[3] The winners of The First Annual American Video Awards (1983) were selected by a small panel of about a dozen people: Casey Kasem, writers from Rolling Stone and The Hollywood Reporter magazines, a film editor, and a television director.
Toward those ends, to give the American Video Awards and the newly formed American Video Association credibility, an advisory board was formed which included presidents of Capitol, Columbia, MCA, Polygram and RCA record companies, and chairmen of the boards of Warner Bros., A&M and Scotti Bros. record companies.
[10][11] Although it didn't air live, a taped version of The Fourth Annual American Video Awards did make it to network television in November 1985.
[3][4] But public recognition of the American Video Awards as the most prestigious in the field remained elusive, despite Kasem's hopes and efforts.
He said the academy membership was "tightened" in order to assure skeptics that the video awards were based on merit rather than industry politics, and he tried to make the case that NAVAS had the same credibility in the video field as the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS), which sponsored the Grammys, had in the music field.
[16] Later that year, in December 1987, nationally syndicated newspaper columnist Ethlie Ann Vare sounded the death knell for the American Video Awards, writing that they were, "probably on the way out".
[19] Nominees and winners were selected by a small panel of people: Casey Kasem, music reporters, a film editor, and a television director.
Ceremony date: April 6, 1983[18] Ceremony location: Beverly Theatre in Beverly Hills, California[18] Host: Casey Kasem[1] Presenters: Grace Slick,[23][24] Mick Fleetwood,[23][24] Pia Zadora,[23][24] Rosanne Cash,[23][24] Toni Basil,[19][24] Patrick Simmons,[19][24] Michael Nesmith,[19][24] Rindy Ross,[19][24] Larry Graham,[19][24] The Gap Band,[19][24] Mickey Thomas,[19][24] John Schneider[24] Winners in eleven categories plus the special recognition award, Hall of Fame, were reported for The Second Annual American Video Awards.
Other categories added were on the technical side of video production: Best Editing, Best Lighting Design, Best Choreography, and Best Art Direction.
[5][6] The Hall of Fame awardee was selected by the "distinguished" advisory board of the American Video Association,[28] which included presidents of Capitol, Columbia, MCA, Polygram and RCA record companies, and chairmen of the boards of Warner Bros., A&M and Scotti Bros. record companies.
[5][6] Nominees were announced on March 5, 1984, at an event held at the Kathy Gallagher restaurant in Los Angeles, California.
[6] Writer Tom Popson surmised that television viewers would be less inclined to watch the program because the outcome was known ahead of the telecast.
[6] Ceremony date: April 5, 1984[32] Ceremony location: Wilshire Ebell Theatre, Los Angeles, California[30][33][34] Host: Casey Kasem[35] Presenters: Patti LaBelle,[6] Martha Davis and the Motels,[6] Toni Basil,[6] Deborah Allen,[35] Herbie Hancock,[35] La Toya Jackson,[35][36] Jan and Dean,[35] Juice Newton,[35][36] Moon Zappa[35] Frank Stallone,[36] Grace Slick,[36] Ozzy Osbourne,[36] Little Richard[6][36] Performers: "Weird Al" Yankovic[6] See.
[11][40] Jet magazine noted that there were only two "Black" winners, Michael Jackson and Prince,[41] and apparently neither of them attended the ceremony.
[9] Ceremony date: April 3, 1985[9][11] Ceremony location: Santa Monica Civic Auditorium,[9] Santa Monica, California[41] Hosts: Casey Kasem, Herbie Hancock, Lisa Hartman[43][41] Presenters: James Brown,[41][43] Philip Bailey,[41] Deborah Allen,[43][42] Stephen Bishop,[43] Laura Branigan,[43][42] Michael Damian,[43] Ronnie Dio,[43] Lita Ford,[43] Lee Greenwood,[43] James Ingram,[43] Grace Jones,[43][42] the kids from "Fame,"[43] B.
King,[43] Quiet Riot,[43] REO Speedwagon,[43][42] Sylvia,[43] Pia Zadora,[43] Vanity,[42] "Weird Al" Yankovic[42] Performers: New Edition,[43] John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band,[43] Moe Bandy and Joe Stampley[43] See:[40] The Fourth Annual American Video Awards (November 1985) was not only the first and only American Video Awards show to be broadcast on network television, it was also the first music video awards show ever to be shown on prime time network television.
[14] ABC also chose the program's host, Tony Danza, who starred in one of its most successful sitcoms at the time, "Who's the Boss?
[4][14] Nominations were announced on October 29, 1985, at Ma Maison restaurant in West Hollywood, California, at an event described as a "mock award ceremony," emceed by Casey Kasem.
[4] Presenters: Clarence Clemons,[4] Grace Jones,[4][52] Kenny Rogers,[4] Apollonia Kotero,[4][52] Andy Taylor of Duran Duran,[4] Lorenzo Lamas,[4][52] Herbie Hancock,[4][52] The Weather Girls,[4] Howie Mandel,[52] Al Jarreau,[52] The Judds,[52] "Weird Al" Yankovic,[52] Lisa Hartman,[52] Shari Belafonte-Harper[52] Performers: Sheila E,[53] Martin Mull[14][53] Television broadcast date: Friday, November 22, 1985.
[51][4] Network: ABC For list of nominees in nine "artistic categories," see:[50] The Fifth Annual American Video Awards (1987), produced by Scotti/Vinnedge Television in association with Casey Kasem Productions,[16] was the last one.
"[15] Cash Box magazine criticized the show for including award presenters who had little to do with the music industry, calling them a "curious assortment of celebrities.
Happily, Peter Gabriel, whose videos won in five categories, and who was inducted into the NAVAS Hall of Fame, did attend the ceremony and accepted his awards on stage.
[57] Emcee: Casey Kasem[57] Hosts: Shari Belafonte Harper, Graham Nash[57] Presenters: "Weird Al" Yankovic,[16][60] Little Richard,[60] Dwight Yoakam,[16] Lisa Lisa,[16] Gregory Abbott,[16] Diana Canova,[16] Gallagher,[16] Roseanne Barr,[16] Delta Burke,[16] Jackée Harry,[16] David Hasselhoff,[16] Jean Kasem,[16] Tim Reid,[16] Tracy Scoggins[16] Performers: Wang Chung,[16][61] The Bangles,[16][61] Richard Belzer,[16][61] Bobcat Goldthwait[61] See:[60]