The Most Awesome Thing I Saw Last Week: Bruce!

The show became a defacto tribute as soon as Jackson’s death sunk in, so viewers were expecting more of that than they really got.  Sure, they had awards to pass out–many of which were given to winner without even showing all of the nominees in the category, but it was all so choppy.

Ne-Yo seems to be Michael’s heir apparent (Chris Brown, who’s a hell of a dancer as well as a singer, really screwed the pooch on that one, what with the assault and battery).  He did a lovely job both with the stripped down version of “Lady in My Life” and his duet on “I’ll Be There” at the end with Foxx.  Ciara kind of crapped on “Heal the World” because she’s not a very good singer without the help of AutoTune;  and Beyonce had the biggest WTF? moment with a completely self-indulgent performance that combined “Ave Maria” in Latin and Sarah McLachlan’s “Angel” (no, really; at the BET Awards) with some freakish blue lighting and an obnoxious costume.  I’m sorry, but you can’t tell me she doesn’t have a single MJ or Jackson 5 song rehearsed and ready that she could have busted out on short notice.