Written and Compiled by D.L. Chandell
Logo captures by Eric S., Shadeed A. Kelly, V of Doom, and Others
Editions by Shadeed A. Kelly and V of Doom
Video captures courtesy by JoeCool85, Eric S., ChadODell, and Bob Fish


Background: MTE is an abbreviation for MCA Television Enterprises (also known as MCA Television Entertainment), a division of MCA-TV established in 1987, which produced specially TV movies, cable TV movies, and television shows, more than likely financed independently by outside producers and production companies. Even in its initial existence as MTE, finding (or, for that matter, paying attention to) its logo was rather rare even while Dream On was on the air.


1st Logo
(1987-1990)

Nicknames: "The Nightmare Globe", "The Gold Universal Nightmare", "CGI Globe of Doom", "CGI Zooming Globe", "Really, Really Fast Zooming Globe"

Logo: From a dark outer space background with stars moving forward in medium speed, a colorful, more physically-correct earth than its Universal predecessor at the time (now with greener land, a bluer-looking body of water and an icy white Arctic Ocean surrounded by clouds) zooms toward the screen with lightning speed as if to break through the screen and capture the viewer and then immediately pans down to reveal a large, gold, shining group of letters, "MTE" in the MCA font though slightly resembling the GTE logo, rotating and then zooming back against the globe which now has stationed itself behind the letters, rotating also at an abnormal speed. After the letters and globe lock into place, the byline AN MCA COMPANY "glitters" in starting from a little left of the center, revealing some of the MCA logo in its stylized font, and then the rest of the byline the words "AN" and "COMPANY in a bold Helvetica type font. All the byline is on a stone like texture.

Variants:

• Exists a videotaped version and a filmed version of this logo.
• The prototype variant of this logo is bylineless.

SFX/CheesyFX/Cheesy Factor: The extremely fast zooming out of the globe, the rotating of the gold shining MTE. A unique, magnificent early CGI Universal/MCA globe rendition of Universal that seemed to define the future of MCA logos years ahead of its 75th Anniversary.

Music/Sounds: A rarely-heard extended version of the 1975 Universal Television theme. A deep tympani drumroll opens accompanied by harp, followed by a swift wind-like sound, followed by an eight-note fanfare (three extra notes precede the general five notes from the Universal Television counterpart), of which the last note is the loudest.

Availability: Rare. It was found on a few movies aired on HBO, and on few series in syndication. Notable shows where it would have been most available include Swamp Thing, She-Wolf of London, Dream On, and the long-cancelled They Came From Outer Space. It is seen at times on Sleuth and Chiller, and still preserved on the Dream On DVD Set.

Scare Factor: Nightmare. The combination of the zooming globe and the music (performed in a way unlike ANY other in the history of Universal/MCA) is ultimately deadly, especially the first time around you have seen it. Except the first time supersmashmelee saw it, becoming his favorite logo.



2nd Logo
(1990-1995?)

Nicknames: "The Ghost Globe", "The Globeless Logo", "Snubbed Globe"

Logo: Against a dark space background, a red letter "T" is seen zooming back into the screen's middle. It is soon joined by a red letter "M" coming in from the screen's left, and a red letter "E" coming in from the right. Once together, they stop, and the byline"AN MCA COMPANY" fades in underneath. All are in a generic Arial font.

Variants:

• Starting in 1991, extra footage is added of a 2D still shot of the Universal globe of the era reflected in the "T," which now zooms up before zooming back. The letters are now a solid-gold color, and the animation is smoother.
• A special still version of the 1991 logo was seen on Fudge.

SFXFX: The zooming back/up of the lettering. In other cases, none.

Music/Sounds:

• 1990-1991: The last five notes of the 1987 fanfare, making this one seem more musically similar to the then-current Universal Television logo.
• 1991-1995: A synth theme, sounding like the 3rd note of Universal Television's 1991 theme, with chimes and wind blowing.
• Sometimes, it will appear with the end of the music from whatever movie/show it came from. In other cases, it's silent.

Availability: Extremely Rare/Extinct. This was seen on even fewer movies, mostly on HBO, than that of its predecessor. Can possibly be found in vintage or used video stores on MCA/Universal videocassettes which bear the copyright to "MTE, Inc." or "MCA Television Enterprises". This logo with the 1991 theme has appeared on Simon & Simon: In Trouble Again and the short-lived series Campus Cops.

Scare Factor: Medium for the early variant and minimal for the other variants. This is a definite improvement over the previous logo.



3rd Logo
(1991-1997)

Nicknames: "Universal CGI Globe", "The Gold Version"

Logos:

• 1991-1992: Over the misty space background from Universal Pictures' 1990 logo, we see the circling globe. Then, gold-tinted "MTE" lettering (in a bigger, bolder rendition of the font from the last logo) "wipes" on-screen and zooms back against the globe. Once it has stopped, the byline"AN MCA COMPANY" appears, spread out. As the presentation fades out, the last thing to be seen is the transparent MTE logo.
• 1992-1997: Same as before, except the globe is more solid, and then a more solid gold "MTE" fades in and zooms back against the globe. When stopped, the byline "AN MCA COMPANY" appears on screen, and the "MTE" shines. The presentation fades out in unison.

SFX: The zooming back and shining of the gold lettering, the globe circling.

Music/Sounds:

• 1991-1992: The entire 1987 fanfare. The on-screen "wiping" appearance of the letters is timed perfectly with the "whoosh" sound heard in the first few seconds of the music.
• 1992-1997: An eight note saxophone tune composed by Dana Kaproff.
• Sometimes may also appear with the tail end of the program's music.

Availability: Extremely Rare. This was seen mostly on Dream On and They Came From Outer Space as well as few TV movies on HBO, and home video.

Scare Factor: Depending on the logo variant:

• 1991-1992: Low to medium.
• 1992-1997: None; the saxophone tune is very cool and relaxing.
• None for the variant with the closing theme of the show.