Free Republic

Remembering Ken Ober, The Voice Of 'Remote Control' Posted 41 minutes ago by Kyle Anderson in Music, Television This was a sad day at MTV, as we had a death in the family. Ken Ober, the longtime comedian, television producer and host of early MTV game show "Remote Control," passed away at age 52. Arguably, Ober's most indelible legacy is "Remote Control," which premiered in 1987 and was one of MTV's first attempts at crafting an original television series. The premise was delightfully low-fi: Ober posited that he hosted a media-obsessed game show out of the basement of his parents'...

When MTV first appeared, back in 1981, like many other American young adults, I watched it with interest because it showcased videos of many of the bands that were popular then: The Police, Duran Duran, Squeeze, Genesis, The Go-Gos, Hall & Oats, Blondie, etc. But after the initial novelty of 24-7 music videos wore off and it became apparent that MTV was lurching steadily toward a darker, more erotic, and increasingly decadent format, I tuned out for good. The rapid transmogrification of MTV from a purveyor of meaningless, if at times mildly entertaining, videos of pop rock bands, to full-on,...

During last month's MTV music video awards ceremony, actor Jack Black urged the audience join hands and pray to "dear dark lord Satan." In his prayer, the actor prayed that the musicians and nominees would have "continued success in the music industry." The awards program was broadcasted on the MTV network (a subsidiary of the Viacom Corporation) throughout the country through cable and satellite television. The Radio City Hall audience readily acquiesced to Black's invitation to pray to the devil. In a video posted on YouTube, Black encouraged the large audience to join in by saying, "let me see those...

Last week, MTV News unveiled its list of the Hottest MCs in the Game (topped, rightfully so, by none other than Jay-Z). This week marks a key moment in hip-hop history, as the Sugarhill Gang's "Rapper's Delight" — the first real hip-hop single — was unleashed a full 30 years ago. If you had described the concept of "Rapper's Delight" to somebody ("Hey, I've got this breakdown in the middle of a disco song — let me rhythmically recite poetry over it!") in the age before rap music, that person probably would have rolled his eyes at the very concept....

Finally agrees Well, I'm glad to know that there is something that President Barack Obama and I can finally agree on. Kanye West is a jackass. No wonder this animal is the symbol of the Democrat Party. Rick Reiss Temecula

The 40-year-old "comedian" Jack Black went on the "dark side" during the MTV Awards praying to the devil. Black, who was promoting a heavy metal video game called Brütal Legend, asked the "Dear Dark Lord Satan" to bless the rock star nominees with "continued success in the music industry." "I was mortified when Jack Black lead everyone in a prayer to satan. It was no joke," said Samantha Taylor of California. "The audience held hands and did it. I was a fan, but not anymore." Black made his grand entrace wearing extra muscles and a battle axe. "During the Awards,...

At Obama's main celebrity inaugural ball, Kanye West was interviewed by a CNN anchor during "Anderson Cooper 360" about his feelings about the election. Rather than solely focusing on Obama's victory though, Kanye West ended up using the air time to DEFEND PRESIDENT BUSH. He wasn't even being asked about him. "At the end of the day, Bush, he was a human being...a real person with feelings and hurts too... and a lot of things got overshadowed...it's a shame." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2bs22JsdA0 (Statement is made at the last 1 minute of the interview)

Now, you KNOW that had the roles been reversed the liberal media's race baiting journalists would be out there asking this very question. So, how about it? Was his motivation racial?

Beyonce gave Swift her time to talk, which made Beyonce look good. It also created Buzz. I work in this industry...trust me.

Kanye West rushes the stage while Taylor Swift was thanking people for her award for “Best Female Video”. He says “I’ll let you finish, but Beyonce had one of the best videos ever.” The audience started booing Kanye. Boo! That has got to be one of the most disrespectful acts I have ever seen on live TV. What a disgrace Kanye. Boo! Boo! Boo! Although: I bet Kanye West does the Single Ladies dance at home and couldn’t stand the idea that Beyonce lost. Watch the video by clicking above link.

BAGHDAD, July 7, 2009 – A two-man team from MTV’s “Real World” program spent a week at Joint Security Station Saydiyah here filming the final portions of a follow-up story on one of the show’s former participants. Army Spc. Ryan Conklin, an infantryman for the North Carolina National Guard’s 252nd Combined Arms Battalion, 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team, stands between Jason Williams, left, and Matt Ruecker from MTV’s “Real World” at Joint Security Station Saydiyah in Baghdad, July 3, 2009. Conklin was a housemate on the show when he was recalled to active duty to deploy. U.S. Army Photo by...

