A&E plans Jackson family reality show

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 26 (UPI) -- The U.S. cable channel A&E says it is planning a reality TV series starring the late singer Michael Jackson's brothers.

The New York Times said A&E has confirmed it ordered the show, but added it is still working out the details with the program's production company, Point 7 Entertainment.

It is unclear what the format of the series will be or when it might air.

The Times said the series grew out of a one-hour special about the brothers that A&E had planned before Michael Jackson's June 25 death at the age of 50.

The channel reportedly started taping footage last January of Jermaine, Jackie, Marlon, Randy and Tito Jackson as they prepared for a possible musical reunion.

Executive producer Jodi Gomes said Tuesday the expanded series would focus on the Jacksons "as they reunite as brothers, obviously, underneath a cloud of tragedy."

"To anybody that says the family is capitalizing on Michael's death, it will be evident in the first episode that that's not true," Gomes said, noting most of Michael's kin have not talked about him publicly since he died.