Comments on: After 120 Minutes

Question: After 120 Minutes

filchyboy — Sat, 01 Apr 2006 11:51:32 -0800

During the first few years of MTV's late Sunday night show '120 minutes' (1986-2003) it was followed by a show of experimental videos. Usually these would be devoted to some theme. The show lasted about a half an hour in length and was, I believe, an English product. Does anyone know what this show was called and anything about its history, current availability, and or producers?

By: Galvatron

Galvatron — Sat, 01 Apr 2006 11:57:01 -0800

Are you talking about Liquid Television?

By: unmake

unmake — Sat, 01 Apr 2006 11:59:06 -0800

Liquid Television, maybe? Perhaps Wikipedia's List of MTV Shows will jog your memory.

By: filchyboy

filchyboy — Sat, 01 Apr 2006 12:19:57 -0800

No not liquid tv. That did have some cool stuff but this show was more like one long form experimental video dealing with a particualr theme such as patriotism, love, apathy, revenge, etc. I fear the wiki's list is incomplete as none of those shows seem to be the one I seek.

By: filchyboy

filchyboy — Sat, 01 Apr 2006 12:21:32 -0800

I believe that Liquid Television replaced the show I am seeking in the time slot.

By: stavrogin

stavrogin — Sat, 01 Apr 2006 12:33:15 -0800

Here's a list of MTV shows at wikipedia.

By: apple scruff

apple scruff — Sat, 01 Apr 2006 13:22:47 -0800

I was curious too...but I honestly think that you're thinking of AMP. When I googled a bit I came across a Fark comment which said AMP was a great show. The first time I saw "Come To Daddy" by Aphex Twin... blew me away. That was way back when MTV used to have videos, though. Didn't it come on right after 120 Minutes or something like that?. And from an Amazon review: I stumbled across AMP one Sunday night after watching 120 Minutes. Etc.

By: a louis wain cat

a louis wain cat — Sat, 01 Apr 2006 13:44:20 -0800

It doesn't quite sound like it's AMP, though that was an incredible show. AMP felt very experimental, but it was focused on electronica videos and I don't remember it ever having particular themes like you described.

It was the first thing I thought of, too, though- I think it did indeed follow 120 Minutes early on, and it certainly was very different from standard MTV fare, as this playlist archive shows.

Man, what I'd give for a DVD compilation of that show. Anyway, I can't recall anything else that might fit what you're describing, but now I'm curious to know what it was also...

By: neda

neda — Sat, 01 Apr 2006 14:37:39 -0800

Well, if it was on MTV then it wasn't Night Flight, although the episodes sometimes started out with a half hour segment tied into one theme ("Take Off [whatever]").

By: nylon

nylon — Sat, 01 Apr 2006 16:09:34 -0800

There was something that fits your description on BBC2 during 1989-1990-ish called BUZZ. One show I remember was about, or featured, cryogenic suspension, and I remember a long, weird shot of something colourful exploding in slow motion while The Cure's Other Voices played in the background. It was all very surreal and experimental.

I've been searching for ages and can't find any details. I'll post back here if I find anything - I too would love to see those again.

By: Ian A.T.

Ian A.T. — Sat, 01 Apr 2006 16:47:53 -0800

Filchyboy: Is this the same period that they were showing The Young Ones and Monty Python on Sunday nights? 'Cause I remember they also played some other British alternative comedies, too, and to my early-teenage eyes they certainly seemed like experimental films.

By: filchyboy

filchyboy — Sat, 01 Apr 2006 17:03:00 -0800

I think buzz may be the show in question. AMP is not it. Ian yes it was during that same period. Any resources online for Buzz? Has it been released on DVD?

By: tfmm

tfmm — Sat, 01 Apr 2006 17:08:31 -0800

I third the mysterious show called Buzz. I remember it was pretty much all about abstract imagery and abstract music. I was very much into the band Art of Noise at the time, and they seemed to go hand in hand.

By: aninom

aninom — Sat, 01 Apr 2006 18:18:00 -0800

The show you're looking for is SNUB TV, broadcast as a part of Night Flight on the USA network around 1988 or 1989. SNUB was an acronym for Sounds of New Underground Britain. I remember shows dedicated to the Fall, to Stevo's Some Bizarre label, and to Adrian Sherwood's On-U Sound label. They issued 2 hour-long compilations on VHS in the early 90's which are probably long out of print.

By: punkrockrat

punkrockrat — Sat, 01 Apr 2006 18:43:26 -0800

Was it "IRS's The Cutting Edge"?

By: nylon

nylon — Sat, 01 Apr 2006 19:01:19 -0800

After more digging around:

Buzz was a 'radical factual youth programme' produced by Malcom Gerrie in association with MTV, and first shown on Channel 4, not BBC2, in May 1990. Malcolm is now chief executive of Initial. I can't find anything else out, which is a damn shame - as I said, I'd love to see them again. Might be worth contacting Malcolm if you're desperate...

By: smallerdemon

smallerdemon — Sat, 01 Apr 2006 19:42:39 -0800

I dunno, I'm leaning toward AMP myself. I still have several episodes in the closet on VHS. Great show. It lasted for like two hours too. I saw some amazing videos on AMP.

By: nev

nev — Sat, 01 Apr 2006 20:54:25 -0800

There is no question it was Buzz. Amp was much much later (late nineties), and I remember Buzz clearly because I thought it was awesome.

By: nev

nev — Sat, 01 Apr 2006 21:01:04 -0800

A little more about Buzz here.

By: filchyboy

filchyboy — Sun, 02 Apr 2006 09:51:42 -0800

Yea we have a winner. It was definitely BUZZ. Thanks for everyone's feedback. I added BUZZ to the MTV list of shows at the Wiki. Now I just want to find it on DVD.