Have we scraped the bottom of the barrel now that the door's kicked open for every warbler with a hit and half to get their shine on? What's the agenda next? A lifetime achievement plaque for Nivea? Montages in tribute to Tamia? An all-star medley of Christina Milian's ONE fleeting moment in the Hot 100's top 10? The travesty's gotta stop somewhere...

I like Amerie and will readily admit Touch was a decent effort for a sophomore followup, but to reward her for one monster single that's lost steam since late spring while her album's been certified....um, well... aluminum, maybe? Uh no oh oh oh!

While we're already on the topic of irrevelant orgies of celebrity on full display, last Monday marked the announcement of the 2005 VMA nominations. While Green Day snatched up the lion's share of nods with 8, I'm ecstatic that the always inventive Missy Elliott followed close behind with a well-deserved 6 mentions for the frenetic party jam, Lose Control. However aside from Misdemeanor continuing to push the visual envelope, the glutton of lackluster clips in a field of "who gives a damn?" makes this year's ceremony one that won't be high on my priority viewing list. Need more proof? J.Ho scored a trifecta from her craptastic Stillbirth album for the club-themed L'Oreal spot, Get Right. In a year when he was about as relevant as Pat Boone, Eminem still landed dual charity shouts. Drop It Like It's Hot is up for Video Of The Year. That just crystallizes a moonman's validity in a nutshell. The full list is as follows:

Video Of The Year
Coldplay, "Speed Of Sound"
Green Day, "Boulevard Of Broken Dreams"
Gwen Stefani, "Hollaback Girl"
Kanye West, "Jesus Walks"
Snoop Dogg with Pharrell, "Drop It Like It's Hot"

Best Male Video
50 Cent, "Candy Shop"
Beck, "E-Pro"
John Legend, "Ordinary People"
Kanye West, "Jesus Walks"
Usher, "Caught Up"

Best Female Video
Amerie, "1 Thing"
Gwen Stefani, "Hollaback Girl"
Kelly Clarkson, "Since U Been Gone"
Mariah Carey, "We Belong Together"
Shakira with Alejandro Sanz, "La Tortura"

Best Group Video
Black Eyed Peas, "Don't Phunk With My Heart"
Destiny's Child with T.I & Lil' Wayne, "Soldier"
Green Day, "Boulevard Of Broken Dreams"
The Killers, "Mr. Brightside"
U2, "Vertigo"

Best Rap Video
Eminem, "Just Lose It"
The Game & 50 Cent, "Hate It Or Love It"
Ludacris, "Number One Spot"
T.I., "You Don't Know Me"
Ying Tang Twins, "Wait (The Whisper Song)"

Best R&B Video
Alicia Keys, "Karma"
Ciara with Ludacris, "Oh"
John Legend, "Ordinary People"
Mariah Carey, "We Belong Together"
Usher w/Alicia Keys, "My Boo"

Best Hip-Hop Video
Common, "Go"
Kanye West, "Jesus Walks"
Missy Elliott with Ciara & Fat Man Scoop, "Lose Control"
Nas w/ Olu Dara, "Bridging The Gap"
Snoop Dogg w/Pharrell, "Drop It Like It's Hot"

Best Dance Video
Ciara, "1, 2 Step"
Destiny's Child, "Lose My Breath"
Jennifer Lopez, "Get Right"
Missy Elliott with Ciara & Fat Man Scoop, "Lose Control"
Shakira with Alejandro Sanz, "La Tortura"

Best Rock Video
Foo Fighters, "Best Of You"
Green Day, "Boulevard Of Broken Dreams"
The Killers, "Mr. Brightside"
My Chemical Romance, "Helena"
Weezer, "Beverly Hills"

Best Pop Video
Ashlee Simpson, "Pieces Of Me"
Gwen Stefani, "Hollaback Girl"
Jesse McCartney, "Beautiful Soul"
Kelly Clarkson, "Since U Been Gone"
Lindsay Lohan, "Rumors"

Best New Artist In A Video
Ciara, "1, 2 Step"
The Game, "Dreams"
John Legend, "Ordinary People"
The Killers, "Mr. Brightside"
My Chemical Romance, "Helena"

MTV2 Award
Akon with Styles P, "Locked Up"
The Bravery, "An Honest Mistake"
Daddy Yankee, "Gasolina"
Fall Out Boy, "Sugar, We're Going Down"
Mike Jomes with Slim Thug & Paul Wall, "Still Tippin'"
My Chemical Romance, "Helena"

Breakthrough Video
Eminem, "Mosh"
Gorillaz, "Feel Good Inc."
Missy Elliott with Ciara & Fat Man Scoop, "Lose Control"
Sarah McLachlan, "World On Fire"
U2, "Vertigo"

Best Choreography In A Video
Amerie, "1 Thing"
Gwen Stefani, "Hollaback Girl"
Jennifer Lopez, "Get Right"
Missy Elliott with Ciara & Fat Man Scoop, "Lose Control"
My Chemical Romance, "Helena"

Best Director
Samuel Bayer (Green Day's "Boulevard Of Broken Dreams")
Francis Lawrence/Diane Martel (Jennifer Lopez's "Get Right")
Dave Meyers/Missy Elliott (Missy Elliott's "Lose Control")
Floria Sigismondi (The White Stripes' "Blue Orchid")
Alex & Martin (U2's "Vertigo")

Best Special Effects In A Video
Coldplay, "Speed Of Sound"
Gorillaz, "Feel Good Inc."
Ludacris, "Number One Spot"
The Mars Volta, "The Widow"
Missy Elliott with Ciara & Fat Man Scoop, "Lose Control"
U2, "Vertigo"

Best Art Direction In A Video
Green Day, "American Idiot"
Gwen Stefani, "What You Waiting For?"
The Killers, "Mr. Brightside"
System Of A Down, "B.Y.O.B"
The White Stripes, "Blue Orchid"

Best Editing In A Video
Coldplay, "Speed Of Sound"
Foo Fighters, "Best Of You"
Green Day, "Boulevard Of Broken Dreams"
Gwen Stefani, "What You Waiting For?"
Jennifer Lopez, "Get Right"
Simple Plan, "Untitled"

Best Cinematography In A Video
Coldplay, "Speed Of Sound"
Green Day, "Boulevard Of Broken Dreams"
Modest Mouse, "The Ocean Breathes Salty"
Simple Plan, "Untitled"
U2, "Vertigo"
The White Stripes, "Blue Orchid"

Best Soundtrack From A Video
Game Def Jam: Fight For NY
Dance Dance Revolution Extreme
Madden 2005
Midnight Club 3: Dub Edition
Tony Hawk’s Underground 2