MTV Uncensored [Hardcover]

MTV (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 31, 2001

An irreverent pictorial history of MTV, full of anecdotes and behind-the-scenes revelations, as told by the people who saw it all happen - including Madonna, Cindy Crawford, Ben Stiller, Eminem, Kurt Loder and Jennifer Lopez. This is a homage to the iconic TV channel that has shaped the lives and attitudes of millions for over 15 years. It raids the vaults of MTV's thousands of hours of exclusive interviews and performances for the shocking truth behind the success of the world's most unmistakable pop culture machine. Discover the sordid details of the breakdowns and near catastrophes at MTV award shows that have nearly knocked some of these broadcasts off the air; read shocking stories of the after-parties; and get the lowdown on the top 100 videos - and why so many were originally banned by the channel's censors.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Remember when Diana Ross felt up Lil' Kim on live television? When Chuck D interviewed Strom Thurmond? When Madonna's breasts exploded from her bustier on the first MTV Music Awards? When Nirvana trashed Kurt Loder's hotel room? When Radiohead's Thom Yorke almost drowned on MTV Beach House by diving into a pool with combat boots? When Tabitha Soren appeared in the Beastie Boys' "Fight for Your Right" video. Or when she swatted Bill Clinton's hand away when he patted her head? When Downtown Julie Brown carried on like the lost Gabor sister? When Florence Henderson flashed her fuzz-enhanced armpits in a parody of Basic Instinct?

You'll remember it all in living color if you read the sassy, flashy MTV Uncensored, the network's 20th-birthday present to its fans (and itself). More stars than there are beds in rehab offer their irreverent reminiscences, and sumptuous images by the greats of pop-culture photography jostle with spontaneous onscreen and backstage shots grabbed from video history while it was happening. I wish there were captions for the kazillion images, even if it had to be an index in tiny type at the back. But if you're hip, you'll recognize at least 99 percent of the faces. I also wish there was a longish introductory essay or a through line of historical narrative in addition to the profusion of punchy quotes and "20 Questions for 20 Years" celeb insta-interviews. But that wouldn't be very rock & roll, would it? One old-timer interviewed in the book says that working at MTV is "the most fun you can have with your clothes on." MTV Uncensored is the most fun you can have with your TV off. --Tim Appelo

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: MTV; 1St Edition edition (July 31, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743426827
• ISBN-13: 978-0743426824
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 9.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,048,104 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Cool Guide to the MTV Revolution, August 28, 2002

By 

Rodney at Goude Photo (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: MTV Uncensored (Hardcover)

There are lots of coffee-table books, but this might need to be called a triple espresso table book! This is a wonderful book for a number of audiences, and not just fans of MTV. Young and old music fans, pop culture fans, history fans, celebrity worshippers, and even fans of photography and design will all love this book. I bought it mostly because of its look, feel, and page after page of incredible photography. But it's also a nice extension of the too-hot-to-be-cool excitement of MTV. A perfect gift idea, too; get one for anybody cool.

It's full of behind-the-scenes peeks and fun oral histories from VJs, performers, interns, etc. You'll have a great time seeing the 20-year history of MTV, whether or not you grew up with Duran Duran, Justin Timberlake, Julie Brown or Snoop. The book proves that MTV hasn't just changed music, it has changed all media.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Makes you feel Famous, August 27, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: MTV Uncensored (Hardcover)

I don't know what I was expecting when I picked this up, but I was blown out from page one. This is my history, my memories. It's like the ultimate high school yearbook. You kinda feel like your gonna see your own picture somewhere down the pages. MTV is the school all the coolest kids went to. Britney Spears. David Bowie. The Chili Peppers. Kurt Loder, the hip professor. Li'l Kim makes you wanna spray her down with a firehouse. Me, I had to take a shower to cool down. Gotdamn. Hot! Britney strippin. Madonna trippin. The Kurt Cobain story almost gave me the creeps it was so spooky. Tons of great photos and stories. Neneh Cherry's got great lips. TRL's photobooth takes amazing strips. Can someone get me in there? I want to be famous too. This book makes you feel good.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Happy 20th Birthday, MTV!, August 25, 2001

By 

Manny Hernandez "@askmanny" (Bay Area, CA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: MTV Uncensored (Hardcover)

The generation that was born in the past thirty years (which I happen to be a part of) has been raised watching, and in some cases doesn't know the world and television without MTV.

This year (2001) is MTV's 20th anniversary, and the TV network all music fans have learned to follow over the years has put out this nice volume packed with pictures and interviews of the stars that have been showcased in it, alongside the VJs that have announced or interviewed them.

You'll find in the pages all those unforgettable moments of the MTV Music Awards, you always wanted to be able to have in a package; all the unplugged concerts, beginning with that initial moment when Bon Jovi did an unplugged for the first time, before the term became popular, all the way to Bob Dylan, R.E.M. or Nirvana... and even Beavis and Butthead showing up!

However, there's a little chaos in the book, I have to say: you'll find a total melange of pictures of Pat Benatar, Billy Idol or The Police side by side with Billy Corgan, Marylin Manson or NSync. But then again, MTV has gotten us used to a little bit of chaos, anyway.

Happy Birthday, MTV!