Jaclyn Hendricks
Assitant A&E Editor
Kanye West interrupting Taylor Swift is so 2009. The 2010 VMAs were all about shocking winners and surprise performances.
On Sunday, Sept. 12 the 27th annual Video Music Awards aired on MTV live from Los Angeles, and everyone who is anyone on Hollywood’s A-List, whether actual star or reality star, was in attendance.
“I was excited to see Nicki Minaj,” said senior Michele Borriello. “I also loved Eminem’s performance as well.”
Opening the big show, Eminem performed his smash single “Not Afraid,” but changed his tune mid-song. Not even three minutes into the performance, Eminem brought out his special guest, pop princess Rihanna, to finish the duet of their hit “Love the Way You Lie.”
“He was amazing,” said senior Megan Kalus. “He really is one of the best rappers, and Rihanna was great too.”
Taking over hosting duties from Russell Brand this year was comedienne Chelsea Handler of E! talk show “Chelsea Lately.” At one point, Handler even appeared on stage in a Lady Gaga-esque get-up.
As Handler made her entrance, she seemed proud to mention that she was the first female host since 1994.
“I thought she was pretty funny,” said freshman Alexa Ameo. “But sometimes she sounded a bit offensive.”
Other student viewers disagreed.
“I thought that she was funny. And if she were completely appropriate, it would not have been funny,” said Borriello.
Although Handler was the host with the most, the real standout stars of the night were the winners and the performers.
Teen sensation Justin Bieber picked up his first moon man for Best New Artist, while Eminem scooped up two awards for his video “Not Afraid.” The biggest winner of the night was the little monster leader herself, Lady Gaga, who took home eight awards, including the coveted Video of the Year award.
Despite the night being all about the music videos, it was the live performances that had students talking.
“The collaboration of Drake and Mary J. Blige was awesome,” said senior Brittany Brown. “I think they all mesh really well together on stage.”
Country sweetheart Taylor Swift took the show in a different direction, debuting her newest ballad that was a soulful reflection on her infamous stage interruption by Kanye West last year.
“I think Taylor took a chance,” said senior Nicole Morelli. “I thought her performance was a nice change of pace in the show.”
Even though the 2010 VMAs might have lacked over-the-top outbursts from superstars, it was the crazy antics that made the 2009 show unforgettable.
“The show was entertaining,” said Kalus. “But sometimes it’s the unexpected drama which makes a show that much more memorable.”
Filed under: Arts and Entertainment, Sections Tagged: | A&E, A&E article, Arts & Entertainment, Arts & Entertainment article, college newspaper, Jaclyn Hendricks, Jaclyn Hendricks article, Jaclyn Hendricks spectrum, Sacred Heart, Sacred Heart Spectrum, Sacred Heart University Spectrum, SHU A&E, SHU Spectrum, SHU Spectrum newspaper, Spectrum, Spectrum Newspaper, the Spectrum
