To wrap up the day’s coverage of the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, let me share some of my personal photos and experiences from the show last night. As always, the folks at MTV were amazingly good to me and got me a great spot on the red carpet to cover arrivals and then got me access to watch the show in person. The whole night was a lot of fun but I have to confess, I almost missed out on the entire thing!

For some ungodly reason, I was not able to get a cab when I needed to get to Radio City Music Hall and because press check-in cuts off PERIOD at a specific time, I had to scramble to get to the venue on time. I managed to find the right subway line to get me to Radio City and then was forced to run around the block 4 TIMES to find the right press check-in venue. I was told the wrong thing over and over and at the last minute, an amazing intern named Tyler found me and brought me inside … with 2 minutes to spare. Once I got all checked-in, it was smooth sailing for the rest of the night. After the jump, check out some of my photos from the red carpet and a couple from inside the show …

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As we are all pretty much aware by now, the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards were handed out at Radio City Music Hall here in NYC last night in a ceremony that was mired in controversy but also featured heartfelt tributes to the late Michael Jackson as well as a few spectacular performances and on stage appearances. Here are a few photos from the red carpet arrivals last night:

But for a few exceptions, most everyone looked amazing on the red carpet. I loved all the shiny bling that some folks were wearing … particularly Kristin Cavallari who wore a simple vintage dress and looked absolutely amazing in it. The show itself was really fun .. the opening tribute performance to MJ was really very cool and except for Kanye West’s douchey behavior, the show was very entertaining. Here are a few pics from the show and some deets about what went down:

Planned and random acts of kindness reigned at the MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall on Sunday night. Among the planned acts: Janet Jackson’s opening tribute to her brother Michael, whose death at age 50 on June 25 rocked the music world. The production began with Madonna recalling her encounter with Michael and reminding the audience that “Michael Jackson was a hero.” And while “he seemed otherworldly,” she added, “he was also a human being.” And then, the performance began. Dancers crept up on stage with original Thriller video airing in the background. The dancers’ moves duplicated the ones being performed on the video. Then a sequence of Michael’s hits played. Bad and Smooth Criminal led to Scream, his duet with Janet, who broke through glass to make her way onstage and sing along with the video. The loud, almost angry performance had the audience on its feet. After the tribute, Madonna said backstage that “it was good to finally get to say my piece.” And then near the end of the show, in a gracious act of kindness, video-of-the-year winner Beyoncé offered young country music star Taylor Swift a second chance to say her piece with an acceptance speech. The moment came after Kanye West took everyone by surprise early in the show when he went onstage to interrupt Swift’s acceptance speech for best female video for You Belong With Me … The teen country star returned for her live performance of You Belong With Me later in the show. Celebrities reacted backstage. Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong said, “Well, you know, she’s young, I think she’ll get over it. I think he needs to get it over it also. It was very uncomfortable sitting there.” “I feel bad for Taylor,” said Kristin Cavallari. “I think it was really disrespectful” … Other music-related news items had guests talking at the awards show, too. American Idol’s Kara DioGuardi was asked about her new colleague at the judges’ table, Ellen DeGeneres. “I feel fantastic. I feel ecstatic. I can’t wait for January, when we can all be on the panel.” DioGuardi added that she has been in touch with former judge Paula Abdul. “I’ve spoken to her, and she seems to be doing really well, and that’s what matters.” Abdul is set to play host at the VH1 Divas special on MTV’s sister network on Thursday night (9 ET/PT). Faye Dunaway had two divas she was looking forward to seeing on Sunday at the VMAs. “Lady Gaga and Beyoncé. How could you not love Beyoncé?” Dunaway asked. Ne-Yo echoed Dunaway’s sentiment. When asked who he was rooting for, he replied, “Besides myself?” and then added, “I’m here to see Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Pink, everyone. I’m here just to enjoy the electricity.” And the atmosphere was electric, with returning host Russell Brand doling out his brash brand of humor. Among the stars: Jennifer Lopez, Alicia Keys, Eminem, Jermaine Jackson, Katy Perry, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner.

