008, "Billboard" placed her number seven on its list of the Hot 100 All-Time Top Artists, and in 2010 ranked her fifth among the "Top 50 R&B/Hip-Hop Artists of the Past 25 Years". In December 2016, the magazine named her the second most successful dance club artist after Madonna. One of the world's most awarded artists, her accolades include five Grammy Awards, eleven "Billboard" Music Awards, eleven American Music Awards, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and eight "Guinness World Records" entries. In 2019, she was inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.


title: Janet Jackson

text: Janet Damita Jo Jackson was born on May 16, 1966, in Gary, Indiana. She was the youngest of ten children in the Jackson family, a working-class African-American family living in a two-bedroom house on Jackson Street. Her mother, Katherine Esther Jackson ("née" Scruse), played clarinet and piano, had aspired to be a country-and-western performer, and worked part-time at Sears. Her father, Joseph Walter "Joe" Jackson, a former boxer, was a crane operator at U.S. Steel and played guitar with a local rhythm and blues band, the Falcons, to supplement the family's income. Janet's great-grandfather, July "Jack" Gale, was a US Army scout. Family lore held that he was also a Native American medicine man. Janet grew up with two sisters (Rebbie and La Toya) and six brothers (Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, Randy and Michael). Another brother, Marlon's twin Brandon, died shortly after birth. The Jacksons were devout Jehovah's Witnesses, although Janet would later refrain from organized religion.


title: Janet Jackson

text: At a young age, Jackson's brothers began performing as the Jackson 5 in the Chicago-Gary area. In March 1969, they signed a record deal with Motown, and soon had their first number-one hit. The family then moved to the Encino neighborhood of Los Angeles. Jackson had initially desired to become a horse racing jockey or entertainment lawyer, with plans to support herself through acting. Despite this, she was anticipated to pursue a career in entertainment and considered the idea after recording herself in the studio.


title: Janet Jackson

text: At age seven, Jackson and her brother Randy performed at the MGM Casino on the Las Vegas Strip. A biography revealed her father, Joseph, was emotionally withdrawn and told her to address him solely by his first name as a child. She began acting in the variety show "The Jacksons" in 1976.


title: Janet Jackson

text: In 1977, She was selected to have a starring role as Penny Gordon Woods in the sitcom "Good Times". She later starred in "A New Kind of Family" and later got a recurring role on "Diff'rent Strokes", portraying Charlene Duprey from seasons three to six. Jackson also played the role of Cleo Hewitt during the fourth season of "Fame", but expressed indifference towards the series, largely due to the emotional stress of her secret marriage to R&B singer James DeBarge. Jackson later elaborated on her time on the show in an interview with Anderson Cooper, revealing that the cast would occasionally play pranks on her, but she spoke fondly of them.


title: Janet Jackson

text: When Jackson was sixteen, her father and manager Joseph Jackson arranged a contract for her with A&M Records. Her debut album, "Janet Jackson", was released in 1982. It was produced by Angela Winbush, René Moore, Bobby Watson of Rufus and Leon Sylvers III, and overseen by her father Joseph. It peaked at No. 63 on the "Billboard" 200, and No. 6 on the publication's R&B albums chart, receiving little promotion. The album appeared on the "Billboard" Top Black Albums of 1983, while Jackson herself was the highest-ranking female vocalist on the "Billboard" Year-End Black Album Artists.


title: Janet Jackson

text: Jackson's second album, "Dream Street", was released two years later. "Dream Street" reached No. 147 on the "Billboard" 200, and No. 19 on the R&B albums chart. The lead single "Don't Stand Another Chance" peaked at No. 9 on "Billboard"s R&B singles chart. Both albums consisted primarily of bubblegum pop music.


title: Janet Jackson

text: After her second album, Jackson terminated business affairs with her family, commenting "I just wanted to get out of the house, get out from under my father, which was one of the most difficult things that I had to do." Attempting a third album, Jackson teamed with producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. They set out to achieve crossover pop appeal, while also creating a strong foundation within the urban market. Within six weeks, Jackson and the duo crafted her third studio album, "Control", released in February 1986. The album shot to No. 1 on the "Billboard" 200, and was certified fivefold Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), selling over ten million copies worldwide.


