7 minute read

MTV:almost./egal,celebrates20th

by Ryan Mulloy

claimed reality series 'The Real World." The show caught on staff writer and bas inspired many other reality shows we see today.

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Some 20 years ago, the idea of ·a 24-hour music video station seemed preposterous. Who would sit on their couch and watch nothing but music videos all day? MTV has grown with its viewers and now, in the year 2001, the idea of not having something like MTV would seem odd.

Twenty years ago, MTV made a splash into the cable industry with a few employees and a videotape library of music videos. The station was solely dedicated to the purpose of showcasing music videos and helping to sell recording rutists or bands. Withvery little else on the schedule, the station had many shows dedicated to certain type of videos.

"Yo MTV Raps" covered many of the artists of hip hop in the 1980s. "Headbanger's Ball" was a talk show and brought new rock acts and old to the fans of heavy metal. Throughout the day, nothing but video covered the sound waves.

Through time, MTV developed many little ideas and

"Road Rules" can also be linked to the rise in reality game shows like "Survivor."

It was in the '90s, though, that MTV became the signature for things like spring break and summer vacation. The hot spots were all hit by the MTV crew, as every spring and summer, MTV had a beach house packed to the roof with its young viewers, dancing to the latest in popular music and taking part in vacation activities. MTV promoted the notion of doing something with spring break and making a road trip out of the time, turning spring break from a long weekend to a celebration of youth.

While it never really gets taken seriously by critics, the MTV news department has been a very influential center of viewer's lives. Viewers learned about the deaths of Kurt Cobain, Notorious B.I.G., and Tupac Shakur. They were kept open to the latest news about Napster in the Supreme Court. But most importantly, MTV helped influence voters. With their "Choose Or Lose" campaigns, MTV has managed to reveal to young voters that their opinion matters in talking to candidates in special edition town ball meetings. These candid interviews opened up interest and trust with politicians aild it was all brought to you by Music Television.

Though MTV has changed much of its programming and taken the videos down to a minimum. it still plays play a major role in what is popular today in the music industry. Its flagship video show "Total Request Live" involves fans calling or emailing the show and requesting their favorite video for a countdown. Keeping these videos on the show lends to people's interest in buying and tuning in to MTV as well, thus showing MTV great influence on today's youth.

While MTV's video programming has dwindled over the past few years, it has have expanded its operations to the digital cable world. With several 24-hour-a-day ]video networks, MTV can now play photo retrievedfrom www.nsync.com everything it has in its catalogue, be it on

'N' Sync is definitely one band that has reaped the benefits of the popular MTV show Total Request Live, with hot host teenage girls can not get enough of Carson Daly

MTV X, which plays nothing but rock videos, or even MTV Spanish Videos.

MTV's reign over the last 20 years in music and pop culture culminated with a celebration entitled "Live & Almost made them into filler, so not to overplay videos day in, day out. The channel found much success in shows like "Remote Control" and 'The Ben Stiller Show." Another show, called ''Liquid Television" featured many cartoons, including the wildly popular "Beavis & Butthead," which later made it big on its own with MTV, including a feature film.

As MTV rolled into the'90s,it started things up with a new format. Video time slots made way for the latest in fashion trends with "House Of Style." When "Remote Control' became dated, MTV came up with "Singled Out," another game show that paired off men and women crazy enough to participate.

MTV is a major trendsetter in pop culture. These days reality programs are about all you can find on your TV. However, it was in the'90s that MTV began running its highly ac- fif«Best•Roci•Videoad Nelly's '1tideWttMe~ roe away with Best Rap Video. And the •sexy"Lady Marmalade" crew of UI' Kim.Chri&dnaAguilera. hom8 Videoof the Mya and Pink toot•bomcthe YNT Awantalong cherished Video of the Year withChrlatlna Awn

Legal." The show wasn't just an event to show music as it is now, but was a show that celebrated the old days up until the future of MTV, even with the DJs of old. With a tribute to artists like Notorious B.I.G and Tupac Shakur, to performances by bands like the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Billy Idol, and Bon Jovi, MTV covered the last 20 years of music and music videos.

While MTV was an idea that people didn't believe in when it started, it's tough to do without it. It has influenced opinions on music, artists, and general pop culture. It would come as no surprise that if in 20 more years, MTV is still ruling the airwaves.

Oace•again.MTVhasmanapdto sbmoozedie worldfromNY's MetropolitiaoOperaHouseby hosting V'tdeoMusicAwards.JamieFoxemceedtbenight andbadthecrowdlaughingwithtears. Fansall overtbe worldweregiven tbeopportunity to see theirfavorite musicians perform on stage, using everything from live snakes to dangling from a chindetierto entertain their beloved fans.

