"Behind the Music" (1997) TV series 1997-2004

Directors:

William Harper
Paulina Williams

Writers:

Greg Heller (writer)
Aliyah Silverstein (writer)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | unknown

Genre:

Documentary | Biography | History | Music

Plot:

Musical artists, their careers, their highs, their lows and everything in between are profiled and interviewed.

Plot Keywords:

Rocker | Music Industry | Singer | Musician | Rock Band

Awards:

Nominated for 5 Primetime Emmys. Another 2 wins & 5 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Mon. Nov. 23	8:00 AM	MTV	Lil Wayne
Tue. Nov. 24	8:00 AM	MTV

Cast

Jim Forbes

...

Narrator / ... (127 episodes, 1997-2006)

Also Known As:

VH1's Behind the Music (USA) (alternative title)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Certification:

UK:18

Company:

VH1 Television

Trivia:

An episode about The Temptations was announced for March 1999 but was pulled before the airdate. It is believed that it was pulled either because of the popularity of NBC's The Temptations (1998) (TV) or because of the lawsuit filed against the film's producers by members of the group's family.

Goofs:

Factual errors: In the Megadeth episode, it is stated that Metaliica's Black Album and Megadeth's Countdown To Extinction were released at the same time. Countdown To Extinction wasn't released until nearly a year after the Black Album.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "South Park: Terrance & Phillip: Behind the Blow (#5.5)" (2001)

"Let Us Take Time To Face The Music"

When they started this documentary series VH1 wanted to highlight music acts that were once so big you thought they would never come back down to earth.Hence the "shows" on Milli Vanilli and MCHammer, BTM's first two shows.They were successful.These stories about Milli Vanilli and MC Hammer were the usual entertainment stories of acts rising like a rocket and falling like a stick it is as good lesson for anyone whether in the music business or not.

BTM has had many shows on many acts that had the problem of quick overwhelming success. These various acts were not able to handle success for a variety of reasons falling down back to where they were previously in their careers.BTM has portrayed various music acts in the three years the show has been on the air.It is a decent documentary,not the best mind you,but somewhat good enough for those who could not remember the acts they have showcased on BTM.

The show should be called on the carpet for having shows concerning performers that really shouldn't be showcased here,Madonna,Cher,Bette Midler,Celine Dion,these are celeberties who are in the tabloids all the time,a show about them in something like Behind The Music is pure free publicity.

Or how about acts that are currently still in vogue with the general public,Shania Twain,Celine Dion,Ricky Martin,Dr.Dre,TLC,Goo Goo Dolls.These acts still sell tickets to shows people of today want to go to folks,they aren't novelty or oldies acts,their careers haven't had the time for a true retrospective to be put forth about them and VH1 should ashamed about doing a show on BTM with them in it.

Behind The Music is a documentary about acts like Peter Frampton who sold the most albums in one year with "Frampton Comes Alive" in 1976,only to have nothing in the bank and walking the streets by the late 1980's,discarded and forgotten.

It is a documentary about acts like Vanilla Ice who was so hot and so popular at one time with his hit "Ice Baby Baby" you had to live in a cave not to know who Vanilla Ice was, now just another guy named joe settling down to a normal life trying to recapture the old magic he once had but finding out the success he had comes around just once.

It is a documentary about acts like Jim Croce,who worked long and hard for success,a talented man who finally was seeing some success with "You Mess Around With Jim" among other hits,Croce was just about to settle down and stop touring and live with his wife and young child until tragedy stuck and Jim Croce was left us due to an unfortunate plane crash.

Behind The Music should do more shows on acts like Jim Croce and give them 90 minutes to do their story,like they needlessly did for Cher,patheic.Done longer and without glossing over facts and not being too cheesy BTM ,a very good documentary program can become a better one.