WHAT'S THE 'M' FOR, ANYWAY?

MTV Networks announced it will cancel Total Request Live, after years on the air as one of the only shows still featuring music. Now, there will be only one show, FNMTV, that occasionally airs, and shows music.

Maybe I'm just getting too old, but I remember a time when the M in MTV stood for music, and that meant something.

NOT MY BRAND OF ENTERTAINMENT

I was surprised to read positive reviews of Russell Brand's hosting job of the MTV Video Music Awards (one such review is here). I thought he did a terrible job. He was incoherent at times, and rarely, if ever funny or entertaining. Most of the positive reviews I read took little digs at the fact the show was hosted in Los Angeles. I'm sorry, but just because you couldn't hack it here doesn't mean you have to dog the city every chance you get.

But putting this Angeles-hating aside, Brand was lousy. Chelsea Handler praised his performance as the, "only rock and roll thing about the evening," noting that, "the Republican Party [Convention] rocked harder than the VMAs." She kind of has a point... the RNC played AC/DC, Heart and other rock music. The VMAs featured a partially acoustic (lame) set from the Jonas Brothers, whom Russell also took to task for their pro-virginity Promise Rings.

American Idol winner Jordin Sparks came to the defense of the squeaky-clean "rockers" later saying, "not everyone wants to be a slut." Russell promptly apologized - not a rock and roll thing to do. But then again, he was trying to win over American audiences and launch a state-side career. (Not much chance of that after his "debut" in Forgetting Sarah Marshall, a film audiences stayed away from in droves.)

Well, MTV, there's alway next year!

GUILTY PLEASURE #557

I have to fess up: although I'm absolutely dismayed at the fact that MTV doesn't actually play music anymore, I've fallen in love with one of its new shows: The Paper.

The show follows the day-to-day antics of a high school newspaper in Florida. I'm not sure how MTV decided to focus on high school drama, or how they chose this particular school, but as far as trashy, frothy reality programming goes, this show is tops. Most of the episodes center around the horrible Editor-In-Chief, Amanda, and the band of misfits she lead (or fights with, as the case may be). As far as central "characters" go, she's a real piece of work: clueless, lacking in all social graces and in charge of an, "award winning" newspaper... over the course of the first few episodes, she's galvanized the rest of the staff, leading to all-out chaos.

The daily requirements of a high school publication aren't that demanding, but based on the number of melt-downs, the amount of hand-wringing and general temper-tantrums, you'd think they were publishing a Pulitzer-winning daily newspaper.

And even though every moment of the show feels staged, and the thought of going to high school with the people on the show gives me the squirts... I can't get enough of The Paper. You can check out the show, watch episodes and see what all the fuss is about here.

FOUR SHOTS OF FOUR MINUTES

Here are four screencaps from the new Madonna video, 4 Minutes featuring Justin Timberlake and Timbaland.

END OF "THE REAL WORLD"

Could MTV's longtime, groundbreaking reality show The Real World be on its last legs? Sources (via the web) report the producers' contract expires with MTV after the current, Sydney season, and the future of the franchise seems to be up in the air.

But what really grabbed my attention was a promo for next week's episode. It said something like, "Will another housemate be going home?" Going home?, I thought to myself. A second housemate? What is wrong with these people? They're dropping like flies.

Could it be that the trademark partying ways of the casts, year after year, have finally caught up with the concept? Does the damage from the drama (and pseudo-drama) outweigh the joy? I couldn't say for sure... I don't watch the show. But if the promo isn't just a tease, and a second housemate is indeed calling in quits from the Sydney cast, then there is something wrong the equation.

WHOSE HOUSE?

I'm so very super, sit up and slap yo' mama excited for the return of MTV's Run's House. They recently set the premiere date for the new season of this super show, and even though I feel like I'm watching too much television to begin with, I'm going to watch. (I'll probably cut down on some other shows, which I'll blog about next week.)

