1991 MTV Video Music Awards

Pee Wee Herman

At the 1991 MTV Video Music Awards, Paul Reubens made his first public appearance after his arrest at an adult movie theater. Taking the stage in costume as Pee-wee, he asked the audience, "Heard any good jokes lately?" and received a standing ovation. Reubens responded with, "Ha, that's so funny I forgot to laugh!"

Background

MTV announced on July 8 that the 1991 Video Music Awards would be held on September 5 at the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles, with Arsenio Hall returning as host. Nominations were announced at a press conference hosted by Arsenio Hall on July 17. The ceremony broadcast was preceded by the 1991 MTV Video Music Awards Opening Act. Hosted by Kurt Loder and Tabitha Soren, the broadcast featured red carpet interviews and marked the first use of the Opening Act branding for the pre-show, which would continue through 2003. Following its initial MTV airing, the ceremony was syndicated to broadcast television.

Performances

In addition, Was (Not Was) served as the house band.

Presenters

• Pee-wee Herman – opened the show and welcomed the audience
• Linda Hamilton and Steven Tyler – presented Best Group Video
• Downtown Julie Brown – appeared in pre-commercial vignettes about the Viewer's Choice award and telling viewers what was 'coming up' on the show
• Christian Slater – presented Best Video from a Film
• Lenny Kravitz – presented Breakthrough Video
• Kurt Loder – interviewed various celebrities backstage before commercial breaks
• DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince – presented Best Dance Video
• Martha Quinn – appeared in pre-commercial vignettes telling viewers what was 'coming up' on the show
• Dennis Hopper – presented Best Direction in a Video
• Fred Savage – appeared in a backstage vignette with Pauly Shore
• Pauly Shore and Cindy Crawford – presented Best Long Form Video
• Color Me Badd – presented Best Choreography in a Video
• John Norris – appeared in a pre-commercial vignette telling viewers what was 'coming up' on the show
• Billy Idol – presented Best Alternative Video
• N.W.A – presented Best Rap Video
• Mike Myers and Dana Carvey (as Wayne and Garth from Wayne's World) – introduced the winners of the professional categories
• Jason Priestley and Jennifer Connelly – presented Best New Artist in a Video
• Ed Lover and Doctor Dré – appeared in a pre-commercial vignette telling viewers what was 'coming up' on the show
• Arsenio Hall (host) – presented the Video Vanguard award
• C.C. DeVille – appeared with Downtown Julie Brown before a commercial break to tell viewers what was 'coming up' on the show
• Pip Dann – announced the winner of the International Viewer's Choice Award for MTV Europe and introduced the other winners of the International Viewer's Choice Awards
• VJs Nonie (Asia), Richard Wilkins (Australia), Thunderbird (Brasil), Daisy Fuentes (Internacional) and Dionne Mitsuoka (Japan) – announced their respective region's Viewer's Choice winner
• James Brown and MC Hammer – presented a special Moonman to host Arsenio Hall for his four-year hosting stint and then presented the Viewer's Choice award
• Spinal Tap – presented Best Metal/Hard Rock Video
• Cher – presented Best Male Video and Best Female Video
• George Michael and Cindy Crawford – presented Video of the Year

Winners and nominees

Nominations and winners, except for the Viewer's Choice awards, were selected by a panel of approximately 1,000 members of the music industry.

Winners are in bold text.

Artists with multiple wins and nominations

References

References

1. Jolson-Colburn, Jeffrey. (July 10, 1991). "Hall hosts L.A.'s MTV music awards". [[The Tennessean]].
2. (July 18, 1991). "R.E.M. leads MTV award nominations". [[The Fresno Bee]].
3. Szczepanski, Josephine. (September 14, 1991). "MTV Awards: And the winner is ... not the winner". [[Times Leader]].