# Anyone remember when MTV first came on ? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 20, 2000, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-remember-when-mtv-first-came-on/30034 "2000-08-20T06:55:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![JimmyNipples](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/eb9ed0/32.png) [@JimmyNipples](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimmyNipples)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2000, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-remember-when-mtv-first-came-on/30034/21 "2000-08-21T15:20:57Z")
It was the winter of 1981 I think…when I first tuned in. The 1st video I saw was…Mad World by Tears for Fears. Dandy tune. ---
**Author:** ![pldennison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@pldennison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pldennison)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2000, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-remember-when-mtv-first-came-on/30034/22 "2000-08-21T15:30:03Z")
> [@](#): > > ## quote: > > Originally posted by uberDave > Some blonde guy with the last name of Hunter (I think), and some perky brunette. > > * * * > > That would be Ian Hunter and Martha Quinn That would be **Alan** Hunter and Martha Quinn. And you guys forgot J.J. Jackson. Ian Hunter was the lead singer for Mott the Hoople and went on to a more-or-less successful solo career. We got MTV about a year after it launched, and my sister and I were mesmerized (hey, I was 12). I remember their Friday night concerts; I think the first one I saw was Rush. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2000, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-remember-when-mtv-first-came-on/30034/23 "2000-08-21T16:04:31Z")
When MTV first hit, I was living in a very rural area with no hope for cable. But my grandfather lived in Buffalo, NY - and he had cable. We would visit every Christmas and an occasional summer holiday here and there. My sister and I would sprint into his house, wave hi to him and plop down in front of the TV. I remember being totally awed by a live presentation of Ozzy Osbourne with Randy Rhoades on lead guitar. ---
**Author:** ![Electrical\_Storm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ac8455/32.png) [@Electrical\_Storm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Electrical_Storm)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2006, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-remember-when-mtv-first-came-on/30034/24 "2006-05-09T18:11:29Z")
Yeah, I remember the advent of MTV. At the time it was the.coolest.thing.evar! At school, we’d discuss the (said in whispered tones) bitchin’ coolness of it all and what videos we’d seen (some of us on the sly, of course) on MTV the night before. Then it aaaaaall went to hell. Music-related television with their crappy shows. MTV today? I’ve had better. :rolleyes: Headbanger’s ball was my favorite, though. 😃 Watching Ozzy was a big treat. I also caught David Lee Roth’s “Yankee Rose” and “Just a Gigolo” on MTV for the first time back in the '80’s. Naturally, to my teenage mind, these videos were most hilarious and spawned much discussion amongst my fellow teens. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2006, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-remember-when-mtv-first-came-on/30034/25 "2006-05-09T18:24:43Z")
[QUOTE=Snooooopy] I wish I could get M2, where they play just videos. [/QUOTE] [Not anymore they don’t](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=5460303&postcount=35). ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2006, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-remember-when-mtv-first-came-on/30034/26 "2006-05-09T18:26:29Z")
Aaaaaaah! Zombie thread! ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2006, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-remember-when-mtv-first-came-on/30034/27 "2006-05-09T18:26:31Z")
Zombie thread. But the point is still valid. Me, I miss Headbanger’s Ball, Beavis & Butthead, Remote Control, and 120 Minutes. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2006, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-remember-when-mtv-first-came-on/30034/28 "2006-05-09T20:30:46Z")
Of course, since the inital run of this thread, JJ Jackson died. ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2006, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-remember-when-mtv-first-came-on/30034/29 "2006-05-09T20:38:12Z")
_sigh_ It dealt a death knell to Friday Night Videos. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2006, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-remember-when-mtv-first-came-on/30034/30 "2006-05-09T21:04:44Z")
Seriously a zombie. Feel free to start a new thread in the now existing Cafe Society. Thread closed. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-remember-when-mtv-first-came-on/30034.md?page=1)