MTV goes to Berlin: We're all winners

Congratulations to Placebo, U2, Jay-Z and Beyonce, who won the prizes for bothering to turn up to the MTV Europe awards.

The prizes were handed out in Berlin, and it wasn't lost on anyone that this meant some sort of vague reference to the events of twenty years ago had to be written onto the autocue and read out in a slightly confused voice. Oh, and that Bono thing.

The irony of what MTV did isn't lost on the Guardian:

Twenty years ago, thousands of Germans converged at the Berlin Wall to watch as the hated barrier between east and west was torn down. But tonight, many fans hoping to catch a glimpse of U2 as they played a free concert to celebrate the anniversary of the historic event would have found a small obstacle in their way: a hastily erected wall.

The organisers of the event, the music network MTV, erected a two-metre high "sight barrier" to exclude those without one of 10,000 free tickets from catching a glimpse of the band.

Well done, Bono. Building a divisive wall to celebrate the collapse of a divisive wall. Apparently Nelson Mandela is panicking in case Bono wants to do something to mark his release.

Those people who turned up in full:

Best Video - Beyonce - Single Ladies

Best Live Act - U2

Best Urban Act - Jay-Z

Best Rock - Green Day

Best Song - Beyonce - Halo

Best Alternative - Placebo

Best New Act - Lady GaGa

Best Male - Eminem

Best Female - Beyonce

Best UK & Ireland Act - Pixie Lott

Best European Act - maNga

Best Group - Tokio Hotel

Tokio Hotel are the best group in the world. Tokio Hotel are the best group in the world. Tok... how many times do I have to say this before it starts to stop sounding like a punchline?