Happy Birthday MTV: Sorry I didn't get you a gift

VH1 Classic has been hyping the 25th anniversary of MTV as well as promoting the fact that they'll run MTV's first day. In watching the videos this new station ran in its first hour, it's fun to see how videos have changed over the last 25 years. These early clips were mostly shot on video, with the band members awkwardly dancing while lip-synching their songs. Occasionally the videos would get ambitious by adding special effects or even a storyline. And with a short supply of promotional videos, there were a few bands I vaguely remember (okay, I didn't even recall a band named PhD).
There's no doubt about it, MTV changed music. Of course, if you don't believe me, the promos will emphasize that fact. But this anniversary makes me feel old since I work with a bunch of people who don't know life before MTV. Or even life before MTV became a haven of teen-based reality shows.
I remember the early days of MTV. No, I wasn't watching the first few hours or days because we didn't have cable television. In those days, cable television was a luxury many people didn't have and my father couldn't fathom paying for television. In fact, my mother still doesn't have cable. Usually we'd have to gather in a friend's basement to watch this revolutionary channel and on occasion, we'd head to the local arcade for our blast of video music. But we would watch for hours at a time. It didn't seem to matter if we liked the bands or not, we would watch in hopes of catching one of our favorite videos.
Of course, my MTV viewing declined during college. MTV tried to reach out by adding "120 Minutes" and the goofy game show "Remote Control" to accommodate my changing tastes. But sooner or later, you're no longer in the MTV demographic, and you drift away. Occasionally I'll tune in, but I find myself gravitating more toward VH1 Classic to re-live the early years.
But like all things, MTV has changed over the years. I've made fun of MTV for not taking the "M" part of the name seriously anymore. But with the advent of home computers and DVD players, watching music video isn't the same either. You want to watch your favorite video, you can download it or buy them on DVD. I can watch "Whip It" or "Rio" whenever I want (that reference doesn't give away my age, does it?). Now MTV attracts the kids with a sea of dating shows and programs featuring rich kids acting snotty. Then again, MTV isn't reaching out to a post 40-year old male. And if I want to learn about new music, I do it the old-fashioned way... I read about it.
So happy 25th birthday MTV. It won't be long before you're too old to be considered part of your desired demographic. I can't wait for the mid-life crisis.