Someone had made the mistake of bringing copious amounts of cocaine to the studio when they taped the first episode of Video Power’s second season. Curious, nervous and in need of a pick-me-up, Johnny Arcade picked the habit and tried very hard to kick it in the duration of the show, to little success, ‘till he officially became Mick Jagger’s favorite cocaine buddy. That’s the veritable and true story of how we got Video Power in its corny glory! Look it up! Also there’s gullible written all over your ceiling.
Full disclosure, I didn’t grow up with this show, its awesomeness couldn’t be translated to Spanish no matter how hard they tried — and remaking it would imply that someone would have to replace the powerhouse of energy that is Johnny Arcade.
If you’ve never seen a clip of Video Power, allow me to explain very briefly what’s the score. It was an early 90s show ‘bout videogames that started with a full-fledged cartoon show and, by season two, the cartoon was replaced by live action games with the participants being the kids from the audience. The host of the show, the one movin’ around like the lavalier mic strapped on him is electrocuting him, is Johnny Arcade and his mullet-wearing buddy Terry are the epitome of all the cheese coupled with the hottest tips for games.
I will genuinely only leave this here 'cause there are no words...The tips are so hot that Johnny Arcade cannot keep still for a moment, and let me tell you it’s hypnotizin’ to watch. The tips, by the way, are not that useful. It’s an entire segment dedicated to ONE tip for one game, so the whole big gaffah for this feels like an extra kick in the balls. Imagine being a kid back in the early 90’s with no access to magazines or courage to pick up the hotlines for advice. You’re waiting with bated breath for this tornado of a man twirl to the chair, smash that blue light and bring up the segment that you’re stuck in. Only for him to talk about Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Who the fuck even plays that?!
This show is the definition of “a product of its time” next to racist Disney animations from the 40’s. Something that would only work then, and even then it was holdin’ on by a thread of a fad. Many people think this show is cringe, and certainly some parts of it can be — sometimes it’s hard to watch —, but I genuinely have a soft spot for this kind of energy and enthusiasm. Which is somethin’ you don’t often catch today. Hell, showin’ this kind of energy (especially as you get older) is often ridiculed by both unhappy old bastards and cruel young kids. The excitement for the future of gamin’ and the overall attitude of both 90s and 2000s gaming culture is one I will miss a lot and will never forget.
Okay maybe there’s a limit to the energy. A big point of cringe when Johnny goes into full batshit crazy mode like we see above, but the worst is when he has to deal with the contestants on the show. THERE is where everything becomes bad touch galore. Maybe that we can keep in the vault.
The point is, I miss when shows had this kind of energy going on. With everyone wanting desperately to not look or be cringe, avoiding that virality that might ruin your career and life, not everyone takes that risk. Major bummer. Still, I’m glad the internet has archived these cool shows. I get to watch these and laugh. But also, deep down inside, feel a bit nostalgic and sad that I see nothing as exciting as this is or was.
This post has no point, and I must hit send 'cause I'm sleepy.
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