12 Oct
212: VH-1 Launches
The “VH” in VH-1 stood for “Video Hits” when VH-1 first launched in January 1985 as an adult contemporary adjunct to MTV - though today to catch videos, it might be best to flip past VH-1 or MTV to VH-1 Classic. Its early VJs were Don Imus, Frankie Crocker (also early program director), Jon Bauman (”Bowzer” from Sha Na Na), Rita Coolidge, and later Rosie O’Donnell. Some of their legacy shows include “Behind The Music”, “Pop Up Video”, “Legends”, “The Greatest Series”, “Flavor of Love” (the reality show with ex-Public Enemy comic relief Flavor Flav), “VH-1 Divas”, and they also launched charity Save The Music Foundation, supporting music education. VH-1 was and continues to be an important pop cultural institution.