MTV, purity, politics and a step in the right direction

I love it when obnoxious, virtually unknown, foreign, painfully unfunny music awards show hosts tell me how to vote. Love it even more when they tastelessly mock the Jonas Brothers for the unspeakable crime of being virgins, especially when my stepkids are watching.

So you can imagine my wife and I had a blast watching the MTV Video Music Awards last night. My first thought when I saw the host, British comedian Russell Brand, was, "Who the devil is British comedian Russell Brand?"

Then the nitwit started talking, representing himself as a member of the global community and begging the U.S. to elect Barack Obama president. Now, I'm not going to declare my political leanings here, but I am going to recall something I observed four years ago: U.S. Americans really, really don't like it when foreigners tell them how to vote. If they did, President Kerry would be seeking his second term right now. In urging a vote for Obama, Russell Brand did as much to further the cause of John McCain as 10 Alaskan governors could hope to do.

Not content to have one foot in his mouth, Brand actually did the unthinkable. He kept talking. He targeted VP nominee Sarah Palin and her future son-in-law (in a bit that could have been a lot funnier than it was), then the Jonas Brothers (in a bit that wasn't even mildly amusing). Somehow, he worked a couple of "master of your domain" jokes in there, just to make sure parents were as uncomfortable as possible if they were watching with their younger teens.

"He's making me mad," my 13-year-old stepdaughter said. "He's making fun of the Jonas Brothers."

My wife and I looked at each other with a hint of relief. Turns out a 13-year-old girl, admiring the talent and wholesomeness of a trio of young men, actually proved to be smarter than a self-appointed representative of the global community. Bravo, kid.

Now, I know this brings up a whole other issue: what's the right age to allow a teen to watch the MTV awards? We all know how, um, challenging they can be to a parent. (Actually, most parents know that. I've only been a parent for a year, and last year we missed the show).

I'm not going to rail on MTV for having the gall to put things on television that I find inappropriate. I've found such protests counterproductive anyway. Want your kids to keep away from programming you find offensive? Watch it with them. They'll have "Little House" reruns on in no time.

Both Chris Brown and the Jonas Brothers were up for awards last night. Nothing, and I mean nothing, was going to keep our girls from watching that show. So we watched, too.

As far as Russell Brand is concerned, he joked that without fame, his haircut could be mistaken for mental illness. My thought? I don't think it was the haircut.

POSTED IN: Entertainment (73), Rafael Olmeda (90), Step-parenting (48), Teen (104)

> Please comment

Comments

Is the writer of this article living in the dark ages? I think he needs to get a sense of humour. I am more offended by his words than Russell's, who is quite clearly not a 'nit wit' and has a greater command of the English language than the gentleman above!! The Jonas brothers have a right to be virgins and tell everyone as a publicity stunt as I have a right to find it funny. thanks!

Posted by: amina | September 8, 2008 10:57 AM

Amina -

They never told anyone. They wear jewelry that is part of a private religious ceremony. Like anyone wearing a hajib or other paraphernalia.

The story was "broken" and they get asked about it relentlessly, and usually decline to respond to that line of questioning.

People love to assume BS, don't they?

And even as a Jonas fan..I was fine with going along with this Brand guy...until it became clear he wasn't going to be funny. And I thought Jordin Sparks was amazing in not keeping her mouth shut...that's not easy.

And as a liberal Independent Obama supporter who believes in high moral values, I am really pissed at the damage some idiots could do to his campaign by speaking on "his behalf"...when they are absolutely clueless. Be FOR something, not against crap that has nothing to do with governance, you skanky MTV denizens.

Posted by: Lizitish | September 8, 2008 12:11 PM

i love it that the jonas brothers have stood for something thats right . iv taken that pledge and its hard to do that in high school so i say right on

Posted by: Candace | September 8, 2008 8:49 PM

I cant belive you are calling this unfunny. That whole thing about not trusting Bush with a pair of scissors was hilarious. And of cousre your 13 year old daughter will be mad if someone makes fun of the Jonas Brothers. It's the same thing as a religious person getting angry when someone makes fun of jesus. And they are jokes for crying out loud, so lighten up.

Posted by: Gary | September 9, 2008 1:38 AM

I can't lighten up. I'm living in the dark ages, remember?

Okay, maybe I can lighten up. It's not like I found NONE of it funny. The line about practicing safe sex or becoming a Republican was funny.

I wasn't amused by his overall performance (which is my right, I'm sure you'd agree). But I may be shocked, heartbroken in fact, to find that at age 39, I'm not in MTV's target audience anyway, so they (and Russell Brand) are likely tickled at my reaction (if they care about my reaction at all, which I suspect they do not).

Posted by: Rafael Olmeda | September 9, 2008 7:50 AM