Where have you gone.....Kurt Loder? Our nation could use turning it's culture-lonely eyes to you.....woo woo woo..

Remember when MTV News had actually news (let alone music videos)? Over the past 25 years, I whole-heartedly believe one of the most unheralded members of the media has been Kurt Loder, the man we all know from his news updates, MTV specials on everything from UFOs to "Choose or Lose" (of which to retrospectives on music, political and pop-culture history. Over the past few months, I've become pretty nostalgic about the early 1990's from listening to the Spectrum (Channel 45) on Sirius/XM. I mean, 10,000 Maniacs, Pearl Jam, R.E.M, the Proclaimers, Nirvana, Jesus Jones, Axl Rose, Weird Al...Color Me Badd. It brings back those memories of "Reality Bites" soundtrack and Soul Asylum. MTV News (and MTV itself) mattered because Kurt Loder was a trusted source in a time where young people were marginalized in the mainstream media. In addition, they were able to present controversial issues at a time the networks avoided them like former juicers do to Jose Canseco at a card show.

The man whom broke the news of Kurt Cobain's death in a live-break in, Kurt Loder is now writing movie reviews for MTV.com. What a waste of his talent. The case could be made that Carson Daly ruined MTV, because "Total Request: Live" totally took over the channel and catered to music videos of the Hanson sect. Loder, a former editor for Rolling Stone, was obviously much more talented than that. So it seems he was phased out ala Ted Koeppel at ABC.

Have you seen some of the crap that MTV has put on over the past few years? Before the Hills and True Life specials (one of which wasn't the Jersey Shore I go to, I know and I love), there was The Real World. At the time, the show was revolutionary. 7 strangers...Picked to live in a house...and have their lives on tape. And the strangers were picked in an era where certain social prejudices and stereotypes were more prevalent. (sidenote: The Real World was one of those shows I wanted to apply to because I wanted to be the token Conservative who everybody stereotypically thought was a prick, but as the season went on would change the hearts and minds of all in the house....basically a nicer version of Rachel Campos. As of last September 23rd when I officially turned 26, the dream has ended) It was good TV. The MTV "Choose or Lose" interview with Governor Bill Clinton was a major reason youth were convinced to exercise their democratic right. MTV was societally more relevant then than any "Hills" spin-off or "True Life" will ever be. I miss those days.

I think the closest thing to Kurt Loder that I had as a college professor was T. Corey Brennan, a professor of classics at Rutgers. While much was made of his stint as the original guitarist for the early 90's alternative/pop band, the Lemonheads, his class had to be one of the most fascinating and interesting classes ever. We were able to write our papers on ANYTHING. At Phi Delta Theta, we took classes in the same manner that women go to the bathroom....in packs. Once "Rate My Professor" became a pre-req for choosing classes junior and senior years, not to mention I believe someone had taken him before, it was one of those classes where it mattered more that you took something away from the class, rather than the grade. The class was "Greek Civilization". Where else could you write about how Oedipus and Marty McFly in "Back to the Future" were both romantically interested in their mother and how they were in common? (which Frank Croce did) Professor Brennan is now on a 3 year stint at the American Academy in Rome. Kudos to him and let's hope someone writes about what Antigone had in common with Tori Spelling.

Side note: SNL Season Finale: After watching Will Ferrell & ensamble (Norm MacDonald, Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph, Tom Hanks, and the human mutz ball himself, Arthur Lange, Jr.), I have a greater appreciation for the song "Goodnight, Saigon". It was always one of those songs that I'd skip over on the Greatest Hits CD or thinking what Billy is going to play next at a show during the faux helicopter opening. I've already played it a few times from the "2000 Millenium Concert" since then.

Side note two: Sal & Richard's "Tradio" calls make it impossible for me drive in the morning. I almost had to pull-over this morning or risk initiating a pile-up on the NJ Turnpike because these calls are so damn funny.