Posted on 07/31/2014 10:52:24 PM PDT by beaversmom
On this day in 1981, MTV: Music Television goes on the air for the first time ever, with the words (spoken by one of MTV’s creators, John Lack): “Ladies and gentlemen, rock and roll.” The Buggles’ “Video Killed the Radio Star” was the first music video to air on the new cable television channel, which initially was available only to households in parts of New Jersey. MTV went on to revolutionize the music industry and become an influential source of pop culture and entertainment in the United States and other parts of the world, including Europe, Asia and Latin America, which all have MTV-branded channels.
In MTV’s early days, its programming consisted of basic music videos that were introduced by VJs (video jockeys) and provided for free by record companies. As the record industry recognized MTV’s value as a promotional vehicle, money was invested in making creative, cutting-edge videos. Some directors, including Spike Jonze (Being John Malkovich, Three Kings) and Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind), worked on music videos before segueing into feature films. In the 1980s, MTV was instrumental in promoting the careers of performers such as Madonna, Michael Jackson, Prince and Duran Duran, whose videos played in heavy rotation.
By the late 1980s, MTV started airing non-video programming, geared toward teenagers and young adults. Its popular reality series The Real World launched in 1992 and was followed by such highly rated shows as The Osbournes, Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica, Laguna Beach, My Super Sweet 16 and The Hills. MTV also debuted animated series including Beavis and Butthead and Celebrity Deathmatch, as well as documentaries, news, game shows and public service campaigns on topics ranging from voting rights to safe sex. MTV developed a reputation for pushing cultural boundaries and taste; the airing of Madonna’s 1989 “Like a Prayer” video is just one famous example. In 1984, the channel launched the MTV Music Video Awards, which were followed in 1992 by the MTV Movie Awards. Today, MTV’s music-video programming is largely confined to one show, Total Request Live.
Not that I know of.
He’s just a lad, insane.
[if I keep poking him, maybe he’ll appear]
I’ll shut up after this about AG, but I love this part where Debbie is trying to console Toad:
You know, Terry?
I had a pretty good time tonight.
Come on. You’re just—
No, no. Really, really.
I really had a good time.
I mean, you picked me up and we got some hard stuff...
saw a hold up and then we went to the canal.
You got your car stolen.
And then I got to watch you get sick.
Then you got in this really bitchin’ fight.
I really had a good time.
Oh cool! I’ll have to go back and read your posts.
I’m sitting here depressed, thinking that *40 years ago*, I saw it new in the theater.
Ugh.
I’m old.
LOL!
I remember that.
I envied his scooter.
Still do.
I remember watching the the first two videos. Then I left the room.
Seems the only two videos I recall them playing were “I melt with you”, and my favorite video of all time, “Take on me”
Loved pop-up video.
As for Dexy’s totally agree, but they were really good when they did a spot on “The Young Ones”. For one brief moment, I thought their lead singer was kinda sexy, like Rod Stewart. Unlike the Eileen video.
(Love the song, disliked the video)
I must be feeling nostalgic tonight. I miss the 80s. I do not miss the hair.
I think that was the sum and total of my contribution...to slap Dreyfuss upside the head.
Man I had the hots for John Travolta in the 4th grade. :) Welcome Back Kotter and then Grease.
I have to admit I love Dreyfuss in AG and Jaws. I know he’s an ijit, but those are two of my all time fave movies.
“I melt with you”
All I can see when that video’s playing, is that icky Bandaid on his arm, wondering what’s under it.
:D
I went to the cable company office one day and the receptionist had the entire area *plastered* with Travolta stuff.
This was the front desk.
I have no idea how she got away with that.
It was a little disturbing.
I liked Epstein.
:)
I hear ya. Hey, but you still look great! And you know lots of "bitchin'" music. :)
Yup.
If you haven’t seen “Rosenkrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead”. please do.
He is excellent as The Player.
[I’ll give him a nod for Close Encounters, too]
I can see me in the rest home, now....”Hey! Crank up some Ozzy, dammit!”
Modern English was the 2nd concert I saw...1982. I only knew I’ll Stop the World and Melt with You, but that was enough.
Oh thank you!
I’ve never met anyone else who agrees Bruce jumped the shark after “The River”
To this day, I listen to that album a lot. “Point Blank” sends shivers down my back and makes me cry. “Cadillac Ranch” makes me dance.
LOL!!!
I'll have to try to find the video I saw with him in it the other night. It was about hell raising English stars.
I'll try to remember that one. Have not heard about it.
Point Blank is one of my top 5 Bruce tunes.
I hate to admit that liberal moron got me through a pretty rough youth.
And baby, the lights go...out.
In concert, he sang that in total darkness, with a single spotlight on him.
And, of course, on the word “out”, they cut the light.
Awesome.
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