Top 10 WORST MTV Music Awards Hosts That Bombed

“34th MTV Video Music Awards” (2017)

Katy Perry’s attempt to bring her unique quirky charm to the 2017 VMAs fell rather flat. Despite her pop star status and bubbly personality, Perry’s night was marred by awkward jokes and forced skits that left the in-person audience visibly cringing. The struggle was real for Katy, and not even her performance of “Swish Swish” was able to bring the audience to her side. Making matters worse, the starlet’s ongoing bad blood with Taylor Swift was said to be the reason why Tay-Tay skipped out on that year’s proceedings. Taylor’s people said it was because of jury duty, but either way, Swifties were not impressed – much like the rest of us.

“3rd MTV Video Music Awards” (1986)

Two years following the inaugural awards ceremony, MTV decided to go with their own VJs as hosts of the star-studded show. And while this went on for two consecutive years in '86 and '87, it never quite worked. The idea, of course, was to capitalize on their familiarity with audiences. Unfortunately, it ended up feeling like an overextended episode of normal MTV programming at the time. The bland banter didn’t help much, as audiences were left yearning for more polished presenters. It’s no surprise then that MTV never went back to VJ hosts – even opting to have the show host-less when no bona fide celebrity was at the helm.

“17th MTV Video Music Awards” (2000)

Known for their comedic chops in shows like “In Living Color” and movies such as “Scary Movie,” Marlon and Shawn Wayans seemed like a great fit for the VMAS - on paper, at least. Reality painted a different picture however, as the duo’s humor didn’t quite translate well into hosting duties. To be fair, there were a handful of truly funny quips, but many jokes were either too edgy or flat-out off base. The monologue was also overly laden with profanity, making for an annoying barrage of bleeps. And, on a night featuring plenty of spectacle, the comedians unfortunately became an afterthought to all the other madness at hand.

“23rd MTV Video Music Awards” (2006)

How could Jack Black possibly be on a list of worst hosts? He’s got the star power, he’s funny, and, as a bonus for the MTV awards, he’s musically inclined. By all accounts he should make for a wonderfully wild time as master of ceremonies. Alas, Black’s stint at the 2006 VMAs is anything but memorable. His performance was fine mind you, but the show as a whole was lambasted as being one of the most uninteresting in VMA history. Nothing stood out. And when Jack Black can’t make the night pop, you know something is wrong.

“18th MTV Video Music Awards” (2001)

Like Jack Black, Jamie Foxx’s hosting turn should have been a slam dunk. The undeniably talented star showcased his ability to sing, dance, and do impersonations. Unfortunately, nothing left its mark – not even the bizarre opera-style musical number. And while the 2001 awards were filled with a plethora of buzzy moments, like the infamous snake performance of “I’m a Slave 4 U” by Britney Spears and Michael Jackson’s surprise appearance with 'N Sync, nobody much remembered anything Jamie Foxx did that night. Heck, most forgot he even hosted the thing…

“11th MTV Video Music Awards” (1994)

The year was 1994 and Rosanne Barr was riding high off the success of her namesake TV series. So, to say the actress/comedian brought star power to the awards ceremony would be a wee bit of an understatement. Rosanne also deserves props for being the first solo female to host the show. Unfortunately for Barr (and us) her performance lacked finesse. For one, it was painfully apparent that she was trying to be edgy with her jokes. Those jokes weren’t anything to write home about though. It also didn’t take long to discover that Rosanne’s brash style was not an overly good fit for the MTV crowd.

“10th MTV Video Music Awards” (1993)

In the late 80s and early 90s, Christian Slater was quite the rising star, and could be seen in the likes of 1991’s “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves” and 1993’s “True Romance.” That’s good and all, but why was he tasked with hosting 1993’s “MTV Video Music Awards?” To be honest, we’re not sure. He’s not known for being especially funny, nor had he hosted other shows. And, well, it showed. Slater majorly struggled to maintain momentum throughout the evening. We're pretty sure MTV wanted to target their younger audience, especially young girls, but the results just left us bored.

“MTV Video Music Awards” (1984)

Held at Radio City Music Hall on September 14, 1984, the first ever “MTV Video Music Awards” brought together two legendary talents to be the inaugural hosts: Bette Midler and Dan Aykroyd. Sounds promising, right? Well, the execution proved otherwise. This was thanks to their chemistry on stage falling flat. In the end, Aykroyd and Midler struggled to connect with both each other and the audience. Did this odd celebrity pair really represent the MTV generation? Not quite. When highlights are played of the landmark premiere awards, the hosts are nowhere to be seen, with the spotlight instead being shunned on Madonna’s wedding dress performance of “Like a Virgin.”

“27th MTV Video Music Awards” (2010)


When Chelsea Handler walked onto the stage for the 2010 edition of the “MTV Video Music Awards,” things got rough for the biting comedian. Some critics called her hosting “bizarre” and “incoherent.” And while Handler is no stranger to being a host, she came across as inauthentic that night. Her crass brand of humor, including off-color remarks, was uninspired. And, the lack of energy was palpable. The less we say about her awkward interactions with celebs the better. Was it a coincidence that the show went host-less the following year? We think not.

“32nd MTV Video Music Awards” (2015)

Let’s get one thing straight – if you really like Miley Cyrus, then you would have really liked the 2015 VMAs. Afterall, this was essentially the “Miley show,” as she was all over it. The problem: she overshadowed everything else. And, well, if you don’t like Miley Cyrus, then this would have been an insufferable viewing experience. From constant costume changes to explicit remarks, it all left little room for others to shine. Miley knows how to stir up a crowd as a performer, not so much as a host. At least we got the meme-worthy Nicki Minaj "What’s good?" moment out of it…

Enough of the worst, who do you think was the best “MTV Video Music Awards” host? Share your picks in the comments below.