Since ’97, BTM has tracked the rise and spectacular falls of 168 artists, most recently New Kids On The Block last fall. It was the network’s signature program before the Flavorrr Flaaav years. You probably haven’t seen it in a while, since new episodes are few and far between, and Pantera is the only episode in repeats (according to my Tivo). Good news: ten more episodes have been ordered, starting with Lil Wayne and Scott Weiland.
From Reuters:
In focus groups, VH1 found that “BTM” is so deeply associated with the channel, some viewers assumed the series never left the air. The show’s storytelling model of the meteoric rise, tragic fall and sober rebirth of an artist was so distinctive that “The Simpsons” devoted a 2000 episode to parodying the show. There was also a short-lived spin-off, “Behind the Music 2,” that looked at the careers of younger favorites.
VH1 will update the show’s format for 2009, but not too much. Jim Forbes is back as the show’s narrator, though the new episodes will add more current footage to anchor the story in the present day, just as the New Kids special intercut with a live event.
“I’m leery about changing certain elements,” (VH1 executive vice president original programing) Jeff Olde said. “I think the audience will be mad if we mess with it too much.”
Good looking out, Jeff Olde. You should probably help him out by suggesting subjects for future episodes in the comments. I’m sure Kanye would say provocative things, but the best episodes usually focus on has-been acts.
First person to say Animal Collective gets a slap in the e-face.
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Animal Collective.
too easy
BTM >>>>>>>>>>>> Animal Collective.
Animal Collective aren’t good enough to make it onto BTM.
Can’t we get a Smiths lovefest?
They must hold on to that one until Morrissey publishes a tell-all autobiography!
(I feel like that may be closer down the road than some people may think)
the only one i’d care about, to be honest.
public enemy and poison.
I’d like to see a Behind the Music about Brian Eno or King Crimson, but I won’t get my hopes up.
I have not seen that channel in ages but I liked that program.
I think it’s more interesting to focus on artists with long careers as there’s more to “uncover” and narrate rather than people who have been around less than 10 years.
I’m a bit of a sucker for investigative journalism and documentary-like programs. They should hire the guy from Dateline to narrate! (The old one with the skinny face and super dramatic voice)
Bill Hader?
Has there already been a Poison BTM? Cause VH1 could always use more Bret Michaels
Would LOVE to see a behind the music on Elliott Smith. Even though he has passed, he is still such an amazing and influential musician. I still feel like many MANY people have never heard him and need to know about him. Thanks for reading.
they really need to make one about elliott. i was just thinking that myself.
Did Oasis already have a BTM?
yes, right around the release of standing on the shoulder of giants
And they included subtitles to decode the Mancunian….that was weird.
Yeah, and it was fantastic. They had to have subtitles.
Animal Collective.
Am I too late?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Behind_The_Music
It appears they did. Though I’m a bit surprised they never did one on Johnny Cash.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Behind_The_Music
It appears they did. Though I’m a bit surprised they never did one on Johnny Cash.
I would love to see one on Elliott Smith as well. What about one on U2, or Jeff Buckley, or Depeche Mode? I don’t want to see one about Lil Wayne! What has he done for the musical world? There is a whole list of people that would be more interesting than him
dylan
Mark Gormley.
Dylan?!, The Smiths?! Johnny Cash??! Come On! All of the BTMs about “serious” artists totally blow..
(thats why Motley Crue was the best BTM ever.)
Therefore ,I want ones on Insane Clown Posse, Slayer, Slipknot and The Geto Boys..In that order.
I second the geto boys, if that wasn’t already done (I feel like I’ve seen Bushwick Bill try to kil himself on VH! thousands of time) b/c of Bill and now Scarface is suicidal! Fun! As far as a “serious” artist episode that wouldn’t blow? David Bowie. It may need to be extended though()
Is your pic from Red Dawn?….wolverines
Pimpin Curly. Not Fitty, just Pimpin Curly.
god dammit, can’t they pick anyone better than Lil Wayne and Scot whatshisface?
Slayer, Wu Tang, The Clash, The Libertines and Fugazi
What about Radiohead?
I second that!
scott weiland’s will be awesome.
Ween
Fuck BTM give us more celebreality vh1! Why hasn’t Fred Savage gotten a show yet, or Victoria Jackson? Apparantly she’s nuts and that always makes for great tv. And it’s been far too long of a Flavor of Love hiatus…maybe this one could feature Chuck D somehow.
Yeah… somehow I don’t think the guy who wrote “She Watch Channel Zero” is going to do reality TV.
What about Rare Earth?
Yeah, Rare Earth…Yanni would be badass too.
Knowing VH1, we’ll probably be seeing a BTM on Fergie sooner than we see one on Elliott Smith. I was surprised to see they haven’t done one on David Bowie yet. That’s almost a no brainier.
Actually, VH1 being VH1, we’ll see a BTM on Bret Michaels or Flavor Flav as “solo artists” before anyone listed above.
There are so many bands that would make excellent profiles….I’d love to see them do The Frames, Magnetic Fields, TMBG, Fugazi (doubt they’d do it)….MIke Patton would be mint…Did they ever do one on Nick Drake?…there was a great one on Jim Croce too….WESLEY WILLIS!
The Legends series was also awesome…I distinctly remember the one on Freddie Mercury/Queen.
I wonder if the baby boom cunts that run the show at VH1 would ever care to profile any of the great new music that has evaded their Major Label Death Squads.
Next on Behind The Music: Corn Mo
well, they never did weezer…
I second Wesley Willis.
Split Enz, Crowded House, Neil Finn, Tim Finn…. or at the very least smush them all together in one, episode.
How about Rancid? go through OPIV and such.
Robert Gordon.