Kanye West and Taylor Swift Return to the VMA Stage

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 13 - Lady Gaga, outdoing even herself with her adventurous couture, dominated the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards, adding eight to her collection of Moonmen with awards including "Video Of The Year," "Best Dance Video," "Best Pop Video" and "Best Female Video."  Eminem, who opened this year's Awards with a triumphant performance, walked away with two statues for "Best Male Video" and "Best Hip Hop Video."  VMA newcomers 30 Seconds To Mars and Florence + The Machine took home their first wins for "Best Rock Video" and "Best Art Direction," respectively.  Justin Bieber was voted "Best New Artist."

 

A year after Taylor Swift's first VMA win was interrupted by Kanye West, the two returned to musically play out last year's drama, once again on the VMA stage. For an exclusive live performance, Taylor sang "Innocence," an emotional song she wrote about how she felt after last year's incident.  Later in the evening and this year as an official performer, Kanye debuted "Runaway" (featuring Pusha T from Clipse), a personal statement on the turbulence of the last year.

 

MTV aired the 2010 Video Music Awards live on Sunday, September 12 from Nokia Theater in Los Angeles, having transformed the venue into a 1950's sculptural nod to modernism.  The VMA's kicked off with an epic performance by Eminem backed by an orchestra to present a medley of his comeback anthem "Not Afraid" into a fiery version of "Love The Way You Lie" with surprise guest Rihanna.  Host Chelsea Handler brought her edgy comedic flair to the Awards, making a dramatic entrance that riffed on Lady Gaga's extravagant fashion sense, flying onto the stage wearing a suburban house on her head, complete with a single car garage, and ending her monologue by releasing a dove from her dress.  Backstage before taking the stage, Chelsea was shown receiving "encouragement" from well wishers Li'l John, Flo Rida and a score-settling Lindsay Lohan.

 

Kim Kardashian introduced Justin Bieber, who made his VMA debut performance with an outdoor set of "Baby" into "Somebody to Love" to throngs of adoring fans – including Kim herself who, waving a restraining order, professed she'd nonetheless wait for the young heartthrob in his dressing room.

 

In another show highlight, the one-and-only Cher presented Lady Gaga with her "Video Of The Year" Award, donning the same outfit (yes, she still fit into it) that she barely wore more than 20 years ago in her own memorable video "If I Could Turn Back Time."

With an intro by Ke$ha and Trey Songz, Usher's electric entrance and pounding energy brought down the house with a medley of "DJ Got Us Fallin' In Love" into "OMG!," showing off his dance moves against an other-worldly combination of visual effects.   

The physicality of Usher's set contrasted with VMA newcomer Florence + The Machine's ethereal, breakout performance of "Dog Days Are Over," featuring a large-scale dance number with scores of dancers and percussionists to create a flowing dream-like sequence.

 

Representing the rock side of the house, Linkin Park extended the VMA stage to include the first-ever performance at the landmark Griffith Observatory, where they performed their powerful single "The Catalyst" against the stunning backdrop of a spectacular Los Angeles sunset.

 

Hip-hop artist Drake was joined on onstage by Mary J. Blige and Swizz Beatz for a performance of his hit single "Fancy," set against a supper club backdrop. Shortly following Drake's performance, Chelsea stumbled upon the cast of "Jersey Shore" in, what else, a hot tub.  Teasing the cast about how dirty the water is, she finally agreed to jump in fully clothed, only to emerge wet and pregnant.

 

Additional performances included a medley by "dream team" Bruno Mars, B.o.B and Paramore, marking the first time ever that B.o.B and Hayley Williams of Paramore sang their hit single "Airplanes" together.

 

Joining this year's VMA house artist deadmau5 to perform their current hit singles was Travie McCoy, Jason Derulo and Robyn.  The night was filled with a long list of musical artists and stars including: Katy Perry, Nicki Minaj, Justin Timberlake, MTV Tr3s Artist of the Year Romeo from Aventura, Sofia Vergara, Jared Leto, Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, cast members from "Glee" and "True Blood," Ne-Yo, Ellen DeGeneres, the cast of the upcoming film "Jackass 3-D," Penn Badgley, Selena Gomez,Emma Stone and Ashley Greene.

 

2010 MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS WINNERS

 
 

GENERAL CATEGORIES:

 
 

VIDEO OF THE YEAR

 

Lady Gaga

 

Title: Bad Romance

 

Album: The Fame Monster

 

Director: Francis Lawrence

 

Label: Interscope, Cherrytree, Streamline, KonLive

 

Production Company: DNA Inc.

 

Producers: Heather Heller, Nicole Ehrlich and Kathy Angstadt

 
 

BEST NEW ARTIST

 

Justin Bieber featuring Ludacris

 

Title: Baby

 

Album: My World Part II

 

Director: Ray Kay

 

Label: Island Def Jam, RBMG

 

Production Company: Rockhard Films

 

Producer: Nicole Acacio

 
 

BEST MALE VIDEO

 

Eminem

 

Title: Not Afraid

 

Album: Recovery

 

Director: Rich Lee

 

Label: Aftermath, Interscope

 

Production Company: DNA

 

Producer: Justin Diener

 
 

BEST FEMALE VIDEO

 

Lady Gaga

 

Title: Bad Romance

 

Album: The Fame Monster

 

Director: Francis Lawrence

 

Label: Interscope, Cherrytree, Streamline, KonLive

 

Production Company: DNA Inc.

