MTV In Need Of Retirement

Today MTV turns 30, and though it was once a thriving, one-of-a-kind network, I believe MTV should consider an early retirement.

I wasn't around when MTV made its debut, but being born 5 years later, I grew up watching the network.

My most conscious memories of MTV were during the "teen pop" era. Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, *NSYNC and Backstreet Boys were constantly giving interviews or singing and dancing on the TV screen.

When my parents watched MTV Madonna, Bon Jovi and Debbie Gibson put on show and videos that made viewers feel like they were at a concert.

Music videos were actually shown back then and even throughout my teenage years. Heck, music was actually played on MTV. To hear music or see videos on MTV now it seems you have to be up before 5am. Today's MTV is littered with their version of reality shows and every now and then a dating show is thrown in there.

MTV is no longer what it originally stood for: Music Television. The network shows no signs of ever going back to its former self. What once helped put artists in your living room daily now only showcases them once a year at the VMAs (Video Music Awards). That "awards show" looks more like a freak show today. Lady Gaga laying in an egg on stage doesn't make me think of music, it makes me roll my eyes and ask myself, "What the hell?"

MTV should take this anniversary to either reinvent itself, or retire.  As sad as it is to say, the network has simply has outlived its usefulness.