People Features
Russell Brand's mixed reviews for the VMAs - video
By April MacIntyre Sep 8, 2008, 15:45 GMT
04/11/2008 - Russell Brand - "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" World Premiere - Arrivals - Grauman\'s Chinese Theater - Hollywood, CA. USA © Albert L. Ortega / PR Photos
British comedian Russell Brand caught some attention at the MTV Video Music Awards last night.
Some good and some bad, as the relatively unknown hirsute fast-talker is to many people the male version of British actress Sienna Miller; most Americans have no clue who either of them are, despite the numerous films, scandals and television they are involved in.
Jake Coyle of the AP branded Brand's turn at the microphone last night as a fresh dose of candor in a usually stultifying medium, noting that Brand "injected the VMAs with blunt politics, self-deprecation, unabashed sexuality, and, yes, plenty of off-color remarks."
The VMAs are usually not the stage for the "Real Time with Bill Maher" in-your-face political and personal atomic bombs that Brand lobbed to the shallow B, C, DListed crowd that included many not known for their great powers of intellect.
Immediately Brand got political, urging the swag-bag intoxicated audience to vote Democratic. "Please, America, elect Barack Obama. On behalf of the world."
"I'm famous in the United Kingdom," he insisted, as a way to help explain himself and his rock star hairstyle. "My persona don't really work without fame. Without fame, this haircut could be mistaken for mental illness.".
Coyle noted that Brand "seemed baffled by young American pop culture."
Unlike Coyle, who appreciated the "from left field" approach Brand took with the crowd, conservative Michelle Malkin was incensed by his appearance, and wrote on her political blog "This cretin’s claim to fame? Dressing up as Osama bin Laden on the day after the September 11 terrorist attacks."
Transcript of Russell Brand from the VMAs:
"Now, as a representative of the global community and a visitor from abroad, I don't want to come across a little bit biased, but could I please ask of you people of America, to PLEASE ELECT BARACK OBAMA. Please! On behalf of the world. (Camera pans to singers Chris Brown and Britney Spears applauding and cheering.) Some people, I think they're called racists, say that America is not ready for a black president. But I know America to be a forward-thinking country, right. Because, otherwise, you know, would you have let that retarded cowboy fellow be president for eight years?
We were very impressed. It was nice of you to let him have a go. Because in England, George Bush wouldn't be trusted with a pair of scissors.
I am obliged by broadcasting law to show some balance in this situation, which means, uh, the Republicans might be alright. Sarah Palin. She's a VILF! A vice president I'd like to...fumble, fondle, I dunno. I do feel a little bit sorry for her daughter, getting pregnant, poor kid. Is it a boy? Is it a girl? It's a P.R. stunt. Come on. Be honest.
And I feel most sorry for that poor teenaged father. Boy. One minute, he's just a teenaged lad in Alaska having joyful, unprotected sex. And the next minute: Get to the Republican convention. I think that is the best safe sex message of all time. Use a condom or become Republican! ...That boy will spend the rest of his life masturbating while wearing a condom...
...New music, new president, and brand new America. And you people deserve it after eight years of Bush. I promise you, you deserve it..."
Fresh funny voice or visitor with bad manners? You tell us.
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Older Talkback
page: 1
I was so relieved that finally we got a wake up call. I thought it was so funny because, if you were sly enough to catch on, he was really just making fun of how we view humor. He did not HATE or DESPISE the Jonas brothers he was just 'amazed' at what they were committed to. He still respected their choice but, for the sake of the show, made fun of it to catch peoples attention. Whether he went over the top is still an individual opinion. Even I, a knew Russell brand fan (catchy), think he went a little over with the JoVi jokes, but it's still in that territory of 'Look Americans, watch this.' Bringing up the point that I NEVER watch the VMAs even though I'm the prime candidate to. I only watched it to see Britney and to watch Russel Brand and the reactions on people's faces. Other than that, the VMA's pretty much sucked, the opening performance sucked and I left the show halfway when the Jonas brother were performing. Everything was lack luster and boring (except Russel Brand.)
Russel one as many enemies and he did fans. The enemies are either stupid, up-tight parents, or jonas lovers. The fans are just a meledy of crazy, but somehow smart people.
Plus, the Jonas brothers are going to crash when they get older, even if they do make it to marriage, they will be come sex addicts and then, they might relate to Russel. And in 20 years, all the little girls who got promise rings because the Jonas Brothers got one, will all either be desperate and marry the first guy who will wait for them but is not right for them, sluts, or selena and miley wannabes.
P.S. One of them will turn Brittney and their mom will reveal that they had sex when they were like 13, so don't fret America, it's all good.
VOTE OBAMA!
...a pity there's no 'M' left in the equation...
Does anyone over 15 really watch this crap?
Dear Writer, Amy:
Much better.
Best of luck to you.
No, what happens when society is dumbed-down, is you elect your politicians based on fear due to their scare tactics. Middle America is so terrified that the terrorists are coming to their small town and that they will be surrounded with married gays, that they have been willing to piss the economy down the drain. The idea that McCain could have anywhere near 40% of the popular vote just shows how easily-manipulated voters are. This should not even be close.
Brand's speech should be indicative of nothing less than the abject terror the rest of the world feels at the prospect of 'four more years' of this nonsense. He's an unknown comedian in this country for the most part, performing at potentially the gig of his life, and he was willing to take a potentially-unpopular stand in case it was his one shot to be heard.
And it was the most rock-and-roll thing seen on MTV in many, many years.
..he's a dick...MTV is a joke...no one is impressed with some limey court jester's take on politics.
'Limey'....love that you're still calling us that son.....so 1920's. Pull yourself together lad.
Well done Russell. I recorded it and spun past the meaningless drivel to his bits, the only reason for watching it.....The revolution is coming.
uptight conservative republican promise ringing american
Jordin Sparks gets on stage and calls people who have sex 'sluts,' and Russell Brand is the mean one?
When you market yourself as a 'retarded cowboy' and when you vote for someone, for an office requiring intelligence, thoughtfulness and savvy, who has none of these attributes, because you want to have a beer with him and you demonize intelligent, thoughtful and savvy people as elitists, then you do not get to complain when you get called out on it.
Meanwhile, the Palins tout the abstinence-only education that has resulted in teenage pregnancy for their own daughter. Despite the misery and harm caused by their vile sexual norms, Americans continue to believe they are superior to everyone else with an alternative way of thinking, and will brook no criticism of their culture. This is the culture that elevated an unqualified simpleton to office at the behest of a cretinous populist mob, demonized thoughtful opposition to incompetence and religious fanaticism, and offered justifications for torture, indefinite imprisonment and murder of people including innocent people. Yet, Russell Brand is the impolite and mean one. Oh, ok.
page: 1
GinaSep 9th, 2008 - 05:37:52
Russell Brand is a prime example of what happens when society is dumbed down, resulting in incompetent spokesmen pandering to its lowest common denominator. Russell Brand proves that gratuitous shock value, Irreverence and cheap shots are poor substitutes for real talent. At low points in history, inferior elements often gain the ear of malcontents, enabling those like the far left, and it's shallow clique of celebrities to gain the attention of mindless lemmings who will blindly follow their counterparts like a stampeding herd, thugs in a lynch mob, or lost souls who worship a golden calf. Since these types have no real substance, luckily their existence is usually short lived.
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