 

Producers: Heather Heller, Nicole Ehrlich and Kathy Angstadt

 
 

BEST HIP HOP VIDEO

 

Eminem

 

Title: Not Afraid

 

Album: Recovery

 

Director: Rich Lee

 

Label: Aftermath, Interscope

 

Production Company: DNA

 

Producer: Justin Diener

 
 

BEST POP VIDEO

 

Lady Gaga

 

Title: Bad Romance

 

Album: The Fame Monster

 

Director: Francis Lawrence

 

Label: Interscope, Cherrytree, Streamline, KonLive

 

Production Company: DNA Inc.

 

Producers: Heather Heller, Nicole Ehrlich and Kathy Angstadt

 
 

BEST ROCK VIDEO

 

30 Seconds To Mars

 

Title: Kings and Queens

 

Album: This Is War

 

Director: Bartholomew Cubbins

 

Label: Virgin Records

 

Production Company: Hello and Co.

 

Producers: Jared Leto, Emma Ludbrook, Sheeira Rees-Davies, Melissa Larsen, Dave Robertson

 
 

BEST DANCE VIDEO

 

Lady Gaga

 

Title: Bad Romance

 

Album: The Fame Monster

 

Director: Francis Lawrence

 

Label: Interscope, Cherrytree, Streamline, KonLive

 

Production Company: DNA Inc.

 

Producers: Heather Heller, Nicole Ehrlich and Kathy Angstadt

 
 

BEST COLLABORATION

 

Lady Gaga featuring Beyonce

 

Title: Telephone

 

Album: The Fame Monster

 

Director: Jonas Akerlund

 

Label: Interscope, Cherry Tree, Streamline, KonLive

 

Production Company: Serial Pictures/Anonymous Content

 

Producers: Stephanie Bruni, Violaine Etienne and Nicole Ehrlich

 
 

PROFESSIONAL CATEGORIES:

 
 

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY

 

Lady Gaga

 

Title: Bad Romance

 

Album: The Fame Monster

 

Director: Francis Lawrence

 

Label: Interscope, Cherrytree, Streamline, KonLive

 

Production Company: DNA Inc.

 

Producers: Heather Heller, Nicole Ehrlich and Kathy Angstadt

 

Choreography: Laurieann Gibson

 
 

BEST DIRECTION

 

Lady Gaga

 

Title: Bad Romance

 

Album: The Fame Monster

 

Director: Francis Lawrence

 

Label: Interscope, Cherrytree, Streamline, KonLive

 

Production Company: DNA Inc.

 

Producers: Heather Heller, Nicole Ehrlich and Kathy Angstadt

 
 

BEST EDITING

 

Lady Gaga

 

Title: Bad Romance

 

Album: The Fame Monster

 

Director: Francis Lawrence

 

Label: Interscope, Cherrytree, Streamline, KonLive

 

Production Company: DNA Inc.

 

Producers: Heather Heller, Nicole Ehrlich and Kathy Angstadt

 

Editor: Jarrett Fijal

 
 

BEST SPECIAL EFFECTS

 

MUSE

 

Title: Uprising

 

Album: The Resistance

 

Director:  Hydra

 

Label: Warner Bros. Records

 

Production Company: Humble

 

Producer: Humble

 

Special Effects: Sam Stevens

 
 

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

 

Jay-Z & Alicia Keys

 

Title: Empire State of Mind

 

Album: The Blueprint 3

 

Director: Hype Williams

 

Label: Roc Nation

 

Production Company: Naaila Entertainment

 

Producer: Abdur Rahman

 
 

BEST ART DIRECTION

 

Florence + The Machine

 

Title: Dogs Days Are Over

 

Album: Lungs

 

Director: LEGS

 
 

BREAKTHROUGH VIDEO

 

The Black Keys

 

Title: Tighten Up

 

Album: Brothers

 

Director: Chris Marrs Pillero

 

Label: Nonesuch

 

Production Company: Symphony 9

 

Producer: John Lathan

   

Jesse Ignjatovic/Den of Thieves is the Executive Producer for the "2010 MTV Video Music Awards." Dave Sirulnick is Executive Producer.Garrett English is co-Executive Producer/Executive in Charge of Production. Amy Doyle is Executive Producer. Joanna Bomberg is Executive in Charge of Music and Talent. Jen Jones is co-Executive Producer. Hamish Hamilton is Director. Wendy Plaut is Celebrity Talent Executive.

Official sponsors of the "2010 MTV Video Music Awards" are 5® REACT™ Gum, freecreditscore.com™, Honda CR-Z Sport Hybrid, Rhapsody®, Samsung Fascinate a Galaxy S phone, Taco Bell® and Verizon Wireless.

The "2010 MTV Video Music Awards" was available to a potential viewing audience of more than 1.2 billion people via MTV's global network of 63 channels reaching 605 million households around the world as well as through syndication.  In addition, its convergent programming & content will reach the entire interactive community, via MTV's more than 200 digital media properties around the world.

About MTV:

MTV is the dynamic, vibrant experiment at the intersection of music, creativity and youth culture. For over 28 years, MTV has evolved, challenged the norm, and detonated boundaries - giving each new generation a creative outlet and voice that entertains, informs and unites on every platform and screen. On-air, MTV is the number one full day-ad supported network for P12-24. Online, MTV.com averaged 24.5 million monthly unique visitors during the second quarter of 2010 - up +13% year-over-year. Average video streams for the second quarter of 2010 increased +8% from Q1/2010. And MTV's successful sibling networks MTV2 and mtvU each deliver unprecedented customized content, super-serving young males, music fans, and college students like no one else. MTV is part of MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Wanna know more? Come on in...www.mtvpress.com  

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