Bruce Springsteen concert helps Pearson family mourn lost father on 'This Is Us'
ASBURY PARK, N.J. — It took the music of Bruce Springsteen to put dad Jack Pearson to rest on Tuesday's episode of the NBC hit family drama, This Is Us.
The promise of a Springsteen concert keeps the Pearson clan going after they lost their dad after a fire in the This Is Us" episode that aired after the Super Bowl on Sunday. Mom, Rebecca Pearson, played by Mandy Moore, spreads her husband's ashes next to his favorite tree, and then she tells the kids she has tickets, purchased by dad, to see a Springsteen show. The flashback sequence takes place Jan. 31, 1998.
The tickets are for a show at the Benedum Center for the Performing Arts in Pittsburgh. Alas, the show never took place in real life, and the concert is not shown on the episode.
More: Recap: 'This Is Us' takes a drive through family life with Jack Pearson
The Boss did play that night at a star-studded benefit for the family of slain Long Branch, N.J., police Sgt. Patrick King at the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, N.J.
Jon Bon Jovi, Little Steven Van Zandt, Southside Johnny and more took part in the King benefit.
While the Benedum show didn't take place, still, it's a nice sentiment.
More: Bon Jovi, Springsteen led concert to help slain N.J. cop's family
In Tuesday's episode, Jack Pearson, played by Milo Ventimiglia, popped the Boss' My Beautiful Reward into the cassette player of the family Jeep Wagoneer after he found daughter Kate, played by Hannah Zeile, playing hooky from school to go to an Alanis Morissette show in a flashback scene.
Jack is not impressed with Morissette. Kate see positive qualities in both Morrissette and Springsteen.
"Actually, Bruce and Alanis are not that different," Kate says. "Musically, they're nothing alike, but they do use songs to tell their stories, so like this intimacy comes. They make you feel like they're your best friend and also you at the same time."
Follow Chris Jordan on Twitter: @ChrisFHJordan
More: Where does 'This Is Us' go after the big reveal about Jack's death? We have the scoop