Top 10 Overlooked Moments in MTV History

Several lists have been floating around, highlighting the most memorable moments in MTV’s in 25-year history. TV with MeeVee couldn’t help but notice all the events and shows that were left out, particularly ones from CNN’s list. So, in chronological order, they bring you some lesser-known, but equally important, events that made MTV what it is today.

1. Purple Rain (1984)–MTV establishes itself as a major media player with the release of Prince’s Purple Rain. Live coverage of the premiere and high video rotation causes album and ticket sales to go through the roof. Co-branding/cross marketing/vertical integration is never the same.
Spawned: Graffiti Bridge, Crossroads, Save the Last Dance (MTV Films)

2. The VMAs (1984)–MTV gets hip to the award show game in 1984 with the launch of the VMAs. The show becomes a cultural mainstay, eventually leading to the even more popular MTV Movie Awards. Our favorite moments: Madonna lip-synching Like a Virgin while writhing on the floor in a white wedding dress. Jim Carrey onstage as Jim Morrison, asking “Would it kill you to play a little Foghat?”
Spawned: Kid’s Choice Awards, Teen Choice Awards

3. Club MTV (1985)–MTV’s answer to Soul Train and American Bandstand. Hosted by a where is she now Downtown Julie Brown, Club MTV featured a whole lotta dry humping in a sea of lycra. Wubba Wubba Wubba
Spawned: Ugh, The Grind

4. MTV Europe (1987)–You’ve heard the expression “Global Youth Culture?” Well, MTV is in full control of this mofo. MTV International is in approximately a gazillion countries, starting with Europe in 1987. You know your network is big when you’re premiering the new 50 Cent video for kids in Bangladesh.
Spawned: MTV Ukraine, Shakira, Kylie Minogue’s beautiful bum, Tupac craze in Africa

5. Remote Control (1987) and Singled Out (1995) –MTV reinvents the game show by rewarding unemployed couch potatoes for their boob-tube knowledge. The show ignites Gen Xers’ lasting obsession with pop culture and helps launch the careers of Adam Sandler, Dennis Leary, and Colin Quinn. By 1995, MTV updates the cheesy dating game show with Singled Out, giving viewers a first peek at Jenny McCarthy wearing clothes and Carmen Electra’s first appearance outside of Prince’s harem.
Spawned: Rock and Roll Jeopardy, World Series of Pop Culture, neXt

6. Totally Pauly (1989)–MTV has been home to several bright yet brief careers. Pauly Shore, aka The Wea-sel, is the prototype for this bunch that never really made it on the outside. Tom Green’s career took a nosedive the moment he left MTV (see Freddy Got Fingered, but don’t really see it). Of course, the big exception is Jon Stewart. You think MTV wishes they’d have never cancelled his talk show?
Spawned: The Tom Green Show, Just Say Julie

7. Animation gets twisted–Liquid Television (1991) ushers in a new generation of animation. Remember Aeon Flux before it was a movie? Beavis and Butt-head got their start on Liquid Television as well. Then there were Ren and Stimpy, Daria, and Sifl and Olly. Without MTV, South Park never would have stood a chance.
Spawned: Celebrity Deathmatch, Adult Swim, Robot Chicken

8. MTV Rocks the Vote (1992)–1992’s Choose or Lose campaign encourages young people to get involved in the political process, register to vote, and even asked the most critical question–boxers or briefs.
Spawned: Rock the Vote, True Life, ThinkMTV, Tabitha Soren’s brief career

9. Videos find a new home (1996)–MTV realizes that people miss music in their music video channel. Enter MTV2 in 1996. More music, more bands outside the mainstream, and more edgy shows (i.e., Wonder Shozen). Hallelujah!
Spawned: The Box, FUSE

10. Tupac’s murder (1996), Kurt Cobain’s Suicide (1994), Woodstock ’99–The mid to late ’90s were a dark period for music, and MTV was there to cover it. For many kids, Kurt Cobain’s suicide was the closest they had ever come to a death of a loved one. Woodstock ’99 proved disastrous on every level. Reports of rape, property destruction, and general mayhem went against everything the original had stood for. Tupac’s death launched a major war between East and West Coast rap, resulting in the retaliation murder of Notorious B.I.G.
Spawned: Grunge movement backlash, Courtney Love’s downward spiral, P. Diddy’s recording career

Aside from Britney’s kiss with Madonna (2003), the aughts have frankly been devoid of any major events. If you can think of any, feel free to post them below. We’re hoping for more.

A special thanks to GMMR’s friends over at TV with MeeVee for this great article. Feed your inner couch potato at TV with MeeVee. And make sure to check out MeeVee.com for all the latest TV listing, schedule, channels and more.