title: Janet Jackson

text: "Control" was declared "remarkably nervy and mature" for a teenage act, also considered "an alternative to the sentimental balladry" which permeated radio, likening Jackson to Donna Summer's position of "unwilling to accept novelty status and taking her own steps to rise above it." The album spawned five top five singles, "What Have You Done for Me Lately", "Nasty", "When I Think of You", "Control", and "Let's Wait Awhile", and a top 15 hit with "The Pleasure Principle". "When I Think of You" became her first No. 1 hit on the Hot 100. "Control" received six "Billboard" Awards, including "Top Pop Singles Artist", and three Grammy nominations, such as Album of the Year. It also won four American Music Awards from twelve nominations, an unbroken record.


title: Janet Jackson

text: At this point, Jackson was successfully "shaking off the experience of being a shadow Jackson child", becoming "an artist in her own right". The album's lyrical content included several themes of empowerment, inspired by an incident of sexual harassment, with Jackson recalling "the danger hit home when a couple of guys started stalking me on the street and instead of running to Jimmy or Terry for protection, I took a stand. I backed them down. That's how songs like 'Nasty' and 'What Have You Done for Me Lately' were born, out of a sense of self-defense."


title: Janet Jackson

text: Its innovative fusion of dance-pop and industrial music with hip-hop and R&B undertones influenced the development of the new jack swing genre by bridging the gap between the latter two styles. The accompanying music videos shot for the album's singles became popular on MTV, and obtained a then-unknown Paula Abdul a recording contract for her choreography work with Jackson. "Billboard" stated "[Jackson's] accessible sound and spectacularly choreographed videos were irresistible to MTV, and helped the channel evolve from rock programming to a broader, beat-driven musical mix."


title: Janet Jackson

text: In retrospect of her influence on the channel, Kyle Anderson of "Entertainment Weekly" commented: "The videos from Control were all over MTV, and Janet established herself as an instantly dominant pop figure talked about in the same sentences as Madonna and her older brother Michael." MTV's Meaghan Garvey asserted "it's hard to overstate the significance of Control, whether in terms of the pop landscape, the evolution of the music video as a vessel for promotion and expression, or Top 40 feminist anthems." She also argued "it's important to note that "Control"’s self-actualization anthems were expressions of black female pride. "Control" spawned a whopping six videos—great ones, at that—which played an immeasurable role in the shift toward visible black pop."


title: Janet Jackson

text: Jackson released her fourth album, "Rhythm Nation 1814", in September 1989. Although her record label desired a direct sequel to "Control", Jackson chose to include a socially conscious theme among various musical styles. She stated, "I know an album or a song can't change the world. I just want my music and my dance to catch the audience's attention, and to hold it long enough for them to listen to the lyrics." The album's central theme of unity was developed in response to various crimes and tragedies reported in the media.


title: Janet Jackson

text: Peaking at No. 1 on the "Billboard" 200, the album was certified sixfold Platinum by the RIAA and sold over 12 million copies worldwide. "Rolling Stone" observed Jackson's artistic growth shifted from "personal freedom to more universal concerns—injustice, illiteracy, crime, drugs—without missing a beat." The album was also considered "the exclamation point on her career", consisting of a "diverse collection of songs flowing with the natural talent Jackson possesses", which effectively "expanded Janet's range in every conceivable direction", being "more credibly feminine, more crucially masculine, more viably adult, more believably childlike." With singles "Miss You Much", "Rhythm Nation", "Escapade", "Alright", "Come Back to Me", "Black Cat" and "Love Will Never Do (Without You)", it became the first album in history to produce number one hits in three separate calendar years, as well as the only album to achieve seven top five singles on the Hot 100.


title: Janet Jackson

text: Famous for its choreography and warehouse setting, the "Rhythm Nation" music video is considered one of the most iconic and popular in history, with Jackson's military ensemble also making her a fashion icon. The video for "Love Will Never Do (Without You)" is notable for being the first instance of Jackson's transition into sexual imagery and midriff-baring style, becoming her trademark. "Rhythm Nation 1814" became the highest selling album of 1990, winning a record fifteen "Billboard" Awards. The long-form "Rhythm Nation" music video won a Grammy Award.