For me, the live performances were the highlight of the entire night. After the jump, check out a few photos from the press room and watch a couple of my fave performances from the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards …

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The 2009 MTV Video Music Awards opened up with a touching tribute by Madonna for the late King of Pop, Michael Jackson. In what seemed like a semi-off-the-cuff address, Madonna delivered a speech that sought to highlight the similarities that she shared with Michael Jackson in an attempt to outline what went wrong with his life. While some felt that the speech focused too much on her (and, to be honest, I can understand why), I personally feel it was a touching tribute that was very Madonna (right down to the chastisement to the viewing audience that “we abandoned Michael Jackson” with the implication being that we are somewhat to blame for losing him) … and very well suited for MJ’s memory. Here are a few photos of Madonna on stage delivering her tribute address:

Michael Jackson, who was not only one of the most influential forces in MTV’s history but also provided its Video Music Awards with some of its most irreverent moments, got reverential treatment Sunday as Madonna and his sister Janet provided emotional tributes — one through words, one through song. It was a tender, special moment — a rarity for the Video Music Awards. But the mood didn’t last for long, thanks in part to another onstage outburst from Kanye West. Madonna kicked off the show at Radio City Music Hall with a poignant speech about her relationship with Michael Jackson, which began when she was a youngster idolizing the then-child star, then morphed into a friendship when both were at the apex of their careers, and later, grew distant. Madonna lamented the negative publicity that dogged him in his later years. “Sometimes, we have to lose things before we can truly appreciate them,” said Madonna, dressed in black. “Yes, Michael Jackson was a human being, but yes, he was a king,” she told the celebrity-studded crowd, which included Michael’s brother Jermaine and father Joe Jackson. “Long live the king.”

Once Madonna stopped talking about her, she really let her personal feelings about Michael Jackson come to the forefront of her speech and honestly honored his memory. After the jump, watch video of Madonna delivering her address (along with a full transcript of her speech) and watch video of Janet Jackson and her troupe of dancers paying homage to MJ in their own way — in song and dance …

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Another MTV Video Music Awards has come and gone and while the focus of the show should be on the touching tribute to the late Michael Jackson by his peer Madonna and his sister Janet Jackson or the coolest performance of the night by P!nk … the focus is, instead, on what an asshole Kanye West is. In true Kanye fashion, West stormed the MTV VMA stage after Taylor Swift won the first award of the night, Best Female Video, after she stunned the audience by upsetting fellow nominees P!nk, Kelly Clarkson, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga and Beyoncé. As Taylor Swift was accepting her award, Kanye jumped up on the stage, took the mic from her hand and declared that Beyoncé should’ve won the award because she made “the best video of all time”. Taylor looked crushed, hurt and embarrassed and was not allowed to finish her acceptance speech … Beyoncé looked stunned and embarrassed by Kanye’s rant as well. The auditorium booed Kanye off the stage, he flipped off the crowd with his middle finger and then was asked by MTV to leave the show. Here are a few photos of the incident:

The MTV video music awards held on Sunday paid tribute to the late Michael Jackson, but was overshadowed by an outburst by rapper Kanye West, who interrupted an acceptance speech by U.S. singer Taylor Swift. West, who is known for his outspoken ways, jumped up on stage while the 19-year-old Swift was making an acceptance speech for best female video for her hit song “You Belong With Me,” beating out singers including Beyonce Knowles and Lady Gaga. “I am really happy for you,” West said. “But Beyonce had one of the best videos of all time.” MTV said West, who was spotted earlier on the red carpet drinking alcohol, was ejected from an awards show already known for its circus-like atmosphere. West received loud boos from the crowd when his name was mentioned later in the show.

