MTV ALERT: 2008 VMA Winners

Random thoughts on the 2008 MTV VMAs:

• In a Palinesque stroke of brilliance, the Britney Spears comeback began with a coronation. The pop star collected three awards and was called upon to merely thank God, her fans and her label (not necessarily, perhaps, in that order) and be disgusted by the thought of kissing Jonah Hill. All much easier to accomplish than a performance, but a nice apology for the debacle at the 2007 Vegas VMAs.
• The host. That English fella with the peacock hair, crazy eyes and a penchant for incessant jabbering. I can't recall his name and I've decided to not look it up. Blimey.
• Although there's no category for best telecine or color correction, the many "live music video" performances on the Paramount backlot served as a tutorial to the importance of the telcine artist — and all the other post-production scrubbing that's not possible with a live telecast — in making a music video look like a music video.
• No VMA simulcast on the MTV Networks HD channel Palladia. According to the Palladia launch announcement, we may have to wait for the Best Of 2008 week — December 22 thru December 28 — for HD telecasts of the VMAs, Vh1 Hip Hop Honors and the CMT Awards — to see the show in HD.

And now, the 2008 MTV VMA winners...

• Video of the Year: Britney Spears “Piece of Me"
  — Wayne Isham, director
• Best Female Video: Britney Spears “Piece of Me"
  — Wayne Isham, director
• Best Male Video: Chris Brown "With You"
  — Erik White, director
• Best New Artist: Tokio Hotel “Ready, Set, Go!"
  — Warwick & Haering, directors
• Best Hip Hop Video: Lil Wayne "Lollipop"
  — Gil Green/Dwayne Carter, director
• Best Pop Video: Britney Spears "Piece of Me"
  — Wayne Isham, director
• Best Rock Video: Linkin Park "Shadow of the Day"
  — Joe Hahn, director
• Best Dancing In A Video: Pussycat Dolls “When I Grow Up"
  — Joseph Kahn, director
• Best Art Direction: Gnarls Barkley "Run”
  — Happy & Kells Jesse, art direction
• Best Choreography: Gnarls Barkley "Run”
  — Mikey Rooney, choreography
• Best Cinematography: The White Stripes "Conquest”
  — Wyatt Troll, cinematography
• Best Direction: Erykah Badu "Honey”
  — Erykah Badu & Mr. Roboto, directors
• Best Editing: Death Cab For Cutie "I Will Possess Your Heart”
  —Jeff Buchanan, editor
• Best Special Effects: Kanye West f/ T-Pain "Good Life”
  — SoMe, Jonas & Francois, special effects