For all the flack the MTV VMA’s received this year, I thought I’d go against the grain a bit and talk about how the show was actually successful.

I was one of those teens who was glued to MTV when it was a newborn.  I loved the VJ’s, didn’t care that the videos were bad and made no sense.  There was some excellent programming at the time -- Andy Warhol’s 15 Minutes and The Basement Tapes to name a few.  Plus, they had incredible promotions -- anyone remember when Jon Bon Jovi gave away his house? (Full disclosure -- Hey JBJ, I grew up in Sayreville, NJ too!!)

It’s easy to bash MTV over the years, less innovative musical programming, making the world of music small instead of expansive.  But.  I watched this year’s VMA’s.  Not live, mind you, and not on TV, but on their website as I selected which highlights I wanted to see.  Kanye, Taylor -- whatever, no need to beat that dead horse.  Here’s where it all turns around.

Lady Gaga -- Paparazzi performance.  I’ve only heard her on Z100 radio, just the dance-y hits.  Hadn’t heard this song before the VMA’s.

My reaction: “Whoa, what the hell was that??  That song was pretty damn good.  Hey, she can really sing!  Refreshing to see a performance that was theatrical, intriguing and more than a little bizarre.”  I read in one of the descriptions that the performance was based on the same theme of the music video.  Music video??  Well I had to see that right away too!

Reaction: “Jonas Akerlund directed, awesome, he did amazing videos for Madonna.  Hey -- that’s Vampire Eric!  Hmmm, looks like he’s a good kisser…OK I digress.  Back to Gaga.  Great f’n song, and the video took it to a whole new level -- as videos should.”

Now I want to know more about her.  Bought the album on iTunes.  Would like to see her live.  All because of the VMA’s.  Radio airplay made me familiar with her name, but it was her performance on the VMA’s the brought me into the world of Gaga.  Congrats MTV.