When Dan Aykroyd and Bette Midler hosted the inaugural MTV Video Music Awards at New York City’s Radio City Music Hall on Sept. 14, 1984, people couldn’t have predicted that the event would evolve into a pop culture phenomenon going 40 years strong.
Here’s a look back at how some critics reviewed the show in fall 1984, as reported by Slate:
Cliff Radel, Cincinnati Enquirer: “The 1st Annual MTV Video Awards was a momentous occasion, ranking right up there with your average yawn.”
Richard Harrington, Washington Post: “While no one can deny the profound influence MTV has had — on music, fashion, and film — it’s equally hard to defend MTV’s bullying tactics and virtual exclusion of Black entertainers. Diana Ross accepted two awards for Michael Jackson; it’s just about the only way she’s been able to get on MTV.”
Tom Shales, Nashville Tennessean: “Boorish behavior was the order of the night. Even MTV’s behavior was obnoxious; viewers were beaten over the head with promotional materials for MTV, and the MTV logo was in almost every single shot.”
Jon Bream, Minneapolis Star-Tribune: “The ceremony was little more than splashy self-aggrandizement for MTV.”
David Bianculli, Philadelphia Inquirer: “The true slant of MTV’s self-promotional orgy is complete: an orchestrated, calculated, meaningless event.”
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