Video (Music Awards) Killed the Radio Star

There was a time, not so long ago, where my calendar year began w/ the airing of the MTV Video Music Awards. I could spend hours upon hours the next day discussing the performances, awards and overall cultural relevance of the entire event w/ anybody else tht would listen. It was my Academy, Emmy and Grammy awards all rolled into one and even when I later came in a little outside of the MTV demographic...I still watched, almost as a matter of principle.

Then, last night, the 2007 VMA's aired on MTV and I had absolutely no clue it was even on. I mean, I knew that it was set to happen sometime around now...I just didn't care. Really, even when I realized it I was missing it...I didn't even feel compelled enough to turn the channel button down one click from Vh1's 'Rock of Love'. As the evening wore on, however, a little bit of regret started to sink in...I thought maybe I had missed out something and went to MTV.com to make sure.

After viewing a handful of clips and can summarize the whole televised event w/ this:

Seriously. Outside of a non-televised fight that broke out between Tommy Lee and Kid Rock...the ballyhooed performance by Britney is a pretty accurate summation of what the VMA's have become: plastic, uninspired and lacking in any shred of controversy or surprise whatsoever.

Don't get me wrong, people are talking about it alright...just talking about how bad that performance and everything that followed was. A far cry from frenching Madonna or a python and an overall celebration of the fall from grace of a network that used to tell us all what was culturally relevant.

I guess while all this was going on, there were little satellite festivities in other suites at the Palms Resort & Casino where it was held. Of note was the room being 'curated' by the Foo Fighters where jams w/ Motorohead and Cee-Lo took place and, of course, never aired.

You can see the whole lukewarm enchilada at MTV.COM, including the interesting stuff that didn't make it to air. Personally, I agree w/ Justin Timberlake (WTF?!) who not once, but twice while receiving awards suggested that MTV: 'PLAY MORE VIDEOS!'