Beyoncé Pregnancy Affects ‘A Star Is Born’
Lady Gaga’s male alter ego and Beyoncé’s newly revealed baby bump boosted last night’s 2011 Video Music Awards to a record-breaking 12.4 million total viewers, the largest audience ever for MTV. In the network’s target persons 12-34 audience, the VMAs delivered a 10.8 rating (8.5 million), making it MTV’s most-watched telecast of all time in the demo. Versus last year’s show, the VMAs were up 8% with persons 12-34 and 9% with total viewers. The 2011 VMAs now rank as the No. 1 cable telecast of 2011 with persons 12-34 and the No. 1 non-sports cable telecast of 2011 with total viewers. This is a throwback to MTV’s old days — before the Jersey Shore gang took over and started shattering ratings records — when the VMAs were the once-music channel’s top attraction.
UPDATE: The VMAs were probably helped by a new Jersey Shore, which aired at 7 PM, leading into the VMA pre-show. The reality juggernaut drew more than 8 million viewers and a 7.5 rating (5.9 million) in persons 12-34, up 36% from last year. After the awards show, MTV did a sneak peek of new scripted comedy I Just Want My Pants Back, which got a solid sampling with 5.1 million viewers and a 4.9 rating (5.1 million total viewers). The comedy premieres in January.
That show looked incredible!
Maybe MTV might try something new and run some music related programming.
There used to be a channel that did that…. but I can’t remember it’s name. Anyway, it’s long gone, and MTV could fill that gap.
;)
Ugh. Why would I want a TV network telling me about music in 2011.
I really believe a lot of it had to do with the three – Lady Gaga, Beyonce, and Britney’s ‘so-called’ tribute…
I’m not going to lie. Adele was the only reason why I wanted to watch the VMAs this year.
They still make videos? Really? Shouldn’t this be on youtube since that’s the only place you can find music videos now.
I have to say – I’ve been an MTV hater for many many years now. I’m still not 100% back on the bandwagon, but they’ve certainly been making some really great strides to earn praise in certain areas. The awards last night were the best MTV VMA’s in a long long time. Classy at times, cool old school flair, classic artists… no raunchy interruptions or bullshit drama for the sake of bullshit drama. For a 2 hour show they definitely covered a lot of ground. That, plus the addition of good shows like AWKWARD are really getting me excited about flipping on the channel again. And JERSEY SHORE of course is the guiltiest pleasure of all time.
Eight mil gets shows canceled on the Big 4. Jersey Shore has peaked; it’s following the same trajectory as Kate Plus 8; lots of controversy leads to big premieres, followed by huge drops as Shories’ antics get repetitive. They should do a Jersey Kate mash-up; kids with spray tans and Kate mackin’ on The Situation.
MTV has an “award show”???? I thought it was just a popularity content and promotional marketing tool for their scripted and reality programming they call “quality TV”. I caught the “Best New Artist of the Year” and his speech and it was a bunch of swearing and incoherent garbage. They bleeped him every 3 seconds.
Actually, it was pretty coherent. He expressed gratitude/disbelief, stated that he dreamed of this since a child and then encouraged other kids to go for it, too.
You could arguably miss that if you were simply trying to hear the bleeps.
Let us not forget a new Jersey Shore episode aired right before this, serving as a major tentpole lead-in…
I’m I the only person that thought the entire show was a trainwreck? The direction was herky-jerky and the cuts didn’t really make sense. People were walking in front of cameras and trying to run on stage (during Kanye/Jay-Z). Not having a “host” really hurt the flow of the show, not to mention Kevin Hart (who is very talented when it comes to stand-up), was incredibly awkward/nervous at the top of the show. The bits that were supposed to be funny came off as forced (Jonah Hill being fat, Beastie Boys from the future). And overall, I’m sick of this “who can be the biggest spectacle” trend. Lady Gaga’s schtick grew tiresome fast, Nicki Minaj was trying to be Lady Gaga, Katy Perry looked like she should have been at Lambeau Field, and Tyler the Creator’s swearing was embarrassing. Thank God for Adele for bringing a shred of class to the show.
