Who knew the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) would send me into a deep state of reminiscence and reflection? As I sat there watching Snoop Dogg emcee, Taylor Swift win Video of the Year and Madonna win Artist of the Year, it made me wonder when I stopped tuning in to VMAs, Grammys, Academy Awards, and Emmys.
Growing up, watching a flashy awards show was a big event in our house. These were the days of TV Guide and The Cable Guide. In my household, The Cable Guide was king because, well, we had cable. When the monthly publication arrived in the mail, my sister and I circled everything we wanted to watch. When there was an awards show on, such as the Academy Awards, our favorite sitcoms like Who’s the Boss or Family Ties would air reruns because the major channels knew everyone would be enjoying the awards show.
