VH1 Top 20 Video Countdown

Infobox Television
show_name = VH1 Top 20 Video Countdown


caption =
format = Music videos
runtime = 120 minutes
creator =
starring = Alison Becker
country = USA
network = VH1
first_aired = 1994
last_aired = present
num_episodes =
website = http://www.vh1.com/shows/series/top_20_countdown/
imdb_id = 0406482
tv_com_id = 27876

"VH1 Top 20 Video Countdown" is a weekly television show on the VH1 cable television network in the United States. The long-running series began in 1994 as the "VH1 Top 10 Countdown", as part of VH1's "Music First" rebranding effort. [ [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0406482/ IMDB "VH-1 Top 20 Video Countdown"] ] Since then, the series has been a consistent weekly institution on VH1, and it is now the main source of music video programming on the channel.

Over the years, a variety of hosts have counted down the top ten or twenty music videos of the week. The order of countdown was originally decided by a mix of record sales, radio airplay, video spins, message board posts, and conventional mail, but since 2006, online votes have directly influenced the countdown.

Currently, new episodes of the "Top 20 Video Countdown" air Friday nights (early Saturday mornings) at 3 a.m. eastern time, with repeats on Saturdays at 9 a.m. and Sundays at 8 a.m. eastern time. [ [http://www.vh1.com/shows/schedule/vh1/daily.jhtml VH1 TV schedule] ]

History

As part of VH-1's rebranding as "VH1: Music First" in 1994, the channel launched a new series, the "VH1 Top 10 Countdown", that counted down the top ten music videos played on VH1 each week. A combination of record sales, radio airplay, video spins, message board posts, and conventional mail would decide the order of the countdown. A rotating cast of VJs picked up hosting duties for the show over the years. The series expanded from ten to twenty music videos, becoming the "VH1 Top 20 Video Countdown", in 1999.

Each week, the show would broadcast from a different location around New York City, often at the Virgin Records store in Union Square. Following a decline in the show's relevance, popular "Survivor" contestant Jenna Lewis was hired to host the show in 2001. After her departure from the show, from 2002 to 2006, the show was usually hosted by either Rachel Perry, Bradford How, or Aamer Haleem, but occasionally another VJ would fill in.

The series became known as the "VSPOT Top 20 Video Countdown" on April 7, 2006, at which time it received a new on-air look, a new studio at the MTV headquarters in Times Square, and a new host, Matt Pinfield, the venerable VJ from MTV and MTV2 in the 1990s and former host of MTV's "120 Minutes". In a fundamental change from the show's classic format of compiling the top twenty videos of the week, Internet votes determined the entire order of the countdown. Fan participation was introduced via VSPOT, VH1's online music video outlet. Also as part of the change, VH1 temporarily moved the show's first airing of the week to Friday evenings instead of Saturday mornings. On the week of July 15, 2006, the show stopped airing on Friday evenings.

On the September 16, 2006 episode, host Matt Pinfield announced that after being on the countdown for 20 weeks, a video would be retired. Before this time, videos could remain on the countdown for as long as seemed appropriate, though almost all were gone by the 24th week. One notable exception, however, was Keane's "Somewhere Only We Know", which remained in the countdown for 28 non-consecutive weeks in two countdown runs. The video did not reach the top ten and its second wind was caused by the popularity of the VH1.com live version of the video.

After host Matt Pinfield did not show up for a few recordings of the showFact|date=March 2008 in late 2006, former host Aamer Haleem returned to host the show once again. Beginning the week of February 10, 2007, after a mass layoff of music producers at MTV Networks [ [http://altmusictv.blogspot.com/2007/02/vh1-classic-mtv2-employees-fired.html MTV2 and VH1 employees fired] ] , the show left the MTV studios and became broadcast from a different location every week, as it was in the late 1990s and early 2000s, starting at New York's Grand Central Terminal. Haleem countinued to host Vh1 Top 20 every week from a different location until August 4, 2007 when he have hosted his last episode.