Uhm people, the ENTIRE EAST COAST was homebound due to Hurricane Irene, AND NOTHING was on! It’s not that the show was good, people were hostage!
I think Britney’s reaction said it best, no one tuned in last night to see GaGa’s Ralph Macchio impression Nellie. Her career is literally in the toilet along with any cred she may have once had when Britney The Human Moonshine Spears doesn’t even want to be on stage with her.
Did we watch the same show? It was nothing but one large promo for upcoming movies and tv shows and I can only describe this show in agreement with a journalist: Most presenters and nominees, however, practiced little restraint. Crass monologues and foul acceptance speeches littered the show, enabling the tendency of tastelessness that has become a signature of the show. Chaney notes that the awards “often revel in the controversial, profane and/or generally tacky moments that typically generate conversation on Twitter and around the office coffee maker.”
Did all musicians become totally weird: GaGA, I’m sorry that was disturbing, Minaj = what?, Lil Wayne = go back to jail you don’t seem fit for society, Katie = ok, you have a box on your head.
Brit and Bieber were the most mature at the awards.
Horrible, horrible show.
The only reason this audience was the biggest was because MTV saved the Hunger Games trailer until the very end, so everyone who isn’t into today’s garbage muted their televisions until it premiered, and once it was over, they simultaneously turned off their TV’s and went to sleep disappointed.
You’re welcome
I also think that the high ratings were due to a combination of stuck Hurricane Irene victims and stuck Hunger Games fans waiting in vain for the teaser trailer.
Thats pretty much my reason for watching. But there was a couple of performances that where ok.
We took our 13 year-old son. He LOVED the show. He loved the acts that I “hated”—I am so not in the MTV demo!!
I thought Bruno Mars, Young the Giant, Adele, the Neo/PitBull numbers were GREAT. Others were pretty good too. A few I didn’t care about, but that’s life….there has to be something for everyone.
Agree that Gaga should have cut her act after the first long set.
Staging was awesome, the light shows were very cool.
I watched a little of it. It’s hard to believe it’s that big considering the state of the music industry. Seeing David Grohl up there reminded me of Krist Novelselich hitting himself in the head with his bass guitar and Kurt Cobain taunting Axl Rose. They had four times as much musical artists that were hits and countless choices in and out of the mainstream. The music industry was beyond huge. It seems like it’s down to about 10 artists. Maybe it’s just me, but I doubt it.
Someone tell Beiber to save his money, it’s a short ride.
Fabulous show, as least for some of us who don’t watch most of this silly MTV shows. the talent was so amazing, so professional, the sets, the direction, all top notch. It might have been just one big promotion but I believe it worked. It showcased the best of a very talented very commercial group of artists and it kept the action moving. The dancing and choreography alone was awesome.
I do believe the Jessie J inclusion was weird but at least it was an attempt to do something.
And for me, I’ll take this Gaga personality any day over those stupid 12 inch heels…..
Talent reigned and that’s not often the norm on these shows….
Please forget Twilight! Even the dying MMA’s rating will go up again if those lousy actors are not in the show anymore. Go with the real artists, damn it, like you did for VMAs!
The one time a year Mtv pretends to care about Music anymore in summary: Gaga came as a guy, Nicky Minja came as Gaga, and Jay-Z came in Beyonce.
“Hey, remember when MTV had MUSIC VIDEOS…huh? HUH???”
Shut up, the joke is old. Get over the fact that those days are gone and no one cares. As evident by the millions that watch Jersey Shore.
Yes, clearly this is evidence that each generation gets dumber and dumber. MTV is truly a reflection of the horrific path mankind is headed.
What I got the biggest kick was Cloris Leachman coming out with the Jersey Shore girls and making the comments about Betty White. I love how the older Hollywood generation is embracing the younger one.