VH1 to Bring Back “Behind The Music” with Lil Wayne, Scott Weiland and Others
VH1 will resurrect a former staple in the network’s programming, Behind the Music, according to the Hollywood Reporter. The network has ordered at least 10 more episodes of the long-running series, with Lil Wayne and Scott Weiland already signed on for their own specials. Other artists involved and potential air dates were not yet revealed. By documenting the bizarre careers of Milli Vanilli and MC Hammer, BTM was an instant hit and a stalwart on the schedule from 1997 to 2002. In recent years, VH1 has trucked out special episodes to tie in to other programming or exclusive content, most recently in September 2008, when New Kids on the Block tied in their first reunion performance with a 90-minute BTM.
The network also aired a 30-minute version of the series called BTM2 that focused on then-newer talent such as Smash Mouth and Paula Cole, but that was short-lived. VH1 will also reemploy Jim Forbes, whose distinct voice narrated the entire the original series except for the first two episodes. Forbes’ voice lent a tone of gravitas to the sad tales of BTM subjects ranging from Leif Garrett to REO Speedwagon.
So we ask the question to our Rock Daily readers: Who should get the Behind the Music treatment? Tupac Shakur instantly comes to mind, and while Guns n’ Roses already had an episode in the original series, they’re more than due for an updated version. (Wikipedia has the whole list of episodes.) Nirvana, the Libertines and, most recently, Chris Brown should also get their due. Leave your picks in the comments and we’ll be sure to forward them over to the VH1 programming department.