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My View Of The 2009 MTV Video Music Awards

It's Trent, Bitch! — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 19:30:49 +0000

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 …

To be honest, I had better luck on previous MTV red carpets in the celeb department but everyone I got to talk to was very nice. The weather was perfect and I was situated around really fun people … it was a great night.

The show was really cool to see in person. I was seated in the mezzanine level that came complete with gourmet food and open bars! Yeah, man, that’s the way to watch a show like this. Much, much love goes out to Emily for taking such great care of me. The opening performance was really very cool in person:

I met some fun folks who turned out to be Pink readers — Billy, Hanne and Bill … we all got along so well, the whole experience was just a lot of fun. I kid you not, the auditorium exploded in boos every time Kanye West’s name was mentioned, he was a hated man last night … and rightfully so.

I opted out of the after parties to meet up with David and his friends Marissa, Ben, Shane and Jason at Joe’s Pub for drinks and then late night pizza afterward. It was a great night, the perfect way to get back into the swing of things here in NYC.

The 2009 MTV Video Music Awards Are Handed Out

It's Trent, Bitch! — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 17:22:17 +0000

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 …

As usual, Beyoncé put on a killer performance … here is video of her performance of Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It) which took home the biggest award of the night — Video of the Year:

But as great as Beyoncé’s performance was, I think I have to say that P!nk’s performance of Sober was the best of the night. Her ability to sing live and still do feats of high wire acrobatics was really impressive … check it out:

A shout out also goes to our dear Britney Spears who won the VMA for Best Pop Video!! Altho she couldn’t be in NYC to collect her award, she did pretend to be performing in concert elsewhere but gave her thanks anyways (a check of her tour schedule reveals that she did NOT have a concert performance last night even tho she said she did when accepting her award via video) — LOL! Oh, Britney. All in all, I had a great time at the VMAs last night … I’ll have personal photos to share a little later on.

[Photo credit: Wireimage; Source, Source]

Madonna & Janet Jackson Pay Tribute To Michael Jackson At The 2009 MTV Video Music Awards

It's Trent, Bitch! — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 14:22:33 +0000

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 …

“Michael Jackson was born in August, 1958. so was I. Michael Jackson grew up in the suburbs of the Midwest. So did I. Michael Jackson had eight brothers and sisters. So do I. When Michael Jackson was 6 he became a superstar and was perhaps the world’s most beloved child. When I was 6 my mother died. I think he got the shorter end of the stick.

I never had a mother, but he never had a childhood. And when you never get to have something, you become obsessed by it. I spent my childhood searching for my mother figures; sometimes I was successful. But how do you recreate your childhood when you are under the magnifying glass of the world for your entire life?

There is no question that Michael Jackson was one of the greatest talents the world has ever known. … That when he sang a song at the ripe old age of 8, he could make you feel like an experienced adult was squeezing your heart with his words. … That the way he moved had the elegance of Fred Astaire and packed the punch of Muhammad Ali. … That his music had an extra layer of inexplicable magic that didn’t just make you want to dance but actually made you believe that you could fly, dare to dream, be anything that you wanted to be. Because that is what heroes do. And Michael Jackson was a hero.

He performed in soccer stadiums around the world, he sold hundreds of millions of records, he dined with prime ministers and presidents. Girls fell in love with him, boys fell in love with him, everyone wanted to dance like him, he seemed otherworldly, but he was also a human being. Like most performers, he was shy and plagued with insecurities.

I can’t say we were great friends, but in 1991 I decided I wanted to get to know him better. I asked him out to dinner: I said, ‘My treat, I’ll drive, just you and me.’ He agreed and showed up to my house without any bodyguards. We drove to the restaurant in my car. It was dark out, but he was still wearing sunglasses. I said, ‘Michael, I feel like I’m talking to a limousine, do you think you could take off those glasses so I could see your eyes?’ He paused for a moment, then he tossed the glasses out the window, looked at me with a wink and a smile and said, ‘Can you see me now, is that better?’

In that moment, I could see both his vulnerability and his charm. The rest of the dinner, I was hell-bent on getting him to eat French fries, drink wine, have dessert and say bad words, things he never seemed to allow himself to do. Later, we went back to my house to watch a movie and we sat on the couch like two kids, and somewhere in the middle of the film, his hand snuck over and held mine. It felt like he was looking for a friend more than a romance and I was happy to oblige him. And in that moment he didn’t feel like a superstar, he felt like a human being. We went out a few more times together and then for one reason or another we fell out of touch. Then, the witch hunt began and it seemed like one negative story after the other was coming out about Michael. I felt his pain. I know what it’s like to walk down the street and feel like the whole world has turned against you. I know what it’s like to feel helpless and unable to defend yourself because the roar of the lynch mob is so loud that you are convinced your voice can never be heard.

