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24 Sep 2011 22:19

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Music: Nirvana’s “Nevermind” turns 20: And now you feel really old

  • When Nirvana took to the majors, nobody expected the level of lasting success that “Nevermind” or its lead single “Smells Like Teen Spirit” would quickly attain. (Above is “Lithium,” a classic all its own.) But for many music fans, it proved an entry point — a rare underground-leaning release that rose overground — and unlike fellow flag-bearer Pearl Jam, it’s one that didn’t lose its oomph after the fact. But it caught a few folks off-guard. Former “120 Minutes” host Dave Kendall, who premiered “Smells Like Teen Spirit” on MTV, puts it as such: “I have to say, quite honestly, as soon as I heard that record and saw that video, I had no idea they were going to be as huge as they were, I was very, very impressed. I was moved but I really didn’t have any idea it would explode to the extent it did. There’s the truth.” MTV has some great features on the album that defined the network for a solid couple of years. Forget the overhype; let’s remember them for what they were: A great band in the right place at the right time. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

10 Feb 2010 10:19

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Culture: Not music, just television: MTV symbolically changes its logo

  • What does MTV stand for now? Heaven forfend, but should ‘Jersey Shore’ prove to be so successful that it keeps the network alive for another three decades, will ‘MTV’ only make sense to those of us who know that it used to stand for ‘Music Television’?
  • TV Squad blogger Annie Wu • On perhaps the most painfully obvious change to MTV’s logo. It no longer refers to itself as “Music Television.” This move honestly has been due since about 2000 or so, really, but now it symbolically cements in stone that MTV can no longer go home. Rather than be depressed about it, we’re just going to watch some music videos on YouTube. At least somebody gives us what we want. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

12 Jan 2010 00:11

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Culture: Guy from MTV freaks out over Simon Cowell’s “Idol” departure

  • With Simon Cowell leaving “Idol” after this season wraps, Fox needs to face the music and grasp that a massive chunk of the audience is going to jump ship with Simon. Americans have abandoned TV shows for far less.
  • MTV News correspondent (and resident “American Idol” expert) Jim Cantiello • On the effect of Simon Cowell’s departure from “Idol” after this season. Cantiello goes further, saying, “I love ‘American Idol’ too f—ing much to see a ghost of its former self limp around on stage.” Dude, get a grip. It’s just a TV show. Albeit a high-rated, iconic and extremely influential one. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

16 Nov 2009 21:47

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Culture: Adam Sandler on his deceased “Remote Control” cohort, Ken Ober

  • Ken Ober was one of the sharpest, quickest, sweetest guys I ever met. He was always a great friend and I will miss him very much.
  • Adam Sandler • Speaking of the death of Ken Ober, who he worked closely with for five seasons on early MTV non-music foray “Remote Control.” Ober didn’t gain the fame that his co-stars – which also included Denis Leary and Colin Quinn – bathed in after the show ended its run. But he did build a solid career as a producer after his game-show-hosting career ended. And this, friends, is why we should give “Downtown” Julie Brown and Adam Curry a call. You never know when you’ll miss your chance. • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

14 Sep 2009 02:42

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Music: Kanye West didn’t learn anything from that “South Park” episode

  • We have no clue where the heck Kanye West came from, but there he is, completely ruining Taylor Swift’s shining moment. We hope the next time Kanye wins an award, Taylor Swift steals the mic from him and reps Hannah Montana.source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

13 Sep 2009 21:04

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Music: We heard this rumor on Twitter that the VMAs were on MTV tonight

Posted by Ernie Smith • 3 Comments • Permalink

12 Jul 2009 13:01

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Culture: MTV reality star pens book about reality star, makes loads of cashola

  • If someone said to me five years ago when this all started that I would one day make the New York Times Best Seller list I wouldn’t have believed it.
  • MTV reality star and first-time author Lauren Conrad • On the success of her novel, L.A. Candy, which has topped the best seller list for two weeks now. For those of you who don’t know, Conrad starred in the Hills for four years after moving to L.A. when she was 19. Her novel? It’s about a 19-year-old girl who moves to L.A. and stars in a reality show. Yeah Lauren, we can’t really believe it either.  • source
Posted by Nathalie Heiberg • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

19 Apr 2009 10:51

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Culture: Evidence MTV is attempting to give up its vapid ways

  • “The Buried Life,” with its “100 things I want to do before I die” conceit, will often do charitable things to help deserving people on the path to hijinks. source
  • “T.I.’s Road to Redemption” features everyone’s favorite jailbound rapper trying to help young people not make the same stupid mistakes. source
  • Nick Lachey, star of the extra-vapid “Newlyweds” with ex-wife Jessica Simpson, helps out performing arts kids in his hometown on “Taking the Stage.” source
  • Hold up – why isn’t one of these “MTV plays music videos again”? Because then we’d care. This just feels like another stop on the road to irrelevance. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

07 Apr 2009 10:12

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Culture, Music, Politics: Dear Eminem: The formula’s wearing very thin

  • We get it, man. Marshall, you’re one of the biggest pop stars in the world, and this is the make-or-break moment. Critics, who howled in disappointment at “Encore,” are wanting “Relapse” (out in May) to be a return to form. Fans are looking for the most notorious rapper of the last decade to start making hits again. But could you at least make it a little more surprising? source
  • We get it, man. Marshall, you’re one of the biggest pop stars in the world, and this is the make-or-break moment. Critics, who howled in disappointment at “Encore,” are wanting “Relapse” (out in May) to be a return to form. Fans are looking for the most notorious rapper of the last decade to start making hits again. But could you at least make it a little more surprising?
  • The video Eminem is one of maybe four artists – Michael Jackson, Weird Al and Weezer being the other three – who nails the videos every time. “We Made You,” the first single from “Relapse,” is no exception. With pop-culture riffs all over the place, it manages to nail Jessica Simpson, “Star Trek” (see Dre as Capt. Kirk; LOL) and a host of other media icons with ease. source
  • We get it, man. Marshall, you’re one of the biggest pop stars in the world, and this is the make-or-break moment. Critics, who howled in disappointment at “Encore,” are wanting “Relapse” (out in May) to be a return to form. Fans are looking for the most notorious rapper of the last decade to start making hits again. But could you at least make it a little more surprising?
  • The video Eminem is one of maybe four artists – Michael Jackson, Weird Al and Weezer being the other three – who nails the videos every time. “We Made You,” the first single from “Relapse,” is no exception. With pop-culture riffs all over the place, it manages to nail Jessica Simpson, “Star Trek” (see Dre as Capt. Kirk; LOL) and a host of other media icons with ease.
  • However … … this is exactly the kind of song and exactly the kind of video that Eminem releases as a first single – and a decade in, and his aim’s getting a little off. Riffs on Bret Michaels and Portia di Rossi? Really? And we can see a few Republicans getting uppity over Sarah Palin’s trashing. Marshall, you need a new trick; this one’s just old and tired. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 2 Comments • Permalink
 
 
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