Ah. Memory lane. What do we think of when we are in a nostalgic state? Some of us think fondly of our loved ones, sentimental times, happy and sad moments of our lives. Maybe you're thinking of a pet or an old imaginary friend/ pet rock because let's face it they were the day one homies.
And if you're childhood was anything but normal like mine, you may think of MTV shows you watched (even the ones your mom told you not to at 11 or 13 years old). I'm not talking "Buckwild" or "Ridiculessness" on that familiar channel 77 folks, I'm talking the oldies; the throwbacks. We're about to embark on a quick road trip to the '90s, the bald Britney Spears years, and visit everything in between that aired on Music Television Cable, or MTV as we so loved.
1. "The Hills" (2006-2010)
We all hated to love The Hills. Similar to the Kardashians, it was everyone's guilty pleasure. The Hills not only introduced us to the utterly fabulously easy lives of Lauren, Audrina, Whitney, Heidi, Lo, Stephanie and Kristin, but hearing "Unwritten" as the theme by our girl Natasha Bedingfield every morning when it was on was on became so comforting and familiar.
2. "Teen Mom" (2009-2012 OG Series)
I mean, we watched this and could only pray our lives did not end up that way. As horrible as that may sound, we learned a lot from young Farrah Abraham (if you have not caught up with her new music career and need a laugh, I mean get on that train ASAP). There were tears, laughter, and lots of meltdowns that came from the girls on the show and probably our parents once they found out we were watching it.
3. "Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County" (2004-2006)
Featuring the girls Lauren and Kritin from The Hills again, Laguna Beach gave us life before The Hills aired. It followed the girls and guys of Laguna Beach High School and had Hilary Duff (post Pablo days) singing the catchy theme opening "Come Clean." You know it's still a jam you get down to admit it people.
4. "Wild n' Out" (2005-Present)
Starring Nick Cannon with various other comedians and guest stars, the gang would rap battle and skit it off with Team Black and Team Red fighting for the winner's belt each episode. Pre Mariah separation and America's Got Talent days, Cannon was truly in his prime and rocking rhymes on this hilarious underrated show.
5. "TLR" (1998-2008)
"Total Request Live," baby. Maybe the best 10 years of my life? You'd catch flamboyant host's Carson Daly and Damien Fahey reading live audience and online voting requests of the hottest music and dramatic as f*ck 2000s music videos we all watched. The show was aired live and had the backdrop of New York City showing through the glass windows of the set. Also. thinking of it now, Carson Daly hasn't aged a day since "TRL?" Him and Ashton Kutcher man, they have some eternal youth going on for them. Anyway, onto the next one.
6. "The Buried Life" (2010-2011)
Amazing show that just did not see enough of the light of day. 20 somethings Ben, Dave, Duncan, and Jonnie scratching off INSANELY awesome and spontaneous bucket list ideas and goals each episode. Plus, they were pretty cute to look at as well so that didn't hurt. The catchy, feel good theme song "Ohh,Ahh (My Life Be Like" by GRITS was the signal of a great episode ahead. Also, dedication from me when I still follow them on Instagram. The fans are still out there boys, and still single boys so like hmu.
7. "The Top 20 Video Countdown" (1994-2015)
Although this show was originally on VH1 Networks, this show was often aired on MTV and Fuse and was always playing in the morning when I would wake up. I mean, waking up to the "Bring Me To Life" music video by Evanesence at 9:00 a.m. on a random Wednesday during the summer; how much better did it get back then. Yeah, apparently not too much better for me but it was so fun watching the music videos countdown the most bumping music for that week. Honorable mention to Top 20 Video Countdown.
8. "Date My Mom" (2004-2006)
I mean, just what the fu*k? I found myself watching this show and thinking "what a great idea for my future dating partners?!" If you wanna be my lover, you gotta get with my mom essentially was the theme of this show. Usually one guy or girl going on three separate dates with three moms in desperate hope that one of the, will let him/her date their child. Oh, the days before Tinder. Also, honorable mention to the show Parental Control. When the parents and current partner would watch their lover/child go on dates with prospective new partners and hope desperately again they would stay or go. Heavily scripted pseudo reality show that we couldn't not watch.
9. "My Life as Liz" (2010-2011)
Basically the OG Awkward, this show was short lived but one of my favorites nonetheless. It followed high school senior Liz and her ups and downs with love, school, and her future. #RIPLiz
10. "My Super Sweet Sixteen" (2005-2008)
These days, a nice meal out with bread bowls and good friends plenty does it for me and my birthday expectations. For these 16 year old, if a Hummer or Bentley was not outside the $200,000 venue by the end of the episode, Mom and Dad's heads would be off. I mean how inconsiderate for them not to buy a car for the kid who can now get their permit let alone license. We still ended each episode feeling salty and bitter af let's face it.
