While no one needs convincing that Kanye West is an imbecile, any other cynics think it’s possible the whole being-rude-to-Taylor-Swift incident was a publicity move? After all, West is on
Jay Leno’s inaugural 10 p.m. show tonight…don’t you think some curiosity-seekers who aren’t Leno fans might now tune in to hear West try to explain himself?

Just a thought.

And for what it’s worth, here is West’s apology, written in his typical style of the ever-annoying ALL CAPS.

Photo: MTV

Beyonce wins Video of the Year for ‘Single Ladies.”

Happy, Kanye? (Who, incidentally, went home empty-handed).

Seriously, she deserves it for a fun, stylish throwback clip that inspired rhythm-less women throughout the land to attempt that head move.

And let’s add graceful to the list of Beyonce’s attributes. After recalling how, at 17, she was up for her first VMA with Destiny’s Child and “it was one of the most exciting moments of my life,” she graciously asked Swift to come out “and have her moment.”

A shaky-voiced Swift, who looked both grateful and petrified, thanked her fans (“on Twitter and MySpace”), the two women in red embraced and…cue the happy ending.

Photo: MTV

Lady Gaga – wearing some insane red face mask—just dedicated her Best New Artist award to “God and the gays.”

Kathy Griffin will be sooooo jealous.

Photo: MTV

Eminem wins Best Hip Hop Video and he’s there to accept it. He’s the only winner who looks comfortable with the weird acceptance setup that leaves the winners with no place to put the bulky moonman statue. Also, as a friend of mine just commented, he just can’t ever look happy, can he? Apparently misery drives art.

Two of my favorite moments tonight came with a Tracy Morgan bit that was actually amusing—something Morgan usually is not. But the sight of him singing “Time After Time” with Cyndi Lauper? Kinda cute.

And that commercial for sister station VH1’s “Divas” show with Paula Abdul (who is hosting) and Ryan Seacrest (who hosts everything else) was also pretty genius. I still think Debbie Gibson would have made the best replacement for Abdul on “Idol.”

Photo: MTV

At least the mere mention of West’s name is prompting a swell of boos from the crowd, which, when Diddy joked, “What? Did something happen?”, started chanting “Tay-lor! Tay-lor!”

Even if you weren’t a fan of Swift’s before tonight, how could you not be rooting for the humiliated girl now?

Photo: MTV

Speaking of hair…what in the name of lame vampire movies did Kristen Stewart do to her hair?

And massive kudos to Beyonce. Like this woman needs a jerk like Kanye to defend her talent – she does a pretty outstanding job on her own, evidenced by her exhausting performance of “Single Ladies.”

A little bit “Chicago” with a touch of “A Chorus Line” (nice effect with the multiple lines of dancers), the performance showcased everything appealing about Beyonce – the big, belting voice, the sharp, creative dance moves and the showmanship that’s been ingrained in her since childhood.

She, not Lady Gaga, is the definitive pop star of this generation.

Photo: MTV

Best Pop Video goes to Britney Spears for “Womanizer.” Apparently, MTV will spend the rest of its existence trying to make up to Spears for sending her onstage in a sluggish haze two years ago.

Since Spears also beat Beyonce, it’s a good thing she’s on tour overseas, or Kanye might have gone mental again. Careful, Brit – he’s got Lear Jet money and might hunt you down.

Green Day: Best non-dinosaur rock band, hands-down. But what’s up with the blonde streaks in Billie Joe Armstrong’s hair? Dude looks like he has the Princess Leia “Star Wars” Cinnabon ‘do happening.

Photo: MTV

Lady Gaga – what the heck was that hot mess of performance art?

During a dramatic rendition of “Paparazzi,” Lady G staggered around the stage in her underwear, played a white piano with her left leg atop the keyboard (what, is she trying to kill those hermaphrodite rumors?), doused herself in fake blood and ended the song hanging, suicide-style, from a rope, the fake blood smeared all over her…even inside her eye.

Allrighty.

She’s interesting to watch in that train-wreck way, but she’s no Madonna.

Photo: MTV

How quickly things can go from touching to terrible.

A demurely dressed-in-black Madonna surprised everyone by opening the MTV Video Music Awards on a somber note, talking about the comparisons between herself and Michael Jackson.

In a rather touching five-minute speech – did she write that stuff herself, because it was actually quite good? – the Queen of Pop noted Jackson’s uniqueness and originality. (Side note: Was Pink just looking down during Madonna’s tribute or, um, texting? Oh, and Pink, you and Shakira need to talk to your stylists, since you both showed up in the same dress).

“Sometimes we have to lose things before we can appreciate them,” Madonna said in closing.

Then a cadre of tight dancers bounced onstage to mimic Michael’s dance moves while videos for “Thriller,” “Bad” and “Smooth Criminal” played behind them.

But as soon as the screen changed to the metallic imagery of the “Scream” video, you knew Janet Jackson would be arriving for her much-touted tribute to her brother.

Yeah, it was cool to watch her dance alongside her brother’s image on the screen behind her and so what if she was lip-synching – when does she not? – but more importantly, people…how is this woman able to gain and lose 60 pounds in two months and I can’t even lose five pounds going to the gym four days a week?

Really. It’s quite impressive.
Anyway…let’s forget about the amusing Russell Brand and Lady “Understudy In Phantom of the Opera” Gaga for a minute to discuss Kanye West.

Sweet Taylor Swift bests an impressive group of nominees – including Lady G., Pink and Beyonce – to win Best Female Video, the waif is trembling her way through a genuine speech about always dreaming of winning a VMA…and then comes Kanye, storming the stage to pronounce that, basically, Beyonce should have won.

Swift is dumbfounded, Beyonce is mortified and the rest of us received more confirmation of an indisputable fact.

West is a moron.

Photo: MTV

Chris Brown released a new song via Twitter today called … “Twitter Ruff.”

It’s heavier than usual on rap – maybe Brown is trying to change his musical image along with his personal one? – and seems a bit lengthy for easily-distracted fans. But what do you think?