The MTV VMAs opened with a time warp. Or maybe a time machine, jumping back and forth to a bizarre nostalgia for a bygone era of relevancy while also hinting at the onetime zeitgeist-seizing show’s future of gasping for attention.

Once the biggest night in pop culture packed with boundary-pushing celebrities and provocateurs on the coolest network on television, this year’s VMAs was noteworthy for airing on CBS, hinting that the network that long-stopped airing music videos is no longer capable of holding an audience for its signature award shows.

Moreover, the telecast began with host LL Cool J, touting the names of the artists that supposedly were “big gets” for the show: Busta Rhymes, Mariah Carey, Aerosmith, Ricky Martin, Paris Hilton, and Lenny Kravitz. The hottest lineup of two d

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