Great Moments in Pop Culture #3

The BOX 1991-2005

What it's remembered for:
Caller requested videos

What it should be remembered for:
Rumpshaker by Wreckx-N-Effect; Put 'em on Glass by Sir Mix a Lot

Why it makes my list:
Along with Jerry Springer Uncensored, Super Mario Kart on the Nintendo 64, and lots of beer, The BOX pretty much defined my college leisure time. It was really the only way to see music videos that either didn't fit MTV's target demographic, or was just deemed too damn racy to air. I mean, it was very important to me to be able to see chicks in thongs bouncing by a pool. (The standard to which all rap music videos were held to in the mid-nineties.) Also, it was a way to be introduced to artists that your local radio station wasn't necessarily playing. In a rare instance of greed by the larger music companies that actually resulted in a benefit to music consumers, their A&R people would make video requests on behalf of their lesser known bands. Sometimes it resulted in really terrible bands getting too much air time, but that's better than seeing a Madonna video 150 times a day.

Now with the Internet and On-Demand cable services, The BOX's niche is not as needed, but let's all tip our hats to their idea and the time when they ruled. Viva La BOX!