But I had a childhood, and I was allowed to make mistakes and find my own way in the world without the glare of the spotlight. When I first heard that Michael had died I was in London, days away from the opening of my tour. Michael was going to perform in the same venue as me a week later. All I could think about in that moment was that I had abandoned him. That we had abandoned him. That we had allowed this magnificent creature that once set the world on fire to somehow slip through the cracks. While he was trying to build a family and rebuild his career, we were all busy passing judgment. Most of us had turned our backs on him.

In a desperate attempt to hold onto his memory, I went on the Internet to watch old clips of him dancing and singing on TV and onstage and I thought, ‘My God, he was so unique, so original, so rare. And there will never be anyone like him again.’ He was a king. But he was also a human being and alas, we are all human beings and sometimes we have to lose things before we can truly appreciate them. I want to end this on a positive note and say that my sons, age 9 and 4, are obsessed with Michael Jackson. There’s a whole lot of crotch-grabbing and moonwalking going on in my house, and it seems like a whole new generation of kids has discovered his genius and are bringing him to life again. I hope that wherever Michael is now, he is smiling about this.

Yes, yes Michael Jackson was a human being, but dammit, he was a king. Long live the king.”

I’m not sure how it came across on TV but in the auditorium, Madonna’s speech seemed to go on forever … again, once the focus was off her and on MJ, the tribute felt touching and appropriate.

After Madonna was finished, a whole bunch of dancers took to the stage to perform with a medley of Michael Jackson music videos including Thriller, Bad and Smooth Criminal … with the finale being Janet Jackson dancing virtually with MJ along with their music video Scream … behold:

The entire night was presented in honor of MJ’s memory and these tributes that opened the show really tried to set the mood for the rest of the show … it’s horribly unfortunate that Kanye West’s outrageous and selfish behavior really marred the whole show and ruined the entire night, IMHO. Still, I think true tribute was paid to Michael Jackson and I’m sure he enjoyed the spectacle wherever he is right now.

[Photo credit: Wireimage; Source, Source]

Kanye West Ruins Taylor Swift’s Winning Moment At The 2009 MTV Video Music Awards

It's Trent, Bitch! — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 13:55:35 +0000

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 …

See, what the egotistical asshole doesn’t understand is that HIS OPINION DOESN’T MEAN SHIT! Kanye seems to think that every time an award is handed out that he doesn’t agree with, he needs to get on stage and bitch about it like a crybaby and that will fix the situation. Instead, it exposes him for the asshole that he really is. This latest rant, stepping all over Taylor Swift’s first win at the MTV VMAs, is the final straw for me. I don’t care how talented he is, he is an utter douchebag asshole and I’m done with him.

Beyoncé ended up winning Video of the Year for Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) and instead of delivering her own speech, she called Taylor Swift back to the stage so she could have her moment:

Taylor finally got to have her moment, Beyoncé showed the utmost class and KANYE WEST IS STILL A DOUCHE! I’m telling you, I was in the auditorium for the whole show and every one booed him very loudly (even tho you cannot really hear it in the above clip). Every time his name was mentioned as a nominee, the auditorium booed him. Much love and congrats goes out to Taylor Swift on her win … I hope she is truly able to enjoy it … she absolutely deserves it.

[Photo credit: Wireimage; Source, Source]

From LA To NYC To MTV VMAs

It's Trent, Bitch! — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 15:25:15 +0000

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.

The 2009 MTV Video Music Awards Pays Tribute To Michael Jackson

It's Trent, Bitch! — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 16:10:13 +0000

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.

[Source]

Britney Spears & Russell Brand Team Up For A 2009 MTV VMAs Promo Video

It's Trent, Bitch! — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 18:57:22 +0000

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 …

HMMMMMMM … I sincerely hope that this VMAs promo is a hint that our dear Britney will be performing at the show. Wouldn’t that be awesome???

