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25 Years, 25 Memories
Sex, music and just plain weirdness delight viewers
USA Today
A long the way, MTV has made headlines and supplied countless indelible memories. USA Today's Cindy Clark, Jayme Deerwester, Taryn Hartman, Korina Lopez, Whitney Matheson and Alison Maxwell take us back through 25 key moments.
1. The birth of MTV, Aug. 1, 1981
A new concept -- a television network dedicated to the young and the music they love -- kicked off at midnight with a video of British band The Buggles' "Video Killed the Radio Star."
2. Kiss comes clean, Sept. 18, 1983
"Lick It Up" was the first time the band members of Kiss showed their faces without makeup in public. Record and concert ticket sales rose, and the group remained makeup-free for several years.
3. Ghouls galore, Dec. 2, 1983
The 14-minute music video "Thriller" has Michael Jackson morphing from a teen on a date to a werewolf and a zombie while he and an army of the undead perform a ghouly dance. Directed by John Landis, the most expensive video of its time bridged the worlds of cinema and music and changed how music videos were made.
4. Not like a virgin, Sept. 14, 1984
Madonna ushered in the inaugural Video Music Awards with a bang (and a bustier) by performing "Like a Virgin." Her writhing and sexually suggestive moves helped cement her reputation as a risque performer.
5. A united front, Dec. 15, 1984
"Do They Know It's Christmas," by the UK's Bob Geldof and Midge Ure, is released by the all-British Band Aid, which included such performers as U2's Bono, Sting and Phil Collins and raised $8 million to benefit famine relief in Ethiopia. It led to the even bigger American follow-up: "We Are the World," which benefited the same cause. Geldof appeared with such superstars as Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, Bob Dylan and Tina Turner singing a tune by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie and conducted by producer Quincy Jones. "We Are the World" has raised $63.1 million.
6. A united front 2, July 13, 1985
Live Aid, organized by Geldof and Ure, aired to raise money for famine relief in Ethiopia. Bands such as The Who, Duran Duran and Hall & Oates performed around the globe, with main locations in London and Philadelphia. The outgrowth of Band Aid drew 1.5 billion viewers across 100 countries for the live broadcast and raised more than $280 million.
7. Beach blanket bingo? March 21, 1986
The network set up shop for spring-break shows in locales such as Miami Beach, Cancun and the Bahamas and entertained scantily clad women with games, celebrity hosts and music, essentially making it one big frat party.
8. 'Sledgehammer' breaks out, Sept. 11, 1987
The animated video for Peter Gabriel's hit single "Sledgehammer" won Video Music Awards in a record nine categories and became one of MTV's most influentional and popular videos.
9. 'Remote' turns us on, Dec. 7, 1987
With "Remote Control," pop-culture freaks found a gem of a game show in host Ken Ober's basement. The show's writing set the bar high for future TV game shows such as "Win Ben Stein's Money."
10. That's a rap, Aug. 6, 1988
"Yo! MTV Raps" premieres, featuring interviews with rap stars, live studio performances and comedy. The groundbreaking show was the first to showcase hip-hop.
11. Pee-wee returns, Sept. 5, 1991
At the Video Music Awards, Paul Reubens made his first -- and last -- public appearance as Pee-wee Herman since his arrest for lewd behavior that July.
12. Get 'Real', May 21, 1992
"The Real World," premieres. "Seven strangers (are) picked to live in a house, work together and have their lives taped." It launched a reality-TV format still widely copied.
13. Commander in briefs, April 20, 1993
Seventeen-year-old student Laetitia Thompson stood up during a Rock the Vote forum and asked President Clinton: "Boxers or briefs?" Clinton revealed himself to be a tighty-whitey man.
14. No strings attached, Nov. 18, 1993
Nirvana stripped out the guitar feedback to play an acoustic concert for MTV's "Unplugged" TV. It was one of the last televised performances by Kurt Cobain, who committed suicide less than a year later.
15. A kiss is just a kiss? Sept. 8, 1994
Newlyweds Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley hit the stage at the Video Music Awards holding hands. Jackson said, "And just think, nobody thought this would last." Then he turned to Presley and passionately kissed her. Presley filed for divorce in 1996.
16. Cornholio is born, July 15, 1994
On the animated "Beavis and Butt-Head," a sugar binge causes the normally shy Beavis to yank his Metallica T-shirt up over his head and become Cornholio, a Nicaraguan rebel in search of "T.P. for his bunghole." With this classic episode, Beavis went from mere sidekick to show-stealer.
17. You gotta Love it, Sept. 4, 1996
During the red-carpet arrivals at the Video Music Awards, Courtney Love interrupted Kurt Loder's interview with Madonna by hurling her compact at them. Love stole Madonna's thunder when she stumbled on stage -- babbling about everything from Madonna's shoes to her desire to be a candy striper -- then fell down.