Kanye was seen carrying a big bottle of booze and was asked by MTV to leave the premises shortly after his rant:

Apparently, Kanye decided to go home and blog an “apology” to Taylor Swift for his outburst … but it doesn’t take a careful reading to understand that it’s not an apology at all:

This “apology” has since been removed from his official website. After the jump, check out video of this outrageous insult to Taylor Swift and see how Beyoncé managed to right the wrong a wee bit at the end of the show …

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Woot!! It’s great to be back in the Big Apple again … as you may recall, I was just here a few weeks ago to attend the 4 Nine Inch Nails shows that took place here at the Bowery Ballroom, Webster Hall and Terminal 5 … twice … and now I’m back for another week of fun. I have to give a shout-out and props to Virgin America for being the coolest, most kickass airline in the US. Not only does their ability to offer wifi make long flights much more enjoyable but pretty much everything about flying with them is a joy … right down to the sexy mood lighting:

Alt rocker Ryan Adams was on our flight from LA to NYC as well … I recognized him immediately and noticed that he was proudly wearing his wedding ring even tho wifey Mandy Moore was not with him :)

My time here in NYC is going to be very bizzy … in a few hours, I’m making my way down to Radio City Music Hall to work the red carpet at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards and then I’ll be attending the show:

I’ve been fighting off a cold and it was really hit or miss whether or not I’d be up for going to the VMAs but I’m feeling better today so I’m 90% positive I’ll attend. MTV puts on such amazing parties, I really really don’t want to miss it. I’ll be taking photos from the red carpet and will do my best to send Twitter updates and Twitpics to my official Twitter account HERE so stay tuned and follow all the fun. Tomorrow, I’ll share all my photos and, hopefully, fun experiences from the show :)

The rest of the week is bizzy, too. I’m seeing Hamlet starring Jude Law, Rock of Ages starring Tom Lenk and Kerry Butler and will be meeting up with dear friends along the way … the big event will be David’s birthday party next weekend!! So much going on … I better get to it.

Earlier this week it was announced that Janet Jackson will open the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, airing live from Radio City Music Hall in NYC, NY this Sunday night, by paying tribute to the memory of her late brother, the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. Today we get to see a new promo video that was created by MTV in honor of MJ’s legacy and promote the upcoming VMAs … check it out:

It’s a very subtle, quite fitting tribute. There is no way that MTV can throw a VMAs event this year and not pay homage to the man who essentially put MTV on the map in the 1980’s. I’m pretty sure this video is but the first of many tributes that will be paid to the late King of Pop at this weekend’s VMAs event.

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Earlier this month we saw photos of Britney Spears on a poolside set of what I believed was a photoshoot … but it turns out that our dear Britney was rockin’ her white bikini for a promo video for the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards. In the clip, Brit Brit swaps thoughts with VMAs host Russell Brand … here are a few screencaps:

In a new promo for MTV’s Video Music Awards, set for Sept. 13 in New York City, Britney Spears wishes for a personal invite from Russell Brand, who is hosting for the second year in a row. Standing by a pool in a white bikini and a black sun hat, Spears says in a voiceover, “I wonder if he’ll invite me. I mean, I can obviously get an invite, but it would be nice for Russell to invite me personally now that we’re friends and all.” Meanwhile, Brand has VMA jitters of his own. “I hope I didn’t balls it up with her last time,” he says. “Some of those things I said could have been construed as offensive. I hope she don’t think ill of me.” Back to Spears, this time biting her fingernail: “Should I have played it up more when he was flirting with me last year? I have to admit there is something sexy about his dangerous ways.” At the end of the spot, Brand realizes he’s hearing Spears’s voiceover and that she might be hearing his. What’s a bloke to do? “Britney,” he says in a high-pitched voice, “this is the voice of your mind … go to Russell’s hotel room and abandon yourself. Give yourself to him, Britney. Sleep with Russell!” The VMAs air live on Sept. 13 (9 p.m. EST) on MTV.

It’s a cute clip but not nearly as funny as I would’ve liked. Plus, I’d've preferred more Britney, less Russell. But hey, that’s just me. After the jump, check out the VMAs promo clip and judge for yourselves …

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