Two Reasons We're Getting Back Together with MTV

Dear MTV,

It's been a few years since you've actually been what your name professes: music television. That's OK. That's why we have Pandora. Let us be the first to say that we liked your programming over the years. You had us with Downtown Julie Brown (cool hats!). You had us with Kurt Loder (so smart!). You had us with Unplugged (electricity is for industry sheep!). You had us with Daria (la la la la la). We still fondly remember sitting two inches from the television screen watching Beavis and Butt-head on the lowest volume possible so our parents wouldn't catch us. You even had us with The Real World... well, for a while.

But then you lost us. Carson Daly? Really? 8th & Ocean? Really? Tila Tequila? *Shudder*. Paris Hilton's My New BFF? OK, you're not even trying anymore. Needless to say, I hope you understand why we had to take a break for awhile. It wasn't us, it was you.

MTV, we gave up on you. We're sorry. But you had some issues you needed to work through, and it would have destroyed us both to watch you go down that path.

Could it be, though, that things are looking up? Have you turned a corner? Because we're feeling oddly... attracted to you again. For two reasons:

1. The Buried Life

The thing about bucket lists is that by the time people get around to them, they're old. The four guys of The Buried Life have got it right—they're starting on their bucket lists while they're still young and spry and not concerned about unimportant things like breaking a hip (#8: ride a bull) or spending time in jail (#50: streak a field)? Plus, they are totally crushable and funny (#16: steal a lock of Robert Pattinson's hair), and for every dream they fulfill, they help a stranger fulfill his. You know what else we like? Sometimes the guys fail. But they don't give up (#95: play basketball with President Obama). That's real life.

2. If You Really Knew Me

We love it, and here's why: goosebumps. Sure, the show is supposedly about going into real high schools and knocking down barriers and getting students to really talk to each other and, more important, to really listen to each other, but we think this show is really about goosebumps on our arms and ugly crying. Cliques out, trust falls in. One question: do you have to attend the school in order to participate? Because we know someone who could use a group hug....

So, MTV, we can't make any promises about where this relationship is going, but let's take things slow and see where this leads. Will you take us back?

Sincerely,

SparkLife

Do you watch MTV? Which shows do you like, and which could you go about your life without?