11. "Room Raiders" (2004-2006)
I mean, another creepy ass plot. Usually three guys in the back of a white van ready when they're told to go into their future partners room and simply raid it. You know the underwear drawer was always looked through and in hindsight how was that even allowed? The chick would usually walk in her room with one idiot trying her bra on and the others straight cheesin' for her attention. Another guilty pleasure we found ourselves watching for sure.
12. "Pimp My Ride" (2004-2007)
Xzibit though. Like guy is a champion. He took in some fools busted car each episode and managed to install surround sound speakers and flat screens in the truck with a brightly painted exterior top coat. Customization game was so strong with that one and the before and after shots kept us watching every season.
13. "World of Jenks" (2010-2013)
A tear jerker from MTV. The show followed Andrew Jenks, young filmmaker who each episode lived with a stranger from somewhere in the country for a week experiencing their life, story and perspective they had to offered. His relationship with a young man Chad living with autism snatched the hearts and tears of many viewers and had us revisiting the show every week.
14. "Life of Ryan" (2007-2008)
Do I enjoy skateboarding? Not particularly. Did I enjoy turning in every week to look at Ryan Sheckler surfing and tackling the most mundane struggles of life? Abso-friggen-lutley. Kid was a hottie with a low key body. What's he up to now? No idea. Peace love Ryan Sheckler I guess.
15. "MTV Cribs" (2005-2011)
Hey MTV, welcome to my crib. You know I say that to everyone who comes to the house or the dorm room. Every week we'd watch the most A-List to the most random celebrities showing us their humble abode and refrigerator (my favorite part). Like how did they keep their fridges so neat and organized and filled with various drinks we all wanted? MTV Cribs makes the ranking for most recognizable and entertaining throwback show we watched.
16. "Rob and Big" (2006-2008)
Peas in a pod these guys were. The duo was hilarious and let's us in their friendship and business lives every week. Better than Ridiculousness by far, every episode ended with Rob hurting himself or losing a bet of some sorts essentially.
17. "Run's House" (2005-2009)
Who's House? Run's House. Another underrated show that not too many of us watched but I loved. The theme along was so catchy you couldn't not watch the rest after. It chronicled the Simmons family life and entertaining it was certainly. Plus, every tween was crushing hard on young Diggy so the show got a lot of viewers just for him if anything.
18. "Flavor Of Love" (2006-2008)
This guy was insane. With a blinged out watch hanging around his neck every episode, the reality show featured numerous girls pining for Flavor Flav's watch each week. The guy was insane and somehow known as a boss but we all know those girls wanted his money not the damn watch at the end of each episode.
19. "Silent Library" (2009-2012)
The show cased random celebrities and people completing obnoxious and hilarious tasks while having to remain silent in the library setting. Some episodes were good and some were just mind-blowingly stupid. Not my cup of tea but lasted three years on air.
20. "Punk'd" (2003-2007)
Ashton Kutcher. Seriously the guy does not age. "That 70's" Ashton looks exactly like Punk'd Ashton and 2016 Ashton. He's using some miracle youth cream or something this I swear by the stars. Regardless, he was the genius behind elaborate pranks on the hottest celebs and we loved watching every second of it. The guy is motivational and hilarious.
21. "The Real World" (1992-Present)
Reality TV at its peak. Strangers put into a house left to go clubbing and hook up with each other and get a weekly stipend for it too. We were probably too young to watch it but did anyway and find ourselves coming back each season even if it is for an episode or two.
22. "Jersey Shore" (2009-2012)
Cab's here. Best for last people. We loved to watch Snooki do the unthinkable drunk and sober, loved hate watching Ronnie and Sam fight every episode, fell in love with Pauly D and Vinny, watched JWoww usually slay and play mom with Snooki and of course just simply hate Mike aka The Situation. These guys got me through middle school and that Enrique Iglesisas theme song is still and forever a jam whenever. You can find me giving it my all at a party or in a frighten Shaw's dancing to that song.
These shows gave us life. They shaped a good part of our culture and our knowledge of it. Sure, we may have been yelled at for watching some of them or given some rolled eyes at by our parents when they saw it on the TV, but like any guilty pleasure they never get old. You know you find yourself watching an episode of one of these if it comes up and you have nothing else better to do. From the theme songs to the main characters we grew to love and hate, we all watched MTV collectively before Netflix and OnDemand took us by storm. Waiting each week patiently, we got or called up our friends to chat about the ridiculous drama that happened last episode.
The car's in park and memory lane is far away now but an episode of any one of these shows is just a click away if we want to reminisce about some of the crazy shows we watched people.
With another article done,
Breezy Out.
P.S You can revisit memory lane on August 2nd this summer when "That Was Then, This Was Now" airs on MTV, a reunion/where are they now special of The Hills commemorating the 10 year anniversary of the original episode airing. Yeah, you're welcome.