The entire experience is one to remember,however, some of this year's VMA mo--ments are one for the history books. Michael Jackson, the king of pop, surprised the crowd with his fancy foot action on stage with 'N' Sync. That is definitely a moment to remember. Also, you can Al/photos rf1/riev9d not forg~t Triumph the comic from www.mtv.com dog, from "Late Night with Britney Spears was one Conan O'Brien" getting of the performers. laughs from the crowd, while using no for the •t,utt' of his •obs. Actor. Ben Stiller alsodecidedto take a stab at P-Diddy's pride in front of millions. Mowever. P-Diddy showed no hard feelings to Stiller, in fact it was hard for both thugs to~ b9ck their laugbtef.

Aside from jokes, snakeg and chandeliers many artists walkedawaywith trophies Wlor.Uthcirblld wort. 'N' Sync appeared to be the.big winner of the • .~bolnc·~ for Best Group Video. Best Gwenand EvewonBest Pop Video and the Vtewer's Ft!llnaleVideo. 1Choi4'oe from the MTV Video Music Awards. Sdani from No Doubt walbd away with a tro-tbr tltielest Maleawt~Vadeo. Stefani . s'ta a'lfflll¥: - w IDflil• ~--~Limj ... ~.piiecl ....

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by BeoeeIorncaoio managing editor

The reality television boom is still going strong. With "Fear Factor" pushing the envelope this summer by having contestants eat sheeps' eyes and lying down with rats, it is impossible to see what producers will put out this year. The fall season is chock full of these types of shows. Over the next few issues, the Loquitur will preview/review these shows and see which ones will be voted off or survive.

n't have a lot of gimmicks... If it's intelligently done, [it] crayons, candy and coloring books. could be compelling," O'Brien told TV Guide.

In the "less-is-more" category is the newest reality series "Lost." The premise is simple. Take six strangers from different backgrounds, randomly pair them up into three teams of two, and leave them in some unnamed location on the globe. The goal: get back to the Statue of Liberty before the other teams.

The prize: $200,000 and two new Mercury Mountaineers.

This newish twist on the old reality standard became the pet project of an unlikely celebrity, late-night talk show host Conan O'Brien. O'Brien, whose television program often pokes fun at shows like "Survivor" and "Big Brother," found "Lost" to be much more interesting than the other shows in the genre."Lost" is another American attempt to adapt a British series. O'Brien saw the show and was struck by it.

"[Lost] seemed like a very smart reality show - it did- h.y Ger/ 1yna (Mee A & E editor

Due to the mind-boggling tragedy of the terrorist airplane crashes experienced on Tues., Sept. 11, the Emmy Awards that were scheduled to premier on Sun., Sept.16 have been postponed indefinitely.

The 53rd annual Primetime Emmy Awards. were to be broadcasted on CBS from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles; however, Jim Chabin, president of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, has decided to postpone the Emmy Award ceremony, "out of respect for the victims, their families and fellow citizens."

The three teams were then blindfolded and flown to their O'Brien, who is acting as- the show's producer, also unknown location. Instead of dropping each of the teams in chose "Lost'' because it is not as focused on cut throat com- a different place, all the teams were left off at the same petition. "There's not an element of people trying to screw point. Their first mission was to find out what country they each other over - which may ultimately be the flaw of were in. this program," O'Brien said.

The hour-long episode then followed these six people

It very well may be. trying to overcome different cultural and physical obsta-

"Lost" premiered Sept. 5 at 8 p.m. on NBC. Just as the cles. Celeste, the beauty queen, could not handle heavy commercials promised, six strangers were stranded some- backpacks. Carla, the catty one, tried desperately to comwhere on the globe. They were not allowed any personal municate with the locals to get a ride. items and were stripped searched to ensure that no one With these the conflicts and the occasional tiff as the could cheat. major plot, "Lost" drags. There is very little action, and we learn little of the country they are in and the potential dangers. The contestants are the same that viewers have seen since the first Real World. Although it is refreshing not to see the constant bickering, "Lost" offers very little else. NBC would be better off if they left O'Brien to bis latenight talk show and focusing on its other British import 'The Weakest Link."

STAY TUNED FOR MORE REALITY T.V.SHOW REVIEWS NEXT WEEK.:

SNEAK PEAK: The Amazing Race

The eager crew of the new reality r V show "Lost" awaits their 'lost' location aboard the show's plane.

Then they were provided with backpacks that claimed to be "the weight of a 10 year-old child." These "survival" packs contained some clothes, two liters of water, a twoday supply of food and other essential survival items like

ATTENTION!!

ALL STUDENTS 18-24 YEARS OF AGE PARTICULARLY RESIDENT STUDENTS

Photo retn·eved from www.emmyawards.com Are you interested in receiving the Menin1itisVaccine?

The Academy has also postponed close to a week of celebrity receptions and other social events leading up to the Emmy Awards show. The Emmy Awards is television's equivalent of the Oscars.

Please remember to keep the innocent victims and families of those involved in this meaningless act of violence in your prayers.

If so, you must sign up at health services. Feel free to sign-up Monday through Friday 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. now tiH September 28, 2001.

Cost depends on total number of doses ordered: $40-$75 per dose.

If you have any questions, please call health services @ ext.8400.

Health services is located in the Rooyman's Center next to the library.

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