When Did the MTV VMAs Become Irrelevant

[TMC]

The Video Music Awards used to be a really big deal for me when I was in middle and high school. They were basically, a less stuffy and more irreverent version of more established/mainstream shows like the Grammys or American Music Awards. For some reason, I just don't have a lot of the enthusiasm to want to prepare to watch them in recent years. Maybe part of the problem is that I'm getting older and have other affairs to attend to.

First and foremost, what's killing the buzz for the VMAs if you ask me, is MTV's deemphasis on music videos. It's simple logic that it's a bit hard to want to follow the nominees if MTV is spending most of their energy on a yearly basis airing vapid reality shows like "The Hills". And no, the clip show that is "TRL" or airing the videos in late night/early morning time slots (I don't know if they still do that today, since I haven't really paid close attention to MTV recently) doesn't really count.

Another thing that has been affecting the VMAs has been them tinkering with the format. The VMAs used to be held on the first Thursday in September. It was a three hour (minimum) show held at either the Gibson Amphitheater in Los Angeles or Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Why for the past two years or so, has the buildings that held the VMAs been so small?

MTV would get a popular and entertaining comedian to host (e.g. Dan Aykroyd, Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, Dana Carvey, Roseanne Barr, Dennis Miller, Chris Rock, Ben Stiller, Jack Black, etc.). When I heard that Russell Brand was going to host, the first thing that went in my mind was "Who the hell is Russell Brand!?" I haven't seen "Forgetting Sarah Marshall", and not being from the UK, I obviously wasn't familiar to his brand of humor. MTV would also routinely pair up seemingly mismatched people to present like RuPaul and Milton Berle, Tony Bennett and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Martha Stewart and Busta Rhymes, etc.

Now, everything is so slickly produced to the point in which that feeling of live, spontaneous energy seems to be severely lacking. The worst period of this was them airing the VMAs at a slower frame rate (circa 2002-2003) to give a more "cinematic" presentation.

I also find it kind of hypocritical of MTV to still want to give us the impression that they're edgy with the VMAs all the while, having teenybopper acts like the Jonas Brothers, Miley Cyrus, Taylor Swift, the cast of "High School Musical", just to name a few in the building. You know you're in deep trouble when Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera are seemingly at this point, the "elder states people" for MTV.

The awards themselves don't have much credibility anymore. I seems like it's becoming of an obvious popularity contest (how else can you explain the Pussycat Dolls winning). Is there anything more contrived than having Britney Spears win three awards (when prior to all of this, she never won a Video Music Awards), including "Video of the Year"? And of course, this conveniently happens one year after her infamous performance at the VMAs.

23 Hours of Non Music Television

[Janice Johnson]

I cringed at Christina Aguilera's performance in a sexy cat woman stripper black outfit.... She seriously looked like Britney Spears(circa 2001)...... She performed "Genie In A Bottle," in a sultry(or should I say slutty), voice, making her originally inocent song sound like a sex song!!!!!!!!!!. I thought she had grown up and matured judging from her Back To Basics album and BTB video, such as "Hurt" and "Ain't No Other Man..."(and having a baby and being married) I guess for at least this night, she went back into her "immature" "Dirrty" days......(except for the "Beautiful" and "Fighter song/video of "Stripped") I hope this was just a once in a LONG while thing, and she will get back to the mature woman I saw on BTB and the two videos/songs from Stripped)........

[phoebe7165]

Originally Posted by Janice Johnson

I cringed at Christina Aguilera's performance in a sexy cat woman stripper black outfit.... She seriously looked like Britney Spears(circa 2001)...... She performed "Genie In A Bottle," in a sultry(or should I say slutty), voice, making her originally inocent song sound like a sex song!!!!!!!!!!. I thought she had grown up and matured judging from her Back To Basics album and BTB video, such as "Hurt" and "Ain't No Other Man..."(and having a baby and being married) I guess for at least this night, she went back into her "immature" "Dirrty" days......(except for the "Beautiful" and "Fighter song/video of "Stripped") I hope this was just a once in a LONG while thing, and she will get back to the mature woman I saw on BTB and the two videos/songs from Stripped)........

I saw Christina's performance. If they didn't say who it was and if I didn't recognize her by her voice, I would have no idea it was her!!

I only first heard of Russell Brand just the other day when he was on Jay Leno. From being on the Tonight Show to the VMA's, it's like he never changed his outfit or his hair style!! I guess that's his image. And I sorry, but put a brush to that hair!! It is not attractive!!! You are not hot. At least I think you're not. But that's just me.

And like TMC said, I don't even know how they can still have the Video Music Awards when they hardly play any VIDEOS anymore!!

[EmoJoe]

the VMAs were a complete mess, as usual. and WTF was up with that host? who is he anyway? he was a jerk. i loved when Jordin put him in his place though with the purity rings comment that was great. makes me love her even more

[waichingliu81]

for me the VMAs become irrelevant by the time music went downhill in the late 90s onwards. i don't listen to todays music anymore

[Superstar]

I watched on and off last night, but it wasn't awful... I hated pretty much all of the performances I saw though, i don't like most of the music out right now. But Russell Brand did a really good job imo.

[MonarC]

MTV is a joke!

[SBTB Geek]

First of all... the show is meant to appeal to the average American teenager. NOT... the older crowd who's harping on yesteryear, the weird antisocial kids, nor the conservative folk--basically middle America in general.

Plus, how is the show not relevant when it basically had all the huge stars in music? Jonas Bros., T.I., Lil Wayne, Britney, Kanye West, Pink, etc. Those people are quite *relevant* actually.

In Britney's defense... the Best Female and Pop video awards were hugely deserved. Have you guys seen the other nominees? Heck, even the Video of the Year might be justified. It was the only video from that list which was treated like an event during its release. The damn thing had its own ABC News special dedicated to it.

About Christina... I'm glad she's back to being the hot sex kitten. That wannabe Marilyn Monroe **** got old fast. She spent the majority of her early twenties sounding and looking like a forty-year-old woman. I'm glad to see she's back to normal. And unlike "Ain't No Other Man," and 75% of Back to Basics, her new music sounds *relevant*. She just "Keeps Gettin' Better."

[SBTB Geek]

Originally Posted by MonarC

MTV is a joke!

I bet you didn't think that back in 2005 when Mariah was relevant and performing.

[MonarC]

Actually I haven't liked MTV since the early 90's. Mariah has nothing to do with it.

[TJL]

Didn't watch the awards, but I heard some clips of this Russell Brand guy hosting the show.

He really should have hired some writers.

[catlover79]

When were they ever relevant??

[SBTB Geek]

Originally Posted by catlover79

When were they ever relevant??

I think you win. LOL

[catlover79]

Originally Posted by SBTB Geek

I think you win. LOL

Why, thank you.

[waichingliu81]

Originally Posted by TJL

Didn't watch the awards, but I heard some clips of this Russell Brand guy hosting the show.

He really should have hired some writers.

not to mention a hairstylist and costume designer