HOLLYWOOD, CA. (Top40 Charts/ MTV) -
Britney Spears opened the show to a standing ovation as her moonman losing streak finally came to an end at the 2008 MTV Video
Music Awards. The pop princess led the way with three moonmen for "Video of the Year," "Best Female" and "Best Pop Video" for "Piece of Me." Host Russell
Brand kept viewers and sensors on their toes as he brought plenty of unexpected and memorable moments taking aim at the Jonas Brothers' virginity as well as charming the ladies. Throughout the night, in a nod to the 25th annual VMAs, new and familiar faces took the stage to celebrate the music that has consistently made the VMAs one of the most memorable nights in entertainment.
This year, for the time, the fans helped to determine the nominees and winners for this year's show. Adding a touch of Hollywood, Demi Moore presented Chris Brown with "Best Male" for "With You." Linkin Park won "Best Rock Video" for "Shadow of the Day." The Pussycat Dolls grabbed their first VMA win for "Best Dancing in a Video" with "When I Grow Up." Lil Wayne continued his unstoppable year, winning the "Best Hip Hop Video" award for "Lollipop."
Pete Wentz presented "Best New Artist" nominees throughout the show with special guests Danity Kane, Ashlee Simpson, Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt. Teen worlds collided as The Hills' Lauren Conrad and Gossip Girl's Chace Crawford presented the "Best New Artist" award to Tokio Hotel for "Ready, Set, Go!"
MTV took over the historic back lot at the legendary Paramount Pictures Studios for live music video performances. Taylor Swift had the honor of announcing her good friends, the Jonas Brothers, as they performed their new single "Lovebug" live for the first time. Their performance revealed the magic behind movie and music video making, with the trio transitioning from a brownstone stoop in NYC to a stage ambushed by fans. Giving a fiery musical showcase of her new single "So What," Pink incited a rally for female empowerment after descending 15 feet down a fire escape and demonstrating her explosive persona. T.I. utilized every set, facade and movie prop on the lot during his performance of the current No 1 song, "Whatever You Like," as he strolled down the streets of Chicago and into a Rolls Royce Phantom. Continuing his performance onto the main stage, he was joined by Rihanna for the first ever televised debut of their duet "Live Your Life."
The nominees were reflective of the past year, but the performances were all about today as some of the artists debuted their latest songs for the first time EVER. Rihanna made a grand entrance by gliding onto the main stage and transforming Paramount into a dark and mysterious world while performing her No 1 hit "Disturbia." She also honored VMA history with a musical tribute to the Eurythmics' "Sweet Dreams" and The White Stripes' "Seven Nation Army."
Fresh off his record-breaking performance at the Beijing Olympics, Michael Phelps made his VMA debut in a nod to his pre-race ritual and favorite rapper, Lil Wayne. Leona Lewis started things off by singing Nina Simone's mesmerizing vocals of "Don't Get It," which led into a medley of his hits "A Milli" and "Got Money." After arriving to the red carpet on an elephant, T-Pain joined Lil Wayne center stage as they worked the entire room and had everyone out of their seats.
Just when fans thought they knew what would come next, Paramore took to the stage to perform "Misery Business," in a scene reminiscent of LA's legendary club Whisky A Go Go. To further prove nothing is what it seems, they broke down the walls to reveal screaming fans surrounding the main stage on the Paramount Lot.
Starting with a video montage of her memorable musical moments, Christina Aguilera made a bold return to the VMAs with a reinterpretation of her classic hit "Genie In A Bottle." Set in a futuristic city, Christina also belted out an energetic performance of her new song "Keeps Getting Better."
Kid Rock gave a kick-ass performance of his hit single "All Summer Long" for a good ole' rock n' roll vibe, with Lil Wayne accompanying him on stage with a little help from a Run-DMC beat.
In an unexpected return to the VMAs, Kanye West closed the show with a never before released song "Love Lockdown." A sea of 1,400 fans and 20 taiko drummers set the tone from the enormous water tank on Paramount's back lot.
DJ AM and Travis Barker kept the party grooving all night as they celebrated 25 years of music with new and classic hits. They collaborated with a number of special guests, including Katy Perry singing Madonna's "Like a Virgin" and her current hit "I Kissed a Girl," LL Cool J with "Going Back to Cali," Lupe Fiasco with "Superstar" and The Ting Tings with "Shut Up and Let Me Go."
The star studded show also included appearances by Michael Phelps, Demi Moore, Jamie Foxx, Kobe Bryant, Shia LaBeouf, Miley Cyrus, Lindsay Lohan, Taylor Swift, John Legend, Paris Hilton, Pete Wentz, Ashlee Simpson, Lauren Conrad, Chace Crawford, Leona Lewis, Ciara, Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Corbin Bleu, Tokio Hotel, Slipknot, Slash, Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Cam Gigandet, Heidi Montag, Spencer Pratt, Danity Kane, Drake Bell and Josh Peck and Christopher Mintz-Plasse.
2008 MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS WINNERS:
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Britney Spears - "Piece of Me"
Britney Spears
"Piece of Me"
Blackout
Jive/Zomba Label Group
Director: Wayne Isham
BEST MALE VIDEO
Chris Brown - "With You"
Chris Brown
"With You"
Exclusive
Jive Records/Zomba
Director: Erik White/Chris Brown
BEST FEMALE VIDEO
Britney Spears - "Piece of Me"
Britney Spears
"Piece of Me"
Blackout
Jive/Zomba Label Group
Director: Wayne Isham
BEST HIP HOP VIDEO
Lil Wayne - "Lollipop"
Lil Wayne featuring Static
"Lollipop"
Tha Carter III
Cash Money Records/Universal Motown
Director: Gil Green/D. Carter
BEST DANCING IN A VIDEO
Pussycat Dolls "When I Grow Up" Doll Domination Interscope Records Director: Joseph Kahn
BEST ROCK VIDEO
Linkin Park "Shadow of the Day" Minutes to Midnight Warner Bros. Records Director: Joe Hahn
BEST POP VIDEO
Britney Spears - "Piece of Me"
Britney Spears
"Piece of Me"
Blackout
Jive/Zomba Label Group
Director: Wayne Isham
BEST NEW ARTIST
Tokio Hotel "Ready, Set, Go!" Scream Cherrytree/Interscope Records Director: Warwick/Haering
Official sponsors of "2008 VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS" are GM, Pepsi, TAG Body Spray, Taco Bell, Rhapsody, Verizon Wireless and Nikon.
Jesse Ignjatovic/Den of Thieves is the Executive Producer, for the "2008 MTV Video Music Awards." Dave Sirulnick is Executive Producer for MTV. Chris Choun/Ish Entertainment is Co-Executive Producer. Jane Mun is Producer. Amy Doyle, Joanna Bomberg and Robin Katz are Music Talent Executives. Robin Reinhardt-Locke is Celebrity Talent Executive. Garrett English is Executive in Charge of Production.
Telescope is the Official Business Advisor of the "2008 MTV Video Music Awards" Nominee Voting period.
