Tonight, the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards were live the world over. Comedian Chelsea Handler stated during the beginning of the show to the artists packed in the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, "Don't cheer for Jersey Shore - they're the reason MTV doesn't play your videos anymore."Handler, the first female host of the awards show in 16 years, couldn't be more right. I haven't tuned into MTV or MuchMusic to watch music videos in years and instead tune in to watch them on the Internet. Why did I stop? Because whenever I'd turn on the music stations, there wasn't any darn music being broadcasted.
I was hoping this year's VMA's would be all about the music, and so far, it hasn't been that off. We've seen Eminem open the show with help from Rihanna singing "Love the Way You Lie", home-grown pop sensation Justin Bieber performing on an outdoor stage, newbie but uber-popular Canadian hip-hop artist Drake singing with Mary J. Blige, and my new favourite artist, Florence and the Machine singing "Dog Days are Over".Unfortunately, I can't say that Usher sang two of his most recent hits, because he didn't. The guy showed off his obvious technically-perfect dance moves, but failed to move his lips to the pre-recorded music. He could have at least tried. Oh well, that disappointment wasn't nearly as bad as bearing witness to MTV's obsession with reality television that is simply getting worse and more intolerable.
The one hour VMA's pre-show included an exclusive clip from Jershey Shore - the terrible yet massive hit show from MTV about guidos and tanned girls from New Jersey who love to bitch and start fights - and Jackass 3-D - the mish-mash of daring and completely insane stunts from guys who are clearly on large quantities of drugs. Nonetheless, besides seeing some members of Jersey Shore in a hot tub on the stage, and one of the Jackasses tear off his clothes to show us his tighty-whities and a plastic you-know-what flopping out, the main awards show was mostly entertaining and thankfully, Kanye-free.
Damnit, I spoke too soon - the rumours were true. Kanye had the opportunity to sing in the final spot at the VMA's. Mr. West attempted to make-up for his terribly rude and selfish interruption of Taylor Swift at last year's MTV VMA's by hopping along the stage in a red suit singing, "Let's have a toast for the douchebags . . . scumbags . . . assholes . . . jerkoffs . . . Everyone that I know." And, continuing with, "You've been putting up with my shit for too long." Ummm hmmm, you can say that again - which he did - over and over. It was anti-climactic and lame, but apparently that was the best he could do.
For the full list of winners at this year's MTV VMA's, visit MTV.com.
