If you get VH1 Classic and need some background noise this weekend, they're showing MTV30 all weekend. I've not watched MTV in years, but this is sort of highlights of the network's history. So far there's been some very cool live stuff: U2 at Live Aid, LL Cool J Unplugged, No Doubt @ spring break circa 96, Radiohead, KISS, etc. It's been a reminder of what a good idea MTV was in the beginning, how much potential the network had, and how badly it's squandered that potential.
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July 30, 2011 11:46 a.m. Will HalfDork
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July 30, 2011 1:55 p.m. petegossett SuperDork
My wife had some MTV "Teen Mom" show on the other day, and between the show & all the commercials I had to ask her if our cable co. had added a new channel called "Welfare TV". :(
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July 30, 2011 8:12 p.m. gamby SuperDork
It's amazing how much they did to enhance culture up 'til the mid 90's. Now--worthless. Sad, really.
Did the viewing audience really get that stupid???
I realize the record industry died, but it's sad to me that MTV can celebrate hwo great they were and not strive to be anything worthwhile now.
I know--Snooki sells more than music.
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July 30, 2011 8:42 p.m. David S. Wallens Editorial Director
Is it horrible if I remember watching their 10-year anniversary special?
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July 30, 2011 9:18 p.m. Will HalfDork
During the Nirvana Unplugged segment today I noticed that Cobain and Grohl were smoking--I imagine that now MTV would pixellate that (if they showed music, that is). It's a little thing, but it struck me as a good example of how the network has changed over the years.
Also saw Clapton Unplugged, the Thriller video, Beavis & Butthead, and Onyx live on Yo! MTV Raps today. It's been pretty cool to see all this stuff again.
At midnight EST Monday morning they're replaying MTV's first ever broadcast hour. I might stay up for that.
ETA: change to the first hour broadcast time. Apparently, when MTV says "Midnight tomorrow" on a Saturday, they actually mean Monday.
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July 30, 2011 9:31 p.m. BoostedBrandon Reader
Alot of this was before my time, but I am enjoying this, I liked seeing the chili peppers on remote control, crazy how much things have changed
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July 30, 2011 11:09 p.m. rob_lewis Dork
On one hand, it's very cool....
PeeWee's return, Will Smith and RunDMC on Yo! MTV raps, Remote Control, Martha Quinn..... "Just turn it on and leave it on!". There was a time I would go weeks without anything else on
On the other hand, it's sad what it has become and watching this reminds me of how good it was.......
-Rob
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July 31, 2011 6:55 a.m. Woody SuperDork
David S. Wallens wrote:
Is it horrible if I remember watching their 10-year anniversary special?
Is it horrible if I remember saying, "That's a stupid idea. No one will ever watch music on TV."?
If I recall, ESPN was a bad idea, too...
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July 31, 2011 7:38 a.m. petegossett SuperDork
I remember as a pre-teen when MTV went on the air, our local cable company required a separate converter box just for MTV. My parents made we work & save the $50 for the box, which I gladly did.
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July 31, 2011 8:17 a.m. Racer1ab Reader
Woody wrote:
David S. Wallens wrote:
Is it horrible if I remember watching their 10-year anniversary special?
Is it horrible if I remember saying, "That's a stupid idea. No one will ever watch music on TV."?
If I recall, ESPN was a bad idea, too...
Is your name Ron Burgundy?
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July 31, 2011 8:47 a.m. mad_machine SuperDork
Amazing how making money can change both a person and a company. Onc MTV realised they could make a LOT of money being mainstream and milktoast.. it was all over. I have not watched them in a decade
I still have fond memories of "dead at 21"
