Shooting MTV in a Barrel
I know this is almost too easy a complaint to make, but I found it extremely funny this week.
I watched TRL on Tuesday, because O.A.R. was going to be there to premiere their new video. This is TRL’s Brand Spanking New Music week, where they plan on introducing a lot of new bands to their audience.
O.A.R. was introduced as this brand new band MTV wanted to show off. (Sure, they’ve been around for more than five years, but better late than never, MTV.) They did a little interview which was made up of about three questions and took a minute and a half.
And, then, to show the MTV viewers what this brand spanking new music sounds like, they showed the new music video.
No. They didn’t. They never played the video. On Brand Spanking New Music week, they refused to play any new music.
Earlier in the show, they threw the spotlight on another band in a pre-taped bit. There’s some interview footage in there and an explanation of their music and how the bassist graduated high school early to go play on the road with the band and — they never played any of their music, either. They showed the band jamming or something, but you never heard the music.
They did show music videos from Madonna, Green Day (for, literally, the FIFTIETH time they played the same video on the show), and Kelly Clarkson. There was even a live performance from Shakira. All of this happened on Brand Spanking New Music week — all the music they played came from established MTV favorites, going back as far as two decades.
Even on those rare occasions when MTV does play a music video, they can’t get it right.
November 11th, 2005 at 1:21 pm
Y’know, I caught OAR on Last Call w/Carson Daly last week (I think) and they were pretty good and it made me want to go out and buy their cd, I haven’t yet, but their website is great.
But, Augie, that’s what you get for watching MTV, they haven’t exactly been relevant in a while.
I prefer VH1 or MuchMuserr Fuse.
November 11th, 2005 at 1:24 pm
Carson Daly is the subject of a separate post someday. Maybe I’ll include it in the daily link dump, but let me quickly summarize: Daly is the most awkward late night television host known to man. He stinks on ice. He’s horrible. I watched the show for OAR the other night and was frightened by Daly. I could host a late night talker better than he could — without cue cards. UGH
November 11th, 2005 at 1:59 pm
But, the awkwardness is the best part of it, it’s like they’re making it up as they go along. And that’s the best part. His monologues steenk, but his taste in music doesn’t. Kimmel’s another guy who has pretty good music guests. Side rant, psst, we get it, you’re w/Sarah Silverman, enough already.
But, for my late night money, give me Craig Ferguson anyday of the week.
November 12th, 2005 at 12:56 pm
Yeah, Craig Ferguson took the talk show gig like a fish to water. He has a very relaxed, comfortable style and is quick and engaging with the guests. Kudos to Mr. Wick!