June 15, 2006
Video Killed The Video Star
MTV Canada launched three months ago, and since that time one thing has become obvious: it's way better than MuchMusic. Less annoying VJs (including Daryn Jones, of Daryn Jones & Mista Mo fame) and way more addictive content (My Super Sweet 16 and Laguna Beach, to name a few) are just the tip of this sexy, American iceberg. Sure, MTV doesn't have any actual music videos and their website is a huge pain to navigate, but for some reason, that doesn't matter; it's all coated in MTV goodness. The two channels are so unequal in quality, it's like comparing The Daily Show to Last Call with Carson Daly. No contest.
The only thing saving MuchMusic are two TV shows: The Wedge and Video On Trial, and of those two shows, the former is in a terrible time slot (Fridays at 11 PM and 3 AM), and the latter is repeated way too often. Didn't Much learn that you can have too much of a good thing when they started playing "Hey Ya" seventy times a day two years ago?
Sorry, MuchMusic. I want my MTV.
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Ick. MTV Canada is crap! A few of the VJs are very, let's say...uneducated. I've tried to keep the channel on for more than a few minutes at a time, but just can't. This isn't to say that Much Music is much better, though. But what do I know? I've turned into an old lady, and I'm not either channel's target market anymore.
MTV is still a huge guilty pleasure for most people I know who watch it, including me. I don't like that I like it, but I do (I mean, who wants to admit to watching "My Super Sweet Sixteen"). But - I think - addictive crap (MTV) is way better than pure crap (MM).
I have to admit, I've tried MTV for a while, I wanted to get into it... the idea was ok.... or at least their way of getting around their TalkTV license was... but after a while, I couldn't take it anymore.
MTV|Live is 'sposed to be a forum to talk about 'issues' and 'current events' and 'hot topics' but it's just inane chatter to fill time between commercials. and the hosts (they are not VJs) are just so unprofessional, especially with guests. They mock them, ask half-baked questions and generally don't contribute to any sort of dialogue. Further all the hosts have backgrounds in things that would make them good VJs, not good talk show hosts. Comedian? Film Student? Former Producer? Former HMV employee!?! I don't think so. They belong more in their Laguna Beach aftershows than on a talk show.
But what really bothers me is the lack of seriousness in MTV Canada's commitment to Canadian Content... 10 repeats of MTV|Live a day should count as one one-hour credit... if anything... and MTV|e2 should count as negative three (but at least Ben Muroney's not on that one...)
But still, Daryn Jones is semikindasortaiffy cute. But I liked him better on YTV's The Zone.
Gonna have to agree with this. At least I can actually tolerate MTV for longer amounts of time. I think their VJs are pretty alright, too. Muchmusic's a running joke. And so are its stupid "awards" it whores out every year.
"the hosts (they are not VJs)"
So what you're saying is, a "VJ" is a higher calling than a "host"?
I think the channels are almost apples and oranges, personally. MuchMusic seems to be more about music, MTV is for rediculous reality shows. I admit a certain guilty pleasure garnered from some of those MTV shows, but make me choose and I'll pick MuchMusic every time. Sure the VJs are terrible, but you have shows without VJs and they're all great. Video on Trial is kind of funny (but pushing into MTV territory), but to me MM's saving graces are The Wedge / The Punk Show / Loud. Oddly enough someone I know told me that those shows are the highest rated ones on the channel as well.. (except for maybe MOD).
"(except for maybe MOD)"
Nope.
I'm pretty sure that one does pretty poorly.
Specifically 'cause no one can stand most of their VJ's most of the time now (even after the VJ search).
And as to the Canadian content, I think MTV might have a little more once it get's up and running.
You gotta remember that this thing was basically slapped together real quick by CTV after they lost the original MTVCanada to Chum.
It only takes time and a concept to put together a reality show. A Canadian reality show no less.
Does anyone remember music videos?
I admit I started to prefer MTV as well in recent weeks.
I hated all the hosts at first but now I grudgingly admit that I enjoy Daryn, Jessie, Delson, and that metal chick whose name I always forget. Dan Levy is alright. The others are pretty forgettable. But they're still all better than anyone I've seen on Much in years. It just seems so much less forced and hipsterish. I think the fact that most of them weren't trying to be TV stars is refreshing.
I suspect MTV will be analogous to the National Post when it was invented -- and will make MM better the way the post made the Globe better. Maybe.
I don't have cable so I've never seen MTV Canada, but I gave up on Much long before I gave up on cable. Or should I say they gave up on me? I still miss R U Receiving? (killed long ago) and the Wedge and The New Music, but the rest of the channel turned to garbage long ago.
I like Daryn. but MTV and MM are both inhabited by bubbleheads and targeted at bubbleheads.
To me, it's sort of like "The CHicken and the Egg". Are MM/MTV's target market becoming more stupid every year BECAUSE of MM/MTV, or are MTV/MM getting increasingly vapid due to the ever plummeting IQ of their audience?
Or, am I just an old fart?
Comparing MTV to MM is kind of like comparing dung to dung ;)
Hey querelous,
I didn't mean that a "VJ" is a higher calling than a "host". What a meant is that they are just not VJs, they are hosts...... kinda like a butcher is not a carpenter. They both use similar arm motions but in different ways. VJs use their voice to introduce videos (a lot of the time) since they are Video Jockeys... while hosts use theirs to introduce guests and not videos.
In the end, you are comparing (rotten) apples to (rancid) oranges since the only thing both channels have in common is the word 'music' in the station title... which MTV doesn't even use.
For the record, Rob loves Video On Trial, and misses Bill Welychka.
Video on Trial is a stupid, stupid show. I really don't care to see annoying "comedians" make generalizations and lame comments about videos--I can do that with my friends and it's always loads wittier.
"It only takes time and a concept to put together a reality show. A Canadian reality show no less."
Actually, it takes a lot, A LOT, of money. Reality in the USA may be the cheapy programming, but in Canada it takes the majority of any broadcasters budget. Plus you need a lot of sponsors to make the whole thing fly.
I'm not talking bloated Canadian idol/Canada's next top model/VJ search spectacle.
I'm talking give a couple teenagers a digi-cam Laguna Beach/MTV/Docu-drama style reality tv.
That, costs the price of the camera. Maybe a camera-guys salary (but these days you could get an intern to do it for free).
The marketing, I admit may be a bit more than that.
But it's MTV, I'm sure they'll figure it out.
Isn't the M in MTV suppossed to stand for music? MTV Canada is a total waste of electricity. Maybe the Premier will have them shut down so I can use my air conditioner more. ;)
AHHHH you think Laguna is cheap to produce! AH HA!
It might be called reality, but they have writers, producers, an ELABORATE camera crew, and also have to dish out the $$ for location licences etc.. There is nothing simple about producing Laguna Beach. I bet it's even harder to do than a regular sitcom-style show.
I think the "cheapest" reality show on MTV is the Andy Milonakis show. That's "a kid with a camcorder".. and aguna Beach is no where near that low-budget or low-production.
And face it, even if MTV/MM did just give some cool kids a camera, they would produce nothing compelling. In fact, I bet there would be a zillion blog posts dedicated to complaining about how boring and useless it was...
Paige, that said, MTV Canada is owned by CTV. All CTV has to do is buy the show.
To me, the Canadian stuff on MTV seems dirt cheap to make.
I dont know why you all hate MuchMusic atleast it tries and you guys are getting it all worng the best shows on Much are Much vibe and Rapcity. MTV is really stupid it plays MTV Live like 7 times a day and then Laugna beach and the hills for the rest its pathethic enough said.