title: Janet Jackson

text: Jackson's Rhythm Nation World Tour 1990 became the most successful debut tour in history and set a record for the fastest sell-out of Japan's Tokyo Dome. She established the "Rhythm Nation Scholarship", donating funds from the tour to various educational programs. As Jackson began her tour, she was acknowledged for the cultural impact of her music. Joel Selvin of the "San Francisco Chronicle" wrote "the 23-year-old has been making smash hit records for four years, becoming a fixture on MTV and a major role model to teenage girls across the country", and William Allen, then-executive vice president of the United Negro College Fund, told the "Los Angeles Times", "Jackson is a role model for all young people to emulate and the message she has gotten to the young people of this country through the lyrics of 'Rhythm Nation 1814' is having positive effects."


title: Janet Jackson

text: She also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in recognition of her impact on the recording industry and philanthropic endeavors. The massive success experienced by Jackson placed her in league with her brother Michael, Madonna, and Tina Turner for her achievements and influence. "Ebony" magazine remarked: "No individual or group has impacted the world of entertainment as have Michael and Janet Jackson," arguing that despite many imitators, few could surpass Jackson's "stunning style and dexterity".


title: Janet Jackson

text: With her recording contract under A&M Records fulfilled in 1991, she signed a multimillion-dollar deal with Virgin Records—estimated between thirty-two to fifty million dollars—making her the highest paid recording artist at the time. The recording contract also established her reputation as the "Queen of Pop". In 1992, Jackson provided guest vocals on Luther Vandross's "The Best Things in Life Are Free", becoming a top ten "Billboard" hit and reaching the top ten internationally.


title: Janet Jackson

text: Jackson's fifth studio album "Janet", was released in May 1993. The record opened at number one on the "Billboard" 200, making Jackson the first female artist in the Nielsen SoundScan era to do so. Certified sixfold Platinum by the RIAA, it sold over 14 million copies worldwide.


title: Janet Jackson

text: "Janet" spawned five singles and four promotional singles, receiving various certifications worldwide. The lead single "That's the Way Love Goes" won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Song and topped the "Billboard" Hot 100 for eight consecutive weeks. "Again" reached number one for two weeks, while "If" and "Any Time, Any Place" peaked in the top four. "Because of Love" and "You Want This" charted within the top ten.


title: Janet Jackson

text: The album experimented with a diverse number of genres, including contemporary R&B, deep house, swing jazz, hip hop, rock, and pop, with "Billboard" describing each as being "delivered with consummate skill and passion". Jackson took a larger role in songwriting and production than she did on her previous albums, explaining she found it necessary "to write all the lyrics and half of the melodies" while also speaking candidly about incorporating her sexuality into the album's content. "Rolling Stone" wrote "[a]s princess of America's black royal family, everything Janet Jackson does is important. Whether proclaiming herself in charge of her life, as she did on "Control" (1986), or commander in chief of a rhythm army dancing to fight society's problems ("Rhythm Nation 1814", from 1989), she's influential. And when she announces her sexual maturity, as she does on her new album, "Janet.", it's a cultural moment."


title: Janet Jackson

text: In July 1993, Jackson made her film debut in "Poetic Justice". While the film received mixed reviews, her performance was described as "beguiling" and "believably eccentric". Jackson's ballad "Again", which was written for the film, received Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations for "Best Original Song".


title: Janet Jackson

text: In September 1993, Jackson appeared topless on the cover of "Rolling Stone", with her breasts covered by her then-husband, René Elizondo, Jr. The photograph is the original version of the cropped image used on the "Janet" album cover, shot by Patrick Demarchelier. "The Vancouver Sun" reported, "Jackson, 27, remains clearly established as both role model and sex symbol; the "Rolling Stone" photo of Jackson ... became one of the most recognizable, and most lampooned, magazine covers."


title: Janet Jackson

text: The Janet World Tour launched in support of the studio album garnered criticism for Jackson's lack of vocal proficiency and spontaneity, but earned critical acclaim for her showmanship. It was described as erasing the line between "stadium-size pop music concerts and full-scale theatrical extravaganzas".


title: Janet Jackson

text: During this time, Janet was set to sign a multimillion-dollar deal with Coca-Cola when her brother Michael was immersed in a child sex abuse scandal, of which he denied any wrongdoing. She provided moral support, defending her brother, and denied abuse allegations regarding her parents made by her sister La Toya.