[Source, Source]

The 2009 MTV VMAs Release A Batch Of Promo Photos

It's Trent, Bitch! — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 19:46:42 +0000

The 2009 MTV Video Music Awards invade NYC LIVE on September 13 and the network is working overtime to prep the really big show. Already the first groups of performers and presenters have been announced and it sounds like it’s going to be another great show. Here is a batch of new promo pics of folks who will be a part of the MTV VMAs this year:

It was already shaping up to be a pretty huge night, but now, the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards have gotten even bigger. Or at least grittier and glammier. That’s because Jay-Z and Lady Gaga have been booked to perform at the VMAs, joining an already impressive list that includes Taylor Swift, Green Day, Pink and Muse. Jay — whose gnarly “D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)” is up for Best Hip-Hop Video and Best Male Video — will perform a song from his hotly anticipated The Blueprint 3 album, due September 11. The glittery Gaga — who, along with Beyoncé, leads everyone with nine VMA nods — will perform a single from her breakthrough The Fame album. “I’m simply gutted to be both a performer and nominee at the 2009 VMAs,” Gaga said. “In fact, I’m so happy, I could die.” In addition to the performers, there are some big-name presenters to add to the show too. Nelly Furtado, Miranda Cosgrove and “Gossip Girl” star Leighton Meester — who is up for Best Pop Video and Best Direction for Cobra Starship’s “Good Girls Go Bad” — will be on hand to, well, hand out the awards. They join Katy Perry, Ne-Yo and Chace Crawford, who have already been announced as VMA presenters. But who will they be presenting the awards to? Well, that’s up to you. Voting for the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards is under way over at VMA.MTV.com. Verizon Wireless subscribers can also vote by texting VMA to 97979. The VMAs will broadcast live from New York on September 13 at 9 p.m. Russell Brand will once again serve as host for the evening. Trust us: It’s going to be a night you just can’t miss.

I can’t help it, I’m a sucker for the VMAs — always have been, always will. I can’t help but look forward to the show each year. Because the show is gonna be back in NYC this year, well, you know they’re gonna turn the mother out. I’m really hoping and crossing my fingers (and toes) that they’re gonna bring out our dear Britney Spears for a surprise performance. Last year was her year to look beautiful and collect her trophies … this year is her year to sing for her supper (as it were). Whether she performs or not, I’m pretty sure that secret will be hush-hush until the day of the show (or very close to). I can’t wait to find out, hopefully in person :)

[Source, Source]

The 2009 MTV VMA Nominees Have Been Announced

It's Trent, Bitch! — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 15:40:19 +0000

It’s that time of the year again when MTV starts gearing up for their annual Video Music Awards, this year taking place on September 13 in NYC. The nominations for the 2009 MTV VMAs have been announced and it is my EXTREME pleasure to announce that my girl Britney Spears has garnered 7 nominations this year, including one for the biggest award of the night (which she WON last year) — Video of the Year!

Britney Spears has done it again … our favorite comeback kid has been nominated for not one, not two, not three…well, seven MTV Video Music Awards. Last year, the pop princess made a brilliant return to the VMA stage when she took home three Moon Man trophies for “Piece of Me.” And while we hate to remember this… Could ya believe it was only two years ago that Spears solidified her trainwreck status at the VMAs in Las Vegas with her disastrous performance of “Gimme More” in front of an audience that included Megan Fox? This year’s awards will be handed out and broadcast live on MTV from New York’s Radio City Music Hall Sept. 13. Russell Brand returns as host. No word yet if Brit will be added to this year’s performance roster, which already includes Taylor Swift, Pink, Green Day and Muse. Additional nominees and performers are expected to be announced later today.

Here is the MTV press release about today’s 2009 MTV VMAs nominees announcement:

