“Stop the Madness” Confuses and Amuses. Stops Nothing.
In an attempt to combat the glamorization of drug use in the mid-1980s, a star-studded cast was assembled for the song and music video "Stop the Madness." While the song itself is somewhat lackluster considering the talent involved, the music video compensates for it with its sheer awesomeness. Just consider the eclectic lineup: New Edition, Steve Arrington, Nancy Reagan, Tim Feehan, Whitney Houston, David Hasselhoff, Kim Fields, Jon Burford, LaToya Jackson, Kimaya Koepke, Herb Alpert, Linda Stokes, Jackie Ball, Steve Arrington, Toni Basil, Tim Feehan, Tata Vega, Andre Crouch, Sandra Crouch, Casey Kasem, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Boogaloo Shrimp, and even the Good Year Blimp.
Yes, that's right. Herb Albert, Kim Fields, and Boogaloo Shrimp all make appearances in the same music video. Intrigued yet?
The effectiveness of "Stop the Madness" in curbing drug use is debatable. Perhaps those under the influence watched the video, got overwhelmed by the dizzying array of celebrities, and decided they were too messed up to continue using drugs. Who knows?
It's important to note that the music video should not be confused with the CBS PSA series of the same name. In this version, it's Pat Sajak urging you to "Stop the Madness."