The Highs, Lows, and Whoas of the 2023 VMAs

The latest in pop-culture news, recaps, and reviews, plus close reads, profiles, interviews, and more from Vulture.com. [Brand Logo]( [The Highs, Lows, and Whoas of the 2023 VMAs]( Here’s a recap of the best and worst performances and moments from the night. Photo: Theo Wargo/Getty Images for MTV The [MTV Video Music Awards]( are so synonymous with chaos at this point that it kind of feels like a self-fulfilling prophecy. What other awards show would [bring Nicki Minaj back for a second year](to do the bare minimum of hosting? But the show also knows where it excels, and that’s as a wide-screen, high-definition spectacle. Yes, last night had chaos, from singers missing their notes to a hip-hop 50 tribute missing, well, a lot. But it also delivered more than its share of showstopping moments, thanks to Doja Cat, some slick K-pop bands, and [newly minted Video Vanguard winner Shakira](. (Additional props to the intrepid cameraperson who turned to Selena Gomez at just the right time.) Here are the highs, lows, and whoas of the 2023 VMAs. [read more]( Devour pop culture with us. Subscribe now to [save over 60%]( on unlimited access to Vulture and everything New York. The Latest TV Recaps • The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City: [Palm Springs and Lost Rings]( • Reservation Dogs: [Elder Heist]( • The Morning Show: [Out of This World]( • Ahsoka: [We Are What They Grow Beyond]( [Learn more about RevenueStripe...]( Stories We Think You’ll Like [The Morning Show’s Third Season Is Crazy Enough to Work Apple TV+’s premier prestige drama has embraced its true identity as a high-gloss soap.]( [Special Ops: Lioness’ Final Bite Lingers Most of Taylor Sheridan’s convoluted CIA thriller left my brain immediately, but there’s one moment I can’t stop thinking about.]( By Roxana Hadadi [Show Me the Alien Foreheads Star Wars’ continued insistence on slapping a hat on one of its most famous species is definitely annoying, and perhaps even important?]( By James Grebey [No, Selena, We Meme You Because We Love You “I will never be a meme again,” she declared after her viral VMAs reaction.]( By Justin Curto [Olivia Rodrigo’s VMAs Performance Was Just an Appetizer The Guts world tour is the main course.]( By Zoe Guy [Learn more about RevenueStripe...]( [Today’s Crossword]( 11-Down, Four Letters: Bambi or the Great Prince, for example. Photo-Illustration: Vulture; Photos: Getty, Everett Vulture Recommends We consume it all so you don’t have to. Photo: Joseph Lee This Jungian Life is a podcast where three Jungian psychoanalysts — Joseph Lee, Lisa Marchiano, and Deborah Stewart — playfully apply the insights of Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung to modern topics: burnout, scam artists, hookup culture, the Grinch. [Read more about the pod]( that’s making Jung cool again. [Read more from Vulture]( A newsletter of TV and movie recommendations. [Sign up]( to get it every week. [Get the Newsletter]( [logo]( [facebook logo]( [instagram logo]( [twitter logo]( [unsubscribe]( | [privacy notice]( | [update preferences]( This email was sent to {EMAIL}. Was this email forwarded to you? [Sign up now]( to get this newsletter in your inbox. [View this email in your browser.]( You received this email because you have a subscription to New York. Reach the right online audience with us For advertising information on email newsletters, please contact AdOps@nymag.com Vox Media, LLC 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, 12th Floor Washington, DC 20036 Copyright © 2023, All rights reserved