Beech Tree News Network

Music videos on television are just about extinct these days.  Sure, MTV, VH1, MTV Classic and CMT all have their morning blocks but they’re only a few hours.  Once upon a time, I put a season pass on those blocks.  However, if you want commercial-free videos, or even classic commercials along with your classic videos, I have some great options!

There’s always YouTube.  If you want some more options, you need to buy a ROKU.  You can buy a ROKU streaming stick or unit for $50 at least.  Put your favorite year music in the search engine and you’re bound to find apps that play strictly classic videos and commercials.  For instance, two channels I have added are “Where’s The 80’s” and “Flashback ‘80’s”.  Click on either app and you’ll have your first ‘80’s video in seconds.  

The Saturday night I discovered these apps, I quickly downloaded them and watched ‘80’s videos for hours.  You’ll see videos you remember and love.  You’ll also see a classic commercial or two that you remember (and some you don’t) and love.  I saw the Where’s The Beef commercial.  I hadn’t seen that one in years! That commercial made it’s star, Clara Peller, a household name.  She was a manicurist and American character actress.  She gained her fame in the 1984 commercial for Wendy’s at age 81.  She made a sequel to the commercial.  She passed away in 1987.  

Once upon a time, NBC aired music videos.  Friday Night Videos(later becoming Friday Night and then Late Friday) aired from July 23, 1983 until May 24, 2002.  Belinda Carlisle was guest host for the first episode.  Other guest-hosts include Vince McMahon and Hulk Hogan, Justine Bateman and Michael J Fox, Tiffani Thiessen, Madonna, George Carlin, etc.  There were time-slot changes, a sister show called Saturday Morning videos was added.  The show started an hour and a half at inception and changed to an hour a few years later.  I could go on and on.  

If you’re longing for the days of the music video, I suggest giving one of the above options a try.  And if you long for old episodes of Friday Night Videos, give YouTube a try.  Catch you later, Space Invader!