We’ll start with the bad:5. MTV can’t find anyone more relevant than Katie Holmes to present their biggest award of the night, Video of the Year.4. Nicki Minaj wears a patterned surgical face mask on the red carpet. Accessory overkill.3. Adele’s much-hyped debut VMA performance ends up being a boring rendition of “Someone Like You,” instead of the smash hit that got her nominated, “Rolling in the Deep.”2. Chris Brown lip-synchs through a performance that includes him dancing and mouthing along to Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” Really unnecessary.1. A much talked-about tribute to Britney Spears, which was rumored to include performances by the likes of Janet Jackson, Katy Perry, Rihanna, and Miley Cyrus, ends up being nothing but a brief segment of small children dressed in Britney Spears outfits and dancing along to sped-up versions of Britney’s hits, followed by an awkward presentation of MTV’s Vanguard Award to Spears. Spears looked genuinely emotional, but instead of allowing her to expand on the moment, MTV somehow made her segue her acceptance speech into a presentation of Beyonce’s performance. Talk about thunder-stealing.The show was generally flat, as it has been for the past few years, but there were some highlights:5. After “E.T.” wins the award for Best Collaboration, Katy Perry breathlessly says, “Oh my goodness, there’s nothing like your first time. Your first Moonman, right?”, to which Kanye West replies, “No. I have more.” Katy Perry also wears a hat shaped like a cube of cheddar cheese to accept the Video of the Year award for “Firework.”4. Queen’s Brian May makes a surprise appearance playing guitar during Lady Gaga Jo Calderone’s opening performance of “You and I.”3. Tyler, the Creator brings his mom as his date to the ceremony; she is seen hollering “Praise the Lord!” when he wins Best New Artist and giving him a consolation high-five when he loses Video of the Year to Katy Perry.2. Russell Brand gives a short but impressionable speech about Amy Winehouse, a follow-up of sorts to the surprisingly poignant eulogy he wrote for the Guardian; he ends his comments encouraging alcoholics and drug addicts to find a cure for their disease. Who knew old Rusty Rockets could be so inspirational?1. After giving a magnificent performance of “Love on Top,” Beyonce opens her jacket and pats her belly, confirming the news that she is expecting her first child. The camera cuts to Jay-Z being slapped on the back by Kanye West–that grin on his face is priceless.Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.