In the show's most recent format change, Alison Becker became the new host on August 11, 2007. Around this time, the VSPOT online video center was renamed to "Video.VH1.com," so the series regained its classic title, "VH1 Top 20 Video Countdown". Since then, each episode has usually featured one or two interviews with a celebrity or celebrities of current notoriety who either have a video, movie, or television show of interest at the time. The countdown sometimes has videos high in its countdown despite virtually no radio airplay for the song. One example is Bret Michaels Go That Far which was directed by Shane Stanley. This video spent twelve weeks on the countdown and bowed out at number seven. The video supported Michaels' number one hit show Rock of Love which is shown on the network.

Special editions

Occasionally, VH1 will air special editions of the "Top 20 Video Countdown":
* "Fairway to Heaven": The show is condensed to 18 videos and takes place at a celebrity golf tournament. The title is a reference to the song "Stairway to Heaven." [ [http://www.vh1.com/shows/dyn/top_18_countdown/series_about_special.jhtml Top 18 Video Countdown from VH1's Fairway to Heaven] ]
* "Lift Ticket to Ride": An annual winter ski party event. The title is a reference to the song "Ticket to Ride." [ [http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/02-26-2003/0001898513&EDATE= VH1 HITS THE SLOPES WHILE VH1 CLASSIC SKIDS INTO DIRE STRAITS] ]
* "Top 40 Videos of (Year)": The year's best videos are counted down with commentary from celebrities. Prior to 2002, the special was a top 50 countdown, and was five hours long to allow most or all of each video to be played. Beginning in 2002, the special was condensed to its current format, which more resembles VH1's occasional "Top 100" countdowns.
* "Rock Across America": Each summer through 2001, the show became a traveling event across the country. [ [http://www.vh1.com/shows/series/personalities/lewis.jhtml Jenna Lewis, Host of Rock Across America] ]

List of videos to reach #1

This is a running list of all the music videos to reach #1 on the "Top 20 Video Countdown":

2003

* January 4: "I'm Gonna Getcha Good!" - Shania Twain
* January 11: "Family Portrait" - Pink
* January 18: "Landslide - Dixie Chicks
* January 25: "Landslide" - Dixie Chicks
* February 1: "Landslide" - Dixie Chicks
* February 8: "I'm With You" - Avril Lavigne
* February 15: "I'm With You" - Avril Lavigne
* February 22: "Picture" - Kid Rock & Sheryl Crow
* March 1: "Picture" - Kid Rock & Sheryl Crow
* March 8: "All I Have" - Jennifer Lopez featuring LL Cool J
* March 15: "All I Have" - Jennifer Lopez featuring LL Cool J
* March 22: "Picture" - Kid Rock & Sheryl Crow
* March 29: "When I'm Gone" - 3 Doors Down
* April 5: "When I'm Gone" - 3 Doors Down
* April 12: "When I'm Gone" - 3 Doors Down
* April 19: "When I'm Gone" - 3 Doors Down
* April 26: "When I'm Gone" - 3 Doors Down
* May 3: "Unwell" - Matchbox Twenty
* May 10: "Unwell" - Matchbox Twenty
* May 17: "Unwell" - Matchbox Twenty
* May 24: "I'm Glad" - Jennifer Lopez
* May 31: "Unwell" - Matchbox Twenty
* June 7: "Unwell" - Matchbox Twenty
* June 14: "Bring Me to Life" - Evanescence featuring Paul McCoy
* June 21: "Bring Me to Life" - Evanescence featuring Paul McCoy
* June 28: "Unwell" - Matchbox Twenty
* July 5: "Unwell" - Matchbox Twenty
* July 12: "Calling All Angels" - Train
* July 19: "Unwell" - Matchbox Twenty
* July 26: "Intuition" - Jewel
* August 2: "Intuition" - Jewel
* August 9: "Crazy in Love" - Beyoncé featuring Jay-Z
* August 16: "Crazy in Love" - Beyoncé featuring Jay-Z
* August 23: "Crazy in Love" - Beyoncé featuring Jay-Z
* August 30: "Where Is the Love?" - Black Eyed Peas featuring Justin Timberlake
* September 6: "Where Is the Love?" - Black Eyed Peas featuring Justin Timberlake
* September 13: "Where Is the Love?" - Black Eyed Peas featuring Justin Timberlake
* September 20: "Where Is the Love?" - Black Eyed Peas featuring Justin Timberlake
* September 27: "The Remedy (I Won't Worry)" - Jason Mraz
* October 4: "The Remedy (I Won't Worry)" - Jason Mraz
* October 11: "Stacy's Mom" - Fountains of Wayne
* October 18: "Harder to Breathe" - Maroon 5
* October 25: "Stacy's Mom" - Fountains of Wayne
* November 1: "Baby Boy" - Beyoncé featuring Sean Paul
* November 8: "Here Without You" - 3 Doors Down
* November 15: "Here Without You" - 3 Doors Down
* November 22: "Hey Ya!" - OutKast
* November 29: "Hey Ya!" - OutKast
* December 6: "Hey Ya!" - OutKast
* December 13: "It's My Life" - No Doubt
* December 20: N/A
* December 27: N/A

