Video killed the radio star 33 years ago today, on August 1, 1981.  The music world was forever changed when a fledgling cable network named MTV signed on for the first time, with the image of a space shuttle countdown and the words "Ladies and Gentlemen, Rock and Roll".

Of course, it's been a long time since they actually played rock and roll on MTV.  However, if you're old enough to remember when Music Television actually had music, you know that MTV was awesome.

I miss the days of the old "Headbanger's Ball" on Saturday nights.  And running home from school to catch my favorite hair bands on the "MTV Countdown" with Adam Curry.  To this day, I consider Kurt Loder to be the most credible reporter in the history of news.  And don't even get me started on the smoking hot VJ's.  Martha Quinn, Daisy Fuentes, Karen Duffy, Carmen Electra, Jenny McCarthy.  Even Downtown Julie Brown was hot.

And when they weren't playing videos, the shows were cool.  "Remote Control" is one of the greatest game shows ever.  I actually thought Winger was cool until I saw "Beavis and Butthead".  And the list goes on and on.

I can't tell you the last time I watched MTV.  I officially swore off the channel when they launched a new version of "Teenwolf".  That was the final straw for me.  But MTV has sucked for a long time.  But for us old timers, it changed the way we discovered music.  And we are better off because of it.

 

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