p.s. saying that, I don’t like the direction muse are going, I found them over the top at best before, but the new album just doesn’t have the quality of pop song/rock blend as an album like absolution did.

Madonna did focus on herself in her speech but the way she related her personal experience of Jackson was clever and moving. And it worked aswell because a huge amount of the grief over Jackson’s death was about how people who didn’t really know him reflecting on the impact he made on them. And that was what Madonna did. And particularly given their similar status in pop music and as figures of MTV/the VMAs it was only right that she deliver a speech of that nature.

I thought Russell did a good job considering the format and the fact that his humour obviously doesn’t sit that well with alot of Americans. Given how much they squeeze into the show (including those numerous ad breaks) he did a good job of maintaining an energy and tone. Compared to the year Dave Chapelle “hosted” and did a total of 2 segments, Russell was everywhere and has a left a tough act for the next host to follow.

I don’t really think much else needs to be said about Kanye and I agree with everything you said.

The idea about how “homogenised” the nominees are is missing the point and could be levelled at any award show given how they insist on placing acts into certain categories. Also the Breakthrough Artist was shown (albeit briefly) during the pre-show along with a handful of other categories. Sure, all the male nominees were commerical hip-hop/R&B but anyone who could say Jay Z’s DOA is the same tune as Eminem’s We Made You is not only not paying attention to pop music but probably doesn’t care for it anyway and is probably not going to enjoy something like the VMAs. Also given that Wale, who is by no means a proven success with a wider audience yet, got a plug every five minutes as “house band” I think the newer acts were getting plenty of attention.

Also I find it hilarious how everyone assumes people only like Lady Gaga because of her “crazy outfits” and that she is always in the papers. The fact that she has written some of the brightest, smartest pop songs in years that millions of people love (and have actually gone out and bought compared to lots of other struggling stars) and has done more press, performances and work promoting her music that any other major label artist in years has nothing to do with it. Gaga was the only artist at the whole show who handed up a performance that was genuinely new, genuinely eye popping and genuinely enjoyable.

Beyonce and Pink were as solid as ever but they were both replaying the performances they are presenting on world tours they took breaks out of to attend the show. Taylor Swift was undeniably cheesy but the whole evening was an exercise in why teen USA have taken her to her hearts and the performance was an excellent reminder of that.

And of course “the real live bands” stole the show. Of course. Green Day had fun and it was nice to see them involve the crowd but I sincerly doubt it wasn’t planned. Muse were undeniably good but theirs was an easy shot, a crowd of devoted fans, in a tiny theater, for their first ever gig, it was only ever going to go in their favour.

Jay Z brought things to a close efficiently and with a great nod to both the city that VMAs belong in and to his own status as a hip hop legend. Plus the staging was beautiful and the hilarious Lil’ Mama stage raid was another eyebrow raising moment.

The other parts might have seemed like filler but it was perfectly judged. MTV plugging their own shows (hello Kristen Cavallari, returning Hills bad girl), “young hollywood” favourites (Hello Chace Crawford and Leighton Meester), gobby emo types beloved of MTV (hello Pete Wentz!) and upcoming kiddie stars (oh dear, hello Miranda Cosgrove and Justin Bieber). They covered everything you’d want from a big budget, tacky awards show on a station obsessed with “lifestyle” programming as much as big popstars.

I can see why you felt the way you did about the show, but maybe if you entered into it with a different eye, i.e. a fan of MTV you might have got more out of it? I hope this response doesn’t seem too catty, I just think that not taking a show like this as big entertainment is not doing it justice.