Times music critic Jon Pareles reviewed Sunday night's MTV [1]Video Music Awards in [1]Hollywood [1], and after the obligatory Britney Spears tribute (she won her first VMAs this year for the video "Piece of Me"),he applauded show host and British personality Russell Brand's offensive anti-GOP, pro-Obama smarminess.
As host, Russell Brand, a manic, intelligent English comedian, injected the show with politics (pro-Barack Obama), raunch and philosophical musings.
Some of Brand's "intelligent" musings [2]from the MTV stage: Calling President Bush a "retarded cowboy" and telling Americans they must vote for Barack Obama "on behalf of the world."
In May 2006, critic Pareles hailed the anti-Bush country band Dixie Chicks [3](remember them?) as martyrs to intolerant conservative country music fans.