18. A big lil' stunt, Sept. 9, 1999
Lil' Kim showed up at the Video Music Awards in a one-shouldered purple number with an exposed breast covered by a pastie. When Kim arrived on stage with Mary J. Blige and Diana Ross to present the award for rap video, Ross reached over and cupped and jiggled Kim's exposed breast.
19. 'Jackass': Tipped off, April 12, 2000
The reality series, about a group of guys performing often dangerous stunts for laughs, premieres and soon becomes a hot topic of conversation. Among outrageous stunts: Frontman Johnny Knoxville voluntarily sits in a full port-a-potty, and his friends tip it over.
20. Gross-out for good, May 23, 2000
Comedian Tom Green invited a camera into the operating room while he went under the knife to remove a cancerous testicle for "The Tom Green Cancer Special."
21. 'Glitter' isn't gold, July 19, 2001
Scantily clad in a T-shirt, Mariah Carey made an unannounced visit to the afternoon video countdown show "TRL," acting strangely and delivering ice cream to the audience. It marked a sort of meltdown of the multiplatinum superstar, alongside the tanking of her movie "Glitter." In the months that followed, Carey was hospitalized for "exhaustion," only to re-emerge in 2005 for a major comeback.
22. Diary of a mad family, March 5, 2002
"The Osbournes" premieres, following the foul-mouthed antics of Ozzy Osbourne, his manager wife, Sharon, teenage daughter Kelly and son Jack as they go about their daily lives.
23. TV's new honeymooners, Aug. 19, 2003
Premiere of "Newlyweds," which followed the early married life of actor/singers Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey. "Is this chicken what I'm eating, or is it fish?" Simpson's line while eating Chicken of the Sea tuna catapulted the pair to the A-list.
24. Girl meets girl, Aug. 28, 2003
Madonna performed her "Like a Virgin" with Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears at the Video Music Awards. The Material Girl caused a sensation when she shared an open-mouthed kiss with Spears.
25. Nipplegate, Feb. 1, 2004
During Super Bowl XXXVIII in Houston on CBS, Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson performed a duet of his "Rock Your Body." Near the end of the MTV-produced set, Timberlake tore off part of Jackson's costume and revealed her right breast, adorned with a sun-shaped nipple shield. The incident sparked public outcry, and the FCC hit CBS with a $550,000 fine. The FCC since has cracked down on what it considers obscene content.
Sex, music and just plain weirdness delight viewers
USA Today
A long the way, MTV has made headlines and supplied countless indelible memories. USA Today's Cindy Clark, Jayme Deerwester, Taryn Hartman, Korina Lopez, Whitney Matheson and Alison Maxwell take us back through 25 key moments.
1. The birth of MTV, Aug. 1, 1981
A new concept -- a television network dedicated to the young and the music they love -- kicked off at midnight with a video of British band The Buggles' "Video Killed the Radio Star."
2. Kiss comes clean, Sept. 18, 1983
"Lick It Up" was the first time the band members of Kiss showed their faces without makeup in public. Record and concert ticket sales rose, and the group remained makeup-free for several years.
3. Ghouls galore, Dec. 2, 1983
The 14-minute music video "Thriller" has Michael Jackson morphing from a teen on a date to a werewolf and a zombie while he and an army of the undead perform a ghouly dance. Directed by John Landis, the most expensive video of its time bridged the worlds of cinema and music and changed how music videos were made.
4. Not like a virgin, Sept. 14, 1984
Madonna ushered in the inaugural Video Music Awards with a bang (and a bustier) by performing "Like a Virgin." Her writhing and sexually suggestive moves helped cement her reputation as a risque performer.
5. A united front, Dec. 15, 1984
"Do They Know It's Christmas," by the UK's Bob Geldof and Midge Ure, is released by the all-British Band Aid, which included such performers as U2's Bono, Sting and Phil Collins and raised $8 million to benefit famine relief in Ethiopia. It led to the even bigger American follow-up: "We Are the World," which benefited the same cause. Geldof appeared with such superstars as Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, Bob Dylan and Tina Turner singing a tune by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie and conducted by producer Quincy Jones. "We Are the World" has raised $63.1 million.
6. A united front 2, July 13, 1985
Live Aid, organized by Geldof and Ure, aired to raise money for famine relief in Ethiopia. Bands such as The Who, Duran Duran and Hall & Oates performed around the globe, with main locations in London and Philadelphia. The outgrowth of Band Aid drew 1.5 billion viewers across 100 countries for the live broadcast and raised more than $280 million.
7. Beach blanket bingo? March 21, 1986
The network set up shop for spring-break shows in locales such as Miami Beach, Cancun and the Bahamas and entertained scantily clad women with games, celebrity hosts and music, essentially making it one big frat party.
