5 Award Shows You Forgot About

 

MTV's Video Music Awards (VMA's) was held last night from the UBS arena in upstate New York. I'm sure most people like myself had no idea the VMA's were coming on, let alone that it was still a thing. You know since MTV doesn't play music at all these days.

Once upon a time award shows were must see TV live in the moment. That's not the case anymore as most have lost they're luster. The VMA's got me thinking about award shows that are no longer around, created during the excess eras of the 90's and 2000's. 

For every BET Awards, Grammy's, Academy Awards, and American Music Awards still kicking. There are quite a few you simply forgot about, so here's 5.

5. VH1 Big In Awards

This one I almost guarantee no one remembers, because I sure as hell didn't remember. And it appears the internet doesn't remember it as well, as information on it is hard to find.

Essentially it was an award show held in December each year, celebrating and honoring big things that occurred in pop culture that year. A cool concept when you think about it. It's lost to time though as the earliest I can find the Awards existed was 2002, and experienced some breaks through the years having its last show in 2015 (which I don't recall at all.)

4. Scream Awards

The Scream Awards was a Spike TV (now the Paramount network) production back it was a network catered to men. Kicking off in 2006, the awards show honored everything in horror, sci-fi, comic books and fantasy. Genres that were deemed "overlooked".

The last ceremony held was in 2011 as many of those genres became accepted and more popular, with the general population. In addition to Spike TV moving in other directions with programming.

3. TV Guide Awards

At one time TV Guide was a hugeeee deal. People relied on the printed magazines to keep them in the loop with what is coming on. As technology advanced that reliance moved to the TV Guide channel, the scrolling looping schedule of programming by the hour. And then it was a big accomplishment for a celebrity to make the cover of the TV Guide magazine.

The TV Guide Awards were originally held in the fifties and sixties before being discontinued. It was revived in 1999 and lasted until February 2001. Right around the time digital cable was becoming available and people didn't see much need in the TV Guide function or brand.

2. Blockbuster Entertainment Awards

Back when Blockbuster ruled the rental world they further added to their dominace by making an Awards ceremony. The idea was to use the branding to promote stores and highlight big budget films and celebrities. The ones that probably would never be nominated for Academy Awards, Golden Globes, or SAG Awards.

It also appeared hip and cool, filling that niche of appealing to young adults and teenagers. The first Awards ceremony kicked off in 1995 and ended in 2001. Another relic of how strong the Blockbuster brand was at one time, and of a bygone era.

1. TV Land Awards

The TV Land Awards were one awards ceremony I really never watched the whole event. However, I liked the concept in that it followed the original mission of the TV Land channel. Honoring the sitcoms of yesteryear while acknowledging the present and future.

As such award categories were meant to honor the past with like "groundbreaking shows" or "groundbreaking rules", "pioneer", "innovator", "Fan Favorite" etc. There were a few categories that carried over year after year. For the most part the categories changed, and in an acknowledgment to the present there was a "future classic" category for modern shows popular at the time. 

This award show was different from the rest and kicked off in 2003 and ended in 2015. One award ceremony I'm actually sad it had to end.

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Five Movie Blocks You Forgot

 

TBS has bought back the classic 90's TV Series Dinner And A Movie, releasing June 1st with husband and wife duo Jason Biggs and Jenny Mollen hosting. For those unfamiliar the series is basically a movie is played with segments intercut with commercial breaks featuring commentary from the hosts on the film being played. The original series, the hosts would provide recipes on dishes which often were puns related to the film playing. 

I'm not sure if the same recipe format will be followed, and some may scoff at the idea of reviving the series in today's world. However, I for one believe there still is a place for these type of programs and will check it out. So it got me thinking about similar programs that you probably forgot about. Here are five movie entertainment programs, you may have tuned into at one time and don't remember.

5. Casino Cinema

In the early 2000's country themed network The Nashville Network (TNN), morphed into The National Network before finally settling on Spike TV. In 2004 the network debuted Casino Cinema featuring Beth Ostrosky Stern and Steve Schirripa famously known as Bobby Baccaleri on The Sopranos. In between commercial breaks, the hosts and sometimes guests guests would engage in a different gambling game showing the audience how to play. The set is made to resemble a small casino and the vibe was very adult themed but clean enough and fun. The series lasted until 2007.

4. Monstervision

Horror TV icon Joe Bob Briggs debuted a series on TNT in 1991 with MonsterVision. In which the series would often play classic horror films, before mixing in middle of the road and b-movie films which were not always horror films. Joe Bob would often provide his off the cuff commentarycommentary on the film playing, including if he hated the film. The series lasted until 2000, and Joe Bob's commentary put's in a class of it's own.

3. Joe Bob's Drive In Theater

Before hosting Monstervision, Joe Bob had his own show on premium B level cable network  The Movie Channel. Starting in 1986, it was essentially the same format as his TNT program watched a program or two during his allotted time and offer his commentary on the film. In this case since The Movie Channel is a premium channel, his commentary was often before the movie setting up the film and after giving his stamp of approval or hatred. He hosted this show alongside Monstervision, until Drive-In Theater ended in 1996. Joe Bob currently has a similar program on streaming service Shudder The Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs.

2. The Movie Lounge

A spin-off of Dinner And A Movie, Movie Lounge I'll admit I vaguely remember and not even sure if I sat down and watched it before. It starred actor Kent Osborne and the set was that of an actual lounge, to help round out the cast were talking puppets and a mascot for the program. The series debuted in 1998 and while the format was slightly different than it's companion show. Audience members found them too similar and it was not as well received. In case you need a memory refresh, here's a promo for the series.  

1. Saturday Nightmares

Many remember USA Up All Night, the late Saturday Night programming block hosted by Rhonda Shears. Many however, do not remember USA Saturday Nightmares, likely because there was not a host associated with the program it was just a TV block. Debuting in 1984 and running until 1994, the series had it's own intro to let audience know what they were in for. Which mainly were B-level horror films with the occasional mainstream horror film thrown in. Very simple and to the point, which has made it forgettable these years later. 

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