The late 1990s were a very different time for entertainment. It was a time when MTV played music videos most of the time, and when they didn't, it was usually so they could show you something that you couldn't find anywhere else. It was a time before Family Guy, Adult Swim, or YouTube. It was a time when shows like Sifl and Olly could really stand out. Sadly, standing out isn't always good for your ratings.
As an former cast member of Road Rules (one of MTV's first reality shows), I'll always feel partially responsible for the cancellation of Sifl and Olly. Without meaning to, I helped transform MTV from a home for new music and surreal comedy, to a haven for horrid soap operas and reality television. That feeling of responsibility has only been amplified by the fact that I really like Liam Lynch, the creator of the show. I met him at the MTV VMAs back in 1998, and he was totally humble and shy. He spent most of the time talking about how lucky he was to be there, how his show was born from missing his best friend (who had moved to England), and how Björk and Winona Ryder are the two greatest people on the planet.
After Sifl and Olly came to an end, Liam would go on to get famous for The United States of Whatever, and strike out with the commercially unsuccessful film Tenacious D: The Pick of Destiny. Now he's come full circle, bringing Sifl and Olly back to the world of the living... as videogame reviewers. Is it just me, or does it feel like they could hit it big this time? Either way, I'm just glad I have the opportunity to try to help the show succeed. Consider it a penance, Liam. Fourteen years late is better than never, right?
I'm happy this show is back, and so far the first episode is good. A majority of the time when shows come back it doesn't seem to have the same charm, but this was just as good as I remember them being.
All awesome. And Holmes, don't blame yourself. You weren't at that meeting where they decided to create an eventual bane on all of our existences. Besides, we were more innocent than...more unwary of the terror of Toddlers in Tiaras or The Kardashians.
Anyone seen Here comes Honey Boo.Boo, even as a hater of reality tv, when I found my daughter watching, I couldn't helped but be sucked in. It's the most horrific, white trash, seemingly fake cup of awesome, I've seen since Jerry Springer
Holy shit! You WERE on Road Rules! No wonder you're so cool!
I used to love that show! It always appeared like there was waaay less drama in the rv compared to the Real World (Puck).
Jonathan you just blewy mind.
Oh yeah, blah blah video games.
But seriously, throw out your rules, these are Road Rules.
It's because you were SO GOOD on road rules, Holmes, all your fault!
Actually I have no idea, I don't watch reality TV, I kinda want to take a peek at it, but only the holmes parts, hehe.
Youtube compilation make it happen!
Thanks holmes for posting this, though I think you're having some retro goggles with MTV still playing bunches of music videos in the late 90s. It was definitely better then today with TRL actually giving the music video a showcase, but besides that music videos were still relegated to weird hours (10am to noon and somewhere in midnight to 6am if I remember right)
I just remember back in that time people still complaining that MTV didn't play music videos.
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Feels good man.
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