title: Janet Jackson

text: She collaborated with Michael on "Scream", the lead single from his album "", released 1995. The song was written by both siblings as a response to media scrutiny. It debuted at number five on the Hot 100 singles chart, becoming the first song ever to debut within the top five. Its music video, directed by Mark Romanek, was listed in "Guinness World Records" as the "Most Expensive Music Video Ever Made", costing $7 million. The clip won the 1996 Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video.


title: Janet Jackson

text: Jackson's first compilation album, "", was released in 1995. It peaked at number three on the "Billboard" 200. The lead single, "Runaway", became the first song by a female artist to debut within the top ten of the Hot 100, reaching number three. "Design of a Decade 1986/1996" was certified double Platinum by the RIAA, and sold ten million copies worldwide.


title: Janet Jackson

text: Jackson's influence in pop music continued to garner acclaim, as "The Boston Globe" remarked "If you're talking about the female power elite in pop, you can't get much higher than Janet Jackson, Bonnie Raitt, Madonna and Yoko Ono. Their collective influence ... is beyond measure. And who could dispute that Janet Jackson now has more credibility than brother Michael?"


title: Janet Jackson

text: Jackson renewed her contract with Virgin Records for a reported $80 million the following year. The contract established her as the then highest-paid recording artist in history, surpassing the recording industry's then-unparalleled $60 million contracts earned by Michael Jackson and Madonna.


title: Janet Jackson

text: Jackson began suffering from severe depression and anxiety, leading her to chronicle the experience in her sixth album, "The Velvet Rope," released October 1997. Jackson returned with a dramatic change in image, boasting vibrant red hair, nasal piercings, and tattoos. The album is primarily centered on the idea that everyone has an intrinsic need to belong. Aside from encompassing lyrics relating to social issues such as same-sex relationships, homophobia and domestic violence, it also contains themes of sadomasochism and is considered far more sexually explicit in nature than her previous release, "Janet".


title: Janet Jackson

text: The record was hailed as "her most daring, elaborate and accomplished album" by "The New York Times", while "Billboard" called it "the best American album of the year and the most empowering of her last five." The album debuted at number one on the "Billboard" 200 and was certified triple Platinum, selling over ten million worldwide.


title: Janet Jackson

text: The lead single "Got 'til It's Gone" was released in August 1997, featuring guest vocals from folk singer Joni Mitchell and rapper Q-Tip. The song's music video, depicting a pre-Apartheid celebration, won the Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video. "Together Again" became Jackson's eighth number-one hit on the "Billboard" Hot 100, placing her on par with Elton John, Diana Ross, and the Rolling Stones. It spent a record forty-six weeks on the Hot 100 and nineteen weeks on the United Kingdom's singles chart. It sold six million copies worldwide, becoming one of the best-selling singles of all time. "I Get Lonely" peaked at number three on the Hot 100, and received a Grammy nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. It was Jackson's eighteenth consecutive top ten hit, making her the only female artist to garner that achievement; and surpassed only by Elvis Presley and the Beatles.


title: Janet Jackson

text: Several other singles were released, including "Go Deep" and the ballad "Every Time", which was controversial for the nudity displayed in its music video. The album fully established Jackson as a gay icon for its themes regarding homosexuality and protesting homophobia. "Together Again", a "post-Aids pop song", and "Free Xone", considered "a paean to homosexuality" and an "anti-homophobia track", were praised for their lyrical context, in addition to Jackson's lesbian reinterpretation of Rod Stewart's "Tonight's the Night".


title: Janet Jackson

text: "The Velvet Rope" received an award for "Outstanding Music Album" at the 9th Annual GLAAD Media Awards and was honored by the National Black Lesbian and Gay Leadership Forum. A portion of the proceeds from "Together Again" were donated to the American Foundation for AIDS Research.


title: Janet Jackson

text: Jackson embarked on The Velvet Rope Tour, traveling to Europe, North America, Asia, Africa, New Zealand, and Australia. The tour received praise for its theatrics, choreography, and Jackson's vocal performance. It was likened to "the ambition and glamour of a Broadway musical", and exclaimed as "only fitting that the concert program credits her as the show's 'creator and director.