2004

* January 3: "Someday" - Nickelback
* January 10: "The First Cut Is the Deepest" - Sheryl Crow
* January 17: "Someday" - Nickelback
* January 24: "Someday" - Nickelback
* January 31: "It's My Life" - No Doubt
* February 7: "The Way You Move" - OutKast featuring Sleepy Brown
* February 14: "Someday" - Nickelback
* February 21: "Someday" - Nickelback
* February 28: "The Way You Move" - OutKast featuring Sleepy Brown
* March 6: "My Immortal" - Evanescence
* March 13: "My Immortal" - Evanescence
* March 20: "My Immortal" - Evanescence
* March 27: "This Love" - Maroon 5
* April 3: "This Love" - Maroon 5
* April 10: "Yeah!" - Usher featuring Ludacris and Lil' Jon
* April 17: "Yeah!" - Usher featuring Ludacris and Lil' Jon
* April 24: "This Love" - Maroon 5
* May 1: "Yeah!" - Usher featuring Ludacris and Lil' Jon
* May 8: "The Reason" - Hoobastank
* May 15: "The Reason" - Hoobastank
* May 22: "Naughty Girl" - Beyonce
* May 29: "The Reason" - Hoobastank
* June 5: "Naughty Girl" - Beyonce
* June 12: "Burn" - Usher
* June 19: "The Reason" - Hoobastank
* June 26: "Burn" - Usher
* July 3: "Roses" - OutKast
* July 10: "Roses" - OutKast
* July 17: "Roses" - OutKast
* July 24: "The Reason" - Hoobastank
* July 31: "The Reason" - Hoobastank
* August 7: "If I Ain't Got You" - Alicia Keys
* August 14: "Confessions Part II" - Usher
* August 21: "If I Ain't Got You" - Alicia Keys
* August 28: "She Will Be Loved" - Maroon 5
* September 4: "She Will Be Loved" - Maroon 5
* September 11: "Let's Get It Started" - Black Eyed Peas
* September 18: "She Will Be Loved" - Maroon 5
* September 25: "She Will Be Loved" - Maroon 5
* October 2: "She Will Be Loved" - Maroon 5
* October 9: "Let's Get It Started" - Black Eyed Peas
* October 16: "She Will Be Loved" - Maroon 5
* October 23: "She Will Be Loved" - Maroon 5
* October 30: "She Will Be Loved" - Maroon 5
* November 6: "My Boo" - Usher and Alicia Keys
* November 13: "My Boo" - Usher and Alicia Keys
* November 20: "Just Lose It" - Eminem
* November 27: "Just Lose It" - Eminem
* December 4: "Vertigo" - U2
* December 11: "My Boo" - Usher and Alicia Keys
* December 18: N/A
* December 25: N/A

