The politically charged MTV Video Music Awards [VMAs] tanked in the ratings on Monday, despite performances from Taylor Swift, Missy Elliot and a classic 1990s rap reunion.
The show was seen by 4.9 million viewers live on Monday across 12 different Viacom-owned networks, the Nielsen company said. That’s down from … 10.3 million in 2014.
(Fox News, August 28, 2019)
This report suggests that millions of you found merit in the critique I offered in “Why Is Any Self-Respecting Adult Still Watching the VMAs,” September 18, 2015. Here is an excerpt:
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I took a lot of flak four years ago for dismissing the VMAs and damning the music industry. …
This flak came mostly from sophomoric adults who derive their self-esteem from catfish postings on Facebook and photoshopped images on Instagram; or from purported music fans who are more interested in pop stars who can brand themselves like Kim than sing their songs like Adele. …
But the respected news website Salon truly vindicated me. For it dismissed the whole zeitgeist, in which music videos are more about going viral on social media than providing visuals to enhance the enjoyment of good music.
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But I gather not only that hip-hop dominated this year’s VMAs but that rapper Missy Elliot provided its only redeeming value. Again, the show jumped the shark years ago. But even I have to concede that it was probably worth watching just to see Missy “Misdemeanor” perform some of her old-school hits.
She reportedly condescended to do this pursuant to receiving the Michael Jackson Music Video Vanguard Award. Except that, by accepting it, she probably undermined her music and street cred. After all, nothing betrays how blackened Jackson’s reputation has become quite like MTV’s awkward attempt to whitewash his name not just from this award but from MTV history.
All throughout the night MTV presenters and the host danced around the full name of the honor, referring to it simply as the ‘video vanguard.’ If the network hoped to escape criticism from not mentioning the controversial singer throughout the evening, then it went very wrong. Viewers noticed that presenters weren’t dropping MJ by name, and some voiced their displeasure about it during the program.
(Cinema Blend, August 26, 2019)
Of course, one can hardly blame MTV given posthumous reports on his pedophile exploits. I duly commented, including most recently in “‘Leaving Neverland’ Like Xcaping Michael Jackson’s Pedophile Cult,” January 29, 2019. Frankly, his pedophile exploits were such that MTV paying any homage to him is tantamount to Jello paying homage to Bill Cosby.
Jackson pioneered music videos. But, as far as MTV is concerned, he’s “HIStory.” Hell, we found out just last month that his BFF Marlon Brando told prosecutors way back in 1994 that Jacko was wacko and had a sicko attraction to little boys.
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