MTV Video Music Awards 2008 Discussion Thread

[2099net]

Well I didn't see any of the MTV awards, but really, is this what MTV has come down to? People upset at Russell Brand? The station's founders must be ashamed at the general lack of "rock n roll" the station has become. Is this the station that gave us Beavis and Butthead? Celebrity Deathmatch? Jackass?

While I can agree that Russell's hosting probably didn't make it a "family" show, was it ever? I seem to remember previous MTV award shows featuring Britney cavorting with a snake and of course the Britney/Madonna kiss, not to mention many of the videos and performances over the years being highly sexualised. The first VMA programme was started by Madonna singing "Live a Virgin"!

I mean come on people, Russell Brand is like a child. It's part of his charm (if you find him charismatic – I know that's debateable) that he constantly projects this persona full of wonder and naivety. I'm sure there's worse things to get worked up about. Go watch the news tonight, and there will be at least 10 things more important and more justified in rising your anger.

And to say Politics or Religion should be "off the agenda" for any comic is frankly totally ridiculous. Politics and Religion (along with, incidentally, Sex) are the main three absolutes of human existence. How can a comedian comment on anything of any deeper importance if those two (or three) subjects are "off base"?

My take on the promise ring situation is that, yes, I do believe that by choosing to wear one, you're open to a little ribbing from others. I've not seen the show so I don't know if Russell went to far – but he probably did, but through repetition rather than through the actual content.

Anyone can choose to remain a virgin until marriage. That's fine. But people who wear promise rings haven't just chosen this. They have chosen to tell the world about their choice and as such by wearing the symbol, and have made it "public domain".

Personally, the only motivation I can see for them wanting to promote this fact is that they, consider themselves "better" than others who haven't made this lifestyle choice, and again that leaves them open to a little ribbing in my book, because they're not better than the vast majority of people who are neither virgins or (as Sparks seems to think) sluts, because they have sensible, loving relationships without marriage. Once again, it's not a black and white situation. You're not automatically a virgin or a slut.

[Disney's Divinity]

I think the only reason Jordin mentioned sluts is because everyone was typecasting the Jonas Bros. as naive virgins, so you might as well go to the other extreme if you're going to criticize the opposite.

And I don't think it makes the Jonas Bros. that much different from anyone else even if their intention was to "make themselves look better" (which I don't think it was, personally, though I think the rings are a bit stupid myself), as many people who have had sex promote the fact as if they're better than virgins. So why is it such a crime when the same thing is done the other way around?

The purity rings, imo, seem to mean that they're waiting for a relationship and not simply giving themselves away to become an ex-virgin (which many people do). Regardless of whether marriage is part of the requirement, I certainly think it does make them "better" than people who give it away without having any meaning in it. It's degrading not only to themselves, but to humanity in general.

But I agree that the comic shouldn't be resented for joking about the Jonas Bros. There will always be branches of comedy that you won't find funny, but that doesn't mean you should deny others the right to express their opinion (no matter how much you detest it).

[blackcauldron85]

I know that this is getting off-topic, but I don't think that the people wearing purity rings think that they're better than others...as far as celebrities being vocal about their viriginity, I think that it shows people that it's okay. It's a little different for guys expressing their dedication to wait until marraige than girls- growing up, Jessica Simpson was the only vocal "virgin" (Britney doesn't count, lol)...if Jonas Brothers were around when I was in high school, or if another guy band I liked was vocal, I know that that would make me think about the topic, to know that it's okay to wait...some girls might think, "Wow, these are guys that I look up to who say that it's okay to wait...not all guys are out just for that", and it can be a positive message.

I think that part of my feelings towards Russell Brand saying what he said is the fact that Nick Jonas is only 15 (almost 16)...he's still a kid, and, yes, he is vocal about the topic, but he's still a kid. I was watching E! News yesterday, and there was a short interview with Daniel Radcliffe (the guy who plays Harry Potter), and he said that in England, child and teen actors are treated first as a child or teen, and second as an actor, while in the U.S., they are treated first and foremost as actors, and then as a child or a teen...

I wrote this and then went away from the computer without sending it, so I don't know what else I was going to write...

[2099net]

The purity rings, imo, seem to mean that they're waiting for a relationship and not simply giving themselves away to become an ex-virgin (which many people do). Regardless of whether marriage is part of the requirement, I certainly think it does make them "better" than people who give it away without having any meaning in it. It's degrading not only to themselves, but to humanity in general.

OK, maybe I was wrong to say "better", but I still question exactly why they would want to share their sexual choices with the world unless they were adamant that they were "right" and others were wrong. But they still have chosen to make that information about their lives public domain and wear a symbol drawing attention to it. Plenty of celebrities get joked about for having many sexual relationships, or having "sex tapes" leaked, and really it's not different.

I mentioned Celebrity Deathmatch before, being as it was an MTV originated show. Didn't that make loads of jokes, flattering and unflattering about lots of celebrities? Why should the VMAs be any different?

