I'd like to begin by saying: "Welcome freshman!" I'd like to then ask which of you used to watch the Nickelodeon sitcom "Welcome Freshmen?" If you did, I have a feeling you and I are going to get along great. I have another question. Was the second season given the rather flawed title of "Welcome Back Freshmen," or is my memory deceiving me? I can't find any information to back this up, but I'm almost certain it's true. Anyone?
If you don't know what I'm talking about, don't worry. Over the next semester, assuming they allow me to continue writing, I'll be sticking with current comedy subjects with obscure references sprinkled only sparingly. Comedy can take many forms, whether it is television, film, written, sketch, musical or stand-up. I'd classify virtually anything that makes a person laugh as comedy. That's what I'll be writing about. Things that make me laugh. Or things that make others laugh and make me think, "Why are these people laughing?"
One thing that I recently found amusing is VH1. It may not be commonly considered a comedy channel, but it's slowly becoming one of the funniest networks on television. That is, what it airs is funny. VH1 rivals the programming of even Comedy Central with its popular "I Love the … " decade series, its weekly wrap-up show "Best Week Ever" and its reality shows featuring washed-up celebrities.
And what better washed-up celebrity to talk about than one who apparently still has some life left in him — Flavor Flav? The second season of "Flavor of Love" premiered Aug. 6, following an amazingly successful first season that gave VH1 its highest ratings since the channel's introduction more than two decades ago.
The high ratings continued this season, as the debut episode was the most-watched premiere for a VH1 series ever. Let that sink in. This means that more than three million viewers witnessed Somethin' squat down and pinch a loaf on Flav's floor. It was the poop seen 'round the world. Or at least smelt 'round the house.
What makes a show like this so popular? The main reason is that Flavor Flav is a character. As I watch this show, I can barely imagine that Flavor Flav exists in the real world. He's loud and not very swift. He's like a child. He seems fictional. Yet at the same time he would appear genuinely kind and sincere in his quest for love. This mixture of sincerity and stupidity is exactly what makes the show so appealing. We might not always be laughing with Flav, but the main thing is that we're laughing. Right?
In fact, on the "Flavor of Love 2" official website, Flav's potential love interests are listed under the category of "Characters." They’re not "Contestants," not "Cast Members," but "Characters." Apparently even the producers prefer that you don't think of them as real people. This makes sense. A bad person laughs at people, but it's perfectly fine for us to laugh at the plight of a character.
Programming such as "Flavor of Love" and "Celebrity Fit Club" has transformed VH1 into the "Snakes on a Plane" of cable networks. It recognizes that its programming is idiotic, but it also realizes that the main draw of its programming is that it's so idiotic. No one tunes in to "Flavor of Love" expecting Flav to woo one of his women with an articulate poem or passage from "Romeo and Juliet."
If he tried, fans would sit on the edge of their seats waiting for him to mess up a line. Perhaps something to the effect of, "A rose by any other name would smell like feet," then most likely concluding the moment with a well-timed "Flavor Flav!" — the perfect punch line.
Sure, VH1 may have abandoned its "Video Hits One" roots, but you rarely hear anyone complaining about it. MTV, on the other hand, receives constant criticism for never airing music videos. This is for good reason — the programming on MTV doesn't hold a candle to the programming on VH1.
To VH1's credit, the channel at least attempts to incorporate a musical artist into most programs, including, though I hesitate to call him an "artist," Flavor Flav. In contrast, MTV bores and brainwashes its viewers with meaningless soap operas and faux-reality shows in which pop music is, at most, advertised and then discarded for whatever comes out next. I realize that the same company, Viacom, owns both of these networks, but the differences are drastic. VH1 is light-hearted fun; MTV is a wasteland.
There was a time when VH1 was viewed as the mature version of MTV — in other words, a channel for old people. I think times are changing. VH1 is becoming the new voice of the college-aged generation, or at the very least, an alternative voice. If that's not the case, then maybe it's my steadily increasing age or my recent concerns about hair and memory loss. Either way, I no longer want my MTV. I want my VH1. No, I need my VH1.
Mike Peters is a senior focusing on communication arts, film and business. Want to talk comedy with him? Send questions or comments his way to [email protected].
