Review : MTV Video Music Awards 2008

Paramount Pictures Studios, Hollywood, September 7, 2008

Arrival on a monster truck all decorated with their logo and pictures, and blasting their music. I'd call that "trying too hard" if they hadn't been beaten at that game by somebody arriving on a real elephant. And if they weren't so cute trying not to fall from the truck as it arrived.

Actually, so much of what could be obnoxious from others is disarmed in their case to my eyes by a "dawww" factor. But don't tell them that : they're trying to look fierce.

They delivered a few interviews on their way on the loooong red carpet - the longest they'd been on, according to them. Note to non-German speaking interviewers : really, don't ever ask them to tell you something in German, or worse, to teach your something in German.
It makes for funny videos, but it might get you into troubles if you trust their innocent faces and repeat the words they tell you.

Poor, poor PR person with them.

They were nominated for two awards, and considering their opponents, few believed they would win. Not even them, and their official website had tried to motivate European fans into voting by promising a huge fan party in Europe if they won one. Obviously not believing it would work.

Never underestimate the power of teenage fangirls with too much time on their hands (I may be twice older, but I'm not deluding myself about the nature of TH's core audience). Even though their opponents have the same demographic of fans. TH fans are worse better.

Even though the Best Pop Video (voted by professionnals) eluded them, they did get the fan-voted award of Best New Artist. Happy happy joy joy. Or, as Bill eloquently said once he got to the mic on stage, "Pffff!".

...
I don't know, maybe it's German for "Drats, I didn't think I'd have to do a thank you speech".

*smiles like a loony*

TH : maybe not the best band of the world, but certainly the most joy-inducing, if you tag along.
First you laugh at them, then you... still laugh at them, but affectionately. And with them, too.

He did say a little speech in English next, for which his accent was mocked later, because the US audience is not used to foreigners breaching into their TV. Considering his level of English one year before, though, he was fairly good.

I'd link you to a video, but MTV is hunting down all YouTube vids from the event, trying to force people to look for it on their ad-clogged official website. So, look it up for yourself.

They also briefly appeared in Miley Cyrus skit, mock-playing instruments on some game device sponsor.

Categories they were nominated in, contenders, and winners in bold :

Best Pop Video
Danity Kane - "Damaged"
Jonas Brothers - "Burnin' Up"
Panic at the Disco - "Nine in the Afternoon"
Britney Spears - "Piece of Me"
Tokio Hotel - "Ready, Set, Go!"

Best New Artist
Miley Cyrus - "7 Things"
Katy Perry - "I Kissed a Girl"
Jordin Sparks (featuring Chris Brown) - "No Air"
Taylor Swift - "Teardrops on My Guitar"
Tokio Hotel - "Ready, Set, Go!"