2008 Woodie Awards
MTV is going downhill
Kat Spear
Issue date: 2/8/05 Section: Entertainment
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"Video Killed the Radio Star," sang the Buggles as they synthesized their way into pop culture history. Home entertainment changed forever on Aug. 1, 1980 when America declared "I want my MTV" and the age of the music video began. In the beginning, MTV was music television, meaning television that played music. It was a frenzy of videos, killer cartoon shorts and contests that other stations wouldnʼt even pitch at a board meeting, let alone actually put on the air. Where else could you enter a sweepstakes to have a ruthless heavy metal band like Anthrax destroy your house? Nowhere but on MTV. But what has it evolved into over the course of its 25 years on our collective radar? If video killed the radio star, then who killed the video star? The answer: reality TV. It all started when seven strangers stopped being polite and started getting "real." But it didnʼt stop with Puck and Pedro. Sure, there were still old favorites such as "Headbangerʼs Ball" and "Yo! MTV Raps," but as the network grew, along with its executivesʼ bank accounts, it became less about edge and more about income. The stars of MTV became less and less musical and more and more commercial. Icons such as Tommy Lee and Bon Jovi became few and far between as virtues like having talent and playing your own instruments became less conducive to musical success. But where is the music today? Not on MTV, thatʼs for sure, unless you manage to catch an old Britney Spears clip at four in the morning. Now all youʼll find fumblingacross the airwavesthese days is a stringof shows that are nothing more than the same three ideas with a slight twist.
For those who enjoy seeing people put into uncomfortable situations and having strangers rifle through their underwear drawer, might I suggest "Room Raiders." Or, if invading the world of spoiled and whiny high school kids is more appealing, thereʼs always "Made" and the newest addition to MTVʼs mind-numbing arsenal, "My Super Sweet Sixteen."
For those who enjoy seeing people put into uncomfortable situations and having strangers rifle through their underwear drawer, might I suggest "Room Raiders." Or, if invading the world of spoiled and whiny high school kids is more appealing, thereʼs always "Made" and the newest addition to MTVʼs mind-numbing arsenal, "My Super Sweet Sixteen."
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