Hollywood’s finest starlets attended the 2009 MTV Movie Awards last night and the red carpet was all about youth, freshness and casual elegance! Be still, our hearts on fire. Megan Fox chose a black and gold Dolce & Gabbana strapless mini dress and Christian Louboutin sky high gladiator sandals. Audrina Patridge sparkled in a one-shoulder sequin mini dress.

Miley Cyrus and Britney Spears have taken to Twitter to support gay marriage, just days after Miss California Carrie Prejean sparked controversy during Sunday night's Miss USA competition when asked by celeb blogger Perez Hilton if more states should legalize same-sex marriage. Prejean stated her opinion that marriage should be between a man and a woman — and in the process has made an enemy of Hilton — but has also started a conversation among many notable celebrities on Twitter. "Love is love!" Britney Tweeted to Perez. "People should be able to do whatever makes them happy!" Miley Cyrus Tweeted...

In America, those who exude a certain type of attraction or charisma are often christened with the sobriquet of "rock star." For those of us who've outgrown the allures of the brain-shattering, soul-stealing muck that has masqueraded as music for the last few decades, this term is not exactly a desirable one for those engaged in anything but narcissistic and immature pursuits. Yet for many in this country, comparison to a rock star is the ultimate compliment and a cherished goal. Into this sad state of our country comes President Barack Obama, whom many have labeled our first post-Baby Boomer...

[video of Arab female singer] Tough to imagine anything more moronic than MTV nor anything more oxymoronic than the term “Arabic MTV.” Walk down the street in any Arab capital and you’ll see burkah-covered women. Yet turn on the TV in any Arab living room and you’ll find a dozen music video channels filled with bared flesh. Enter Ahmed Abu Haiba, the founder of 4Shbab TV, which calls itself “Islam’s own MTV.” The idea behind 4Shbab is simple, he says. Mainstream music videos are “lewd” and do not represent the Arab world’s cultural values. He says they are haram, or...

Like a pack of randy 15-year-old boys, the press dives right in. "Virginity Pledges Don't Stop Teen Sex," screams CBS News. "Virginity pledges don't mean much," adds CNN. "Study questions virginity pledges," says the Chicago Tribune. "Premarital Abstinence Pledges Ineffective, Study Finds," heralds the Washington Post. "Virginity Pledges Fail to Trump Teen Lust in Look at Older Data," reports Bloomberg. And on it goes. In other words, teens will be teens, and moms or dads who believe that concepts such as restraint or morality have any application today are living in a dream world. Typical was the lead for the...

Viacom threatens to pull MTV off Time Warner CableAssociated Press - December 30, 2008 10:33 PM ET LOS ANGELES (AP) - Viacom is threatening to pull MTV, Comedy Central and Nickelodeon and 16 other channels from Time Warner Cable if a new carriage fee deal is not agreed upon by midnight Wednesday. A Time Warner spokesman says Viacom is seeking "an exorbitant increase in their carriage fees." Viacom has asked for fee increases of between 22 and 36% per channel, adding up to tens of millions of dollars per year, an amount that Time Warner says would cause an increase...

In trying to keep its hold on young and fickle audiences, MTV over the decades has undergone some fundamental programming shifts, but never before on this scale. The cabler's recent ratings declines include a 23% fourth-quarter drop in its core demo of 12- to 34-year-olds. So MTV is embarking on a major programming overhaul, with 16 new unscripted series over the next 4½ months.

Roswell, Ga. — For 10 years, the Roswell, Ga.-based nonprofit VirtueMedia has been creating and airing educational pro-life commercials on local radio and television stations nationwide. For the first time, earlier this year, the nonprofit aired crisis-pregnancy commercials on national television — MTV and BET (Black Entertainment Television). The results amazed even the organizers. During a five-week campaign between late September and early November, the commercials generated nearly 22,000 requests for help from abortion-vulnerable women. Organizers estimate that during that time at least 11,000 babies were saved from abortion.“It’s clear that if we want to communicate with abortion-vulnerable women, we...

AP –NEW YORK – Nickelodeon TV, the children's' network, is getting ready to cover its first presidential inauguration. Young reporters Lily Collins, rocker Phil Collins' daughter, and J.J. (Nick would not release his last name) will be in Washington on Jan. 20 to show Barack Obama's inauguration from a pint-sized perspective. Throughout the presidential campaign, Nickelodeon found that interest among its young viewers matched that of the adults. Nick's own online "election" had 2.2 million children voting, with kids supporting Obama over John McCain (51 percent to 49 percent) in a closer margin than the real election. "We decided to...

