Chelsea Handler is hosting the MTV Video Music Awards. Help us dream up the possibilities.
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As the TV industry waits with bated breath to see whether the 62nd annual Emmy Awards will be yet another case of déjà vu with “Mad Men” and “30 Rock” up for best drama and comedy, respectively, the music industry has a more pressing matter on its hands: Will Chuy Bravo be making an appearance at the MTV Video Music Awards? Even more pressing: What will he wear?
After all, the TV sidekick is the only logical escort for his boss, Chelsea Handler, who announced Wednesday on her E! talk show, “Chelsea Lately,” that she will be hosting the VMAs.
“Everyone knows that when you think of rap music and hip-hop, you think of ‘Chelsea Lately,’ ” Handler deadpanned. “And that’s why I will be hosting.”
She’s already proven that she’s well-versed with MTV’s programming, having “Jersey Shore’s” the Situation, Snooki and Pauly D as guests on her show earlier this year. And she also has welcomed music stars who run the gamut from Justin Bieber and Mary J. Blige to Ludacris. But will Handler’s crude humor turn into ratings gold for the network?
It’s the first time the L.A.-based comedian will host the awards show, airing live from Los Angeles on Sept. 12. Last year’s ceremony, which was hosted by Russell Brand and featured an unexpected (and highly awkward) rant by Kanye West, averaged just less than 9 million viewers on the network — the largest since 2004 but still not quite the ratings juggernaut it once was for the network. But with West and Handler’s boy toy Bieber in attendance, Handler is likely to have a few tricks up her comedic sleeve throughout the night.
Which has us thinking: Which “Chelsea Lately” bits — if any — might she incorporate into the event?
Perhaps a segment of “Judge Lately” should be called to order. We’d love for Handler to preside over the Kanye West-Taylor Swift case. More so if her ruling involves sentencing them to perform a mash-up of “Today Was a Fairytale” and “ Gold Digger.” Or perhaps she can use her “Detective Lately” skills to uncover the mystery surrounding how exactly Katy Perry gets her skin so hot that it melts Popsicles … or just how much effort goes into the follicular wonder that is “The Bieber.” If nothing else, we’d be content with seeing Chuy dressed as Ryan Seacrest.
Let’s just hope Handler makes it through the night without criticizing anyone’s hot pockets.
ShowTrackers, do you think Handler is a good choice for the gig? With her as host, are you more likely to tune in? What segments from “Chelsea Lately” would you like to see incorporated?
Here’s a look at her interview with Bieber to hold you over:
-- Yvonne Villarreal
Video: “Chelsea Lately” / E!
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