Terrence Clay
2022-07-14 07:16:29 UTC
https://thelandofwhatever.blogspot.com/2013/02/what-mightve-been-rockline-on-mtv-1991-2.html
Rockline has been a successful radio show for a number of years, but back in 1991, MTV picked up an option to adapt the series for television. It should've lasted longer than it did, but it was given the heave-ho by the network after 15 months in May 1992. It didn't help that the series went through a brief hiatus before cancellation, and back in those days, MTV had a sickening habit of making ultra-late schedule changes for no reason. You wonder if the morons in charge of Cartoon Network got their start at MTV.........
During its MTV run, Rockline went through 2 hosts. Original VJ Martha Quinn had returned to the network two years prior to Rockline's TV debut, and because she was now based in California, trying her luck as an actress (i.e. The Bradys, "Bad Channels"), MTV decided they'd save some money by launching a studio out West, so Albany area native Martha wouldn't have to commute back and forth across the country. Unfortunately, Martha's 2nd tour of duty at MTV ended before Rockline was cancelled, and newsman/part-time VJ John Norris took her place. Norris presumably had been subbing while Martha was off making a movie, but, again, no explanation was ever given. Frustrating, isn't it, given how popular Martha was back in the glory days of the 80's?
What also hurt Rockline was that, as with everything else, MTV kept moving it around, and instead of a 1 hour format, which I think was how it was set on radio, the series was confined to a half-hour. I remember when it was on Tuesdays at 6:30 pm (ET), then flipping it on one night to find Club MTV airing in its place. Aaaaaahhhhhh!!! Thankfully, then, it was only temporary, but by Memorial Day '92, it was gone for good. Not a word in the newspapers. It was almost as if MTV just gave up. If they did, they gave up too soon.
Rightfully, it should've been a 1 hour show right from the go, and heavily promoted. I think when Norris took it over, they moved the series to New York, again, in the name of economics.
The last I knew, Martha Quinn was doing a satellite radio oldies show, and of course you know what's become of MTV, or, as I'd prefer to deem it now, Empty-V, in the 21 years since Rockline was cancelled. The decline of MTV actually started with their boneheaded programming decisions in the 90's, and, as CN suits are finding out now, keeping those decisions close to the vest isn't smart.
Rating: A.
Rockline has been a successful radio show for a number of years, but back in 1991, MTV picked up an option to adapt the series for television. It should've lasted longer than it did, but it was given the heave-ho by the network after 15 months in May 1992. It didn't help that the series went through a brief hiatus before cancellation, and back in those days, MTV had a sickening habit of making ultra-late schedule changes for no reason. You wonder if the morons in charge of Cartoon Network got their start at MTV.........
During its MTV run, Rockline went through 2 hosts. Original VJ Martha Quinn had returned to the network two years prior to Rockline's TV debut, and because she was now based in California, trying her luck as an actress (i.e. The Bradys, "Bad Channels"), MTV decided they'd save some money by launching a studio out West, so Albany area native Martha wouldn't have to commute back and forth across the country. Unfortunately, Martha's 2nd tour of duty at MTV ended before Rockline was cancelled, and newsman/part-time VJ John Norris took her place. Norris presumably had been subbing while Martha was off making a movie, but, again, no explanation was ever given. Frustrating, isn't it, given how popular Martha was back in the glory days of the 80's?
What also hurt Rockline was that, as with everything else, MTV kept moving it around, and instead of a 1 hour format, which I think was how it was set on radio, the series was confined to a half-hour. I remember when it was on Tuesdays at 6:30 pm (ET), then flipping it on one night to find Club MTV airing in its place. Aaaaaahhhhhh!!! Thankfully, then, it was only temporary, but by Memorial Day '92, it was gone for good. Not a word in the newspapers. It was almost as if MTV just gave up. If they did, they gave up too soon.
Rightfully, it should've been a 1 hour show right from the go, and heavily promoted. I think when Norris took it over, they moved the series to New York, again, in the name of economics.
The last I knew, Martha Quinn was doing a satellite radio oldies show, and of course you know what's become of MTV, or, as I'd prefer to deem it now, Empty-V, in the 21 years since Rockline was cancelled. The decline of MTV actually started with their boneheaded programming decisions in the 90's, and, as CN suits are finding out now, keeping those decisions close to the vest isn't smart.
Rating: A.