Reality Killed the Video Star

I want my ... I want my ... I want my MTV.

In 1981, the music industry changed forever when MTV aired The Buggles’ one-hit wonder “Video Killed the Radio Star.” TV viewers and music aficionados were delighted by two entertainment mediums merging together so effortlessly. Or at least I think they were. I wasn’t around yet to witness this monumental cross-breeding, but I did grow up with the residual aftermath.

Just like any child from the 80s, I wanted my MTV. I wished I had a dog like the one from The Dire Straits’ “Money for Nothing” video. I thought Michael Jackson was evil because he was such a convincing actor in “Thriller.” I memorized my phone number to the tune of Tommy Tutone’s “Jenny” since I couldn’t actually have 867-5309. If it was up to me, I would have worn my sunglasses at night on a trip to the Love Shack while wearing a Devo hat. But Papa did preach so I had to draw the line somewhere.

The point is that I loved MTV and everything it represented. I couldn’t think of anything better than the fusion between music and television. I was thrilled that video, indeed, killed the radio star because the video had a much better story behind it. I never thought there would be anything strong enough to ever kill the video. As time has proven, nothing has been strong enough. But still, reality killed the video star and butchered a chunk of music history with it.

When MTV first started the trend of replacing music videos with reality shows, I didn’t see the harm in it. I enjoyed watching Singled Out, learned a ton from Loveline, and was amused by Say What? Karaoke. I loved Beavis and Butt-head and I was thrilled when they released Daria as a spin-off. I didn’t mind The Real World and Road Rules because those were the only reality shows on television. I was even okay with the Tom Green Show – for a week or two, anyway. With VH1 getting cooler and MTV shows staying unique, I didn’t see the harm in cutting back on some of MTV’s music video time.

But then something happened. MTV came out with so many original shows that everything became unoriginal. Was there really any difference between Jackass and Viva La Bam? Wasn’t America’s Best Dance Crew close enough to So You Think You Can Dance? Did I really care about what a bedroom looked like in Room Raiders or how a car was transformed in Pimp My Ride? The answer to all those questions is a resounding “NO.” I also didn’t care about Nick and Jessica’s lives as Newlyweds, what went on at Laguna Beach, or who got A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila. I just wanted my MTV to go back to the way it used to be.

Unfortunately, that hasn’t happened yet and I doubt it will happen any time soon. Music videos can’t make a comeback while people are still addicted to what happens on Jersey Shore, what the next party will look like on My Super Sweet 16, and what kind of hairy mess will happen on the next Teen Wolf. As long as MTV keeps coming up with ‘new’ concepts, reality fans will keep flocking to the next big thing – even if that thing is totally lame.

Until then, I’ll be catching my old video favorites on YouTube and keeping up with my new faves on iTunes. Reality may have killed the video star, but it will never hurt my love for music as it was meant to be seen and heard. In fact, nothing can kill that love – except, of course, for Justin Bieber who even puts the new MTV to shame.