USA: A gate-crasher livens up a glittering but otherwise tame MTV Video Music Awards in New York City

As the flashbulbs went off and fans went wild, the music industry's biggest and brightest stars made their way down the red carpet ahead of the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards. Walking down the carpet seems to be a show all its own, with a pre-VMA performance by the Black Eyed Peas. In a barely there schoolgirl uniform, Fergie didn't hold back and had crowds screaming for more. She wasn't the only one. Girls went wild over Nick Lachey, and a breathtaking Beyonce Knowles smiled as she graciously greeted the crowd in a white floor length Dolce and Gabanna gown adorned with jewels. The beauty, who is performing at the evening's festivities, says she is excited to play a song from her new record. "I'm excited, nervous, anxious and happy to perform my single, "Ring The Alarm" for the first time, which makes me even more nervous." Beyonce proved to be a favorite among stars on the carpet, but Ludacris said that the performance he was most looking forward to seeing was Shakira's. Ever more anticipated however, was Justin Timberlake's performance. All the ladies and men alike said they were truly looking forward to seeing him get in his groove onstage. Fresh faced singer Rihanna, also shining in a little white Dolce and Gabanna dress, said that she wants to see Justin bring "sexy" back to the VMAs. But the award ceremony, which is usually known for it's outrageous antics, had nothing too shocking. Jack Black dressed as a Moon Man, rapper Lil' Kim wearing an orange prison jumpsuit and a gate-crasher tried to steal the top prize -- but nothing could top the notable 2003 onstage kiss between Madonna and Britney Spears -- there was nothing too shocking on Thursday (August 31) in the slick show at New York's Radio City Music Hall. Only at the end was there a deviation from the otherwise tame script when pop-punk quartet Panic! at the Disco were walking up to collect the trophy for video of the year. A man in the audience grabbed the microphone from one of the band members and introduced himself as "Six." "MTV never gave me my own show," he complained, making an unsuccessful bid to grasp the statuette from the hands of presenter Jennifer Lopez. While cameras pulled away, the intruder was swiftly dealt with, and the flustered members of Panic! at the Disco quipped "That was all planned." In contrast to last year when veterans Green Day dominated with seven trophies, there was no runaway winner -- the first dozen major awards went to a dozen different artists. While punk-pop group, Panic! At the Disco, who later on went to win several awards, said on the red carpet that the performances and people they were excited about at the VMAs were actor Jack Black, rock band The Killers and Beyonce. Black hosted the show, promising to spice up an event whose reputation for shock tactics has faltered. Black started with a skit in which he dressed up as a "Moon Man" in imitation of the silver statuettes in the shape of an astronaut planting a flag that are handed out to the winners. Rap diva Lil' Kim, returning to the high life after nearly a year in prison, made light of her jail time, walking on stage wearing an orange jumpsuit and flanked by men dressed as prison guards. She presented the award for best male video, to British soldier-turned-singer James Blunt for his hit song "You're Beautiful." Kelly Clarkson of "American Idol" fame won best female video for the second year in a row, though she did not attend. Beyonce Knowles had jaws dropping when she performed in a tan trench coat over black vinyl boots and hot pants before picking up the prize for best R&B video for "Check on It." Sultry Latin star Shakira did a sexy Indian styled turn on stage. While funk-rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers, who came into the night as favorites with seven nominations each, took just one minor award each (choreography and art direction). Another big name shut out was Madonna, whose five nominations translated into not a single win. Chamillionaire won the rap video award, the Black Eyed Peas won in the hiphop category and the Pussycat Dolls won for best dance video. The All-American Rejects won for best group video and Avenged Sevenfold picked up best new artist in a video. Socialite Paris Hilton was the butt of several jokes -- introduced at one point as "the world's most attractive producer of independent film" in a reference to a home-made sex video involving her that was posted on the Internet.

ITN Source | September 4, 2006

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