So I’m standing on the MTV Video Music Awards red carpet, minding my own business as I try to keep the casts of “Laguna Beach” and “The Hills” straight, when a giant panda bear approaches from behind and puts me in a headlock. (Yes, Stephen Colbert, I know. I watch the “Threatdown.”)
It turns out it’s some VJ from MTV Chi in a panda suit trying to interview god-knows-who from Nickelodeon. He’s using my shoulder for leverage to move his microphone close enough to the “celebrity,” who he chats with live on air with his big paw around my neck. Oh yeah, Backstage Pass is all about the glamour.
Yes, I know red carpet veterans are saying, “Elbow to the ribs.” But do I really want to be known as the guy who assaulted the panda? No. See the dilemma?
After the interview, Mr. Panda backs off and gives me a thankful thump on the shoulder. (Tyrese had the best interview with him, starting off with, “I love Panda Express.”)
As for my interviews, the Taking Back Sunday guys said they were a bit starstruck by the whole experience. Nevertheless, singer Adam Lazzara did still kid around, saying that bassist Matt Rubano ironed all the clothes. And everyone pointed to drummer Mark O’Connell’s hot new Dolce & Gabbana suit. (To the girls I met at the LIFEbeat benefit, Lazzara had to dye his hair back to his natural color for the new video for “Liar.” The platinum blond color he had been rocking all summer was too close to his skin tone to use on the video. You ask. I get answers.)
(More red carpet with Avenged Sevenfold, New Found Glory and Susan Cagle...)
Photo of Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez, two of way too many stars who posed for pictures but avoided reporters on the red carpet, by Evan Agostini/Getty Images.
Other VMA stories:
Shockingly normal VMAs: With a return to NYC after two years in Miami, MTV brought out the stars and spread the prizes
The winners
Taking Back Sunday’s stroll on the red carpet
Newsday.com's VMA photo gallery
The guys from Avenged Sevenfold said they were happy about their nomination for best new artist because they felt like they were representing rock. "We think MTV's sort of gotten overrun with hip-hop and other stuff, so it feels good to be nominated, like we're striking a blow for rock bands everywhere," said guitarist Synyster Gates.
New Found Glory singer Jordan Pundik told me that the biggest change on the band’s forthcoming album “Coming Home” (Suretone/Geffen) are his vocals. “I just feel more confident about them and they sound stronger,” he said. “We took everything we liked about our records and made it better.”
Newcomer Susan Cagle certainly got a pretty good education in the ways of the VMAs, playing her new single “Manhattan Cowboy” during the pre-show. Beforehand, she said she wasn’t going to think about how many people would be seeing her for the first time so she wouldn’t freak out. “I’m hoping to learn some things about how to make my first video tonight,” the singer-songwriter said. “What would be a better training ground?” Cagle’s debut, recorded live in subway stations in Times Square and Grand Central, is scheduled to come out in January on Columbia.
Comments (5)
i awlays enjoy when you cover TBS, Glenn. and thanks for getting to the bottome of Adams hair lol. but howcome there arnt any TBS pictures.
You should have kicked the panda's butt!
LINKIN PARK AND FORT MINOR ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (COME TO FLORIDA)
Never seen Jennifer Lopez & Marc Anthony on concert, I was not going to see it, Jennifer Lopez & Marc Anthony tickets got sky rocked thanks to stupid brokers. But even if I had seen it, I wouldn't buy it. I'd rather wait and see it on DVD. Well suprise I changed my mind and I got 2 tix for the Jennifer Lopez & Marc Anthony show I was looking for tickets thanks god there sites like Ticketwood which work as comparators here is the site Jennifer Lopez & Marc Anthony Tickets http://www.ticketwood.com/concerts/Jennifer-Lopez-and-Marc-Anthony-Tickets/index.php. So any body going to the Jennifer Lopez & Marc Anthony concert ??
jlo quiero tener un hijo en in vitro me cuesta mucho.