Bradford Pearson

My Case For: MTV's current programming

On Feb. 8, 2010, Music Television died, and MTV took over. It doesn’t matter that MTV has been known as just MTV for decades, the transition from two-word phrase to meaningless acronym was actually important: the channel had changed.

And, I think, it’s changed for the better.

See the world doesn’t need Music Television anymore. The concept has run its course. If people want music now, they find it online, or on iTunes, or in Target commercials. Even if MTV still played music videos, would I sit down for a half hour and just watch them? No. The whole concept seems laughably arcane.

Instead of music videos, MTV has filled its hours with a lovable blend of teenage kitsch, 20-something semi-seriousness, and Snooki. And it’s the better for it.

Take the show “16 and Pregnant” for example. Could you imagine even trying to air that show 15 years ago? Showing c-sections on a channel aimed at 17-year-old girls?

I was watching the show earlier today, and Samantha and Eric were about to have their first child. After 15 hours of labor, Jordynn finally popped out. 15 excruciating, bloody, disgusting hours. High school health classes should just show episodes of “16 and Pregnant” on loop, then post screenshots of the birthing scenes around the girls locker rooms. Necking under the bleachers would plummet.

And “16 and Pregnant” is just one example.

“Jersey Shore” kicks ass. I can't even imagine using the word "situation" in a sentence now without thinking about the show.

“The Hills” has been better than any season of The Real World since 1997.

And I would watch any episode of “Teen Mom” over a collection of Beyonce and Justin Bieber videos any day of the week.

Yes, I understand that shows like “Headbangers Ball,” "Yo! MTV Raps," and “120 Minutes” were important to the way music was consumed, and probably changed the path of the music industry forever. And yes, I do miss seeing Ananda Lewis (my first interracial crush!). But Music Television is unnecessary now.

If I want music, I go to Pitchfork or one of the 100 million other music blogs out there. If I want mindless entertainment, I turn to MTV.

A bonus for all those Ananda fans out there:

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Posted by Bradford Pearson at 10:44 PM