title: Janet Jackson

text: The tour's HBO special, "The Velvet Rope: Live in Madison Square Garden", garnered more than fifteen million viewers. It surpassed the ratings of all four major networks among viewers subscribed to the channel. The concert won an Emmy Award from four nominations. Jackson donated a portion of the tour's sales to America's Promise, an organization founded by Colin Powell to assist disenfranchised youth.


title: Janet Jackson

text: As the tour concluded, Jackson lent guest vocals to several collaborations, including Shaggy's "Luv Me, Luv Me", used for the film "How Stella Got Her Groove Back", as well as "Girlfriend/Boyfriend" with Teddy Riley's group Blackstreet, and "What's It Gonna Be?!" with Busta Rhymes. The latter two music videos are both among the most expensive music videos ever produced, with "What's It Gonna Be?!" becoming a number-one hit on the "Billboard" Hip-Hop Singles and Hot Rap Tracks charts, reaching the top three of the Hot 100.


title: Janet Jackson

text: Jackson also contributed the ballad "God's Stepchild" to the "Down in the Delta" soundtrack. Jackson recorded a duet with Elton John titled "I Know the Truth", included on the soundtrack to "Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida". At the 1999 World Music Awards, Jackson received the Legend Award for "outstanding contribution to the pop industry". "Billboard" ranked Jackson as the second most successful artist of the decade, behind Mariah Carey.


title: Janet Jackson

text: In July 2000, Jackson appeared in her second film, "", as the role of Professor Denise Gaines, opposite Eddie Murphy. Director Peter Segal stated "Janet Jackson was a natural fit, and an obvious choice." The film became her second to open at number one, grossing an estimated $170 million worldwide. Jackson's single "Doesn't Really Matter", used for the film's soundtrack, became her ninth number-one single on the Hot 100.


title: Janet Jackson

text: Preceding the release of her seventh album, MTV honored Jackson with the network's inaugural "MTV Icon" ceremony, honoring her "significant contributions to music, music video and pop culture while tremendously impacting the MTV generation." The event paid tribute to Jackson's career and influence, including commentary from Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez, Aaliyah, and Jessica Simpson, and performances by 'N Sync, Pink, Destiny's Child, Usher, Buckcherry, Mýa, Macy Gray, and Outkast. The American Music Awards also honored Jackson with the Award of Merit for "her finely crafted, critically acclaimed and socially conscious, multi-platinum albums".


title: Janet Jackson

text: Jackson's seventh album, "All for You", was released in April 2001. It opened at number one on the "Billboard" 200 with 605,000 copies sold, the highest first-week sales of her career, and among the highest first-week sales by a female artist in history. The album was a return to an upbeat dance style, receiving generally positive reception. Jackson received praise for indulging in "textures as dizzying as a new infatuation", in contrast to other artists attempting to "match the angularity of hip-hop" and following trends. "All for You" was certified double Platinum by the RIAA and sold nine million copies worldwide.


title: Janet Jackson

text: The album's lead single, "All for You", debuted on the Hot 100 at number fourteen, setting a record for the highest debut by a single that was not commercially available. Jackson was titled "Queen of Radio" by MTV as the single made airplay history, being "added to every pop, rhythmic and urban radio station" within its first week. The song broke the overall airplay debut record with a first week audience of seventy million, debuting at number nine on the Radio Songs chart. It topped the Hot 100 for seven weeks, also reaching the top ten in eleven countries. The song received a Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording. "Someone to Call My Lover" peaked at number three on the Hot 100. Built around a sample of the iconic 1972 hit "You're So Vain" by Carly Simon, "Son of a Gun (I Betcha Think This Song Is About You)" featured Simon herself, along with Missy Elliott on remixes of the single.


title: Janet Jackson

text: In July 2001, Jackson embarked on the All for You Tour, which was also broadcast on a concert special for HBO watched by twelve million viewers. The tour traveled throughout the United States and Japan, although European and Asian dates were required to be canceled following the September 11 terrorist attacks. The "Los Angeles Times" complimented Jackson's showmanship. Richard Harrington of "The Washington Post" said Jackson's performance surpassed her contemporaries, but Bob Massy of "Spin" thought her dancers "threw crisper moves" and her supporting singers were mixed nearly as high, though declared "Janet cast herself as the real entertainment." Jackson donated a portion of the tour's proceeds to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.


