Image Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty ImagesCould hosting the VMAs be the most unrewarding job in Hollywood? In light of last night’s questionable performance by E!’s late-night queen Chelsea Handler, I started thinking about how few VMA emcees have been widely lauded for their performances over the years. Just peruse this list of past hosts. Are any of these people — ranging from Bette Midler (yes!) and Dan Akroyd to Dennis Miller (twice!) and Ben Stiller — remembered for doing an exceptionally good job?
Sure, a handful, like Jimmy Fallon and Chris Rock, may be remembered with some level of fondness. But unlike, say, the Oscars or the Emmys — where, for example, Steve Martin and Neil Patrick Harris have won rave reviews for their respective recent hosting stints — the very nature of the VMAs dictates that the lion’s share of the morning-after buzz will focus on outrageous stunts or musical performances, and not on the host. Handler seemed to be aware of this conundrum last night, and it resulted in an unfortunate “look how craaaazy I can be!” vibe that downplayed her brash intelligence and felt inauthentic to boot.
Take the way Handler rubbed elbows with Ke$ha, who appeared at the show wearing a dress she claimed to have made out of trash bags. The connection between the pair is wholly emblematic of the vibe that the E! host emanated throughout the evening — which is to say that Handler, like Ke$ha, seemed to be pandering to the lowest common denominator, creating a front that didn’t feel the least bit real to eagle-eyed fans. Maybe Handler felt like that shtick would resonate with the younger MTV set, but it didn’t go over well with critics (like myself and everyone at publications from The Hollywood Reporter to the New York Times).
But it’s not all Handler’s fault that her performance didn’t come off as scintillating. No matter how good she was or was not, Handler wasn’t ever going to be the buzziest thing about the show. And she certainly worked hard to try to score laughs, donning Lady Gaga wear, getting into a hot tub with the Jersey Shore cast, and dropping a plethora of insensitive jokes. Even if she had stripped naked, though, it’s unlikely she ever could have matched the growing din about dueling songs by Taylor Swift and Kanye West; a presentation where Cher gave Lady Gaga, who revealed the name of her next album on stage, a Moon Man; or amazing performances by Florence + The Machine and Robyn.
Considering the challenges with such a gig, then, should Handler take all the blame for her misfire? And how will the poor reviews affect her career going forward? What say you, PopWatchers? Is it possible to do the VMAs proud as host? Do you think Chelsea did? Do you have a favorite host in VMA history? Sound off below!
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MTV Video Music Awards Central
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Does MTV host the awards every year on Sunday night so families can tune in after leaving church? I’m confused.
I think she did the best with what she had
hecky yea
Chelsea did a great job! Haters fall back
I adore Chelsea and have for years. I watch “Chelsea Lately” regularly. Sadly, for me the performance fell flat. But it won’t affect her future.
I remember liking Chris Rock and Jimmy Fallon. Everyone else has been forgettable or terrible.
I personally don’t know why anyone would ever agree to host an awards show. It seems like a thankless task, and even when they rank among the best, there are still people unhappy with them.
Handler did her best, even though everyone was expecting more; but there’s only so much a host can do since the VMAs are so outrageous/over the top. I do think Handler “dumbed down” her humor to appease the audience, but I still think it went over a lot of their heads. It just didn’t work since everyone was more concerned with the whole Taylor-Kanye showdown.
VMAs? more like VMWhocares?
cornnnnnnnnyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!!!!
Seriously, that was a VMAwful pun. What the VMF*** were you VMThinking?
i’m thinking i didn’t waste my time watching this garbage like you did.
No one watches the VMAs for the host . . . you watch for the performances and craziness. I think Chelsea did fine.
Personally I think Handler did one of the poorest jobs of hosting the show I have seen. Her racial jokes came across especially coarse and mean-spirited. But it’s not all her fault; the producers of this and many other awards shows are not taking the time to properly execute the writing. The stage was absolutely stunning, but in the end the connections we make with the people involved are what get us to tune in. The same problem happened with the Emmys. Even still, Handler could have fallen off the stage drunk and everyone would still be talking about Lady Gaga.
She’s as unfunny as always. No surprises.
I think Steve Harvey should be the host next year.
AHHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
AHHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
I think regardless of her shtick, I’d still love to poke her.
I’m an avid fan of Chelsea Handler and watch Chelsea Lately every night. What works for that show is because it has a devil may care looseness and improvisational quality. The writers and round table regulars are her friends. She’s refreshing because she never seems like she’s trying too hard and she’s always just enjoying the party, especially when she interviews her guests The VMAS gig was too rehearsed for her style and she tried to bring that relaxed quality, but it didn’t feel genuine. She seemed uncomfortable. I still think she’s hilarious, unfortunately it just didn’t work last night.
I never found her funny..Last night was no different.