24 Hours of Foo

In June 2005, MTV2 handed over its programming for a full day to the Foo Fighters. The band—Dave Grohl, Chris Shiflett, Nate Mendel, and Taylor Hawkins—took control of the channel starting at noon Eastern on Saturday, June 11, curating music videos and live segments through the next day. The concept mirrored an earlier, attempted special from 2002 called 24 Hours of Love, hosted by Courtney Love.

According to MTV Networks’ original press release, the Foo Fighters were given free rein to program and direct the channel however they wished, with promises of special guests, live performances, and activities only the band could dream up. The release mentioned possibilities like an impromptu wedding, a celebrity ping-pong tournament, or simply following the band as they roamed Times Square—all captured live. Dave Grohl told IGN Music, “24 hours of Foo? Live on MTV2? It's gonna be awesome. The Foo is expecting you!”

The broadcast’s centerpiece was a one-hour, full-band live performance at midnight. Earlier that evening, the Foo Fighters also played a 30-minute acoustic Unplugged set. A live edition of Headbangers Ball aired that night, with Grohl hosting and interviewing special guests the SuicideGirls.

Other events included a drum circle in Times Square featuring Stewart Copeland, science experiments with Cockeyed.com’s Rob Cockerham, an on-air wedding, a trivia game with comedian David Cross, and appearances by MTV News reporter Gideon Yago, comedian Janeane Garofalo, Saturday Night Live’s Amy Poehler and Fred Armisen, and Robert Smigel as Triumph the Insult Comic Dog. MTV2 VJ Jim Shearer served as master of ceremonies, launching the broadcast and staying with the band for the entire 24 hours.

While some viewers noted the limited variety of music played, others felt the special proved MTV2 could still produce an unusually spectacular live event. No other large-scale live broadcast aired on MTV2 until 2007, when Human Giant 24 took the same slot.