2005

* January 1: N/A
* January 8: "Over and Over" - Nelly featuring Tim McGraw
* January 15: "I Don't Want to Be" - Gavin DeGraw
* January 22: "Over and Over" - Nelly featuring Tim McGraw
* January 29: "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" - Green Day
* February 5: "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" - Green Day
* February 12: "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" - Green Day
* February 19: "Since U Been Gone" - Kelly Clarkson
* February 26: "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" - Green Day
* March 5: "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" - Green Day
* March 12: "Rich Girl" - Gwen Stefani featuring Eve
* March 19: "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" - Green Day
* March 26: "Rich Girl" - Gwen Stefani featuring Eve
* April 2: "Caught Up" - Usher
* April 9: "Caught Up" - Usher
* April 16: "Karma" - Alicia Keys
* April 23: "Lonely No More" - Rob Thomas
* April 30: "Karma" - Alicia Keys
* May 7: "Karma" - Alicia Keys
* May 14: "Hollaback Girl" - Gwen Stefani
* May 21: "Let Me Go" - 3 Doors Down
* May 28: "Hollaback Girl" - Gwen Stefani
* June 4: "Hollaback Girl" - Gwen Stefani
* June 11: "Let Me Go" - 3 Doors Down
* June 18: "We Belong Together" - Mariah Carey
* June 25: "Don't Phunk with My Heart" - The Black Eyed Peas
* July 2: "We Belong Together" - Mariah Carey
* July 9: "We Belong Together" - Mariah Carey
* July 16: "Don't Phunk with My Heart" - The Black Eyed Peas
* July 22: "We Belong Together" - Mariah Carey
* July 29: "Don't Phunk with My Heart" - The Black Eyed Peas
* August 5: "We Belong Together" - Mariah Carey
* August 12: "Don't Cha" - The Pussycat Dolls feat. Busta Rhymes
* August 19: "Don't Cha" - The Pussycat Dolls feat. Busta Rhymes
* August 26: "Don't Cha" - The Pussycat Dolls feat. Busta Rhymes
* September 2: "Don't Cha" - The Pussycat Dolls feat. Busta Rhymes
* September 9: "You and Me" - Lifehouse
* September 16: "Lose Control" - Missy Elliott featuring Ciara and Fatman Scoop
* September 23: "Shake It Off" - Mariah Carey
* September 30: "Shake It Off" - Mariah Carey
* October 7: "Shake It Off" - Mariah Carey
* October 14: "Beverly Hills" - Weezer
* October 21: "Shake It Off" - Mariah Carey
* October 28: "Gold Digger" - Kanye West featuring Jamie Foxx
* November 4: "Because of You" - Kelly Clarkson
* November 11: "Because of You" - Kelly Clarkson
* November 18: "Gold Digger" - Kanye West featuring Jamie Foxx
* November 25: "Because of You" - Kelly Clarkson
* December 2: N/A
* December 9: "Because of You" - Kelly Clarkson
* December 16: "Photograph" - Nickelback
* December 23: N/A
* December 30: N/A