title: Janet Jackson

text: The following year, Jackson began receiving media attention for her rumored relationships with Justin Timberlake, actor Matthew McConaughey, and record producer Jermaine Dupri. Upon the release of Timberlake's debut solo album "Justified," Jackson provided vocals on "(And She Said) Take Me Now" per Timberlake's request, with the song initially planned as a single. Jackson collaborated with reggae artist Beenie Man for the song "Feel It Boy", produced by the Neptunes.


title: Janet Jackson

text: Jackson was chosen by the National Football League and MTV to perform at the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show in February 2004. She performed a medley of "All for You", "Rhythm Nation", and an excerpt of "The Knowledge" before performing "Rock Your Body" alongside surprise guest Justin Timberlake. As Timberlake sang the lyric "I'm gonna have you naked by the end of this song", he tore open her costume, exposing her right breast to 140 million viewers. The incident was referred to as "nipple gate" by the media.


title: Janet Jackson

text: Jackson issued an apology after the performance, saying that the incident was accidental and unintended, explaining that Timberlake was only meant to pull away a bustier and leave the red-lace bra intact. She commented, "I am really sorry if I offended anyone. That was truly not my intention ... MTV, CBS, the NFL had no knowledge of this whatsoever, and unfortunately, the whole thing went wrong in the end." Timberlake also issued an apology, calling the accident a "wardrobe malfunction". CBS, the NFL, and MTV denied any knowledge of the incident and all responsibility for it. The Federal Communications Commission heavily fined all companies involved and continued an investigation for eight years, ultimately losing its appeal for a $550,000 fine against CBS.


title: Janet Jackson

text: Following the incident, CBS permitted Timberlake to appear at the 46th Grammy Awards ceremony but did not allow Jackson to attend, forcing her to withdraw after being scheduled as a presenter. The controversy halted plans for Jackson to star in the biographical film of singer and activist Lena Horne, which was to be produced by American Broadcasting Company. Horne was reportedly displeased by the incident, but Jackson's representatives stated that she withdrew from the project willingly. A Mickey Mouse statue wearing Jackson's iconic "Rhythm Nation" outfit was mantled at Walt Disney World theme park the previous year to honor her legacy, but it was removed following her controversial performance.


title: Janet Jackson

text: Jackson's eighth studio album "Damita Jo" was released in March 2004, titled after her middle name. It debuted at number two on the "Billboard" 200. The album received mixed to positive reviews, praising the sonic innovation of selected songs and Jackson's vocal harmonies, while others criticized its frequent themes of carnality. However, several critics' reviews focused on the Super Bowl incident, rather than critiquing the album itself. It was certified Platinum by the RIAA within a month, and sold over three million copies worldwide.


title: Janet Jackson

text: The album's performance was affected by blacklisting from radio and music channels, in part at the behest of CBS CEO Les Moonves. Conglomerates involved in the boycott included Viacom and CBS, subsidiaries MTV, Clear Channel Communications, and Infinity Broadcasting, the latter two among the largest radio broadcasters. The blacklist was placed into effect preceding the release of "Damita Jo" and continued throughout the course of Jackson's following two albums. Entertainment conglomerate Viacom owns MTV, VH1, and many radio formats, and a senior executive commented that they were "absolutely bailing on the record. The pressure is so great, they can't align with anything related to Janet. The high-ups are still pissed at her, and this is a punitive measure."


title: Janet Jackson

text: Prior to the incident, "Damita Jo" was expected to outsell prior release "All for You". Its three singles received positive reviews but failed to achieve high chart positions, although each was predicted to perform extremely well under different circumstances. "Billboard" reported that "Damita Jo" "was largely overshadowed by the Super Bowl fiasco... The three singles it spawned were blacklisted by pop radio—they were also the album's biggest highlights".


title: Janet Jackson

text: For the album's promotion, Jackson appeared as a host on "Saturday Night Live" performing two songs, and she was also a guest star on the sitcom "Will & Grace" portraying herself. Jackson received several career accolades upon the album's release, including the "Legend Award" at the Radio Music Awards, "Inspiration Award" from the Japan Video Music Awards, "Lifetime Achievement Award" at the Soul Train Music Awards, and a Teen Choice Awards nomination for "Favorite Female".