MTV today announced the nominees for the “2009 MTV Video Music Awards.” The ladies lead the pack as Beyoncé and Lady Gaga earn nine nominations each for “Single Ladies (Put A Ring on It)” “Poker Face” and “Paparazzi” respectively. Britney Spears follows with an impressive seven combined nominations for “Womanizer” and “Circus.” Jay-Z, Green Day, Eminem, Kanye West and Coldplay will each find themselves vying for several moonmen on the big night. In addition, Latin Grammy® award-winning Puerto Rican duo Wisin Y Yandel, rapper Drake and rockers Kings of Leon are a few of the artists who have received their first VMA nomination. Included in the impressive line-up of first-time nominees is rapper Asher Roth who finds himself up against one of today’s most notorious artists Eminem, in the “Best Hip-Hop” category. As previously announced, Russell Brand will host and set to perform are Green Day, P!nk, Taylor Swift and Muse. Katy Perry, Ne-Yo and Gossip Girl’s Chace Crawford are confirmed presenters. The “2009 MTV Video Music Awards” will air live on Sunday, September 13, 2009 at 9PM (Live ET/Tape delayed PT) and on Sunday, September 20 at 5pm ET with Spanish subtitles on MTV Tr3ìs. MTV will announce additional performers, nominees and presenters on a later date. Viewers can vote for general VMAs categories, including “Best New Artist,” by visiting vma.mtv.com beginning Tuesday, August 4. “Best New Artist” voting continues through the show, live on September 13. In addition, Verizon Wireless subscribers can vote by texting VMA to 97979 (standard message rates apply.) MTV, Pepsi and Rock Band™ have created a new category at this year’s VMAs, “Best Performance in a Pepsi Rock Band Video” that allows fans, for the first time, to win their very own Moonman. This summer, contestants entered their original Rock Band™ music videos, which fans will then vote on to select the ultimate winner. Viewers can help decide which band will travel to the “2009 MTV Video Music Awards,” walk the red carpet, receive their Moonman, and be featured in an MTV produced promotional spot airing the night of the show by logging on to www.PepsiRockBand.com from August 8 – September 1.

Click HERE to see the full list of 2009 MTV VMA nominees. This is amazing news!! I happily remember that Brit Brit cleaned up at last year’s VMAs (her best ever) and I have no doubt she’ll do very well this year again :) MTV asked me to be on the nominee voting panel for VMA nominees this year and you can bet your sweet patoot that I cast my vote for all of my fave Video Music artists ;) I should also mention that Eminem and Kanye West have been nominated in the same 4 categories this year (Video of the Year, Best Male Video, Best Hip Hop Video and Best Special Effects) so they’ll be going head-to-head all night long. I am very excited for this year’s VMAs … it wouldn’t surprise me at all if Brit Brit were to triumphantly take the stage at this year’s award show to remind the world that she is back on top! Again, the 2009 MTV VMAs take place in NYC on September 13 … I’m already trying to figure out my plans to attend (after all, it was at last year’s MTV VMAs where I got to meet Robert Pattinson before all the crazy hype got started when Twilight was released in November). Should Britney be back on stage, I want to be there in person to root her on!

[Source]

The 2008 MTV Video Music Awards

It's Trent, Bitch! — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 16:38:09 +0000

Okay, even tho I already devoted an entire post to Britney Spears’s triumphant night at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards, any mention of the show by ALL of the press (including THIS report from Time magazine) seems to devote a good portion of their reporting to Miss Britney Spears. But, there were other people and other things going on at the VMAs yesterday … here are a few pics of some of the folks who walked the red carpet yesterday (it should be noted that Britney did not walk the red carpet, choosing instead to keep her revelation of the night strictly for the show itself):

For the most part, I found the red carpet pretty tame … I mean, there really weren’t that many “hot messes” to speak of. Of course you had your usual poor fashion choices (that red and black dress did not really work on P!nk for me, nor did I like Rihanna’s outfit choice … Xtina looked hawt!) but that’s to be expected. Personally, I had a hard time focusing while on the red carpet … we were lined up in the blazing SoCal sun hours before the first celeb walked the carpet … it wasn’t that pleasant. I did get to snap some fun pics and meet a few very COOL folks … but I’ll post those pics a bit later on.

As for the show itself, I have not yet been able to watch it in its entirety, properly but I did manage to catch most of it on the huge screens that were plastered all over the VIP green room last night. After the jump, check out some pics from the show itself and take one more look at Xtina Aguilera’s amazing performance …

