MR

Ultrasound - I was an MTV VJ (2001)


http://youtu.be/nNeCUYUC2yg



Published on Feb 25, 2013


MTV Doc about the original 5 VJs who started at the channel's debut in 1981: Nina Blackwood, Mark Goodman, Alan Hunter, J.J. Jackson and Martha Quinn, includes rare clips of the early days and "where are they now" interviews

I had a crush on Martha Quinn.

I don't actually remember any of them. The only time I actually watched MTV was in or about 1984. Regardless, that was a very long long time ago. I do however remember most, if not all of the videos I saw on MTV though.

Read the book on the early MTV years when they actually PLAYED VIDEOS! You can get it fairly cheap now on amazon. Some of the shit that

went on was off the chain. Sadly JJ passed away, him and Alan Hunter were always the best imo.

Liam wrote:I had a crush on Martha Quinn.

Me too, bro. She was a sweetheart.

Rick wrote:

Liam wrote:I had a crush on Martha Quinn.

Me too, bro. She was a sweetheart.

She's writing a book also on here days at MTV. I believe it should be released sometime the year. Keep an eye out for it. And on another note. I'm sick

& tired of being sick and tired of my avatar not showing up. WTF!

The MTV we knew and loved was so much more than just a TV station that played music videos. It was our source for music news, tour announcements, entertainment, and of course the most current music. The VJ's were soooooooo cool and had the best jobs in the world. And they were sooooooo hip and in the know about the coolest things and they were on every day! They became sort of like an old friend that we couldn't wait to see. For me, the MTV that existed from 1981 - about 1987-ish defined an era of my life. When I think back to those days when MTV was young and fresh I can't help but reminisce about how great life was and part of it was because of this new phenomenon called MTV. It became part of our daily lives and no matter which VJ was your favorite, they all brought something cool to the table. JJ was my favorite. His age set him apart from the others as being wiser to some degree - and he was. He always had a cool tidbit of trivia about the videos, musicians, etc.

I still get goosebumps when I think about the night it came on the air. The first graphic on the screen was the countdown and launch of Columbia with the first words spoken as Columbia began to launch, "Ladies and Gentlemen.... Rock and Roll". And the best part was those first few weeks when it was commercial-free!

The MTV that exists today is NOTHING like our MTV as we all know. The changes that have taken place and the programming choices they have made have turned the once "best thing to happen to television in our lifetime" to just another mega-media, corporate crapfest with 90% of its programming being "reality" shows and the remaining 10% divided between commercials, more bullshit and finally music - if there's time.

The MTV that we were introduced to and fell in love with is long gone and I don't foresee anything else ever coming about that will equal all that our MTV was back then but we'll always have the memories of the music, the high-production value videos, and of course the VJ's that kept us informed and delivered our daily fix of the best music had to offer.

I remember when MTV started going downhill, and VH1 becoming the station that actually played vids. Cool thing, I thought, about VH1 at the time, was it played stuff like pop up video for a lot of the things that I'd watch MTV for years earlier. I also loved the top 100 countdowns with the full vids. Think I still have one of those on VHS somewhere.
Then THAT fizzled out.

We obviously had different people hosting our music tv shows. But it all brings back memories. I remember all those guys in various music magazines. Nina and Martha were gorgeous.

No Surprize wrote:

Rick wrote:

Liam wrote:I had a crush on Martha Quinn.

Me too, bro. She was a sweetheart.

She's writing a book also on here days at MTV. I believe it should be released sometime the year. Keep an eye out for it. And on another note. I'm sick

& tired of being sick and tired of my avatar not showing up. WTF!

I bet that will be an interesting book.

Your avatar's problem is probably at the hosting site. I started using imageshack. You can get an account there and upload your avatar, then copy the URL and paste it into the space at the bottom of your profile here. Should show up then.

I didn't see anything on this, so I hope I'm not repeating someone...

The orignal VJs are now DJs on Sirius 80s on 8. You can catch a lot of these guys playing the old tunes we used to listen to back when MTV came about. Very nostalgic.

Joe

Rick wrote:

No Surprize wrote:

Rick wrote:

Liam wrote:I had a crush on Martha Quinn.

Me too, bro. She was a sweetheart.

She's writing a book also on here days at MTV. I believe it should be released sometime the year. Keep an eye out for it. And on another note. I'm sick

& tired of being sick and tired of my avatar not showing up. WTF!

I bet that will be an interesting book.

Your avatar's problem is probably at the hosting site. I started using imageshack. You can get an account there and upload your avatar, then copy the URL and paste it into the space at the bottom of your profile here. Should show up then.

Thanks, Pryor for the help. I would have asked Liam, wait, no I wouldn't of!

Liam wrote:I remember when MTV started going downhill, and VH1 becoming the station that actually played vids. Cool thing, I thought, about VH1 at the time, was it played stuff like pop up video for a lot of the things that I'd watch MTV for years earlier. I also loved the top 100 countdowns with the full vids. Think I still have one of those on VHS somewhere.
Then THAT fizzled out.

A few years back a new channel emerged called Fuse. Their programming was virtually MTV circa the 80s: mostly videos, concerts at night, an hour devoted to classic/current metal every night, and indie/neo-punk/alt videos late at night. It was pretty cool till Time Warner revised my cable package and kicked Fuse into another tier that forced me to pay more money to have Fuse. So I said fuck it, I only watch a few channels regularly as it is.

Anyway, Fuse's popularity affected eMpTyVee to the point where they started playing videos again! For HOURS at a time. I noticed on the TV Guide channel it would say something like "MTV: 7-8PM VIDEOS 8-9PM: VIDEOS 9-10PM: VIDEOS" or whatever.

Once Fuse got kicked into another package, I suspect their popularity dipped just slightly and then they did incorporate more hip-hop and rap and variety (just like MTV/VH1).

Now I just watch Palladia if there's a good show on, and That Metal Show on VH1 Classic. Youtube exists for everything else.

Yup...youtube is my source for anything video from a band. Luckily...I don't really care anymore, and just need the music. ESPECIALLY realizing how dumb the 80's vids were, like Separate Ways or Dokken's In My Dreams. lol

Anyone remember Nina from the movie "Vice Squad"? Probably a gig she'd like to forget.

Liam wrote:Yup...youtube is my source for anything video from a band. Luckily...I don't really care anymore, and just need the music. ESPECIALLY realizing how dumb the 80's vids were, like Separate Ways or Dokken's In My Dreams. lol

"Breaking The Chains" was an awesome video! George got his right hand free just in time to rip the solo!

Anyone remember Friday Night Video Fights?