title: Janet Jackson

text: In November 2004, she was honored as a role model by 100 Black Men of America, Inc. and presented with the organization's Artistic Achievement Award saluting "a career that has gone from success to greater success". The organization responded to criticism for honoring Jackson in light of the Super Bowl incident by saying that "an individual's worth can't be judged by a single moment in that person's life." In June 2005, she was honored with a Humanitarian Award by the Human Rights Campaign and AIDS Project Los Angeles as recognition for her involvement in raising money for AIDS charities.


title: Janet Jackson

text: The Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show is considered to be one of the most controversial televised events in history, and Jackson was later listed in "Guinness World Records" as the "Most Searched in Internet History" and the "Most Searched for News Item". The incident became the most recorded and replayed moment in TiVo history, enticing an estimated 35,000 new subscribers. Jawed Karim has stated that the incident inspired the creation of YouTube, as he noted that it was difficult for him to find videos of the incident online.


title: Janet Jackson

text: Jackson began recording her ninth studio album, "20 Y.O.", in 2005. She recorded with producers Dupri, Jam and Lewis for several months during the following year. The album's title was a reference to the two decades since the release of her breakthrough album "Control", representing the album's "celebration of the joyful liberation and history-making musical style".


title: Janet Jackson

text: To promote the album, Jackson appeared in various magazines, and performed on the "Today Show" and at the Billboard Awards. Jackson's "Us Weekly" cover, revealing her slim figure after heavy media focus was placed on her fluctuations in weight, became the magazine's best-selling issue in history. "20 Y.O." was released in September 2006 and debuted at number two on the "Billboard" 200. The album received mixed reviews, with multiple critics chastising the production and involvement of Jermaine Dupri. "Rolling Stone" disagreed with the album's reference to "Control", saying "If we were her, we wouldn't make the comparison."


title: Janet Jackson

text: Jackson's airplay and music channel blacklist remained persistent, massively affecting her chart performance and exposure. However, lead single "Call on Me", which featured rapper Nelly, peaked at number twenty-five on the Hot 100, number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and number six in the United Kingdom. The video for the album's second single, "So Excited", was directed by Joseph Kahn and portrayed Jackson's clothes disappearing through a complex dance routine.


title: Janet Jackson

text: "20 Y.O." was certified Platinum by the RIAA and sold 1.5 million worldwide, also receiving a Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary R&B Album.


title: Janet Jackson

text: After the album's release, Dupri was condemned for his production and misguidance of the album, and subsequently was removed from his position at Virgin Records. "Slant Magazine" stated, "After promising a return to Janet's dance-pop origins, [Dupri] opted to aim for urban audiences, a colossal mistake that cost Dupri his job and, probably, Janet her deal with Virgin."


title: Janet Jackson

text: Jackson was ranked the seventh richest woman in the entertainment industry by "Forbes", having amassed a fortune of over $150 million. In 2007, she starred opposite Tyler Perry as a psychotherapist in the film "Why Did I Get Married?". It became her third consecutive film to open at number one at the box office, grossing $60 million. Jackson's performance was praised for its "soft authority", though also described as "charming, yet bland".


title: Janet Jackson

text: Jackson signed with Island Records after her contract with Virgin was fulfilled. She interrupted plans for touring and began recording with various producers, including Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, Tricky Stewart, and Stargate. Her tenth studio album, "Discipline", was released in February 2008, opening at number one. Despite radio blacklisting, the album's first single "Feedback" peaked at number nineteen on the Hot 100 and nine on Pop Songs, her highest-charting single since "Someone to Call My Lover".


title: Janet Jackson

text: Also in February 2008, Jackson won an Image Award for "Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture" for the role. Jackson was also approached to record the lead single for the film "Rush Hour 3". Jackson was awarded the Vanguard Award at the 19th annual GLAAD Media Awards, honoring her contributions in promoting equal rights among the gay community. The organization's president commented, "Ms. Jackson has a tremendous following inside the LGBT community and out, and having her stand with us against the defamation that LGBT people still face in our country is extremely significant." Jackson was among hundreds of artists whose material was destroyed in the 2008 Universal Studios fire.