Viacom, Inc. will weather the economic downturn by focusing on “organic growth” instead of any “significant acquisitions,” according to president and CEO Philippe Dauman. Speaking at the annual UBS Media and Communications Conference in New York, Dauman downplayed the company’s announcement least week that it would cut 850 jobs, or 7% of its workforce, and instead focused on the company’s positioning as a content provider with multiple revenue sources across each of its television, movie and digital divisions. Dauman was bullish on Nickelodeon, VH1, MTV and BET, which recently underwent a shift in programming leadership. He conceded that MTV has...

oleman found himself in Iraq three times after he enlisted in 2002. After what he called increasingly violent deployments, Coleman was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder when he left the Marines. The disorder develops in some war veterans and survivors of other traumatic experiences and can trigger violent episodes and flashbacks. Coleman is one of three war veterans featured tonight in a new episode of MTV's documentary series "True Life."

There are so many things to like about Britney Spears -- she's so darn pretty for one thing, even when she's chewing gum, which is still pretty much all the time. She's got the same sort of mile-wide smile and joyous laugh that made Julia Roberts a big star. She sings pretty well for a pop star, and she moves her butt like no one's business. But even after more than a decade in the business, she seems disturbingly stalled in adolescence. Those tuning into "Britney: For the Record" on MTV Sunday in search of a sadder but wiser Brit...

NEW YORK (AP) -- MTV is throwing an inaugural ball for President-elect Barack Obama. The network announced Tuesday that it will host the "Be the Change Inaugural Ball" at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington on Jan. 20.

With the large amount of time people--especially young people--spend watching television, if you want to reach the culture, that's where to go. So it is that Virtue Media is headed into one of the central arenas where young people are found to bring the message of life: MTV. In small markets where they've run ads before, they've seen significant reductions in abortion rates. A large ad campaign at MTV is sure to get young people exposed to information they'll likely never hear about from the "mainstream" media. And maybe some lives will be saved because of it. I was pro-abortion...

It was a star studded night in Liverpool yesterday, as Katy Perry, Pink, Beyonce and other pop stars gathered at the 2008 MTV Europe Music Awards. Katy Perry walked the red carpet in an amusing Jean-Charles de Castelbajac blue dress with eye detailing on the chest.

Sway: Our next question is from Matt from Iowa: "If your desire is to spread the wealth around, what incentive is there for me to try to work hard? If I am only going to get more taken away from me, the more money I make, why wouldn't I just slide into a life of relaxation and let rich people take care of me? And a lot of people are asking similar questions, and I wanted you to specify. What does this mean exactly?" Obama: What is amazing to me is this whole notion that somehow everybody is just looking...

I've just been told that Viacom's MTV Networks is planning "a lot" of layoffs. And get this: it's making the announcement on Tuesday hoping that the news will be overshadowed by Election Day. Dontcha just love Big Media's sensitivity?

MTV Networks/Viacom today joined the growing number of business leaders signing onto the Equality Business Advisory Council to show their opposition to Proposition 8. Prop 8 would eliminate the fundamental right of same-sex couples to marry in California by amending the state's Constitution. "On November 4th, Californians have the unique opportunity to go to the polls and stand up for what makes this a great country and a free society -- inclusivity, freedom and respect for all. Proposition 8 is antithetical to those principles and a vote for ignorance, hatred and inequality," said Judy McGrath, Chairman and CEO, MTV Networks....

Jay-Z clearly appreciated AM's presence, calling on the audience to "make some noise for DJ AM" three separate times throughout the concert. Jay also gave a shout-out to Barker and the people who died in the crash, saying, "We're gonna party it up for them tonight." But not all the shout-outs were so celebratory. Without naming names, Jay dedicated "99 Problems" to John McCain and a certain "homegirl," whom he described as "the one who says 'You betcha.' " "I'm gonna get in trouble for this," Jay laughed onstage, "but f--- it, this is freedom of speech."

MTV Networks will track second-by-second viewing of Web commercials and videos, and link viewer online communities built around its TV programs, the network's digital chief said in an interview focused on the company's new advertising strategy. Viacom Inc's 26-year old cable TV network is striving to remain relevant in a digital age by learning more about fans... through the shows' websites, said Mika Salmi, MTV president of global digital media in an interview with Reuters... "We want the advertisers to know exactly what's happening on our websites and how big we really are in online video, said Salmi. "Internally, we...