No Madonna kiss. No Michael Jackson cameo. No flying Howard Stern. Not even a Kanye tantrum. MTV has set a high standard for the unexpected at its Video Music Awards, but on the show’s 25th anniversary, the network instead settled for throwing its full support behind Britney Spears’ comeback. Spears won a leading three awards, including video of the year for Piece of Me. Any spontaneity was left to host Russell Brand, the British comic whose rock star style and outlandish candor gave the Los Angeles show a pulse. But at the end of the night Sunday, even the manic and mangy Brand — a confessed former sex addict — could only summon a comic semi-feud with the young Jonas Brothers over their premarital celibacy. But while Brand was unpredictable, witty and offensive, Spears was resolutely careful, determined to set right her pop star image. She was, after all, returning to the scene of the crime, so to speak. At last year’s VMAs — Britney Comeback 1.0 — her unpolished performance was roundly disparaged. In each acceptance speech Sunday, Spears spoke briefly, thanked God and dedicated the awards to her fans. Even while opening the show, she was all business, zipping through her few lines of introduction. “Thank you so much,” she said flatly as the crowd greeted her with a standing ovation. “Thank you for all the love.” MTV has a habit of reengineering the VMAs every year, and, true to form, took this year’s show to the Paramount Studios lot in Los Angeles. After last year’s awards, splashed throughout a Las Vegas hotel, MTV re-centered the action to a more traditional main stage. The performances, though, often traveled back into the reaches of the Paramount lot. The Jonas Brothers played their song Lovebug on a fake building’s stoop, before the set fell away and throngs of screaming fans ran down fictional city streets to surround them. Unwittingly, the Jonas Brothers — one of the hottest young acts to the MTV audience — became the night’s biggest talking point. Brand repeatedly joked about their purity rings, which each wears as a symbol of their vow not to have premarital sex. At one point, Brand brandished one as if he had won it from a Jonas brother. American Idol champ — and fellow promise ring wearer — Jordin Sparks defended the brothers while presenting an award: “I just wanna say, it’s not bad to wear a promise ring because not every guy and a girl wants to be a slut, OK?” Brand was happy to apologize for any hurt feelings, but only to such a degree. After the show, he told The Associated Press, “I feel a bit bad that I kept talking about their vows to chastity and I’d like to take this opportunity to say no one ever have sex again. It’s a mad idea. What a way to spend an evening.” A celebrity in England but relatively unknown in the States, Brand proved an interesting mix with the VMA crowd, who seemed unsure of how to react to his lack of political correctness. In his opening monologue, he joked about Madonna, virgins and President Bush, whom he called “that retarded cowboy fellow.” He pleaded, “Please, America, elect Barack Obama. On behalf of the world.” Some in the star-studded crowd cheered, while others — like Spears — sat quietly. The rest of the evening was mostly given to performances, many of which paired performers in unusual combinations. The prim and proper Leona Lewis joined Lil’ Wayne, who later joined Kid Rock. Lil’ Wayne took home the best hip hop video for Lollipop … Closing the night was Kanye West who, like Spears, was hoping for a second chance after a disappointing VMA experience last year. In Las Vegas, he had a Kanye-sized hissy fit backstage and vowed never to appear at the VMAs again after he didn’t get a Moonman trophy despite several nominations. West again went home without an award this year; there were only eight awards in total. Videos from Chris Brown (With You), Linkin Park (”Shadow of the Day) and the Pussycat Dolls (When I Grow Up) took home awards for best male video, best rock video and best dancing in a video, respectively. Best new artist went to Tokio Hotel, while Spears’ Piece of Me won for best female video, best pop video and video of the year.

Much congrats to all the winners, especially Tokio Hotel who managed to pull off the biggest surprise win (Best New Artist) of the night, I thought. A few folks have mentioned that they didn’t believe that Britney Spears’s Piece of Me was deserving of Video of the Year but I contend that Britney has been owed Video Music Awards for years and it was time to pay up. I find it absolutely apropos that she won big last night. Regarding Russell Brand’s opening political remarks well … they didn’t sit too well with some folks. Not 10 mintues after he cracked his jokes, I received an email from an angry reader in Dallas, TX who found Brand’s remarks “biased” and “insulting” and was especially angry at MTV for allowing “a foreigner to insult the United States President and be cheered on by all the role models of Americas”. This reader went on to say that “MTV should be burned for treason”, which I feel is taking things a bit far but this was their opinion. Personally, I expected Brand to do or say something outrageous because that is what he is known for in the UK. I mean, jokes are jokes … Brand did what he could to make himself stand out and I think he accomplished his mission. But, again, for me that wasn’t the focus of the night. All in all, from what I saw, MTV did a great job staging the VMAs all over the Paramount lot … I thought it was inventive to use the backlot areas for live performances. Kanye West’s closing performance was really hot. Outside, with all those lights and possibly a few drummers from the 2008 Olympic Opening Ceremonies in Beijing, China … he really turned it out. BUT, I do contend that Xtina gave the hottest performance of the night. In case you missed it, check it out again:

On fire! Despite the lip syncing (which many people have a problem with — for live performances like this, I have no problem at all), I found Xtina’s performance electrifying. When she came out with that mask on, I thought YES! FINALLY she gets it! And there was no red lipstick, WIN! WIN! WIN!

And so, another MTV Video Music Awards (the 25th) is in the can … what did y’all think of the show overall?

[Photo credit: Wireimage; Source]