‘MTV 10’: A Star-Studded Self-Tribute

MTV’s annual awards shows are always more about provocative performances than handing out trophies. Following in that honorable tradition came Wednesday’s “MTV 10,” a 10th-anniversary self-tribute produced by the cable network for ABC.

It too was less a nostalgic recap of MTV history than yet another nice excuse to showcase heavy-hitters in concert.

George Michael, Aerosmith and R.E.M. all performed, and well, yet these were clearly warm-ups for the headlining bout: Madonna versus Michael Jackson (or “the King of Pop,” as MTV is allegedly obligated to refer to him in return for his ongoing cooperation).

Was this hour big enough for the both of ‘em?

The promised “live performance” by Madonna turned out to be a short film (directed by “Truth or Dare’s” Alek Keshishian) in which she addressed the camera alone with an apparently off-the-cuff “Dear MTV” letter.

“I never asked you to name an award after me, did I?” she asked. She also took a passing swipe at Cher. This, interestingly, immediately followed a brief segment in which Cher paid tribute to Jackson and made special note of MTV’s “Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award.”

Quoth the stormy lover Madonna to MTV, “You believed in me when my marriage was in trouble. . . . You believed in me when I thought that rolling around on the floor meant dancing.” Typically, this affected Madonna moment was irritating and utterly hilarious all at once.

She won the contest armed only with her wits and a single camera, despite the fact that Jackson showed up with full artillery.

His show-capping performances of “Black or White” and “Will You Be There,” two of the strongest numbers from his new album, had the perfunctory power of Jackson’s inevitable showmanship--wind-tunnel effects in the former; choirs, swooping angels and climactic tears on his cheek in the latter. But certainly neither called for a second look the way his famous “Billie Jean” in the Motown-tribute telecast did. If he’s worked up any riveting dance moves lately, he’s saving them for upcoming videos.

Unlike the other performers, Jackson looked to be doing a not-so-precise lip-sync.

The one “live” element in the mix was guest soloist Slash of Guns N’ Roses--who also got elected to kick a trash can and throw his guitar into a parked car window, there being a post-video moratorium on street violence committed by the King of Pop himself.