MTV has tabbed Russell Brand to host the Video Music Awards for the second straight year in an attempt to replicate last year’s controversial controversy and generate online buzz about whichever intentionally over-the-line-but-not-really joke / scripted bit MTV greenlights then pretends to be shocked by…
“This year will be a controversy-free festival of love and discrete orgasms,” said the “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” star, who stirred plenty of controversy as host last year when he joked about the Jonas Brothers’ purity rings.
Personally, I’m for the move, and I’d much rather have Russell Brand screwing around generating ‘controversy’ than, say, Michael Phelps stiffly reading one-liners off a prompter.
NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg is excited too, adding this not-square-at-all quote:
“New York City’s music scene is second to none. Every night of the week, our clubs, cabarets and concert halls are overflowing with the latest and greatest sounds. The Video Music Awards showcase the best in music, production and art. The VMAs will bring even more excitement to the city that never sleeps, and they’ll give us a chance to introduce thousands of visitors to great music and arts attractions across all five boroughs.”
Bloomberg added, “Our city is like a Big Apple, and we are excited for the rock and roll stylings of Kanye West and the Green Day on music television awards show.”
Guesses about what joke/bit will go “over the line” and have everyone buzzing about it the next day in the exact manner MTV anticipated? I’m guessing something MJ-related…
