Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, September 2, 1993 TAG: 9310150340
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LYNN ELBER ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: LOS ANGELES LENGTH: Medium
But don't count on it.
The bared backsides of Prince and shock-jock Howard Stern distinguished past shows. Other, er, highlights have included obscene riffs by Andrew Dice Clay and crotch-grabbing galore.
But that's what makes the MTV awards ... well, the MTV awards. And, ready or not, they're back Thursday at 8 p.m. on the cable television channel.
Actor Christian Slater hosts, and the musical lineup includes Madonna, U2, Janet Jackson, Sting, Aerosmith, Pearl Jam and Spin Doctors. Peter Gabriel, Lyle Lovett and Tony Bennett (go figure) are among the presenters.
En Vogue, the stylish vocal group, has a leading seven nominations, including best video. Other top nominees are Gabriel, R.E.M., Aerosmith and Pearl Jam.
For their part, MTV executives are unrepentant about excesses past or future.
``It's a garish spectacle. It's a three-ring circus,'' says Doug Herzog, senior vice president for programming. ``It is just out of control, or it feels just under control, like it could spin out of control at any moment.
``I don't think you get that feeling watching any of the other awards show,'' he says. ``We are proud of that.''
Not proud, specifically, of how Stern looked in backless pants, we assume; proud instead of the irreverence beating relentlessly in the hearts of MTVers.
The line of propriety has been crossed, Herzog admits: ``There have been a couple of moments that we do not look back on too fondly.''
``Obviously, Andrew Dice Clay was not one of our prouder moments. Howard Stern's appearance is something if we could do all over again, we would have done differently, although we were happy to have him.''
At the 1989 MTV awards, Clay offered up lewd, unprintable poems about sex and overweight women. It earned him banishment from the cable channel.
``But then again, those occasional things are what makes it the MTV Awards and not the American Music Awards,'' adds a reflective Herzog.
OK, so sometimes things get out of hand. After all, kids will be kids - and the people who make money off them will be hard-driving capitalists.
Besides, rock fans get what they tune in for: hot music, a three-hour party and the chance to see some rare talent matchups.
``We've had amazing performances that have blown people away: Tom Petty and Axl Rose getting together to do a song; Eric Clapton's terrific performance last year,'' Herzog says.
``The exciting, one-time only moments exceed our blooper reel. It is the rock 'n' roll party of the year, every year.''
It also is MTV's highest-rated program every year, which means a bevy of advertisers are eager to jump on board. Reason enough for an awards show, doncha think?
The Universal Amphitheatre ceremony will be seen live on the East Coast and in tape-delay in the West.
Producer Joel Gallen says the amphitheater's stage has been expanded to accommodate a ``breakthrough'' look including rear-screen projection and pacing and lighting he promises can't be seen on other awards shows.
Offbeat presenter pairings - such as vocal legend Bennett with members of the Red Hot Chili Peppers - and more surprises are in store, Gallen says.
Hmmmmm. Mr. Bennett, could we take a gander at that tux, please?
Elsewhere in television
CHEERS IN THE BRONX: PBS is airing ``Something Within Me,'' an award-winning documentary that profiles a small Catholic grade school in New York's South Bronx.
St. Augustine's School for the Arts is helping children in the drug- and violence-plagued community with a curriculum that integrates the arts into reading, math and other subjects.The unique approach has raised test scores and enrollment. Bill Cosby hosts the hour-long film, which premieres Sept. 8 at 8 p. m. on WBRA (Channel 15).
by CNB