Why did I choose Kelly Rowland as the lead photograph for this post about the MTV Europe Movie Awards in Munich last night? Because everyone, even young ladies who will go down in history for playing second fiddle to a bigger, more talented star, deserve their time in the spotlight. More pics after the jump.

CONTINUED »

Snapshot from Barack Obama’s MTV/Myspace forum yesterday in Iowa, where, according to a recent poll, he’s in a statistical dead heat with Hillary Clinton:

Asked via an IM question if he’d be willing to run on a ticket with Clinton and if he’d bring Republicans into his cabinet, Obama answered the second part first, saying, yes, he would absolutely consider having some Republicans in his Cabinet, noting that “Democrats don’t have a monopoly on wisdom.” As for the Clinton question, Obama said forcefully that it’s too early to say who he might pick as his vice president, but stressed that “I am not running for vice president.” What if the position was offered, Cillizza wondered? “No,” said Obama. “Because, as I said, I’m not running for vice president, I’m running for president of the United States.” Coming more than 20 minutes into the forum, the latter received the first sustained applause of the afternoon.

• El DeBarge is officially planning a comeback, but he might want to iron out those legal issues first. [SP]

• MTV Arabia will probably only find about 3 percent of most of the programming on MTV USA appropriate for broadcast. [AHH]

• For the Lauren London and Chris Brown fans out there. []

• Oh, please Ne-Yo. [TMZ]

• One reason why Rihanna and Shia LaBeouf should always use protection. [INO]

Here’s the unimpressive commercial for Diddy’s Unforgivable Woman fragrance that MTV found to objectionable to air. I find it rather objectionable too, but I doubt it’s for the same reasons. Ever the artiste, Mr. Combs refused to cut out the more sexual parts, probably because the thinks it would mar the brilliance of his “Bad Boy” short film. In actuality, some generous editing might make this commercial less laughable/awkward. Unless laughable/awkward was what he was shooting for, in which case the commercial is a success. Bravo, Diddy! Someone give this man a FiFi.

[SR]

Ja Rule, who was most recently in the news for getting arrested on weapons charges, thinks that gay people on afternoon television are a terrible influence on his kids.

…We need to go step to MTV and Viacom, and lets talk about all these fucking shows that they have on MTV that is promoting homosexuality, that my kids can’t watch this shit.

Dating shows that’s showing two guys or two girls in mid-afternoon. Let’s talk about shit like that! If that’s not fucking up America, I don’t know what is.

Why don’t you give your cute kids some guns and have them threaten to shoot MTV execs? Then they’ll play your crappy sub par videos instead of crappy sub par dating shows. And the Atkins family will live happily and heterosexually ever after. The end.

[QT]

On 106 & Park’s big Sept. 11th showdown — which really turned out to be more of a lovefest during which 50 half-heartedly professed his superiority over Kanye, and Kanye whole-heartedly professed his undying love for Jay-Z — Kanye West attempted to explain away his MTV tantrum, first with the prepared statement given to him by his handlers and then in his own, emotional words. In short, his feelings are hurt. So far, his brief boycott of MTV certainly hasn’t hurt him in the nation’s record stores, where he’s outselling 50 Cent 2-1.

Diddy can’t keep it in his pants in either his personal or professional life. The new ad for his fragrance, Unforgivable, is so sexual MTV won’t even air it. It would surely be okay if it was part of a Real World scene.

The spot shows Combs “going at it” with Jessica Gomez in a stairwell and a hotel room. But after MTV screened the ads, execs sent a list of edits Combs will need to make before censors will allow it to air. The offending footage includes Diddy “hiking up” Gomez’s skirt, putting his hands under her dress, and a scene with another woman holding Gomez’s breast and pulling down her underwear. Combs is refusing so far to edit his commercial.

Should MTV lighten up? I mean, his real life is way more sordid than this.

[]

Upon the completion of last night’s disaster of an award show, my first thought was that it’s going to be uglier than Britney’s extensions at the MTV offices today. I foresee heads rolling. My second thought was to rewatch Britney Spear’s performance, but I realized I couldn’t. It was that bad, for those of you lucky enough to miss it. The woman who used to bring the house down, couldn’t even lip-synch properly, had serious trouble standing still, let alone dancing, and pretty much put on the most listless, embarrassing, shoddy performance in VMA history. I’m sure there was some sort of sedative and/or alcohol involved. Anyway, it’s rough watching a career terminate before your very eyes. Don’t think I can do it again any time soon.

And the new format, with the main stage and all the little parties in other rooms, was confusing and annoying, even though it allowed for more performances. The whole thing was sloppy and unorganized. My highlights and lowlights, plus pics galore after the jump.

CONTINUED »

Remember when the VMAs were actually enjoyable to watch? More on that a little later… For now, let’s focus on TLC’s 1995 VMA Medley, which showcases their talents quite nicely. Also, they were actually singing and dancing, which is a feat many artists apparently can’t manage to accomplish these days. If anything made me long for the MTV of yore, it was last night’s debacle. I know I said “more on that later,” but, as you can see, I’m a little hung up.

Kanye West has joined 50 Cent on the publicity train. And we all knew he would — I believe the Rolling Stone cover is case in point. He’s finally agreed to a “debate” with 50 Cent on BET next Tuesday, when both of their albums come out.

Terrence and Rocsi will host a “battle” during the show, where 50 Cent will perform singles from his upcoming album Curtis, while Kanye West will perform songs from his upcoming effort, Graduation.

ESPN’s Stuart Scott will deliver commentary and a statistical breakdown of both 50 Cent and Kanye West.

“How could I not come to 106 & PARK on the day my album comes out? I’m definitely coming,” West stated, while 50 Cent said ominously: “Just make sure that Kanye West shows up.”

The more publicity stunt-ish this little competition gets the more tiresome it becomes. My Team Kanye enthusiasm has weakened considerably.

Team Kenny Chesney!

[AHH]