Video awards audience celebrates New York, castigates Eminem

NEW YORK -- With the American Museum of Natural History as the backdrop, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band kicked off the MTV Video Music Awards on Thursday with a rousing yet poignant performance that celebrated the spirit of the city.

Springsteen sang the title cut to his new disc, "The Rising," which touches on the emotions and the aftermath of Sept. 11.

But the MTV Video Music Awards being what they are, that reverent spirit didn't last for long.

At Radio City Music Hall, where the awards were held, host Jimmy Fallon lampooned nominees including rappers Eminem, Nelly and teen rocker Avril Lavigne by spoofing their videos.

One of the evening's first surprises was an appearance by the Godfather of Soul, James Brown, who sashayed on stage at the end of Fallon's skit.

Perhaps the biggest surprise was when pop queen Britney Spears emerged to give an "Artist of the Millennium" award to Michael Jackson, whose first album of the new millennium, "Invincible," only garnered two hits and was a commercial disappointment. The award coincided with the King of Pop's 44th birthday.

"Hey, Michael Jackson looks great for 44," Fallon said after Jackson left the stage, then added: "Between you and me, I think he's had some work done."

Not surprisingly, Eminem provided the evening's biggest shocker -- he was booed after winning the award for best male video for "Without Me."

The tension started when his nemesis, Christina Aguilera, presented him with the award. Aguilera looked like she wanted to drop it on the floor rather than put it in his hand.

Then, he took a pot shot at another one of his favorite targets, techno artist Moby, calling the artist a girl (Moby irritated Eminem last year by criticizing his lyrics as misogynist).

Then the boos from the audience began.

"Yeah, keep booing," Eminem told the audience, then, appearing to look in Moby's direction, said "I will hit a man with glasses."