Dear MTV,
I have been a loyal watcher to your network for most of my 20 years of living. Now, I want to express some concern. In more recent years, I've noticed some...flaws in your programming. Now, I know you're thinking "why should we listen to critiques from some entitled 20-year-old college kid from Miami?" But, hear me out.
I've come to notice there is a rotation of reruns of about four or five regular shows created by MTV (including "Catfish," "Ridiculousness," "Teen Mom," and "Jersey/Floribama Shore"). Most of these shows are still pushing out new episodes to this day. However, whenever I turn on my TV and tune into MTV, I notice that nine times out of ten, Rob Dyrdek's clip show "Ridiculousness" is airing.
Now, I don't have any complaints about the show, except for Chanel West Coast's laugh, but that's a different story. It's just that I feel like there are better shows in the "MTV Vault" that can be pulled out and aired in lieu of the five-to-six-hour marathon of "Ridiculousness" reruns. Shows like "My Super Sweet Sixteen," "MTV Cribs," or "Silent Library" would be great to include to the rerun schedule. I get that it's outdated by over 10 years, but it will give a sense of nostalgia to the older viewers, like what's trying to be done with the revival of TRL.
I also noticed that scripted shows on MTV never do that well, except for "Teen Wolf" or "Awkward." I mean, It's fine that most shows on MTV are reality-based, but bring back shows like "Punk'd," "The Real World," or "Pimp My Ride." These shows were the highlight of MTV when MTV was in its heyday.
There was a time where actual music videos would air on MTV, and I appreciate the effort to bring the likes of TRL back - that was a step in the right direction. The short revival of "My Super Sweet Sixteen" was also a step In the right direction. However, times have changed, and people my age would rather watch eight semi-hot young people move into a house for a summer vacation instead of a 16-year-old crying because the Maserati her daddy bought her wasn't bright pink like she asked. I think that "My Super Sweet Sixteen" was the wrong show to revive.
I feel like seeing our favorite celebrities getting pranked or watching car mechanics fix up an old beat-up car would still do well today. I see people tweeting about bringing back old MTV shows or even reviving them. I know it's unrealistic to revive so many shows. But the endless rotation between "Ridiculousness," "Teen Mom," and "Catfish" is just ridiculous (joke intended).
Now, MTV, I'm not asking or telling you to revert to your old ways, because backtracking is never okay. But, I would appreciate it if I can tune into MTV and see some diversity between the shows and not have to sit with 'Ridiculousness" airing for hours upon hours at a time.
Kind Regards,
Colin