2006

* January 6: "Don't Forget about Us" - Mariah Carey
* January 13: "Stickwitu" - The Pussycat Dolls
* January 20: "Check on It" - Beyoncé featuring Slim Thug and Bun B
* January 27: "Check on It" - Beyoncé featuring Slim Thug and Bun B
* February 3: "Check on It" - Beyoncé featuring Slim Thug and Bun B
* February 10: "Check on It" - Beyoncé featuring Slim Thug and Bun B
* February 17: "Check on It" - Beyoncé featuring Slim thug and Bun B
* February 24: "You're Beautiful" - James Blunt
* March 3: "Check on It" - Beyoncé featuring Slim Thug and Bun B
* March 10: "Check on It" - Beyoncé featuring Slim Thug and Bun B
* March 17: "Unwritten" - Natasha Bedingfield
* March 24: "Be Without You" - Mary J. Blige
* March 31: "Be Without You" - Mary J. Blige
* April 7: "The Real Thing" - Bo Bice
* April 14: "Afterglow" - INXS
* April 21: "The Real Thing" - Bo Bice
* April 28: "Walk Away" - Kelly Clarkson
* May 5: "Who Says You Can't Go Home" - Bon Jovi
* May 12: "Savin' Me" - Nickelback
* May 19: "S.O.S." - Rihanna
* May 26: "Walk Away" - Kelly Clarkson
* June 2: "Not Ready to Make Nice" - Dixie Chicks
* June 9: "The Mixed Tape" - Jack's Mannequin
* June 16: "Who Says You Can't Go Home" - Bon Jovi
* June 23: "Not Ready to Make Nice" - Dixie Chicks
* June 30: "Not Ready to Make Nice" - Dixie Chicks
* July 7: "Not Ready To Make Nice" - Dixie Chicks
* July 15: "Not Ready To Make Nice" - Dixie Chicks
* July 22: "Not Ready To Make Nice" - Dixie Chicks
* July 29: "Not Ready To Make Nice" - Dixie Chicks
* August 5: "Not Ready To Make Nice" - Dixie Chicks
* August 12: "Not Ready To Make Nice" - Dixie Chicks
* August 19: "Not Ready To Make Nice" - Dixie Chicks
* August 26: "Not Ready To Make Nice" - Dixie Chicks
* September 2: "Not Ready To Make Nice" - Dixie Chicks
* September 9: "Not Ready To Make Nice" - Dixie Chicks
* September 16: "Not Ready To Make Nice" - Dixie Chicks
* September 23: "About Us" - Brooke featuring Paul Wall
* September 30: "About Us" - Brooke featuring Paul Wall
* October 7: "Far Away" - Nickelback
* October 14: "White & Nerdy" - "Weird Al" Yankovic
* October 21: "About Us" - Brooke featuring Paul Wall
* October 28: "Far Away" - Nickelback
* November 4: "White & Nerdy" - "Weird Al" Yankovic
* November 11: "White & Nerdy" - "Weird Al" Yankovic
* November 18: "Far Away" - Nickelback
* November 25: "Far Away" - Nickelback
* December 2: "White & Nerdy" - "Weird Al" Yankovic
* December 9: "White & Nerdy" - "Weird Al" Yankovic
* December 16: N/A
* December 23: N/A
* December 30: N/A

2007

* January 6: "Irreplaceable" - Beyoncé
* January 13: "If Everyone Cared" - Nickelback
* January 20: "It's Not Over" - Daughtry
* January 27: "It's Not Over" - Daughtry
* February 3: "It's Not Over" - Daughtry
* February 10: "It's Not Over" - Daughtry
* February 17: "Into the Ocean" - Blue October
* February 24: "It's Not Over" - Daughtry
* March 3: "It's Not Over" - Daughtry
* March 10: "Candyman" - Christina Aguilera
* March 17: "It's Not Over" - Daughtry
* March 24: "Read My Mind" - The Killers
* March 31: "It's Not Over" - Daughtry
* April 7: "It's Not Over" - Daughtry
* April 14: "Over It" – Katharine McPhee
* April 21: "Over It" – Katharine McPhee
* April 28: "Over It" – Katharine McPhee
* May 5: "Home" – Daughtry
* May 12: "Home" – Daughtry
* May 19: "Home" – Daughtry
* May 26: "(You Want To) Make a Memory" - Bon Jovi
* June 2: "Home" – Daughtry
* June 9: "(You Want To) Make a Memory" - Bon Jovi
* June 16: "Wait For You" - Elliott Yamin
* June 23: "Home" – Daughtry
* June 30: "Wait For You" - Elliott Yamin
* July 7: "Wait For You" - Elliott Yamin
* July 14: "Wait For You" - Elliott Yamin
* July 21: "Wait For You" - Elliott Yamin
* July 28: "Hey There Delilah" - Plain White T's
* August 4: "Wait For You" - Elliott Yamin
* August 11: "Big Girls Don't Cry" - Fergie
* August 18: "Wait For You" - Elliott Yamin
* August 25: "Hey There Delilah" - Plain White T's
* September 1: "Wait For You" - Elliott Yamin
* September 8: "Do It" - Nelly Furtado
* September 15: "Do It" - Nelly Furtado
* September 22: "Rockstar" - Nickelback
* September 29: "Rockstar" - Nickelback
* October 6: "Over You" - Daughtry
* October 13: "Over You" - Daughtry
* October 20: "Over You" - Daughtry
* October 27: "Over You" - Daughtry
* November 3: "Over You" - Daughtry
* November 10: "Over You" - Daughtry
* November 17: "No One" - Alicia Keys
* November 24: "Witness" - Bo Bice
* December 1: "Witness" - Bo Bice
* December 8: "Witness" - Bo Bice
* December 15: N/A
* December 22: N/A
* December 29: N/A

