I REALLY Want My MTV! the Demise of Music Television

MTV launched in August of 1981. It was innovative; the first channel of its kind. MTV was revolutionary because it gave artists the chance to spotlight their music. Videos started out as clips from various concerts of the artists, and evolved into stories, so to speak. Many bands might not have gotten recognized had it not have been for MTV.

MTV showcased artists on shows such as MTV Unplugged, and in the early 1990's, various shows were seen on MTV. Some of the first ones were Remote Control, a game in which 3 players answered questions about pop culture, and The Real World, whose opening sequence states: "This is the true story, of seven strangers, picked to live in a house, work together and have their lives taped, to find out what happens when people stop being polite, and start getting real. The Real World." Beavis and Butthead also premiered in the early 1990's.

By the late 1990's, MTV started to cut back on playing music videos. Viewers started complaining. To combat this, they started up several shows that played music videos, those being MTV Live, Total Request (those eventually merging to be "Total Request Live") and 12 Angry Viewers. By the early 2000's, MTV heavily relied on reality shows. Road Rules, a spin off of The Real World, premiered, along with television and musical stars getting their own reality shows. The Osbornes and Meet the Barkers were some of the reality shows that started the "I have my own reality show" boom. Jessica Simpson was mediocre in the fame department before her reality show, Newlyweds, with her husband Nick, debuted. After that, her fame exploded, thanks to her ditziness. "Is this chicken or tuna?" was probably the line heard 'round the world. Her over-the-top sexuality probably helped a little.

Now, if you turn on MTV, you'll see almost nothing but dating shows. "Next", "Parental Control" and "Exposed" are some of the many reality dating shows you will find on MTV. Of course, these shows are oozing with sex. Making out, sexual remarks, promiscuity and over-the-top flirting are regularly shown for your viewing pleasure. Of course, with society today, this is not an unusual thing, but that is an entirely different article, my friend.

Want to see music videos? Get up at 5 a.m. That's right; MTV has its "Video Wake-Up" from 5 a.m. to around 8 a.m. After that, it's all about the reality shows and dating programs. Sure, they have TRL, if you don't mind seeing half of your favorite video and hearing 5,000 tweens screaming, "Hi, My name is Melissa and I requested so-and-so video because it's so cool and I loooove this band! WHOOOOOOOOOOO!" I personally went through my TV's programming guide and didn't see a single video slot after 8:00 a.m. Music Television my foot.