Logo for Pop Up Video with blue and white text

Pop-Up Video was a fast, funny, and smart music-TV series that transformed ordinary music videos into trivia-packed visual experiences. As songs played, colorful pop-up text bubbles appeared on screen delivering behind-the-scenes facts, hidden jokes, cultural context, and irreverent commentary—often timed perfectly to a lyric or beat.

The show made watching music videos an interactive game, turning passive viewing into a witty, information-rich ride that helped define VH1’s voice in the late ’90s and permanently changed how audiences consumed pop music on television. It also collected 13 Daytime Emmy Award nominations.

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Today Show - Behind-the-scenes at Pop-Up Video

  • A person walking past a large billboard with a face of a woman and a commercial message about trouble synchronizing floor lights.

    Michael Jackson, "Billy Jean"

  • Madonna stares at a dancer on the set of a music video with a smaller inset picture of Sean Penn's face and caption saying, 'Madonna first met actor Sean Penn on the set of this video.'

    Madonna, "Mateiral Girl"

  • Elvis in a leather jacket sits on a chair, playing an acoustic guitar, in front of a studio audience. A caption with the image of a cartoon fried chicken leg states, 'Many audience members were found in a nearby Bob's Big Boy.'

    Elvis, "Heartbreak Hotel"

  • David Lee Roth is singing in front of a brick wall with graffiti art. He is staring at a model in a bikin bikini. A caption at the bottom states, 'East Coast 'Girls' rank 3rd in breast implant surgery.'

    David Lee Roth, "California Girls"

  • Cyndi Lauper runs in front of a brick building with black gates. There is a graphic of a yellow pocket watch and a speech bubble with the text: 'Filmed at 4 PM to simulate the light at dawn.'

    Cyndi Lauper, "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun"

  • Pop singer Blondie with her mouth open, singing with a graphic of a cartoon woman and text overlay that reads 'Blondie started giving Dagwood Bumstead rapt attention in 1930.'

    Blondie, "Rapture"

  • Pop singer Billy Idol with short blonde hair, wearing a black cut-out top, is in an industrial setting with sparks flying around, holding two large metal objects, with a caption about men's need to recharge after dancing alone.

    Billy Idol, "Dancing With Myself"

  • Singer Adam Duritz with dreadlocks and a beard, with a caption about lead singer Adam Duritz and Courtney Cox.

    Counting Crows, "Long December"

  • Close-up of Alanis Morissette with braided hair in a vehicle, with a caption stating, 'The director got the idea for this video while driving three friends to the airport,' alongside a graphic of a car.

    Alanis Morissette, "Ironic"

  • Singer Zac Hanson with blonde hair singing with his eyes closed, holding a microphone. A caption at the bottom indicates his voice changed during a recording of "MMM bop."

    Hanson, "MMMBop"

  • Singer Paula Abdul with long brown hair tilting her head back with a serene expression. There is a text box with a note about Paula liking to belch before trying to hit a high note.

    Paula Abdul, "Opposites Attract"

  • The staff of "Pop-Up Video" gathered in an office space, sitting on and around a patterned rug, with a bookshelf, computer, and dartboard in the background, and a window showing city buildings.

    The Pop-Up Video Crew