Specials
Each week VH1 presents several hours of programming devoted to musical artists, concerts, series marathons, themed music programs and VH1 special events. Specials have included the "The White House Millennium Evening of Jazz" and "The History of Rock and Roll."

To see other programs and lesson plans click on one of the below:
Behind The Music | VH1 Storytellers | Road to Fame

VH1 News Presents: AIDS: A Pop Culture History

For more information and materials, please click here.

FanClub: Dave Matthews Band
In this episode, VH1 FanClub delves into world of being the fan of the highly popular Alternative Rock Band. The show features a sports agent who is constantly trying to convert her friends to become DMB fans; a housewife and cancer research fundraiser who makes tribute videos using DMB music; a college student who credits DMB for helping her get through the student shootings in Littleton, CO; and a Delta Airlines ramp agent who is able to fly all over the country to see DMB in concert. VH1 FanClub explores the connection between the artists and their fan base. This episode explores the lives of these diehard devotees whose lives are defined by the music they love.

VH1 (1:00) (YEAR)
MUSIC: POP/ROCK
VH1, March 30, 4am ET/MT/PT, 3am CT

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VH1's 200 Greatest Pop Culture Icons - Hour 2
In its latest edition of the acclaimed Greatest countdown series, VH1 burrows into the pop personas that have made the ultimate impact - names so familiar they're recognized and revered all over the world. This episode describes how recent history has been dominated by personalities and how these icons have shaped history. The 200 Greatest Pop Culture Icons is wide in scope, accounting for television characters (Gilligan and Miss Piggy) cartoon favorites (Bugs Bunny and Scooby Doo), Hollywood heroes (Rock Hudson and Jim Carrey), Political figures (John F. Kennedy, Sr. and Rudy Giuliani) and of course rock stars (Jimi Hendrix and the Rolling Stones). Important emphasis is based on how the electronic age has shaped knowledge and experiences through television and music. The five part series will reveal new tidbits of information about the Icons based on their subject's longstanding cultural significance. Hour 2 explores such greats as Julie Andrews, Gwen Stefani, Prince, David Bowie, Mr. Rogers and more!

VH1 (1:00) (YEAR)
MUSIC: MUSIC HISTORY
VH1, March 23, 4am ET/MT/PT, 3am CT

These lesson plans are to be used in conjunction with the 5-part series "200 Greatest Pop Culture Icons." The Standards-based lessons focus primarily on the musicians included on the list, but also incorporate several of the non-musician icons who may have a surprising role in the world of music. The wide range of styles and eras represented by the music icons allows for exciting lessons that look into topics such as TV music, cross-over performers, women in music, and even our favorite cartoon characters.  Taking some time to study the impact these icons have had on our society over the decades is a worthwhile addition to curriculum in the music and social studies classroom.

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Moulin Rouge
VH1's "Movies That Rock" features film favorites plus all new VH1 Original Movies made exclusively for VH1 viewers. This month "Movies that Rock" showcases Moulin Rouge - a visually opulent, heartrending musical story reminisicent of the opera La Boheme. Christian (Ewan McGregor), a young wannabe Bohemian poet living in 1899 Paris, defies his father by joining the colorfully diverse clique inhabiting the dark, fantastical underworld of Paris' now legendary Moulin Rouge. The poet-innocent finds himself plunged into a passionate but ultimately tragic love affair with Satine (Nicole Kidman), the club's famous star. Their romance is played out against the infamous club and brings to life the culture of belle époque Paris with magical realism. With music drawn from familiar 20th century sources and incorporated with operatic arias this episode explores the integral way that music and pop culture are intertwined.

VH1 (1:00) (YEAR) MUSIC: Opera, Modern Pop Moulin Rouge VH1, Part 1, March 2, 4am ET/MT/PT, 3am CT
VH1, Part 2, March 9, 4am ET/MT/PT, 3am CT

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True Spin
VH1's "True Spin" is the definitive show that uncovers the truth behind the classic songs of our time. Within the tapestry of our pop culture, myths about our favorite songs flourish exponentially. However, every song has its own original and unique story. True Spin will ask all sorts of important questions about the origins of these songs. Why were the songs written, what was the cultural significance as well as the social climate at the time. The show features songs such as Born in the USA, Losing My Religion, Back in Black, Ray of Light, Rio, Under The Bridge, Every Breath You Take, The Safety Dance, In The Air Tonight and Walk Like an Egyptian.

VH1 (1:00) (YEAR)
MUSIC: MUSIC HISTORY
True Spin
VH1, February 3, 4am ET/MT/PT, 3am CT

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VH1's 200 Greatest Pop Culture Icons - Hour 5
VH1's 200 Greatest Pop Culture Icons - Hour 5 In its latest edition of the acclaimed Greatest countdown series, VH1 burrows into the pop personas that have made the ultimate impact - names so familiar they're recognized and revered all over the world. This episode describes how recent history has been dominated by personalities and how these icons have shaped history. The 200 Greatest Pop Culture Icons is wide in scope, accounting for television characters (Gilligan and Miss Piggy) cartoon favorites (Bugs Bunny and Scooby Doo), Hollywood heroes (Rock Hudson and Jim Carrey), Political figures (John F. Kennedy, Sr. and Rudy Giuliani) and of course rock stars (Jimi Hendrix and the Rolling Stones). Important emphasis is based on how the electronic age has shaped knowledge and experiences through television and music. The five part series will reveal new tidbits of information about the Icons based on their subject's longstanding cultural significance. Hour 5 explores such greats as Elvis Presley, John Travolta, Frank Sinatra, Kurt Cobain, Lucille Ball and more!

