The MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) are all over the news, but the actual awards have taken a back burner to Britney Spears’ painfully awful opening performance.

Britney Spears’ performance was to be a huge marketing tool for MTV and Britney’s rise from the ashes. Instead, she crashed and burned on stage, looking as though she’d forgotten how to perform. Host Sara Siverman couldn’t even hold back barbs as she commented that Britney Spears “is 25-years old and she has already accomplished everything she is going to accomplish in her life.” Ouch!

Although not a fan of Britney Spears, I did, at one point, have respect for her as a performer and a dancer; she was good at what she did. Unfortunately, that respect was completely lost when I viewed the video of Britney’s performance at the MTV VMAs. 

Follow the link above, view the video of Britney’s performance, and I’m sure you will agree that characterizing the performance as “lackluster” is a kind remark. Britney Spears looked like she had not learned the routines that she was trying to perform, that she forgot how to lip-sync, and that she was out of shape (which probably more correctly explains her sad performance). All-in-all, it was a lazy effort on her part. According to my teen-aged Sister, “She didn’t even look like she was trying.” I agree.

Bad performances aside, I did notice one star that shined very brightly at the awards: Chris Brown. While flipping through the channels in boredom – trying to avoid the VMAs – I had to stop to watch him. This kid deserved the standing ovation that he received! In contrast to Britney’s performance, hard work makes for a great performance. One could tell that Chris Brown put in the work – Britney did not.

To be honest, the fact that MTV went forward with the VMAs seems like a joke – considering that they hardly ever play music videos. This may be the result of the decline of the MTV brand. Music Television has become a bastion for brain junk-food reality shows such as My Super Sweet Sixteen, The Hills, Newport Harbor, and the one that started it all The Real World (and the respective spin-offs).

Choosing Britney Spears to open the VMAs was a huge mistake and illustrates the disconnect between MTV and actual music. MTV used to select artists that were on top of their game—not those trying to recover. Some will call this a noble act on the part of MTV, but we all know the network is desperate and holding on for dear life.

(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)