4 chapters across the catalog
The hosts compare modern, corporate-sponsored New Year's Eve celebrations in Times Square to the "grungy" atmosphere of the 1980s. One host recalls a 1987 live broadcast for MTV featuring Paul Reiser, describing a time when the area was filled with sex shops and lacked the current "Disneyland" feel of rubberized tiles and heavy security cordons.
PBS Underwriting, Times Square Commercialization
A critique of public broadcasting reveals how corporate underwriting has replaced traditional donations, leading to "independent" reports funded by companies like Kaiser Permanente. This commercialization is compared to the transformation of New Year's Eve in Times Square, which the hosts claim has been ruined by heavy branding from companies like Nivea and scripted television segments.
Times Square Nivea Sponsorship and CeeLo Green Performance
The commercialization of the Times Square New Year's Eve celebration is criticized, specifically the pervasive Nivea sponsorship featuring blue branded hats and stage props. Performer CeeLo Green is called out for hypocrisy after singing John Lennon's "Imagine"—a song about having no possessions—while wearing a full-length mink coat and a massive gold watch.
Times Square Commercialization, MTV 1987 Retrospective
A retrospective look at New Year's Eve in Times Square contrasts the "seedy" atmosphere of 1987 with the modern, corporate-sponsored environment. One host recalls working for MTV in a dangerous, pre-cleanup Manhattan guarded by armed security. The current celebration is criticized as a sterile television set dominated by brands like Nivea and Samsung rather than an authentic public gathering.