2008

* January 5: "No One" - Alicia Keys
* January 12: "No One" - Alicia Keys
* January 19: "Tattoo" - Jordin Sparks
* January 26: "In God's Hands" - Nelly Furtado
* February 2: "Feels Like Tonight" - Daughtry
* February 9: "Feels Like Tonight" - Daughtry
* February 16: "Feels Like Tonight" - Daughtry
* February 23: "Feels Like Tonight" - Daughtry
* March 1: "Feels Like Tonight" - Daughtry
* March 8: "Feels Like Tonight" - Daughtry
* March 15: "Don't Stop the Music" - Rihanna
* March 22: "Feels Like Tonight" - Daughtry
* March 29: "Bleeding Love" - Leona Lewis
* April 5: "Feels Like Tonight" - Daughtry
* April 12: "Feels Like Tonight" - Daughtry
* April 19: "Bleeding Love" - Leona Lewis
* April 26: "Touch My Body" - Mariah Carey
* May 3: "Feels Like Tonight" - Daughtry
* May 10: "Stop and Stare" - OneRepublic
* May 17: "Bleeding Love" - Leona Lewis
* May 24: "No Air" - Jordin Sparks
* May 31: "Bleeding Love" - Leona Lewis
* June 7: "It's Not My Time" - 3 Doors Down
* June 14: "Bleeding Love" - Leona Lewis
* June 21: "Summertime" - New Kids On The Block
* June 28: "Summertime" - New Kids On The Block
* July 5: "All Summer Long" - Kid Rock
* July 12: "Summertime" - New Kids On The Block
* July 19: "Better In Time" - Leona Lewis
* July 26: "Summertime" - New Kids On The Block
* August 2: "Pocketful of Sunshine" - Natasha Bedingfield
* August 9: "One Step at a Time" - Jordin Sparks
* August 16: "Better In Time" - Leona Lewis
* August 23: "Pocketful of Sunshine" - Natasha Bedingfield
* August 30: "What About Now" - Daughtry
* September 6: "Better In Time" - Leona Lewis
* September 13: "What About Now" - Daughtry
* September 20: "What About Now" - Daughtry
* September 27: "Better In Time" - Leona Lewis
* October 4: "What About Now" - Daughtry
* October 11: "Crush" - David Archuleta
* October 18:
* October 25:
* November 2:
* November 9:
* November 16:
* November 23:
* November 30:
* December 6:
* December 13:
* December 20:
* December 27:

List of hosts

Since the show's debut in 1994, it has featured a number of different hosts:
* John Fugelsang (1990s)
* Roshumba Williams (1990s)
* A.J. Hammer (1990s)
* Madison Michelle (1990s-2000)
* Cane (2000-2001)
* Jenna Lewis (2001-2002)
* Rachel Perry (2002-2006)
* Abby Gennet (2003)
* Bradford How (2004-2006)
* Matt Pinfield (2006)
* Aamer Haleem (2002-2006, 2006-2007)
* Alison Becker (2007-present)

ee also

* VH1
* Total Request Live
* MTV

References

External links

* [http://www.vh1.com/shows/series/top_20_countdown/ VH1 Top 20 Video Countdown]
* [http://www.vh1.com/ VH1]