Tim has a nice eulogy to J.J. Jackson over at his place. Unlike most, it's actually a fairly heartfelt piece that eschews the sarcasm I've seen others write.
Tim and I are the same age. Worse - and in case you hadn't figured it out - we both grew up in the same town, went to the same high school, and probably threw up in the same peoples' backyards. I can echo almost everything he says about the early MTV experience:
As a young kid growing up in a conservative central Texas town, MTV provided a glimpse into the great expanse of Western Civilization. First of all -- MTV played rock-n-roll (such as it was) not country music. The women were usually scantily clad and at times rather rough looking (thanks Joan Jett, Lita Ford, and the chicks from Crue videos), and it was just plain fun.
After my family got cable in late 1981, MTV was one of the only channels I ever bothered to watch (along with USA - for "Night Flight" - and the occasional visit to a flickering Playboy Channel). For me, it was my first exposure to acts like Oingo Boingo, David Bowie, and Devo. Of course, Tim leaves out some of the downsides of early '80s era MTV, namely April Wine videos; 20 airings a day of "Rio" by Duran Duran, and the birth of the jump-cut, ADD culture we find ourselves immersed in now. And in those pre-Michael Jackson's "Thriller" days, J.J. was also the only black person you'd see on MTV (aside from the one Thompson Twin).
I don't know how much of "the great expanse of Western Civilization" MTV actually offered to wide-eyed suburban youth during that time, but it beat huffing paint.
And Nina Blackwood was much hotter than Martha Quinn.
Sure the 'great expanse of Wester Civilization' thought is hyperbole to most.....but when your entertainment options were country music stations, hanging out at Pepe's Mexican Food or Hastings Books & Records - - MTV was a window to the rest of the world. It showed us a few things you could not come across in a homogenous, culturally bankrupt small Texas town.
Down boy. I mostly agreed with you, though I pity the fool that hates on 4 for $1 tacos.
And Curmudgeon, if anyone exemplified the expanse of Western Civ Tim was talking about, it was Nina. Wholesome girls like Martha were a dime a dozen in College Station. Nina was a little...earthier.
I grew up in outstate Minnesota. All we had was earthy. Martha seemed classier, cuter, whatever you want to call it. Plus, every girl in my state was blonde -- it was nice to see a brunette for a change.
Martha was my first famous-person crush. Don't be hatin' on Martha!
Hey, Pete. It's Mike Dawson (who grew up along side you and Tim in that great central Texas town for several years). I am glad to know that I wasn't the only kid in BCS that "visited" a flickering Playboy Channel!
Hey Mike, good to hear from you. Just be careful what you say here, we have investigative journalists reading.
Nina hotter than Martha??? Them's fightin' words, buddy! (g)