That would be the Nineties, which loomed over over the entire night. The ceremony was hosted by Snoop Dogg, with a Video Vanguard tribute to Nirvana. Madonna was the night’s big winner and opening performer.
There was a running comedy gag about the Spice Girls. Everybody sang “Freedom ’90.” The whole show buzzed with that Nineties energy—it promised to be a big night for Sir Mix-a-Lot and Sophie B. But it’s understandable, since those were the glory days for MTV, and that’s when the VMAs reigned supreme as the TV party of the year, every year.
This was the first year the VMAs got a new network, airing on CBS, as well as Paramount+ and whatever’s left of MTV. So the Nineties theme looked like a way to remind the new corporate bosses of why MTV used to rule as the musical epicenter of pop culture. Yet this show had plenty of highlights.
Madonna time-traveling into disco sleaze in “Danceteria” with Sabrina Carpenter and Charli XCX. Taylor Swift premiering the “Patient Zero” murder-thriller video. Nirvana doing absolutely nothing.
If this turns out to be the last VMAs ever, they went out in style. Snoop killed it as the host—he’s played this party a bunch of times, even won a few Moonmen, so he’s an O.G. who knows how it works. He just held court as Snoop, laaaaaaid back.
So what the hell happened with that Nirvana tribute? They didn’t say a word, at least the two who aren’t Krist Novoselic. Why did this even happen?
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