In town to promote the announcement of this year's MTV Video Music Awards nominations, Michael Jackson wasted no time getting in and out of a Bryant Park Grill press conference. Expressing his thanks for a record 11 nominations, announcing the winners of the "Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award" (R.E.M.), and flashing a practiced smile for a photo op with New York City mayor Rudolph Giuliani took the epauletted star a total of about two minutes.Jackson will also be performing two numbers at the MTV Video Music Awards: one "classic" and one new song, producer Andy Schuon said at the press conference. Other scheduled acts include R.E.M., Hootie & The Blowfish, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
With 11 nominations in the 19 awards categories, Michael and Janet Jackson's $7 million futuristic "Scream" video was the most-nominated video, followed closely by another multi-million dollar video, Pop/R&B ensemble TLC's "Waterfalls" (10 nominations) and neo-punk group Green Day's "Basket Case" (9 nominations). The video for Weezer's novelty-rock hit "Buddy Holly" will join those three in the running for Video of the Year. The Jacksons, Green Day, and TLC, as well as Hootie & The Blowfish, Live, and R.E.M., also received Viewer's Choice award nominations.
From People Magazine, Inc.