There's something truly magical about witnessing a young talent blossom into greatness, and a wonderful 1975 clip of teenage Michael Jackson performing with Cher gives us exactly that heartwarming experience.

When 16-year-old Michael took the stage with his brothers, The Jackson 5, on The Cher Show, audiences witnessed something special. The group performed a medley of their beloved hits including "I Want You Back," "I'll Be There," and "Never Can Say Goodbye." But the moment that still brings smiles nearly fifty years later came during "Dancing Machine," when the brothers broke into the robot dance and Cher enthusiastically jumped in to join them.

The performance is pure joy to watch. Michael moves with hypnotic precision, his movements so fluid yet mechanical that he seems to defy the laws of physics. Meanwhile, Cher gamely does her best to keep up with the brothers, creating a delightful contrast that showcases both her willingness to learn and their incredible skill.

In a 2003 interview, Cher warmly recalled the experience with genuine affection. "Think of how hard it was for me to learn to do that, and the guys just knew how to do it," she remembered. "I've been working all day, and they just came on and said, 'Okay, sure, this is how you do it.' I had a lot of fun on that show. It was a lot of work, but I had a lot of fun. You know, and I got to work with some great people."

The Jackson 5 played an important role in bringing the robot dance into mainstream American culture through their performances of "Dancing Machine." While the style had roots in earlier mechanical dances from the film era and was popularized by mime Robin Shields in the 1960s and dancers on Soul Train in the early '70s, the Jacksons made it accessible and exciting for a whole new generation.

What makes this performance even more special is that it represents a transitional moment for Michael. His voice had matured, and he sang in a deeper register than during his childhood years just a short time before. We're watching someone grow up before our eyes, transforming from child star to the electrifying performer he would soon become.

The collaboration between these artists reminds us of a wonderful era of variety television when different talents would come together simply to create something entertaining and beautiful. Both Cher and The Jackson 5 were at interesting points in their careers—within a year, Cher would reunite with Sonny Bono for their show, while The Jackson 5 would evolve into The Jacksons and continue their journey.

This clip serves as a beautiful time capsule of talent, hard work, and the simple pleasure of artists coming together to entertain. It's a reminder that some of the best moments in entertainment history came from genuine collaboration and the willingness to try something new—even if it meant learning robot dance moves on the fly!