Here's what happens when a big American media corporation takes over your island and starts getting real: On a small remote island in the Republic of Panama where MTV filmed the next "Real World/Road Rules Challenge", MTV allegedly cleared parts of the rainforest, built an access road through the forest, trashed the beach and left a massive mess for locals to deal with.

Your awesome Sarah Palin video of the day: Ron Paul's a "cool guy!" There are many reasons to like Sarah Palin, the Republican vice-presidential candidate. Here's another reason: Speaking with an MTV reporter about the Republican leadership hopefuls during the primaries, Palin said some really nice things about Ron Paul. Paul, the Congressman from Texas, had a large following in Alaska, placing third with 17 per cent of the vote there (ahead of John McCain, who received 16 per cent, but behind Mitt Romney with 44 per cent and Mike Hucakbee with 22 per cent). "He's cool!," she said, "He's...

Russell Brand was last seen in Forgetting Sarah Marshall, possibly the worst movie ever made. Not content to merely grace us with cinematic vomit, Mr. Brand returned recently to host the MTV Video Music Awards. You know about some of this, in all likelihood. You probably saw the video clips, on TV or on YouTube, of the esteemed Mr. Brand making fun of a certain 17-year-old girl from Alaska while begging the United States, “as a representative of the global community,” to elect a certain Illinois senator to something or other. From there we moved on to a discussion of...

** EXCERPT ** Russell Brand was forced to cut jokes about Sarah Palin sending her own daughter to the electric chair when he presented the MTV Video Music Awards, he has said. The British comedian appeared to annoy celebrities and some fans when he made a series of risque political and sexual jokes hosting the 25th anniversary show. But Brand, who called for Americans to vote for Democratic nominee Barack Obama in the presidential elections, claimed censors at the channel had already toned down his routine and vetoed several jokes. He said: "I had John McCain gags pulled. And they...

Virginity is hilarious, according to MTV Video Music Awards host Russell Brand. After Brand was done encouraging Americans to vote for Barack Obama because George W. Bush is a "retarded cowboy fellow," he attacked the Jonas Brothers for wearing promise rings, rings intended to demonstrate support for abstinence until marriage. "I'm beginning to wonder if the Jonas Brothers are quite what they seem," said the freaky-looking, scruffy-haired, tightly-garbed former dope fiend and sex addict. "Because if they were, how come I've got this little ring now?" Brand held up a supposed promise ring. "I mean initially, he was a little...

Britney Spears, Ashlee Simpson, Lauren Conrad, Miley Cyrus, and Rihanna were among the celebrities who hit the red carpet at the MTV Video Music Awards ceremony. See who made the best and worst dressed lists! Ashlee Tisdale donned a cute strapless Roberto Cavalli mini dress. Very flirty, playful, and eye-catching. Bar Refaeli who usually looks stunning at every event, took to the red carpet in a Hurley grey cotton tank dress. We didn’t like the dress, but Rafaeli looked beautiful.

Liberal Hollywood Values — MTV Awards Host: Bush A Retard Posted by Dirty Harry on Monday, September 8th, 2008 Wishes really do come true. Why it was just yesterday when I asked the political gods to have liberal Hollywood to do something stupid that would help our side in the election, and guess what…? Ladies and Gents, courtesy of Russell Brand, a self-confessed sex-addict, come this gift aimed right at the demographic Obama’s so sure will put him over the top: If his aim was to be noticed by America, Russell Brand more than achieved his goal last night as...

If his aim was to be noticed by America, Russell Brand more than achieved his goal last night as he ranted that President Bush was a “retarded cowboy” while hosting the MTV awards. The British comedian, who is a virtual unknown in America, left the crème of the music world stunned as he championed Barack Obama, ran down Bush and made lewd jokes about the Christian pop band Jonas Brothers. Ignoring the renowned patriotism of Americans, Brand told the Hollywood audience they must vote for Barrack Obama “on behalf of the world”, before insinuating that America had lower standards than...

UK stand-up comedian Russell Brand hosted the 2008 MTV VMA's. He attacked the Palin family and George W. Bush, while pleading to audience members to vote Obama.