VH1 (1:00) (YEAR)
MUSIC: MUSIC HISTORY
VH1's 200 Greatest Pop Culture Icons - Hour 5
VH1, January 6, 4am ET/MT/PT, 3am CT

These lesson plans are to be used in conjunction with the 5-part series "200 Greatest Pop Culture Icons." The Standards-based lessons focus primarily on the musicians included on the list, but also incorporate several of the non-musician icons who may have a surprising role in the world of music. The wide range of styles and eras represented by the music icons allows for exciting lessons that look into topics such as TV music, cross-over performers, women in music, and even our favorite cartoon characters.  Taking some time to study the impact these icons have had on our society over the decades is a worthwhile addition to curriculum in the music and social studies classroom.

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Behind The Movie: Chicago
A timeless tale crackling with crime and corruption... when Chicago was released as a major motion picture in 2002, the film was peppered with a star-studded cast of vixens and villains, featuring a soundtrack full of spicy hip-hop tracks and pop confections. Richard Gere learned how to tap dance, Catherine Zeta-Jones found a decade old dancing groove was still intact, and Renee Zellweger learned to sing and dance with the best of them. The twenties tale introduced a whole new generation to vaudeville. Behind The Movie shows you, through never-before-seen footage and interviews, how a film that almost never saw the light of day became the runaway hit of the year.

VH1 (1:00) (YEAR) MUSIC: Music History, Broadway
VH1, March 16, 4am ET/MT/PT, 3am CT

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VH1 Legends: 100 Greatest Women of Rock & Roll
VH1 (1:00) (YEAR) In honor of Music In Our Schools month, VH1 has set aside extra airtime for special broadcasts of VH1 Music Studio programming. Depicting a celebration of the talented and powerful female artists "100 Greatest Women of Rock & Roll" will air as a five hour, five episode series of specials starting Tuesday, March 4, 11, 18, 25 and April 1 at 4am(ET/PT). The series includes all new interviews with many of the greatest women of rock history and their admirers, with an eclectic mix of artists representing diverse styles and influences. Each hour is highlighted by vintage performances throughout four decades. VH1's "100 Greatest Women of Rock And Roll" were chosen by the most influential women in society today, all of who share a passion for music. The panel of over 300 women included politicians, photographers, writers, actresses, fashion figures, music industry executives and, of course, the musicians themselves.

MUSIC: HISTORY
"100 Greatest Women of Rock & Roll (100 - 81) Tuesday, March 4th, 4am

100 Greatest Women of Rock & Roll (80 - 61) Tuesday, March 11th, 4am

100 Greatest Women of Rock & Roll (60 - 41) Tuesday, March 18th, 4am

100 Greatest Women of Rock & Roll (40 - 21) Tuesday, March 25th, 4am

100 Greatest Women of Rock & Roll (20 - 1) Tuesday, April 1st, 4am

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VH1 Legends: Sam Cooke
VH1 (1:00) (YEAR) In this first-ever TV biography of the definitive soul singer, "Legends: Sam Cooke" looks at his extraordinary career and personal life - from his gospel-singing roots in the early 1950's through his R&B and pop music career to his untimely death in 1964. This episode features rare and never-before-seen footage and exclusive interviews with Aretha Franlin, Muhammad Ali and Dick Clark. Born in the South, Cooke started singing in the Church choir as a child and joined with his siblings to form a gospel group. Cooke crossed over into the world of popular music as an adult in 1957, and shot to the top of the R&B and Pop charts with his self-penned "You Send Me." A triumphant early-'60s tour of the U.K. left a generation of young musicians like the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Van Morrison and Rod Stewart in thrall as well. Refusing to perform for segregated audiences in the South, Cooke utilized his stature as a performer to help break down the color lines separating blacks from whites. Cooke wrote "A Change Is Gonna Come," a song that would become an anthem of the civil rights movement. "Legends" is VH1's long-running series of documentary specials that tell the real stories behind important and influential artists and their music.

MUSIC: HISTORY
VH1 Legends: Sam Cooke, VH1, February 4, 4 am ET

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FanClub: ABBA
VH1 (1:00) (YEAR) In this episode, VH1 FanClub: ABBA goes into the world of being a fan of the most successful band to come out of Sweden. ABBA owned the '70s, attracting international audiences with their unqiue blend of pop, disco and European folk songs. Despite having been broken up for two decades, the band is more popular than ever, as evidenced by their fanatical fans who span all generations, and the success of the ABBA-inspired musical, "Mamma Mia." Several ABBA hits are showcased including Dancing Queen, The Winner Takes It ALL, SOS, Waterloo, Take a chance on me and of course, Mamma Mia. VH1 FanClub explores the connection between the artist and their fan base. Each episode profiles four fan stories and explores these diehard devotees whose lives are defined by the music they love.

