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CNN Live Event/Special

Anderson's Final Thought: TV Killed the Video Stars

Aired August 28, 2003 - 19:58   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Finally tonight, video and music. MTV's 20th anniversary Video Music Awards take place later tonight. But we already know that this has marked a year of hip-hop changes, perhaps even seismic hip-hop changes.
Take Justin Timberlake.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER (voice-over): Once, as part of a band, he was a mere manchild. Today, with a hit album and kickn' tour, he's now become a strapping solo manchild.

Touring with Timberlake is singer-chaperone Christina Aguilera. Of course, America first came to love Christina as a filthy, filthy girl.

But those were different times. More innocent times perhaps. And now just like any other grown-up, Christina is marketed and focus grouped to rich, creamy mainstream perfection.

Even Ashanti and Ja Rule understand the importance of staying in touch with the mainstream and paying homage to the touchstones of our greasy cultural history.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: When it comes to honoring the moments that shaped this nation, I think we all take a backseat to Crispin Glover, especially if he has his pets in the car. Glover remade Michael Jackson's hit "Ben," turned a 1972 love song for a rat into a disturbing 2003 love song for a rat. In fact, when you look at all these new videos perhaps the best change of all is MTV hardly shows them anymore.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired August 28, 2003 - 19:58   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Finally tonight, video and music. MTV's 20th anniversary Video Music Awards take place later tonight. But we already know that this has marked a year of hip-hop changes, perhaps even seismic hip-hop changes.
Take Justin Timberlake.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER (voice-over): Once, as part of a band, he was a mere manchild. Today, with a hit album and kickn' tour, he's now become a strapping solo manchild.

Touring with Timberlake is singer-chaperone Christina Aguilera. Of course, America first came to love Christina as a filthy, filthy girl.

But those were different times. More innocent times perhaps. And now just like any other grown-up, Christina is marketed and focus grouped to rich, creamy mainstream perfection.

Even Ashanti and Ja Rule understand the importance of staying in touch with the mainstream and paying homage to the touchstones of our greasy cultural history.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: When it comes to honoring the moments that shaped this nation, I think we all take a backseat to Crispin Glover, especially if he has his pets in the car. Glover remade Michael Jackson's hit "Ben," turned a 1972 love song for a rat into a disturbing 2003 love song for a rat. In fact, when you look at all these new videos perhaps the best change of all is MTV hardly shows them anymore.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com