I’m over the Video Music Awards. It’s official.
It’s not that I’m too old and sit around all day complaining about what it was like in my day. The problem is the show doesn’t deliver like it used to. Instead of looking forward to it and being riveted, I more looked forward to the Phils-Mets game and Mad Men.
And you know what? I’m better off for it. I’ve buried the VMAs before, but this is it, they’re done for now, for one main reason:
Russell Brand is a douche. There’s just no two ways about it. He’s a certifiable twit. I tried to give him the benefit of the doubt, but every time I turned it on and heard him doing his Jesse-Jackson-crossed-with-Eddie-Izzard schtick, I wanted to stick my head in an oven. All the cool up and coming comedians in America, and MTV had to go across the pond to find one to stink up the joint. Hey Bollywood, you’re next!
He took it to another level when he had the cast of High School Musical 3 on there, lurking in the background getting in weirdo comments at every opportunity. He’s just icky.
From what I saw, I liked Pink’s performance but still find her entirely too man-ish to be considered even remotely attractive, Christina Aquilera still has some more baby weight to lose before she does another performance in spandex and Rihanna looked like a skunk. That’s pretty much it.
Oh, except for the dumbest non-Brand move of the night, putting McLovin in Slipknot, which was more awkward than funny. Where was that last year when McLovin was the driving force behind the hottest movie in Hollywood that had been out for three weeks before the VMAs? Congrats, MTV. You’re a year too late (again). Stay tuned next year when the robot from Wall-E presents the Moon Man for breakthrough video.
I can’t even talk about this anymore. So here are some quick thoughts on the TV season so far:
Mad Men has cemented its status as the best show on TV — and it’s not even close. The show has been on an absolute tear the last four weeks, starting with the car crash episode and continuing last night with the surprisingly observant Jimmy Barrett not only deducing his wife is nailing Don Draper, but to call Don out in the most painful possible way to him. “You’re trash. And you know it.” It’s everything Don never wants to admit to himself, but knows it’s 110 percent true. The cut to black with Betsy randomly puking was genuis. GRADE: A+
Prison Break is officially a joke. I find it much more enjoyable watching the first two episodes of the fourth season and cracking jokes at the ridiculousness of the stories. Dr. Sarah coming back is bad enough, but the tattoo removal scene was preposterous. That would have taken about two days. But here’s a legitimate concern — why does every old white guy in the show look like every other old white guy in the show for? How can we tell them apart? It’s impossible. The show is confusing enough — now you’re going to throw that into the mix? The second everything else comes back and I start losing precious time, I’m probably out. But I think I’ve said that about this show 1,000 times and I keep coming back. That’s gotta account for something. GRADE: C-
I’m on on Sons of Anarchy. I think there are too many characters bogging down the story, but once they stick with the Jacks/Katey Segal/Ron Perlman angle, they’re OK. We’ve seen just about every kind of mod show possible — except for a biker gang. As long as there’s enough material to sustain this, it could be a good show. GRADE: B
I should probably spend a whole blog entry on 90210, but let’s just leave it at this — I’m in. There is some good stuff here, and both Rob Estes and Lori Laughlin are worth watching in just about anything (except Full House). I’m not totally sold on the kids yet. The girl who plays Annie is just hideous, and her brother Dixon isn’t much better. But AnnaLynne McCord has this whole beeyatch thing down. There are enough old 90210 references to keep me around long enough to grow into the characters, but it wouldn’t surprise me if I bail on this bad boy if it gets outrageous. GRADE B-
