When MTV (Music Television) launched in 1981, it did so largely to showcase music videos. However, the network quickly morphed into a channel that also created original programming. Interestingly enough, MTV is also credited with helping to create reality television as we know it today. Not all of the seemingly forgotten MTV shows are reality, though each is uniquely part of the MTV brand of the 90s. So, we’ll forget that “video killed the radio star” for a moment with a trip down MTV memory lane to reminisce on some of the forgotten shows of network TV past.
#1: Room Raiders (2003-2009)
Part reality show, part dating series, Room Raiders was a wack,y competition-style program on MTV that ran for eight seasons from 2003 to 2009. The basic premise was that three men or women watched from a nearby van as eligible singles raided their room. Without knowing what the other singles looked like, the raider had to pick one of the room owners to date based on what was in their room.
This very bizarre show often involved the raider finding some embarrassing or intimate items. It also wasn’t uncommon for female contestants to wander around the rooms with a black light. Yikes.