I Want My MTV2

MTV proper is still home to too many reality shows for my taste, and its nightly dose of wrestling is no solution; give me Matt Pinfield over The Rock any day. So thank God for MTV2. In its previous incarnation as M2, the little-sibling network was alt-rock central. These days it's more diverse, with a morning show of light-R&B clips (perfect for easing into the day) and evenings devoted to hip-hop and videos plucked from various eclectic pop charts. 120 Minutes, now found here, remains the place to see many of the sharpest alt-videos past and present. Control Freak, a request show in which viewers get to vote for one of three clips, is clever in theory but predictable in execution: Videos by System of a Down, Tool, or similar eggheadbangers always win over the likes of Mary J. Blige or Phantom Planet.

Having OD'd on rock & roll career narratives on VH1, I was wary of its new digital-cable-only spin-off, VH1 Classic. But picture this: nonstop videos both renowned and obscure, with no VJs and few ads. One minute you're watching '70s clips of Free, Van Morrison, and Three Dog Night; the next, hard-to-find videos by Public Image Ltd. and Peter Wolf from the following decade. (Wonder why Wolf never became a star post-J. Geils Band? Check out his unfunky-chicken moves in "Come as You Are.") The experience is nothing short of mesmerizing. Watching VH1 Classic reminds me of the early days of MTV, when I'd find myself glued to the tube for hours, wondering what would air next and realizing that the anticipation was half the fun. It's also a reminder that sometimes pop stars should be heard singing, not talking.