MUSIC: HISTORY VH1 FanClub: ABBA, VH1, November, 5 at 4 am ET/PT

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VH1/CMT Crossroads: Willie Nelson & Sheryl Crow, VH1,
October 1, 4 am ET

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"Ultimate Albums" is the inside stories of the records we all love, a new series that examines a single important record in each episode, recounting in detail why it connected the artist and the audience, and how it forever changed their lives and our culture.

MUSIC: HISTORY
September 3, 4 am EST/ 3:00 am CST

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History of Rock 'n Roll
Click here for more information

(March 5, 2002, Tuesday)
VH1 (1:00) (YEAR) History of Rock 'n Roll Episode #1 - Rock 'n Roll Explodes (The Origins of Rock n' Roll) A new sound called "rhythm & blues" came out of the post-WWII era to change music forever. At first invisible to the mass media, inaudible to most white listeners, it was marketed to black audiences as pop music made by black artists. Slowly, a new audience eavesdropped on a new kind of musical conversation. White artists began to copy what they heard and the records began to "cross over". The new sound soon became linked with youthful rebellion-- rock 'n' roll was a new kind of music that shook youth culture and has been shaking young musicians ever since. Songs featured include: Chuck Berry’s "Maybelline," Elvis Presley’s "Heartbreak Hotel," and Fats Domino’s "Blue Monday."

MUSIC: HISTORY
History of Rock 'n Roll Episode #1 - Rock 'n Roll Explodes (The Origins of Rock n' Roll), VH1, March 5, 4 am ET

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Say It Loud!: A Celebration of Black Music in America
recounts the evolution of urban music’s most powerful and trend-setting genres through firsthand accounts of those who experienced and created the history, including James Brown, Queen Latifah, T-Boz, Smokey Robinson, and George Clinton. Covering jazz, blues, gospel, and hip-hop through modern R&B and soul.
Click here for more information

MUSIC: HISTORY
October 9, October 16, October 23, October 30
4:00 am EST/ 3:00 am CST

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1. “Keep On Pushin’” explores black music and its relationship to politics, protest, and spreading the message, including the profound influence of black music on the Civil Rights movement since its beginnings in the 19th century. Featured artists include James Brown, Curtis Mayfield, Stevie Wonder, Dr. Dre, and NWA. (airs commercial–free on Tuesday, October 9, 4 am ET)

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2. “Pursuing The Dream” traces the progress of black artists in the music business, from exploitation to eventual ownership and power in the publishing, recording and entertainment industries. Stories include Berry Gordy’s shaping of Motown and rap’s rise to power through black-owned record labels Death Row and Def Jam. (airs commercial-free on October 16, 4 am ET)

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3. “Can I Get A Witness” deals with the spiritual pulse of black music, from the crucial influence of gospel and the musicians’ dedication to the church to an overwhelming desire to create “the devil’s music.” Featured artists include Sam Cooke, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, and Al Green. (airs commercial-free Tuesday, October 23, 4 am ET)

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4. “Express Yourself” examines the style and image projected by black artists in the past and how they eventually evolved to shape popular culture from fashion to language. The show profiles Louis Armstrong, Marvin Gaye, Sly & The Family Stone and Michael Jackson’s influence on style and pop culture. (airs commercial-free Tuesday, October 30, 4 am ET)

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VH1 (1:30) In "The Concert of the Century for VH1 Save The Music" Legends of the blues (B.B. King, Eric Clapton), country (Garth Brooks), soul, rock (John Fogerty, John Mellencamp, Bono) and latin (Gloria Estefan) will team up with some of the new stars of the 90s (Sheryl Crow, Lenny Kravitz, N'Sync), and other surprise guests to perform their own hits and classic songs from the American Century. Musical director will be Paul Shaffer, leading the CBS "Late Show" band. The event was created with President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, in support of VH1 Save the Music, the national non-profit organization that works to restore music programs to public schools and to create awareness of the links between music education and childrens' academic performance.

Click here for more information

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VH1 (1:00) VH1 Save the Music is teaming up with Noggin to present Greatest TV Moments: Sesame Street Music A to Z, demonstrating there's one street in America where many of today's pop stars got their musical start. REM, Goo Goo Dolls, Faith Hill and N'Snyc all grew up watching Bert and Ernie and the rest of the gang on Sesame Street. All grown up, these artists joined the distinguished ranks of Stevie Wonder, Johnny Cash, Paul Simon and James Taylor by appearing on the program.

In this episode, Sesame Street's staff of writers and composers worked with some of the pop world's hottest acts to parody songs like James Taylor's "Whenever You See a Grouchy Face," or Smokey Robinson's "U Really Got a Hold on Me," and Patti Labelle's torch song "I Miss My "X."" The special will feature these moments plus unforgettable Sesame Street songs, "Rubber Ducky," "Put Down the Ducky," and "Sing," which went on to hit the top of the billboard charts as a Carpenters single.

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