8. 'Sledgehammer' breaks out, Sept. 11, 1987
The animated video for Peter Gabriel's hit single "Sledgehammer" won Video Music Awards in a record nine categories and became one of MTV's most influentional and popular videos.
9. 'Remote' turns us on, Dec. 7, 1987
With "Remote Control," pop-culture freaks found a gem of a game show in host Ken Ober's basement. The show's writing set the bar high for future TV game shows such as "Win Ben Stein's Money."
10. That's a rap, Aug. 6, 1988
"Yo! MTV Raps" premieres, featuring interviews with rap stars, live studio performances and comedy. The groundbreaking show was the first to showcase hip-hop.
11. Pee-wee returns, Sept. 5, 1991
At the Video Music Awards, Paul Reubens made his first -- and last -- public appearance as Pee-wee Herman since his arrest for lewd behavior that July.
12. Get 'Real', May 21, 1992
"The Real World," premieres. "Seven strangers (are) picked to live in a house, work together and have their lives taped." It launched a reality-TV format still widely copied.
13. Commander in briefs, April 20, 1993
Seventeen-year-old student Laetitia Thompson stood up during a Rock the Vote forum and asked President Clinton: "Boxers or briefs?" Clinton revealed himself to be a tighty-whitey man.
14. No strings attached, Nov. 18, 1993
Nirvana stripped out the guitar feedback to play an acoustic concert for MTV's "Unplugged" TV. It was one of the last televised performances by Kurt Cobain, who committed suicide less than a year later.
15. A kiss is just a kiss? Sept. 8, 1994
Newlyweds Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley hit the stage at the Video Music Awards holding hands. Jackson said, "And just think, nobody thought this would last." Then he turned to Presley and passionately kissed her. Presley filed for divorce in 1996.
16. Cornholio is born, July 15, 1994
On the animated "Beavis and Butt-Head," a sugar binge causes the normally shy Beavis to yank his Metallica T-shirt up over his head and become Cornholio, a Nicaraguan rebel in search of "T.P. for his bunghole." With this classic episode, Beavis went from mere sidekick to show-stealer.
17. You gotta Love it, Sept. 4, 1996
During the red-carpet arrivals at the Video Music Awards, Courtney Love interrupted Kurt Loder's interview with Madonna by hurling her compact at them. Love stole Madonna's thunder when she stumbled on stage -- babbling about everything from Madonna's shoes to her desire to be a candy striper -- then fell down.
18. A big lil' stunt, Sept. 9, 1999
Lil' Kim showed up at the Video Music Awards in a one-shouldered purple number with an exposed breast covered by a pastie. When Kim arrived on stage with Mary J. Blige and Diana Ross to present the award for rap video, Ross reached over and cupped and jiggled Kim's exposed breast.
19. 'Jackass': Tipped off, April 12, 2000
The reality series, about a group of guys performing often dangerous stunts for laughs, premieres and soon becomes a hot topic of conversation. Among outrageous stunts: Frontman Johnny Knoxville voluntarily sits in a full port-a-potty, and his friends tip it over.
20. Gross-out for good, May 23, 2000
Comedian Tom Green invited a camera into the operating room while he went under the knife to remove a cancerous testicle for "The Tom Green Cancer Special."
21. 'Glitter' isn't gold, July 19, 2001
Scantily clad in a T-shirt, Mariah Carey made an unannounced visit to the afternoon video countdown show "TRL," acting strangely and delivering ice cream to the audience. It marked a sort of meltdown of the multiplatinum superstar, alongside the tanking of her movie "Glitter." In the months that followed, Carey was hospitalized for "exhaustion," only to re-emerge in 2005 for a major comeback.
22. Diary of a mad family, March 5, 2002
"The Osbournes" premieres, following the foul-mouthed antics of Ozzy Osbourne, his manager wife, Sharon, teenage daughter Kelly and son Jack as they go about their daily lives.
23. TV's new honeymooners, Aug. 19, 2003
Premiere of "Newlyweds," which followed the early married life of actor/singers Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey. "Is this chicken what I'm eating, or is it fish?" Simpson's line while eating Chicken of the Sea tuna catapulted the pair to the A-list.
24. Girl meets girl, Aug. 28, 2003
Madonna performed her "Like a Virgin" with Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears at the Video Music Awards. The Material Girl caused a sensation when she shared an open-mouthed kiss with Spears.
25. Nipplegate, Feb. 1, 2004
During Super Bowl XXXVIII in Houston on CBS, Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson performed a duet of his "Rock Your Body." Near the end of the MTV-produced set, Timberlake tore off part of Jackson's costume and revealed her right breast, adorned with a sun-shaped nipple shield. The incident sparked public outcry, and the FCC hit CBS with a $550,000 fine. The FCC since has cracked down on what it considers obscene content.
