The MTV VMAs: What you didn't see on TV

Los Angeles Times contributor Denise Martin is reporting live from the benches on the Paramount Pictures lot, the site of the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards.

Bubbly for Britney: MTV ensuring its audience stays happy for Britney's kick-off: Free Champagne for the audience. Throughout the night. Twenty minutes until the show starts and people are on their third round. And no one's carding.

Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson taking their seats together. No PDA. Yet. Eyes peeled.

The collective "whaaaa?" after Britney's 15 second opening monologue. Big beefy security guards rushing her straight out of the building. She's gone before Rihanna takes the stage. (Britney later returns to the crowd to laugh as host Russell Brand makes fun of Gov. Sarah Palin.) Britney gets a second standing ovation after winning her first ever VMA.

"Twilight" star Robert Pattinson waiting on the sides, playing with his wild hair.

DJ AM and Travis Barker spinning music during commercial break - and no one dancing - while Jonah Hill poses for fan pictures. He's the only celebrity so far to do so.

Michael Phelps getting the best reception of the night so far. (Even the Jonas Brothers pale next to eight Olympic gold medals.)

Chris Brown busting a move in the aisle for Lil Wayne. And getting a shout out in return mid-performance.

Brett Ratner hob-nobbing with Viacom execs before Paramore took the stage. And Robert Pattinson looking confused (yet relieved) after Russell Brand cut off his introduction of the band.

Making it official: Joe Jonas taking his seat next to -- sorry ladies -- Taylor Swift. They even posed for photographers! Kind of heartless, though. Nick sat watching in silence as rumored ex-girlfriend Miley Cyrus introduced Pink.

Lead Pussycat Dolls singer Nicole Scherzinger's Miley love: She not only stops Cyrus for a hug during a break, she follows her to her seat for more one-on-one time.

Inspiring a collaboration? Taylor Swift and Joe Jonas getting way into TI's ode to excess "Whatever You Like" and then getting down to his duet with Rihanna.

Is Perez getting a cut from the label? Amongst a sea of too-cool celebs, Perez Hilton waving his hands in the air and singing along to LL Cool J's impromptu performance of a new song off his upcoming album.

For the record: An earlier version of this post misidentified Joe Jonas as Kevin Jonas.

Photo: Kevork Djansezian / AP

Comments

[Cindy]

MVA awards progam sux---we could have done without all the political comments you bunch of liberals!! get over it---the democrats will be crying again for 4 more years come November!!

[Turtle]

Thanks for the background color. I'm sure this will turn out to be more entertaining than the actual show.

As for the "GO HOME LIBERALS" whine, whine, whine...I'm sure they'd be just as upset if Russell Brand had come out in support of the Republicans? Grow a thicker skin already. You people had total control for eight years. Man up, already.