If you're not familiar with Run's House, it follows the life and times of Rev. Run (of Run DMC fame, and an actual reverend) and his amazing family. They're incredible to watch because even though they're ultra-rich and uber-famous, they come across as a super down-to-earth and real... which is an oddity in the world of reality television.

I won't get up on some pseudo-platform about the importance of family values in our current social climate... but I will go so far as to say that watching this family is refreshing, entertaining and worthwhile.

ON THE OTHER HAND...

There's been a great deal of hand wringing and head shaking over Britney Spears' less than stellar performance at the MTV VMAs. As the dust slowly settles — her lawyer and her manager have both dumped her — a great deal of ink (newspapers, magazines), hours of footage (TV, the web) and billions of pixels (the blogosphere) have been dedicated to picking apart the former pop queen's demise.

Another story rising from the ashes is the success of R&B artist Chris Brown, and the "amazing" performance he gave. Even Justin Timberlake, during the course of the show sang this young pop star's praises. But if you watch Brown's performance closely, two things stick out like Madonna at a Roshashana celebration:

1. Almost all of his moves are stolen from Michael Jackson. At one point, the music even samples "Billie Jean," while Brown recreates the moves from Jackson's earth shattering Grammy performance from years gone by. (So much for creativity.)

2. Chris Brown, like Spears, lip-synced his entire performance. Granted, he spent his on-stage time jumping, flipping and gyrating from one side of the stage to the other, which can make it hard to sing... but not impossible.

I guess I can forgive the first point, under the guise of, "homage." But the second point... why do we forgive (and praise, in some cases) Brown, but crucify Britney? Why the double standard? I'm not forgiving Britney for the lackluster performance, but I'm not about to crown Chris Brown as the next big thing, either.

DOGPILE ON BRITNEY (And Other MTV Reactions)

I won't add to the shit storm that is the reaction to Britney Spear's performance on the MTV Awards. I will say that I watched... I made a point of tuning in, and (like the rest of the world) I was underwhelmed.

Yes, she seemed tired, under-energized and gave a half-ass performance. Yes she seemed pathetic relic; a has-been version of her former glorious self. But the same adjectives could (and should) be applied to the ceremony itself. Yes, the MTV Awards are a tired old show. And perhaps this was bound to happen. I mean, how long can anything remain fresh? How long can a concept continue to appear cutting-edge? How many years can an any institution claim to have the market cornered, when it comes to youthful innovation?

So yes, the Britney Spears we all knew is no more. But watching some of the other, poorly planned barely-performed entertainment on this year's MTV Awards all I could thing was, "how sad," and how I used to love watching the show. And no, I'm not saying this just because I'm older now. I genuinely love some of the music and performers honored at last night's ceremony.

Simply put: there was no opening act that could have saved the show - there is no opening number that could have resurrected the once-great Moonman ceremony - there is no way to restore anything past its prime. Moving the show to Vegas, while an improvement over the pathetic ceremony hosted in Miami a couple of years ago (you know, the one where Eva Longoria taunted and teased the storm, saying a little rain wasn't going to keep her from partying... that little storm named Katrina), the move on served to prove how desperate the producers must have been. There was nothing added to the show by moving locations. And Sarah Silverman, while charming at the MTV Movie Awards, seemed mean an callous this time around. But I don't know what I expected... this is, after all, the ceremony honoring music videos on a channel that doesn't even bother to play music videos anymore.

UGLIEST 'REAL WOLD' CAST... EVER!

MTV recently launched the 19th Season of the "mother of all reality shows" in Sydney, Australia recently. While the show certainly managed to break down stereo types, and cultural borders in its first few years, but in recent years... well, let's just say it would serves as an ideal advertisement for local AA chapters, or rehab clinics.

The drinking, alcohol-induced racist and homophobic rants and wild, unchecked sexual partnering on season 18 was an embarrassment to humans everywhere. If this was a sample of life in the real world, the real world is populated by morons, idiots and emotionally unbalanced people.

