2006 MTV Video Music Awards Fall Flat

With funnyman actor Jack Black at the helm of the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards, it seemed like the awards were being steered in the right direction. The list of performers tapped for the awards show was all-star, the nominees carried even more star power, and the fans voted for the winners, meaning they actually care. But, this year's VMAs came off without a momentous occasion or single dominant talking point, akin to the Britney Spears/Madonna kiss from 2003.

The actual awards had some shock value, as big names like Shakira only managed to cash in on one of her seven nominations (Best Choreography, "Hips Don't Lie"). Madonna went zero for five for her music video, "Hung Up". Christina Aguilera struck out as well, losing out in Best Choreography, Best Pop Video, Best Female Video and Video of the Year.

With the big names striking out, it was time for others to step into the spotlight. Panic! at the Disco took top honors on the evening, winning Video of the Year over the likes of Shakira, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Madonna and Christina Aguilera. James Blunt took home Best Male Video, and the former American Idol Kelly Clarkson managed to secure Best Female Video. Best Group Video honors went to the All-American Rejects for "Move Along"

Best Rap Video went to newcomer Chamillionaire (featuring Krayzie Bone) for "Ridin'". As for R&B, Beyonce's "Check on It" shagged the Moon Man Award. The Black Eyed Peas, Pussycat Dolls (featuring Snoop Dogg), AFI, P!nk, Avenged Sevenfold and 30 Seconds to Mars all managed to take home one of MTV's Moon Man awards.

Fall Out Boy took home the Viewer's Choice Award for their video, "Dance, Dance". As the BBC reports, "The rock band beat Shakira and former American Idol contestant Clarkson to the viewers' prize, with MTV saying some 40 million votes were cast in that category." Figures released later said Fall Out Boy took 38% of that total (15.2 million votes). The next closest video was Kelly Clarkson's "Because of You", which took in 28% (11.2 million) of the vote.

As for exciting moments, they were few and far between. Host Jack Black dressed up as a Moon Man, in honor of the Moon Man figure on the Video Music Awards. L'il Kim work an orange prison jumpsuit to the awards. Fall Out Boy bassist Peter Wentz brought his black and white monkey to the awards. Perhaps the biggest shocko came as rockers Panic! at the Disco headed to the stage to accept their award for Video of the Year. A man from the audience jumped up on stage, grabbed the microphone and exclaimed "MTV never gave me my own show." The man, who introduced himself as "Six", then tried to grab the Moon Mon trophy away from presenter Jennifer Lopez, but was removed by security. Lopez then interjected "That was all planned."

Former Vice President Al Gore showed up to deliver part of his speech on global warming, the same speech that was the focus of his movie, An Inconvenient Truth. Gore came on stage and was quoted by USA Today to confess "I hear Justin Timberlake is bringing sexy back, so here I am." Justin Timberlake did, in fact, bring the SexyBack with his performance during the awards.

The 2006 MTV Video Music Awards were held at the Radio City Music Hall in New York, after two years of being held in Miami, Florida.

[Additional Sources: BBC, USA Today, Wikipedia]