Jacksons, Roseanne Give MTV Awards a Tabloid Tilt

L.A. Times Archives

Sept. 9, 1994 12 AM PT

from Times Wire Services

NEW YORK — And the award for upstaging its own award program: Once again, it’s MTV!

Sure, the music channel was handing out its 11th annual MTV Video Music Awards on Thursday night, with lots of big-name nominees. But the pre-party focus was on newlyweds Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley-Jackson, who opened the show with their first live television appearance as husband and wife.

“Please welcome Mr. and Mrs. Michael Jackson,” the announcer intoned as the program went on the air.

The pair looked slightly nervous as they walked out and received a standing ovation from the crowd of 5,700 at Radio City Music Hall, where the program returned after eight years in Los Angeles.

Jackson wore a black jacket and trousers with red trim while Presley, sporting pearls, had on a black pants suit.

“I’m very happy to be here. And just think, nobody thought this would last,” Jackson said, then planted a big kiss on his wife to the squealing delight of the crowd.

They kept it in the family for the first award. Jackson’s sister, Janet, snagged the Best Female Video prize for “If.” She resisted any temptation she may have had to comment on her brother and new sister-in-law’s kickoff to the show, just offering the usual thanks instead.

The Best Dance Video award went to “Whatta Man” by Salt-N-Pepa, featuring En Vogue. The direction and “breakthrough” awards went to R.E.M.--which had six nominations--for its haunting “Everybody Hurts.” And Counting Crows were selected Best New Artist in a video for “Mr. Jones.”

In presenting a lifetime achievement award to the Rolling Stones, Rolling Stone magazine publisher Jann Wenner talked about how much the enduring rock band had meant to him throughout his life.

“They’ve inspired me in word and deeds. I took their name for my magazine. And they mean more to me now than ever. I’m a total stone-cold Stones fan, and proud of it,” Wenner said.

That provoked Rolling Stones lead singer Mick Jagger to joke:

“Without us, Jann, the magazine might have been called the Herman’s Hermits Monthly.”

He then offered thanks, concluding: “We’ve been doing this now for 30 years. It’s a good way of making of living, I think; we’ll just keep on doing it.”

Performing between the acceptance speeches was a musical smorgasbord: the Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, the Beastie Boys, Snoop Doggy Dogg, Stone Temple Pilots, Boyz II Men, Salt-N-Pepa, Green Day and Smashing Pumpkins.

Another big name--so big she needs no last name--was the host of the show: Roseanne (formerly Barr, formerly Arnold).

The comic kept her controversial image alive by saying she was not upset over her impending divorce from actor Tom Arnold. “I’m only upset that I’m not a widow,” she said.

Virtually all the performers were nominees. After winning the Academy Award for “Streets of Philadelphia,” Springsteen collected a kitschy statue of an astronaut--which is what the MTV video award looks like--for Best Video From a Film to put alongside that Oscar.

Winners of the main awards were determined by mailed ballots from 500 music industry professionals plus an equal number of fans selected at random.

MTV Video Award Winners

These are the winners of the MTV Video Music Awards:

GENERAL BALLOT

Top video of the year: Aerosmith, “Cryin’ ”

Best Male Video: Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, “Mary Jane’s Last Dance”

Best Female Video: Janet Jackson, “If”

Best Group Video: Aerosmith, “Cryin’ ”

Best Rap Video: Snoop Doggy Dogg, “Doggy Dogg World”

Best Dance Video: Salt-N-Pepa/En Vogue, “Whatta Man”

Best Metal/Hard Rock Video: Soundgarden, “Black Hole Sun”

Best Alternative Music Video: Nirvana, “Heart-Shaped Box”