This recent criticism aside, one of the most common complaints about the Real World franchise is the number of model-quality gorgeous participants cast in each house - several casts looked like A&F catalogs come to life, which caused critics to cry foul. Many were upset by the idea that thousands of young people watching this show a) felt the need to live up to this beauty standard, and b) would think that if they didn't see images like their own on TV, they don't matter. (Some casts, like this year's, don't feature a gay or lesbian member, prompting further protests. Do gays and lesbians not inhabit the "real world?")

But, to my surprise, this current crop of Real World-ers breaks the mold: they are ugly. Almost borderline fugly, some would say. Don't get me wrong - after viewing the first episode, one has the distinct impression these kids are just as alcoholic and sexually immature as their predecessors... only markedly less attractive. The Real World, indeed.

WHAT'S THE 'M' FOR AGAIN?

A simple glance at your TV program guide for this week (and last week as well) will reveal some interesting things. First, the Disney folks feel like over-doing it with High School Musical 2. And yes, I know it was the most watched show in Disney Channel History, but c'mon... a sing-a-long, only two days after the premiere?

But even more disturbing, is what MTV is up to. They are showing, round the clock, and in between awful "reality" shows like The Hills and The Real World, marathons of America's Next Top Model. Now, don't get me wrong... I love me some Tyra Banks, Mister and Mrs. J, Nigel Barker, and Top-Model nonsense. But round-the-clock marathons? Every day? In lieu of all forms of programming?

Now, I know the premiere of the new season is coming up, and marathons are often a good way to build excitement for a new season of a show. (I think the folks over at Sci Fi could take a hint, and get on the ball with a Battlestar Galactica marathon or three, leading into their new season.) But MTV is supposed to be the home for all things music. I've forgiven the "reality" shows they've started, with the understanding that these shows are supposed to be a breeding ground for new music... in other words, if you watch these shows, you should hear new music during the course of the run. But this? This is ridiculous. What's the 'M' in MTV for now? Model?

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

MTV News just reported on an amazing organization with roots in Florida, that is now spreading across the nation. Becca's Closet is a non-profit organization that collects prom dresses, shoes and other accessories to distribute to high school students who cannot afford to purchase their own. There are no extensive background checks, no need to provide copies of bills. As one volunteer stated in the report, "If you've come to us, you're in need. We don't ask questions, we just want to help."

This may sound like a trivial, less than important cause, but it's not, for two really great reasons. First, and the most universal of the two, is that no matte who insignificant senior prom may seem (later in life), for high school seniors, this is a major social event. And social exclusion, because of financial hardship, or otherwise, can be emotionally damaging for teens. Everyone just wants to belong, and for many students attending prom offers a sense of belonging. And rather than just handing out old hand-me-downs, Becca's closet asks that donations be recent styles, and includes shoes, make-up and certificates for hair-styling, thanks to local merchants. In short, they offer the total transformation package for those in need.

The second reason is that the young woman who founded the organization was killed in car crash shortly after starting Becca's Closet. Her unfortunate death brought her community together (a rarity these days), and her generosity has begun to spread beyond the Miami-Dade area.

If you'd like to know more about Becca's closet, or would like to make a donation, click here.

GUILTY PLEASURE #345

I caught a little of that "Guiltiest Pleasures" special on the E! Network. Lame! There isn't really much of a justification for that network staying on the air anymore. Well, except Guilty Pleasure #455, "The Simple Life," but that's another post for another time.


Today, I'm singing the praises of MTV's Two-A-Days. Let me clarify a couple of things:

1. I hate (and yes, I mean, "hate") that they don't play music on the Music Television channel anymore.

2. I'm not into twinks, or underage guys, but...

There's something so hot about all these dumb, macho football players running around acting... well, acting really gay. Don't believe me? Check out those pics, or go to the MTV site, and watch a clip.

I have no idea what "Two-A-Day" refers to... maybe one in pinka, two-a-day in the twostinka, dunno... but it's hot.