The Reason I'll Watch this Year's VMAs: Host Russell Brand, (MTV Sunday, Sept 7th)

Let me admit something. I am drawn to people with dark pasts. People who have somehow risen from the grave, been given multiple chances at life and managed to climb out of their dark hole to become something in this world. (Think Robert Downey Jr.)

I've watched the Britney/Russell Brand promo spots for the VMAs and besides being happy that Britney is getting back to her usual self, I find this Russell guy pretty funny. He's a huge hit in the UK but still quite unknown in the US. I think it's way cool that MTV's given a huge gig to an unknown, a guy who who was fired from a VJ gig on British MTV for showing to work dressed up as Osama bin Laden while being under his "drug-bella" (aka stuff he did while on drugs). Forced into rehab, he climbed his way back up, getting MTV to rehire him, went through sex addiction, dated Kate Moss and still somehow landed a job in Disney's family comedy with Adam Sandler called Bedtime Stories coming out in December.

In this article in Entertainment Weekly they quote Van Toffler, president of MTV Networks as saying, "There were more obvious choices, but Russell brings that mysterious and dangerous element, and that really worked for us last year. The day that we announced it, Chris Rock sent me an e-mail saying it was a brilliant choice."

If anything, should be interesting to see what this hottie (who needs a brush and a shave) might surprise us with.

MTV VMA Promo Spot: