2012 MTV Video Music Awards: A Viewer’s Guide
By now you may have heard that the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards are taking place tomorrow night (Sep. 6) live from Los Angeles at 8 p.m. ET. We know what you’re thinking: no way this year can live up to last year. The 2011 VMAs featured Lady Gaga‘s gender-bending theatrics, Beyonce‘s baby bump reveal, an interpretive dance tribute to Britney and oh yeah maybe you’ve heard of that singer Adele?
But to meet the challenge this year, MTV rolled out a stellar line-up of newcomers and veterans, plus a couple new categories — Best Electronic Dance Video and Most Share-Worthy Video. We don’t know what that second one means either. But we do know all the crucial information about this year’s show. Like the fact that the Fierce Five US gymnasts (remember them?) will be presenting an award, and it will probably be awkward, and we can’t wait. So read on for everything you need to know (and a few things you don’t) about this year’s VMAs.
YOUR HOST FOR THE NIGHT
Comedian and actor Kevin Hart went from last year’s opening act to hosting the whole shebang this year.
MOST-NOMINATED ARTISTS
The nominations were more evenly spread among the field this time around. Both Drake and Rihanna tallied five nominations, although RiRi also appeared in nominated videos by Drizzy and Coldplay. The next tier consists of Katy Perry and Beyonce, who each scored four nominations.
THE PERFORMERS
First we have the spate of VMA debuts. If Frank Ocean can deliver here, his SNL stint the following week should be a breeze. British heartthrobs One Direction will keep the tweens in attendance screaming in ecstasy, and 2 Chainz continues his meteoric rise.
And then we have the established pros. This sort of gig may be old hat for Rihanna, but she’ll be performing the brand new version of her dirty song “Cockiness (Love It)” with A$AP Rocky. Lil Wayne will debut “No Worries” off his just-released Dedication 4 mixtape, and his pal Nicki Minaj is performing with a “secret” guest (fingers crossed that it’s Mitt Romney).
Taylor Swift, meanwhile, will try to prove she can pull off this pop thing live with “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” and Alicia Keys will perform “Girl On Fire” live for the first time. And don’t forget about the always dependable Pink and Green Day. We need a nap after rehashing all that.
THE STORYLINE
Last year’s awards were dominated by female mega-stars, and while pop stalwarts like Justin Bieber and Katy Perry are in full force again, this year has more of a David vs. Goliath feel. For some reason the prospect of Gotye defeating a double dose of Rihanna for video of the year doesn’t seem out of the question. Same goes for fun. shocking the world and slaying Bieber. Or Frank Ocean fending off a bunch of R&B veterans for Best Male Video. Anything can happen when you give the power to tweens with smart phones (just ask Jessica Sanchez).
THE MYSTERIES
*Why is “Call Me Maybe” only nominated for two awards? It had a Sixth Sense ending!
*Will Alicia Keys give viewers the red pill or the blue pill?
*Will the EDM category still exist in five years?
*Which tween dream will reign supreme in the blood feud between The Wanted and One Direction?
What part of the VMAs are you looking forward to most? Let us know below, or by hitting us up on Facebook and Twitter.
