MTV and their grip on 'Reality'

Just finished a bit of late weekend television and decided another bit of written-on-a-whim blogging would feel satisfying. Here's another New Ears...


So the nice thing about having a significant other again is that I'm introduced to new things. Sometimes I'm even re-introduced to old things I've managed to let slip from everyday life. This is entirely the case for MTV and their "awards show," the VMA's.

I know it's become incredibly cliché to rip on MTV, but it's not like they've made it easy on themselves. Actually, wait a minute, maybe they have. After all, how hard is it to produce the same television show over and over again, each with a new name, every three months? How hard is it to put aside actually seeking out new and exciting music and just push whichever label-produced PR dream is new this quarter because, well, they're part of the corporate family? Do you remember the day's (though few they may have been) when you actually felt compelled to watch MTV? Remember when they actually had cult programming? Beavis & Butthead wasn't exactly Shakespeare, but at least there was a story behind (some of) it, at least there was a creative process behind it. Nowadays, all you've got is a show literally about 20 guys & gals competing on an island where getting completely obliterated and hooking up with each other is actually encouraged. The commercial for MTV's new reality contest, The Island, actually dumbs it down enough for you midway through, when they actually say, "Oh yeah, and there'll be plenty of hooking up." It's prostitution for the new age.

And how about the actual VMA's? They used to have acts perform before and during the show, remember? Now it's the winner's of their reality dance competition show and a bunch of actors miming to a virtual orchestra of backing tracks. How long have I not been paying attention to the Top 20? When did popular music for the masses become a series of blips and screeches, flashes noise and crotch fondling? When did the complete absence of melody and tune become popular? Why are the nominees for best rock video a bunch of faces? And Rap, Hip-Hop, R&B? Guys, you're declining as well.

It's not that I don't like the genres, but you can do better. You all can. There were two performers tonight that weren't main highlights at all. They had no dose of spectacle, other than letting music speak for itself. Thank you Lupe Fiasco. Thank you Ting Tings. You two were the two best performers of the night, yet you were reduced to ushering in & out the commercial breaks.

And Britney Spears? Look, I'm with South Park on this one, leave her alone and everything will be fine. Forget about all the stupid shit that has happened in the past and lets just move on already. Instead, MTV makes the grandest apologetic gesture of all time, and one that completely solidifies it's place in the corporate marketplace, by giving Britney Spears three awards for a song & video that is literally her standing in one place shaking her hips. The awards it seems have been given as a "really sorry we made you out to look like a complete fool last year" type stunt. You know what though? Who cares right? It was the 25th anniversary of the VMA's, I say let them go out with a flutter.

I think I may be ranting. But that'll happening when you're listening to something again with new ears.

MTV, please go away. Take a breather. Come back in 5 years and let's see if we can't start this over again, on better terms. Right now I think the world can do without you.

On another note though, Brit-host Russell Brand was actually quite funny. I think he was perfectly offensive and nobody saw it coming. Well done, Russ. You were the best part of the night.

Jesus, I just blogged about an MTV awards show.