MTV beg 'please like the MTV awards'

They're pouring a lot into this year's VMAs. A lot of money, a lot of planning, a lot of hope. Not much in the way of new ideas, though - indeed, Christian Norman, president of MTV, is excited by the seating plan:

In Vegas we're doing tables for the audience as opposed to rows; that gives talent more reason to stay in their seats. There's no green room. They're sitting in the green room.

In other words: instead of having the vaguely famous piss-off backstage as soon as they've done their bit, leaving an audience of the thrilled but obscure, they're going to have the a-ish-list sat out front, looking slightly bored.