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The VMAs: Welcome Back

I knew bringing the VMA's back to New York was going to jumpstart what has been, over the past few years, one gigantic disappointment after another.

After all, when was the last time anybody was talking about the VMA's the day after they happened? People talked about Britney trainwrecking and the Jonas Brothers being pissed, but nothing about the show itself.

Why they ever left New York in the first place is beyond me. Occasionally the "If it ain't broke...' motto is actually true.

The first misstep year was when they went all crazy with the way the show looked, the effect being that it looked awful. By awful I mean, not live. The ratings went down, and the producers attributed it to the show being stagnant. Actually, it was change that killed the show. (Video killed the--never mind.)

Then they started jumping all over the country--Vegas, Miami, LA--and each time, the ratings got worse.

Finally they figured out that they needed to bring it back to New York, and oh what a welcome back party it was.

Say what you want, but that was one of the best VMA's since the Met years.

All the performances, good or bad, were distinct. All highly theatrical. Yes I could have done without the lip-synching, but other than that, I was really impressed.

As for the Kanya/Taylor incident, I don't wish that it had happened, but the VMA's arent' the VMA's without a little controversy. And we got a happy ending from the unlikely Beyonce. What could be better than that?

If I could get rid of one thing, it would be the host. He wasn't funny. He wasn't interesting. He was one awkward moment after another. Axe him and axe any other hosts while you're at it. There's never been a good one, and the show doesn't need one.

For me, Lady Gaga stole the show. If I could sum up exactly what a VMA performance should be, that would be it. What I love about her is that she's not the best singer or dancer, but she understands that and makes up for it with absolute absurdity.

Welcome back, VMA's, welcome back.

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