Some quick thoughts on last night's VMAs…
- Why did MTV suck up to Britney so much? Careers crest and fall, and Britney's has clearly fallen. It's not like MTV owes her anything… yes, she's given them plenty of memorable moments over the years, but would she have even had a career without MTV? She certainly got more from MTV than MTV got from her. It's disappointing, because awarding her those Moonmen reiterates people's complaints that MTV really doesn't care as much about music as they do about moments.
- Russell Brand had some decent jokes in his opening monologue, but the focus on politics seemed very out of place. MTV still caters mostly to teenage girls, who certainly didn't tune in to hear about the election or Levi Johnston. Right material, wrong audience.
- The backlot setting was hit or miss. Liked it for Pink, not for Jonas Brothers (most people say it looked like Sesame Street, I say it looked like a cross between 227 and the Stones' "Waiting on a Friend" video).
- The best part of the Jonas performance was the start of the fan stampede. Thousands of girls, and one overly-excited guy (he's wearing a blue shirt and runs right in front of the camera at the 2:09 mark).
- I did enjoy seeing genuine excitement from Tokio Hotel when they won Best New Artist. The other speeches were all identically boring. Thank God, thank fans, thank label, blah blah blah.
- How did the Pussycat Dolls' "When I Grow Up" win an award? It's unquestionably the worst song of 2008… so far, at least. I haven't heard the rest of their upcoming album (nor do I plan to). And I haven't listened to the new NKOTB song "Sexify My Love," which could compete if it's as bad as the title.
- Can't Paris Hilton do anything right? Look at the camera that has the teleprompter with words written on it. Then read those words.
- I would've bet a lot of money that Michael Phelps listened to Guns N Roses, Def Leppard, and Motley Crue before his races instead of Jay-Z, Eminem, and Lil Wayne. And I would've lost.
- Was it just me, or could you not hear Travis drumming all during LL Cool J's performance? LL kept asking for drum fills, and I could see Travis banging away, but couldn't actually hear the fills. How is that possible?
- MTV, everyone knows you make Rock Band 2… you don't need to force in the worst product placement EVER to remind us.
- How do Lil Wayne's low-hanging jeans not fall to his ankles when he runs around? Are they safety-pinned to his unmentionables?
- Hey Kid Rock, it's cool that you don't lip-sync. But don't brag too much... you only managed to score a hit single by mashing up two classic songs. Not much skill to that either... unless you're Girl Talk or the Kleptones.