I am old, but MTV is getting old right along with me. Their award shows used to be an event, but now, it seems to be a bit disappointing. So this year, to spice things up, they moved the show to Vegas Baby Vegas. In another move that other award shows have tried before, they shortened it from three hours to two hours. They also decided to not have a host this year, focusing more on the performances.
Unfortunately, for MTV, their opening performance got a LOT of attention. Britney Spears opened the show, as a part of her big comeback. Well, maybe not. Her performance was almost painful to watch. I am a 44 year old with two left feet and I believe I could have moved better than Britney did last night. She looked very sluggish, as if she had just left the nursing home. She was obviously lip-synching, but not very well. In fact, it looked like she just stopped singing a few times. I noticed the dancers often had to help her up and down the stairs by holding her hand. To make things worse, every so often the cameraman would cut to people in the audience (yes, I am sure it was someone famous, but I am not up on who everyone is). The look on each person’s face can only be described as bewilderment.
Britney hasn’t released an album in four years and this performance last night will not help her if and when she does decide to release a new one. You can see the train wreck on YouTube if you missed it.
As if to give Britney a bit of a break, Tommy Lee and Kid Rock, both exes of Pamela Anderson, decided to start a fight. At least the fight wasn’t on stage (it was in the audience), but did cause Jamie Foxx to joke, “Stop all this white-on-white violence.” Reports are that Tommy Lee started it, antagonizing Kid Rock. When the smoke had cleared, Kid was allowed to stay while Tommy Lee was removed.
Justin Timberlake was the big winner of the night, taking home four VMAs. Rihanna won Video of the Year, Gym Class Heroes won Best New Artist (typically the kiss of death for any artist or band), and Fallout Boy won Best Group.