Original VJs

• MTV launched its new network with five VJs on board -- Nina Blackwood, Mark Goodman, Alan Hunter, J.J. Jackson and Martha Quinn. After her MTV VJ days, Blackwood, inspired by her love for radio, returned to the airwaves as an on-air personality. Quinn, dubbed "MTV's Best-Ever VJ" by "Rolling Stone" magazine readers, served as a VJ through 1991. She currently hosts the "Martha Quinn Presents" show on Sirius/XM Radio.
  
  

Longest-Standing VJs

• Kurt Loder, who joined the network in 1987, remains MTV's longest standing VJ and news correspondent. He continues as the host of "MTV News" (as of the publication of this article). John Norris earned his VJ titled in 1988. Returned to the network in 1996. In 2008, he left to pursue other interests and is currently the managing editor for the online community noisevox.com.
  
  

Best-Known

• After making stops at MTV, several VJs went on to enjoy television and movie careers. Among them is Doctor Dre, who landed his VJ gig in 1988. Since his days as a VJ in the late '80s, Dre has garnered success as a rap artist, album producer, and most recently, a radio personality. Colin Quinn, who was hired to the network in 1987, is best known for his stint on "Saturday Night Live" and later for his own show on Comedy Central. In 1989, Pauly Shore began his five-year run as an MTV VJ. Since then, he has become most noted for acting in movies, such as "Encino Man" and "Bio-Dome," among others.
  
  

Honorable Mentions

• Jesse Camp, Downtown Julie Brown and Kari Wuhrer also landed gigs as MTV VJs during the 80s. Camp bested 4,000 others in the Wanna Be a VJ competition, though a minor controversy was sparked regarding his win followed shortly. An attempt in a music career also fizzled quickly. Brown joined the network in 1988 as host and correspondent. Since, she has excelled as a correspondent and host, landing gigs on ESPN and E! Entertainment Television. After landing her MTV gig in 1987, Wuhrer's most notable credit was the role of Captain Maggie Beckett on "Sliders;" the show ran from 1997 through 2000.