Jun 23, 2008 10:44 am US/Central
MTV Moves Video Music Awards To Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES (AP) ―
The MTV Video Music Awards are going Hollywood.
After broadcasting from Las Vegas last year, the awards will air
live from Paramount Pictures Studios in Los Angeles on Sept. 7, MTV
announced Monday.
MTV said it plans for the first time to enlist its Web-savvy, youthful audience to help decide the nominees.
The network intends to take over the movie studio's lot and present
the awards show from sound stages, rooftops and city streets. MTV and
Paramount are corporate cousins within Viacom Inc.
"With Paramount Pictures as the ideal setting, the glamour and
musical heritage of L.A. are sure to be catalysts for creating
explosive pop culture moments that the VMAs are known for," Van
Toffler, president of MTV Networks Music Group, said in a statement.
September's VMAs — which will mark the show's 25th year — has a
tough act to follow after last year's drama-filled extravaganza at the
Palms Casino Resort.
The Vegas edition delivered one of the most-talked about
performances in recent history: Britney Spears' reviled comeback
performance in which the pop star appeared nervous, out-of-shape and
just plain out-of-it on stage.
There was also an off-camera fight between Pamela Anderson exes Kid
Rock and Tommy Lee, and more divalike behavior from Kanye West, who
threw a tantrum in front of media and crew backstage because he lost
all five categories for which he was nominated. (Can anyone say "omg"?)
It's been a decade since MTV last televised the VMAs in Los Angeles.
In recent years, the show has been presented from Miami and MTV's home
base of New York.
This year's host, nominees and slate of performers will be announced at a later date.
(© 2008 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