title: Janet Jackson

text: Jackson's fifth concert tour, the Rock Witchu Tour, began in September 2008. Jackson parted with Island Records through mutual agreement. "Billboard" disclosed Jackson was dissatisfied with LA Reid's handling of the album and its promotion, saying "the label agreed to dissolve their relationship with the artist at her request." Producer Rodney Jerkins expressed "I felt like it wasn't pushed correctly... She just didn't get her just due as an artist of that magnitude."


title: Janet Jackson

text: In June 2009, Jackson's brother Michael died at age fifty. She spoke publicly concerning his death at the 2009 BET Awards, stating "I'd just like to say, to you, Michael is an icon, to us, Michael is family. And he will forever live in all of our hearts. On behalf of my family and myself, thank you for all of your love, thank you for all of your support. We miss him so much." In an interview, she revealed she had first learned of his death while filming "Why Did I Get Married Too?".


title: Janet Jackson

text: Amidst mourning with her family, she focused on work to deal with the grief, avoiding any news coverage of her sibling's death. She commented, "it's still important to face reality, and not that I'm running, but sometimes you just need to get away for a second." During this time, she ended her seven-year relationship with Jermaine Dupri.


title: Janet Jackson

text: Several months later, Jackson performed a tribute to Michael at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, performing their duet "Scream". MTV stated "there was no one better than Janet to anchor it and send a really powerful message." The performance was lauded by critics, with "Entertainment Weekly" affirming the rendition "as energetic as it was heartfelt".


title: Janet Jackson

text: Jackson's second hits compilation, "Number Ones" (retitled "The Best" for international releases), was released in November 2009. For promotion, she performed a medley of hits at the American Music Awards, Capital FM's Jingle Bell Ball at London's O2 arena, and "The X-Factor". The album's promotional single "Make Me", produced with Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, debuted in September. It became Jackson's nineteenth number one on the Hot Dance Club Songs chart, making her the first artist to have number-one singles in four separate decades.


title: Janet Jackson

text: Later that month, Jackson chaired the inaugural benefit of amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, held in Milan in conjunction with fashion week. The foundation's CEO stated "We are profoundly grateful to Janet Jackson for joining amfAR as a chair of its first event in Milan... She brings incomparable grace and a history of dedication to the fight against AIDS." The event raised $1.1 million for the nonprofit organization.


title: Janet Jackson

text: In April 2010, Jackson reprised her role in the sequel to "Why Did I Get Married?" titled "Why Did I Get Married Too?". The film opened at number two, grossing sixty million. Jackson's performance was hailed as "invigorating and oddly funny", and praised for her "willingness to be seen at her most disheveled". Her performance earned her an Image Award for "Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture". Jackson recorded the film's theme, "Nothing", released as a promotional single. The song was performed on the ninth season finale of "American Idol" along with "Again" and "Nasty".


title: Janet Jackson

text: In July, Jackson modeled for the Blackglama clothing line featuring mink fur, then helped design a signature line of clothing and accessories for Blackglama, to be sold at Saks Fifth Avenue and Bloomingdales. Universal Music released the hits compilation "" as the debut of the "Icon" compilation series.


title: Janet Jackson

text: In November 2010, Jackson starred as Joanna in the drama "For Colored Girls", the film adaptation of Ntozake Shange's 1975 play "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf". "The Wall Street Journal" stated Jackson "recites verses written by Ntozake Shange, the author of the play that inspired the film ... But instead of offering up a mannered coffeehouse reading of the lines, Jackson makes the words sound like ordinary—though very eloquent—speech." Jackson's portrayal in the film was likened to Meryl Streep as Miranda Priestly in "The Devil Wears Prada". Her performance earned Black Reel Awards nominations in the categories of Outstanding Supporting Actress and Outstanding Ensemble.


title: Janet Jackson

text: Jackson announced plans to embark on her largest world tour in support of her second hits collection, "Number Ones". The tour, entitled Number Ones, Up Close and Personal, held concerts in thirty-five global cities, selected by fans who submitted suggestions on her official website. During the tour, Jackson performed thirty-five number one hits and dedicated a song to each city. Mattel released a limited-edition Barbie of Jackson titled "Divinely Janet", auctioned for over $15,000, with proceeds donated to Project Angel Food.