Russell Brand seemed a little out of place as the host at the MTV Video Music Awards. Not because he's British or relatively unknown in America, as most of the chatter was about before Sunday night's show from Los Angeles. It was because Brand injected the VMAs with blunt politics, self deprecation, unabashed sexuality, and, yes, plenty of off-color remarks. Didn't he know where he was? The VMAs? In La-La Land? No, this was no place to voice anything like an opinion on world affairs or joke about young Christian pop stars. This is a place to look cool and...

Not everybody is laughing at Russell Brand at this year's Video Music Awards. Jordin Sparks spoke out against the British comedian's jokes about the Jonas Brothers and their purity rings before introducing T.I.'s performance. "I just have one thing to say about promise rings. It's not bad to wear a promise ring," Sparks, 18, told the crowd, off-the-cuff, "because not everybody – guy or girl – wants to be a slut." The former American Idol's comments were met by an audible cheer from the crowd. During his opening monologue, Brand had poked fun at the Jonas Brothers, suggesting that they...

Reader M.G. writes that the MTV Awards show was the latest venue for vicious Palin family-bashing: “I know a few people at Viacom and I tuned in to see the MTV music awards tonight. I was disgusted and appalled when the British host Russell Brand started begging America to vote for Barack Obama. Like his opinion matters. He’s not even a citizen. What’s worse is that he attacked Sarah Palin’s pregnant daughter. He made a snide joke that her baby was not a boy or a girl, but a P.R. stunt.” MTV, of course, is a division of left-wing media...

As the news media and country gets to know John McCain's vice presidential pick, Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska, tidbits are being dug from their archives (or sent to them by opposition researchers.)MTV unearthed a videotaped interview with Palin done in February where she praises and identifies with Ron Paul's independence from the "party machinery".MTV Video at story link.Politico dug up a quote by Palin from two years ago discussing whether she tried smoking pot:Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is known as a staunch social conservative. She's a life long NRA member, belongs to an anti-abortion-rights group called Feminists for Life...

WASHINGTON, July 21 (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court on Monday overturned a decision to fine CBS Corp (CBS.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) television stations $550,000 for airing a brief breast flash by pop singer Janet Jackson during the 2004 Super Bowl broadcast.

WASHINGTON (AdAge.com) -- Politicians can finally get their MTV. After declining political advertising since its inception in 1981, MTV is reversing course. The Viacom MTV Networks channel -- once known for round-the-clock music videos and now home to a host of reality shows -- says it will now take political ads, though only from political candidates and party political committees, not from third parties.

Brooklyn teen Quashon Burton thought bringing a laxative-laced cake to school would be "funny" - but he's not laughing now.   After two teachers were sickened and he was hit with an assault charge, the senior is worried his whole future is collapsing like a half-baked souffle. "I'm pretty scared," Burton told the Daily News Thursday outside his home in Brownsville.  "I didn't mean to have this whole thing blow out of proportion. I thought it would be a senior prank that everyone would think is funny." Burton, 17, and pals Tiara Peoples and Kenny Ramirez got the idea to...

Media regulator Ofcom has fined MTV £255,000 for broadcasting "highly offensive language and material" pre-watershed. These included the pre-9pm broadcast on MTV Networks Europe's UK channel TMF of an Aphex Twin video featuring offensive words including "motherf***er" and a daytime trailer for a Jodie Marsh reality show featuring the phrase "f***ing wanker". Ofcom has imposed the hefty fine for "widespread and persistent" breaches of its broadcasting code by MTV Networks Europe channels MTV UK, MTV France, MTV Hits and TMF. The regulator said MTV had, in some cases, "repeatedly" broken the pre-watershed content ban. [snip]In determining the fine Ofcom took...

The youth vote is rockin' if not rollin'. Young voters who blog -- and there are lots of them -- boast they're the voting bloc that's hot. "Young voters are the new pink," a Rock the Vote blogger shouts. "Or the new orange? The new indigo?" They're like that little black dress, always poised to save the moment. The Obama campaign boasts that it registered thousands of new young voters. Hillary had her "Hillblazers," cheered on by daughter Chelsea, and John McCain says he'll contest every youth vote in November. Why else would he stay up late to joke and...

"Finally a real musician, Crosby Loggins, is getting some national exposure on MTV's 'American Idol'-styled competition, 'Rock the Cradle,' where the offspring of rock stars compete for a prize of $100,000. On a recent show it became obvious that the producers of the show want to see more skin. The remaining females in the competition were driven to writhing on the floor while the male competitors were showing skin and grabbin' their package -- all the stuff we have come to expect from this so-called music television.