British comic Russell Brand has just been announced as the host for this year’s MTV Video Music Awards. This will be Russell’s second year in a row as host, and after last year’s controversy, I’m sure some people hoped MTV would ban him. Russell’s jokes last year infamously offended many people because he seemed to be mocking the whole purity ring and virginity stuff. Of course, he also got pretty political, calling George W. Bush a “retarded cowboy” and he made several jokes about Sarah Palin, Bristol Palin, Levi Johnston and that whole situation, which had just become public. Russell didn’t seem to care about the anger he had caused, and he seemed bewildered when he started receiving death threats. I suppose MTV figured that as long as Russell kept people talking, the show would be a success. I have to say, I’m not a huge fan of Brand’s (I find him skeezy), but his one sentence reaction to being named this year’s host made me giggle:
The Jonas Brothers had better polish up their promise rings — MTV announced this morning that controversial Brititsh comedian Russell Brand will be returning to host this year’s Video Music Awards.
“This year will be a controversy free festival of love and discrete orgasms,” said Brand, who notoriously poked fun at young stars like the Jonases and their squeaky clean reputations.
Significantly less controversial but equally newsworthy is the announcement that Taylor Swift will mark her first VMA performance by singing a previously unheard version of “You Belong With Me.”
“I’m so excited that MTV and the VMAs have invited me to perform,” said Taylor in a statement. “Because I think this year’s show will be unlike anything they’ve ever done! I love incorporating theatrics into my performances, and the VMAs have always allowed artists to run with that. MTV has been so good to me, and I could not be more excited about this year’s VMAs!”
This year, the awards are moving back to their NYC origins and the night will feature performances being broadcast from all over Manhattan, including Radio City Music Hall. Let’s just hope it’s better than the 2007 VMAs from Vegas, which had artists performing all over a Sin City resort, to pretty blah effect.
[From OK! Magazine]
I kind of hope they just let Russell do his thing. If he offends people, so be it. It’s on MTV’s head for inviting him back. I just hope MTV doesn’t try to sanitize his act, but that would just be offensive generally, to all people. Here’s a question – do you think Lindsay Lohan will be invited? Either way, I have a feeling Brand will be making a lot of Lohan jokes.
Russell Brand is shown at Diddy’s White Party on 7/4/09. Credit: WENN.com
I don’t get his appeal. He looks like a perpetually wet shaggy dog.
I find him very skeezy, but also very funny. I had heard about the VMA “controversy” but didn’t actually see him perform until later.
Now, watching the VMA clip, I think that night he was a little nervous–he seems to be out of his element. But since I don’t watch the VMAs, I’m not sure what else he was supposed to comment on–he can’t make jokes about politics (those actually weren’t terribly creative, but that’s a separate issue), and he can’t make jokes about the Jonas Brothers, so what is the appropriate topic for such an occasion?
I suspect that this year he’ll be a little more assured, and that because he’s got more name recognition here, he’ll also be better received. I think that played a role as well.
Oh man, not him again. He is completely unfunny, fugly and sex with him looks like it could be all kinds of shades of nasty and disease filled. BLAH!!
I was hoping for a huge MJ tribute show. Since MJ and his amazing videos are what made MTV huge in the 80s/90s.
So much for that..
Ill probably skip it. I had enough of brand who wasnt really even funny last year.
Thanks for the heads up. I won’t waste my time.
Just a nitpicking comment, but it drives me around the bend: “discrete” is the incorrect adjective here. The correct spelling for this context is “discreet”. Two totally different meanings.
@Lee: Unless he means that each one will be distinct, rather than running together.
I agreed with the people who find him disgusting for a while, but then I heard an interview with him on NPR. I’m not going to show up any of his concerts and I’m not keen on awards shows, but I think that there might be more there than I had originally thought.
I’m still sure that he sneezes airborne STIs that–if given the opportunity to do so– would hit us with a ferocity not seen since the Spanish Influenza. Well-spoken, though.
He is so hot!!
After last year’s VMA’s he said he could tell his material was dying and it really affected his performance, which he then tried to edit during the show. I love Russell’s comedy, I hope this year he is ready.
^I also think he’s hot, but not without a full body condom and some kind of medical test thanks!
Hopefully he will be a little more relaxed this year…he was a bit too frantic & tried a little too hard last year, making you uncomfortable for him. I do like him and his unique “Brand” of humor though…and find him adorably sexy, in a scruffy rat terrier kind of way, I love dogs.
OH NO, not again – he stunk last time. Can’t believe they’re letting him host anything after that. @#$.
Looks like walking sewage and as funny a bus full of burning nuns.
I LOVE HIM! Rock it, Russee!!! U da bahm!
I will say that I have see several interviews he has done and he is very funny to me.. Quick witted..
Can’t wait to see him.. he is an orginal and a change from the “usual” comedians we have now.. more cutting edge.. and we need people who are thinking outside the box and who are not afraid to step on a few celeb toes..
He’s doesn’t appeal to me in any way whatsoever.
more cutting edge.. and we need people who are thinking outside the box and who are not afraid to step on a few celeb toes..
And I can name at least 10 other stand up comics past and present do that and do it better. The late Bill Hicks, Lenny Bruce, Richard Pryor and George Carlin spring to mind.