The program consisted of music videos and, if there was a guest, interview segments with a band conducted by an off-camera interviewer. Usually after the first video, MTV2 would play a "shart," which is a short, random video clip, and then play the second music video. Two or three music videos were shown consecutively between commercial breaks. If there is a guest, the program aired five or six separate interview clips with them as well as their current music video.
In its previous incarnation, at about ten minutes before Subterranean began, a short lead with Jim Shearer aired in which he informed viewers about the upcoming special guest and notes some of the videos that were to be shown. When the program began, Shearer repeated most of the information from the lead and then introduced the first music video of the program.
After about twenty-five minutes into the program, Shearer would introduce the guest and begin the interview. Following the next segment, the latest music video by the special guest artist or band would play. The remainder of the program would features another segment of the interview, the final video, and the sign-off with Shearer.
Occasionally, the guest artist would choose the list of videos for the program. Subterranean has also aired special editions dedicated to awards, musical genres and for the viewer-selected top videos of the year.
The program was also broadcast online, via MTV.com. The online version of Subterranean includes more interviews with the featured artist, more commentary by Shearer, and extra videos, sometimes chosen by the guest.
In August 2008, MTV.com launched a comprehensive back catalogue of past episodes of Subterranean, making the program viewable online. However, it has since been removed as of 2016.
Time slot
Subterranean originally aired Friday nights at 12 a.m. ET and then moved to Sunday nights at 1 a.m. ET (technically Monday morning).
For a few months back in Summer 2008, Subterranean was moved to Saturday nights at 11 p.m ET/10 p.m. CT/8 p.m. PT, sandwiched between You Rock The Deuce and Headbangers Ball.
The program moved again on September 11, 2008 and was seen late Thursday nights (early Friday morning) at 1 a.m. ET/midnight CT.
On June 7, 2009, Subterranean was moved back to Sunday nights (early Monday mornings) at 2 a.m. ET/1 a.m. CT.
As of May 12, 2010, the show moved, this time to early Wednesday mornings at 5 a.m. ET/4 a.m. CT/2 a.m. PT.
Subterranean aired its last episode on September 14, 2011.
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