MTV shows from the 1980s and early 1990s prior to "The Real World" (1992)

[TMC]

British imports and reruns

source

• "The Young Ones" (1986 to 1988?)
  "London Calling" (briefly aired in 1986, which didn't click with viewers)
  "The Tube" (see "London Calling")
  "Monty Python" (mentioned on 1988 TV Guide advertisement)
  "The British Comic Strip" (mentioned on 1988 TV Guide advertisement)
  "The Monkees" (1986)
  "The Beatles" cartoon (Promo from 1987 is on YouTube, 1960s Saturday Morning cartoon)
  "Night of the Living Dead" movie aired on Halloween sometime in the mid/late 80s
  "Decline of Western Civilization II: The Metal Years" (documentary film aired in 1990)

Original programming (non music)

• "Remote Control" (1987 to 1990)
  "The Big Picture" (1988 to 1993?)
  "Mouth to Mouth" (1988 to 1989)
  "Half Hour Comedy Hour" (?, some sources says 1989 or 1990 to 1991)
  "House of Style" (1989 to 2000)
  "The Big Show" (1989, not sure if intended as a limited series)
  "Just Say Julie" (1989 to 1992, hosted by comedienne Julie Brown)*
  "The Ben Stiller Show" (1990 to 1991, sketch comedy, music videos shown with comedy bits)
  "The Idiot Box" (1990 to 1991,sketch comedy with Alex Winter with videos shown)
  "Totally Pauly" (Pauly Shore does his bits in between music videos)
  "Rock n' Jock" (1990 to ?)
  "Sporting Fool" (1990, precursor to "MTV Sports")
  "Turn It Up" (1990, failed game show that replaced "Remote Control")
  "Liquid Television" (1991 to 1994)
  * Unlike other shows where videos would play, the host would riff on them (i.e. "Al TV", "Beavis & Butt-Head")

Music news/documentary series

• "MTV Week in Rock" (1987 to 1997), MTV News reports, which would appear towards the end of the hour, actually dated back to the beginning
  "Rockumentary" (1989 to ?)
  "Buzz" (1990, avant-garde news/documentary program with random interview pieces, images, etc. randomly put together
  "Rockline" (hosted by Martha Quinn, 1991 to 1992)

Early music programs: 1981 to 1986

• "The Cutting Edge (1983 to 1987, somewhat of a monthly precursor to 120 Minutes
  "Rock Influences" (1984? to 198?, interviews and video clips of artists and their influences)
  "Basement Tapes" (1983 to 1988? unsigned bands compete, via music videos, to become signed to a major label)
  "International Hour" (1986, videos from artists around the world, usually the UK)
  "New Video Hour" (1986, latest music videos)
  "MTV Top 20 Countdown" (1984 to 1998)
  "Heavy Metal Mania" (1985 to 1987, precursor to Headbangers Ball)
  "Al TV" (1984 to 1999, Weird Al hosts a block of videos)
  "120 Minutes" (1986 to 2000)
  "Dial MTV" (1986 to ?)
  "Friday Night Video Fights" (1983 to ?)
  "Closet Classics" (1983?, from an early bumper on YouTube, to 1987?, performance clips and pre-MTV videos from 1960s and '70s)
  Yearly countdowns (1984 to 2004)
  Saturday night concerts
  MTV Video Music Awards (1984 to present)

They also did the New Year's countdown during its early years

Music programs from 1987 to 1991

• MTV Live from the Ritz (late '80s, most famous episode featured Guns N' Roses from 1988)
  "Headbangers Ball" (1987 to 1995)
  "Club MTV " (1987 to 1992, dance show)
  "Street Party" (1989 to 1992, dance pop videos)
  "Yo! MTV Raps" (1988 to 1995)
  "Hard 30"/"Hard 60" (1988? to 1989, weekday version of "Headbangers Ball")
  "Post Modern MTV" (1989? to 199?, weekday version of "120 Minutes")
  "Unplugged" (1989 to ?, acoustic performances)
  "Classic MTV" (1989 to 1990?, early/mid 1980's videos)
  "The Hot Seat" (1990, basically a guest VJ hosting a half hour of videos 5 days a week)
  "Awake in the Wild Side"
  "MTV Prime"

From a March issue of TV Guide (1988)

[D-Dey]

Originally Posted by TMC

British imports and reruns

source

"The Young Ones" (1986 to 1988?)

Try 1982-1984. I have a copy of the "Every Stoopid Episode" Boxset.

The series also used to play on some PBS stations.

https://www.amazon.com/Young-Ones-Ev.../dp/B00006AUH9