Posted on: Thursday, August 29, 2002
Jimmy Fallon: A kinder, gentler MTV awards host
By Cesar G. Soriano
USA Today
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| Comedian Jimmy Fallon, a star of NBC's "Saturday Night Live," will once again host the MTV Video Music Awards show airing from New York.
Associated Press |
| MTV Video Music Awards
• 5, 8:30 tonight |
Comedian Jimmy Fallon promises he'll play nice when he hosts the 19th annual MTV Video Music Awards today.
"It's a crazy awards show," Fallon, 27, said last week. "I'll make fun of people but in a kinder, gentler way. I'm not going to come out swinging."
The popular co-host of "Saturday Night Live's" "Weekend Update" is the latest "SNL" veteran to host the MTV video awards. Past hosts include Dan Aykroyd, Dennis Miller, Dana Carvey, Eddie Murphy and Chris Rock. Last year, Fallon hosted the MTV Movie Awards.
A combination awards/fashion/concert show, the outrageous special airs live from New York's Radio City Music Hall.
"It's always unpredictable," Fallon says. "You just have to run with it. It's going to have a lot of energy to show everyone that New York is still going strong."
The show takes place just two weeks before the first anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. "(The attacks) are not going to be the focus, but we definitely will touch on it," he says.
This year's performers include the hot and hip — Pink, Ja Rule, Ashanti, Eminem, The Hives, Nas and P. Diddy — and the long-lasting — Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.
Performers with videos up for awards include Eminem (for "Without Me"), Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott ("One Minute Man"), P.O.D. ("Alive" and "Youth of a Nation"), Shakira ("Whenever, Wherever") and The White Stripes ("Fell in Love With a Girl"). "Without Me," "Alive" and "Fell in Love With a Girl" are all up for best video, in competition with "Gone" by 'N Sync, "In the End" by Linkin Park and "One Mic" by Nas.
Also scheduled to perform are Sheryl Crow, the Vines and 'N Sync's Justin Timberlake.
Britney Spears, who danced with a python during "I'm a Slave 4 U" last year, is among the presenters, with Avril Lavigne, Enrique Iglesias, Brandy, James Gandolfini, Usher, Linkin Park, P.O.D., Kirsten Dunst, Johnny Knoxville, B2K, Bow Wow, Nelly, Kylie Minogue — and "American Idol" judges Paula Abdul, Randy Jackson and Simon Cowell, with the two "Idol" finalists.
"I grew up with MTV," says Fallon, a sometime musician who sings parody songs and plays guitar on "SNL."
"God, if I could jam with Bruce Springsteen, that would be like fantasy baseball camp. I don't think I'll play with Bruce, but hopefully he'll listen when I play."
The show airs two days after the release of Fallon's debut comedy album, "The Bathroom Wall." "It's almost perfectly timed, but I'm not going to plug the record (on the show). I hate it when people do that.
" 'Shut up, please do not plug your record on the awards shows,' " he reminds this year's guests.
In May, Fallon was named one of People magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People."
He denies rumors he dated Winona Ryder. "We were just kind of hanging out. Just friends, that's all. She's really cool." Fallon is happily single. Does he want a girlfriend?
"Not right now, but maybe after the awards show."
