So what will be MTV’s place in television history? Perhaps one should go out and see the new film Miami Vice this weekend with Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx. MTV impacted the old show on which this film is based as it has done with so many other things we may not even connect to the channel. Shows like Survivor and American Idol would not be what they are (maybe not even “be” at all) if not for the MTV influence. Also, the amazing and now seemingly essential integration of music (timely, popular, or cutting edge as needed) into all programming, but specifically drama, proves that MTV became the soundtrack for our lives.
I am not doing anything too special to mark MTV’s 25th birthday this week but, not surprisingly, neither is the musical channel. MTV probably doesn’t want the kids counting the candles on the cake or singing the childlike question “Are you one? Are you two?,” for the answer might surprise some of its young fans.
In my time we used to say “Never trust anyone over 30.” Then, when we sort of got close to that birthday, and that designated age seemed a little “young” after all. But that kind of knowledge comes with time and experience, so MTV’s demographic will learn, like all generations have no choice but to learn, but by then most of them will be watching VH-1 or maybe even (perish the thought) CNN.
So on Tuesday I’ll take out my old Martha Quinn poster, lift a glass of bubbly (probably seltzer), and toast the old days while listening to Sinead O’Connor sing “Nothing Compares to You” (I’ve seen the video hundreds of times but know I’ll never be able to find it on MTV these days). Afterwards, I’ll lug my old dinosaur bones over to the television and probably watch So You Think You Can Dance. Sadly, I fear that’s where this old MTV fan goes to get his kicks these days.
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Article comments
1 - Deanne C.
I was watching TV the day that MTV launched (August 1, 1981). That is a day that will stand in my mind for the rest of my life.
Those were the days, when we were introduced to "Jessie's Girl", we listened when Pat Benetar said "You Better Run" and we "Ran" so far away. Ahh the days when MTV came out with the Fab 5 (Before Queer Eye).
As the song says, Those were the days. What happened? Back then MTV banned "Girls on Film" for being too racy, now on MTV, they could show that video and it would be like watching the Disney Channel.
Yes, we look back at those videos that were first shown on MTV and go "how cheesy", but I would rather watch all those "cheesy" videos that see the cRAP they show on their now.
2 - duane
Influential, yes. A good influence? Absolutely not. They managed to make a bunch of money while pretty much seeing to it that The Buggles' prediction came true. There were some interesting videos, Peter Gabriel, Tears for Fears, Blind Melon, Herbie Hancock, but all in all, the music suffered for it. MTV helped usher in the boy band era, Britney, the hair bands, rap/hip-hop dreck. Then it only got worse once they stopped playing music videos. They helped promote the voyeuristic garbage known as reality TV, for example. Thanks, MTV.
3 - Michael J. West
Not only did video kill the radio star, but then MTV killed the video star!
4 - Victor Lana
Thanks for the comments. The best one thus far is this:
"Not only did video kill the radio star, but then MTV killed the video star!"
Michael, this is on target. Where are all those "stars" that we grew up with now? Only someone like Madonna could survive but few others did.
Can you say "Boy George" without laughing?
5 - Joan Hunt
I never liked Martha Quinn, she was too goofy bouncy Katie Couric-ish for me. I always thought Nina Blackwood was far more awesome. She was the one all us girls wanted to be. Ah, well...times have changed much, haven't they?
The only thing still the same on MTV is Kurt Loder and he gives me the creeps.
6 - Joan Hunt
Congrats! This article has been placed on Advance.net
7 - Victor Lana
Thanks very much, Joan. Oh, yes, Kurt is very creepy, lind of like Count Loder these days. Did anyone ever pay attention to MTV "news" anyway?
By the way, strangely enough MTV's cousin VHI is doing a tribute today, broadcasting the first day of programming. Hmmm.
8 - Ballngm
MTV sucks BET rules.
9 - Scott Butki
Good piece.
I remember being so excited when we got MTV.
I remember watching the MTV New Year's parties with high school buddies.
I remember showing my mom the videos for Band
Aid's song and the We Are the World and trying
to explain why the former was so much better than
the latter.
(I remember later having to do a slow dance to the
latter and thinking it was the worst song to
try to dance to.)
But then all those Real World Road Rules etc. shows took over and it's been downhill since there.
10 - Victor Lana
You've got it right, Scott. Those early days, while definitely giving too much air time to the VJs, also established what was a continutation of a 70s consciousness developed in rock and roll: helping others, social awareness, and cultural diversity.
What was really cool about the early years was that one could sit back and watch videos by Prince, Sinead O'Connor, MC Hammer, and Aerosmith all within the same sequence. The early MTV embraced all kinds of music and that definitely changed the public perception of popular music.
As I mentioned in the post, it was toward the end of the first decade when things seemed to unravel. The power of success for MTV corrupted the initial good vibes found on the channel and that would be lost forever.
ALERT: VHI is repeating the all-day MTV celebration again this week. I believe on Thursday.
11 - WHITEY
"MTV sucks BET rules."
Yeah, let's all watch a bunch of brothers and their pathetic excuse for noise and all their stupid jewelry and fake teeth
I'll take my MTV
12 - lamar
why mtv go back showing video and have a mtv show only channel
13 - daryl d
MTV was great. They influenced my generation to get involved with politics. The music videos were great. Something happened after the year 2000 though. Maybe I'm getting older, but I can barely stand to turn on MTV anymore. The videos, when they play it, mean nothing. It's just mind numbing trash.
Kurt Loder is great, by the way. I liked that he had no personality whatsoever, but his musical knowledge was great.
14 - Mark Saleski
in addition to Loder, MTV had other very knowledgeable staff members including Matt Pinfield.
if folks want to see piles of music videos, there's something called The Tube on some cable systems. it's what mtv used to be minus the dj's.
15 - Tom Johnson
I can't claim to fully understand how MTV operates, and how they justify the nearly all-"reality" approach they take, but one thing is certain: they have successfully maintained their focus on the youth market. Where most successful projects mature as their market matures, MTV did exactly the opposite and refused to do anything that catered to an older market. I'm not saying I like this, I'm just saying that they really stuck to their target demographic of 14-22 or so and really know how to tap into that market. What's unfortunate for everyone else is that they keep making new channels aimed at addressing the rest of the market and then they slowly turn them into clones of the original MTV. Look at VH-1 - first it was "adult music" and then it started carrying more country material in the 90s when it got big, plus they started carrying special programming that wasn't strictly music. And now it's turned into exactly what MTV is - "reality" programming but with a focus on celebrities, for some reason. MTV2 is the same story, but its focus is hip-hop. VH1-Classic was great a few years ago but in the past couple of years, they've slipped in, show by show, reality programming and now barely feature the classic videos that was its claim to fame at all - the very reason most of us tuned in!
I'm certain that the MTV conglomerate looked at responses to their fledgling non-music programming a decade ago and realized that stuff got more viewers, but I don't understand why they couldn't be pleased the numbers that their intended programming was getting. Of course there will be more viewers for non-music material - not everyone wants to watch the music videos that they are focusing on. But the whole intent of the channel is to show music videos. Why couldn't they simply create RTV - the "reality TV" channel?
There's no good answer to any of this, not one that would make any kind of change in the way things are going. MTV has found a very successful formula. Unfortunately, it's just not very satisfying in any way, save for the occasional spot of bright light gleaming from some of the "socially aware" programming like True Life and even Made.
16 - Victor Lana
Thanks for these new comments, guys. It's great when someone visits an archived piece and gives me some fresh ideas to think about. Cheers!