Jackson's 4 Awards Are An Appreciation Too Late

CLEVELAND - First off, I am absolutely thrilled that the great Michael Jackson won four awards at the 37th annual American Music Awards last night. But I am outraged that it took the man's death to occur for him to get properly appreciated.

That's disgusting.

Everyone knows that I adore and love Michael and always have, but this isn't a "fan rant" on my part. I'm just very upset that, prior to last night, Michael hadn't won an AMA in 20 freakin' years! Yes, he has now won a record 23 AMA's, but the four he posthumously won last night seemed to be too little too late in appreciation of the relentlessly vilified Jackson. Even the man who accepted his awards on his behalf, his brother Jermaine was a questionable choice. Jermaine is the man who so often defends and praises his legendary brother with great effusion, but he's also the guy that wrote, recorded and released a vitriolic diatribe in the form of a song against Michael in 1991.

Jerk.

Even though it is obvious that Michael's stunning death five months ago greatly influenced sentiment towards him in voting last night, it is also true that he genuinely deserved each of the awards he won. He'd been nominated for five, and won four, losing out to teen sensation Taylor Swift, who very deservedly won Artist of the Year. Swift, beauty that she is, accepted her award via satellite and was humble and thoughtful as she acknowledged Michael's iconic brilliance and lamented his loss saying, "we'll miss and love [him] forever."

Michael dominated the AMA's 25 years ago. That was the evening that he, flanked by Brooke Shields and Emmanuel Lewis won a record 8 awards for his steamrolling Thriller album. His fame and popularity were at an all-time high at that time, and he was still the world's most dominant and iconic entertainer when he won five years later. In the two decades since that last win in 1989, he became an oft-maligned, heavily criticized and mocked pariah. Dogged by two different child molestation allegations a decade apart and a rapidly changing visage, Jackson's superlative legacy absorbed massive destruction. As a result, he became a laughingstock to idiots the world over, though he still retained a great measure of his enormous mystique (especially abroad) and by the spring of 2009, he had planned a stunning comeback to the world of live performing.

When he died on June 25, 2009 as a result of a prescription drug overdose, it tore my world apart but predictably, it provoked and inspired global tributes and a re-evaluation of his legend. Even his hastily assembled film, "Michael Jackson's This is It" has received extensive critical acclaim. As far as I'm concerned, the world should have shown Michael this love while he was around to appreciate it.

This praise now just seems fake.

Young's 50th Episode Critically Acclaimed

CLEVELAND - In a decidedly surprising development, critics worldwide have submitted generally positive reviews and critiques of "Deante Young's Thriller," the 50th episode of the obscene web series, a Date with Deante.

Talk about a change.

The short film, which serves as the show's second season finale was praised by many for its script and production, as well as its twist ending. Normally, the show is the target of harsh criticism and vilification, but not this time. Gabriel Svedka of The London Mirror opined; "Mr. Young's Thriller film is extraordinary in its scope relative to his past clips. He is clearly a comedic powerhouse and this flick illustrates that." Aden Winthorp of The Chinese Opinion wrote in his daily column that "Young is a grand filmmaker with a brazen flair for the most shocking of humor. He is a legend in the making."

Here in the U.S., Harry Wexler of The New York Star wrote, "Deante Young's Thriller exudes creativity and genius storytelling. This effort manages to outlast its own filthy elements and survives as a masterpiece of unlimited imagination." Kevin Saxson of The L.A. Tablet remarked, "not since the early days of Howard Stern has a man so reviled created such a fervor and fascination for his brand of sexism and exploitation. But Young does it better than Stern ever did."

A statement issued by Young through his production company thanked the fans and the critics of his show. It also hinted that the entertainer may do an exit interview since his show has reached its hiatus.

We'll be waiting.

MTV's VMA's: The Good, The Bad And The Odd

CLEVELAND - For me, last night's MTV Video Music Awards caused a gamut of emotions. There were tears, jeers and cheers from me during the two and a half hour spectacle that began and ended with Michael Jackson.

The in-between was something else.

The good: Pop legend Madonna opened the show (held at New York's Radio City Music Hall) with a moving, occassionally funny and heartfelt speech about Michael, noting a range of similarities between the two of them, then detailing her friendship with the man that she dominated 1980's music and pop culture with. She extolled his kindness and brilliance and labeled him a "human being," but still very much a "king." Though they grew distant, she was quick to assert that "we abandoned him."

After Madonna finished, a troupe of dancers filled the stage clad in various trademark Michael Jackson outfits and ran through a short medley of a few of his iconic songs. Against a large, video screen backdrop, the dancers mimicked Jackson's choreographed dance numbers in sync with him on the screen, which featured him performing in those groundbreaking short films. When MJ's futuristic 1995 clip for the song "Scream" came on, his sister Janet (who featured on the song and video) took to the stage and reprised her dance sequences as well as Michael's while it played out on the screen behind her. It was an electrifying performance by all, and it caused me to shed buckets of tears.

The Bad: Hip-hop musician and producer Kanye West, a notoriously egotistical sore loser, stormed the stage when young newcomer Taylor Swift won an award over a group of nominees that included Beyonce Knowles. West interrupted Swift's exuberant acceptance speech to declare that Beyonce should have won instead of her, which prompted a chorus of boos from the star-studded crowd. Knowles appeared stunned in her seat, as did Swift on stage. West wasn't seen again the rest of the night.

What a total creep.

The Odd: Eccentric pop star Lady Gaga showed up with Kermit the Frog as her date, whom she kissed while she sported a Phantom of the Opera-style face mask. She later performed her hit song "Paparazzi" with heavy theatrics that included a glittery wheelchair and fake blood dripping from her torso. She switched outfits often, at one point wearing a red lace shroud which covered her entire face with matching crown. After that? Gaga's face was encased in a circular haystack. Incidentally, I love her style. I felt that her "oddities" were also among the "good" simply because she is original and isn't afraid to go to extremes to express herself.

More good: Pink has become a favorite of mine. She looked and sounded great during her performance as did Beyonce, who surprised me with how thick and curvy she is. Taylor Swift is a 19-year old knockout and brushed off the Kanye debacle with an awesome performance of her song "You Belong With Me" on a subway train before running through the station and finally, outside the building. Later, Beyonce won an award and asked Swift to take to the stage and use her (Beyonce's) time to finally have "her moment" since West ruined hers. That was true class at its finest.

Great to see Eminem win an award for his music video "We Made You." He stepped onstage and thanked his fans for sticking by him during his hiatus from music, then dedicated the award to his fallen friend, Proof.

Jay-Z made a grand entrance after his motorcade traversed the streets of Manhattan before dropping him off at an exclusive, backstage door. He walked in calm, yet confident, grabbed a mic, then stepped out on stage and launched into his new song "Empire State of Mind" while Alicia Keys crooned the hook and played the piano.

The Odd: Host Russell Brand, who also emceed the show last year. His over-the-top and often racy humor tends to border on the peculiar, and he can be quite disturbing.

The Good: We were finally treated to the trailer for the forthcoming Michael Jackson feature length documentary, "This Is It." The film is comprised of footage from Michael's rehearsals as he prepared for what was to be his swan song as a touring artist. Due in theaters October 28 for a two week run, it also features interviews and other behind the scenes access that we've never seen. From what I saw, it looks and sounds incredible.

Great show overall, but someone needs to invest in a muzzle for Mr. West. Or maybe even a restraining order.

That wasn't a joke, either.