This is Why I Don't Watch Award Shows and Why I Regret It the Next Day!

Okay, I'm old. I'm 40. I don't watch MTV anymore. I have no idea who 99.9999% of the music artists even are anymore so there was little to no appeal to watching the MTV Video Music Awards last night and so I didn't.

Then I woke up this morning and turned on my computer.

What in the WORLD???

The first thing I come across is Janet Jackson's opening number video. I mean, it was okay, I was not blown away. I guess I had something else pictured in my mind. One web-site compared it to a Natalie Cole/Nat King Cole type of thing. She just performed in front of a video of Michael that they did together years ago (she was edited out of the video since she was performing live). Cute but not mind blowing.

Further along in the news was a clip of Madonna's opening of the show where she did a six minute dialogue about Michael Jackson. Although for the first minute or so, it was a comparison of her and him and my first thought was "Really? You're going to make this about you?" But she did finally get to the point and the speech was actually very good. The work on her now smooth face, however, did not look so good. Her face looked rather puffy.

And then the be-all, end-all moment of the night?? Kanye West jumps up on the stage in the middle of sweet little Taylor Swift's VERY emotional acceptance speech for "Best Female Video", takes the mike from her hands and announces that Beyonce had the best female video EVER!! Then he hands the mike back to a now speechless Taylor Swift.

You know, it's not the first time this dirtbag has done something like this. I know it's good publicity for someone but how DARE he ruin someone's moment! How dare he steel the spotlight like that. I mean, she will forever look back on this moment, which she was in the middle of sharing how it was a lifelong dream and as a country singer she never thought she'd actually WIN one of these, and it will be RUINED because of this man. The crazy, Italian, New Yorker in me has a litany of colorful words that I'd like to use here but I will not. I know that the media will take care of shaming this man - if even just a little.

And for all the hooplah, I still bet it would have been better to watch it all happen live....

Michael Jackson Memorial - My Thoughts

Michael Jackson died. Did anyone else hear this?? Seriously, I think the last time we saw this kind of coverage was when Princess Diana died. I watched the memorial and actually saw MOST of it live, but I caught the rest of it in re-runs later that night.

I understand that this man was an extremely gifted entertainer. The way he could sing, even as a child, was just amazing. His dancing was awe inspiring. It is likely that we will never again see such talent in an entertainer. What bothered me most was the behavior of the fans. I thought it was pretty amazing for the fans to be invited to such an event. The Staples Center seemed full to capacity. But all intents and purposes, this was NOT a concert, it was a MEMORIAL. When they wheeled Michael Jackson's casket in to the spotlight and you were waiting for things to begin, there were fans screaming out his name. I'm sorry, but if you went to a memorial for your grandmother would you be screaming "WOO! GRANDMA, WE LOVE YOU!!" Of course you wouldn't! Why? Because it is inappropriate! For crying out loud, people! Show some restraint!

Berry Gordy seemed to be doing a promo for Motown more than a eulogy. We all know the history of Motown and the Jackson 5, that was really not the arena to toot your own horn about all of the amazing acts that came out of Motown. Poor taste. Mariah Carey? Her original rendition of "I'll Be There" which she first premiered on MTV Unplugged, I think, was was more tasteful. Yes, yes, we all know that you can reach those really obnoxiously high notes. It's a MEMORIAL! Sing the song tastefully, without showing off, and get off the stage. And we could have done with a little less cleavage, too, by the way.

For the most part, it was very touching. It was nice to see him remembered in such a way and his daughter's speech at the end just moves me to tears every time I see it. And I have a feeling, we'll be seeing it a LOT in times to come.

A Sad Day for Our Generation...

When I have quiet time, it's really not quiet. I like to put on my headphones and turn on my MP3 player and listen to music. I don't like any of the music that is popular now, I'm still an 80's rock girl with a little bit of Motown thrown in. The Jackson 5 were always a favorite. Whenever the kids would make fun of me for it, I would just say "You just have to smile when listening to the Jackson 5!"

Today the Jackson 5 were silenced.

I am just so, so sad...I cannot even believe that it happened. I mean, I KNOW that people die. Celebrities are no exception. It's just that fact that, well...it was so unexpected! Earlier in the day, Farrah Fawcett died. That was a horrible thing, too, but we've been watching her very public struggle with cancer. It was kind of devastating to watch someone who was so iconic in her beauty wither away so horribly. I think that she was very brave to let the public see such a private struggle. But when the news came out this morning, it was very upsetting but expected. I hate for her that the spotlight - even in death - was taken away by the news of Michael Jackson's death. While she was news all day, she is now a teeny-tiny by-line. Although in all fairness, both ABC News and NBC News are doing hour-long special reports on both of them tonight.

For my generation, both of these people were MAJOR celebrities - although for different things. I don't want to remember Michael Jackson as someone accused of child molestation. I want to remember him as the young child in the Jackson 5 who sang some of my all-time favorite songs. Farrah Fawcett will forever be emblazened in my mind as one of Charlie's Angels.

Rest in Peace to you both...