Finally, I don't know what time it started, but I don't consider any VMA suitable for "family viewing" given the personalities that will be there. Just because the Jonas Bros were on, doesn't mean it should automatically have become some huge "family friendly" love-fest.

[blackcauldron85]

http://community.livejournal.com/ohnoth ... 64516.html

Jonas Brothers Respond to Criticism

After 2008 MTV VMAs host Russell Brand took a shot at the Jonas Brothers for their purity rings, the teen sensation spoke to the BBC.

Nick Jonas said, “For us it’s cool to see that he recognizes we are gentleman.” Brand also apologized to the trio after the remarks after the event.

Kevin also added, “We had a lot of friends there and everybody’s so nice. We had a good time!”

Despite the verbal jabs, Nick showed class and complimented Brand on his hosting job saying, “I think he did a good job. We saw him on Conan O’Brien and thought he was hilarious.”

[JiminyCrick91]

Hooray! I knew they could take a joke, I'm glad they find him funny and had a good time. Let the Brand-Jonas fan fight end!

-Sky

[GoofyGoofyGoofy]

I saw a bit of the VMAs. Rihanna was great (and I've had "Disturbia" stuck in my head for a few weeks now) and so were the Jonas Brothers (it's really the first time I've heard "Lovebug"). Lil' Wayne sucked so I muted the TV, went on YouTube and listened to "Lovebug" again! Pink was great too!

*goes to watch her performance again at MTV.com*

[slave2moonlight]

OK, maybe I was wrong to say "better", but I still question exactly why they would want to share their sexual choices with the world unless they were adamant that they were "right" and others were wrong. But they still have chosen to make that information about their lives public domain and wear a symbol drawing attention to it. Plenty of celebrities get joked about for having many sexual relationships, or having "sex tapes" leaked, and really it's not different.

I hope blackcauldron85 made this clearer for you. I couldn't have put it better than her myself. We live in a time when saving your virginity has become the thing that is mocked and looked down upon, and being willing to show that you are publically not ashamed of making such a choice, especially when you're in an undeniably "role model" type position like the Jonases, not to mention male, is a great help for kids who may want to wait but feel pressure not to. Among other things, it's a show of support for those who want to make that decision. I'm not a fan or anything, but I do have to commend the Jonas Brothers for making such a "statement". And as for this Brand guy, all I could think of when reading about this was, "Who the heck is he?" Never heard of him. Clearly though, the Jonas's do have a sense of humor about it, but it IS sad that someone would choose to mock something like that or see it as a negative/personally offensive thing. It's amazing really, but this sort of thing is all over the place now. While I've become more "liberal minded" in recent years than I ever thought I would, I'm disgusted with how the very liberal-minded media and increasingly liberal-minded public so hypocritically wags their finger at any conservative-related idea/practice as being a judgemental, ignorant, or holier-than-thou sort of act. Very judgemental and holier than thou act in itself, if you ask me.

[blackcauldron85]

MTVNews.com has a story about this whole issue. It's pretty much an expanded version of what I already posted:

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/159443 ... hers.jhtml

Jonas Brothers Respond To Russell Brand's VMA Comments

British comic had lambasted young group over purity rings during VMAs.
By Jocelyn Vena

Now in the U.K. promoting the "Camp Rock" film after their appearance at the Video Music Awards last weekend, the Jonas Brothers spoke with the BBC about Russell Brand's controversial verbal jabs at them during the show. Brand poked fun at the boys for their purity rings and abstinence pledges.

"For us, it's cool to see that he recognizes we are gentlemen," Nick, 15, said.

His older brother, Kevin, 20, speculated that Brand miscalculated the audience. "I think he focused on certain things and didn't move off of them," he said. "People's attention spans in America need more than that."

They also seem to be fans of the comic. "I think he did a good job [at the show]," Nick said. "We saw him on Conan O'Brien and thought he was hilarious."

And the boys didn't let Brand's comments spoil their night. The trio, who performed their single "Lovebug" during the show, just let it slide off their backs. "We had a lot of friends there and everybody's so nice. We had a good time," Kevin added.

Other celebrities already reacted negatively to Brand's comments about the Jonas Brothers. During the show, "American Idol" winner Jordin Sparks rushed to the band's defense, saying "I just have one thing to say about promise rings. It's not bad to wear a promise ring, because not everybody — guy or girl — wants to be a slut."

And Paris Hilton also defended the group after the show. She said, "I don't pick on them. That's something cool for a kid to keep, so don't pick on them for that."

And Paris' (sort of) namesake, celebrity blogger Perez Hilton came to their defense as well, telling MTV News after the show, "I think those Jonas Brothers are good kids, and we shouldn't be making fun of them for promoting good values."

[blackcauldron85]

http://www.people.com/people/article/0, ... 50,00.html

I don't feel like copying/pasting, but Jordin clarifies what she meant at the VMAs...

[katemonster]

I was glad Britney won too, I thought she looked really good. Very put together!