Janet Jackson opens tonight's MTV VMAs with MJ tribute; plus GaGa, Beyonce & a New Twilight trailer

Russell Brand will once again host the MTV VMA's/mtv.com

MTV will broadcast its annual MTV VMA's tonight live from New York with last year's host, Russell Brand returning once again. This year's show promises to take over many iconic NY landmarks, including primary segments from Radio City Music Hall.

Presenters at this year's festivities include Katy Perry, Jennifer Lopez, Megan Fox, Shakira, Ne-Yo, Jack Black, Andy Samberg, Jimmy Fallon, Kristin Cavallari, Justin Bieber, Cobra Starship's Gabe Saporta and Chase Crawford.

Performers scheduled to appear include Taylor Swift (fresh from last night's concert right here in Music City), Muse, Green Day, Pink and the just announced addition of Eminem, who was, of course, part of this year's MTV Movie Awards completely pre-planned Bruno Butt-gate. MTV also just revealed tonight's show will include a duet from Jay-Z and Alicia Keys as they perform Empire State of Mind from Jay-Z's current CD, The Blueprint 3. While it hasn't been announced, I would hazard a guess that viewers might also expect appearances by the likes of Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey, but who knows, they might now be relegated to MTV's sister network, VH1.

One highly anticipated moment from tonight's ceremony comes in the expected tribute to Michael Jackson; but with the surprising inclusion of MJ's sister Miss Janet herself. Word has it that Janet Jackson will open the show with the tribute to her brother. According to MTV.com, the tribute, will feature the best of the best in the world of dance and choreography onstage together. Among those involved, Gil Duldulao will act as Creative Director for the tribute. Duldulao has worked closely with Janet on such videos as Feedback, as well as having danced with Christina Aguilera in the vids for both Dirty and Genie in a Bottle. Dancers who will be performing Duldulao's choreography in the MJ tribute include the former Mr. JLo, Chris Judd, Dave Scott, Brian Friedman, Jeri Slaughter, Laurie Ann GIbson, TIna Landon, as well as four dancer/choreographers who have become most well known for their work on the reality dance competition, So You Think You Can Dance: Wade Robson, Tyce Diorio, Travis Payne, and Mia Michaels. Also slated as part of the homage to Michael, a world premiere of a video for what would have been his comeback tour, This Is It. And don't worry Twilight fans, of course MTV hasn't forgotten its current demographic. Also prominently promoted during tonight's show, the debut of the latest Twilight: New Moon extended trailer.

If that weren't enough to get your Nielsen Box humming, also set to take the stage; this year's most nominated ladies, the not so single, Beyonce and the not so lady-like GaGa. With nine nominations each for Lady GaGa and Beyonce will be facing off against each other in eight of those categories. Beyonce goes head-to-head against Lady GaGa for Video of the Year, Best Female Video, Best Pop Video, Best Direction, Best Editing, Best Special Effects, Best Cinematography and Art Direction.

As for Beyonce's ninth possible award, her competition isn't any easier, as she is up against the like of Kristinia DeBarge, Britney Spears, Ciara and The Pussycat Dolls for Best Choreography. While Lady GaGa represents dance music in the broad race for Best New Artist with Drake, 3OH!3, Kid Cudi and Asher Roth rounding out the nominees. ??Following the nomination announcement back in August, Beyonce, who's entire roster of nominations are a result of one video, Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) said, "I'm excited and honored to be tied for most nominated for the VMAs." She continued, "I've been blessed this year to have 'Single Ladies' become a video people really connected with and responded to. I've spent so much time watching all the great versions people created all around the world. It's beautiful to feel you touch people and bring a song to life with a video." Just makes you wonder what Broadway's late great choreographer Bob Fosse and his late wife, dancer/singer/actress Gwen Verdon would have thought, since it is widely known the Beyonce video is a total rip-off courtesy of the much youtube'd 1960's Fosse/Verdon collaboration of Mexican Breakfast as well as moves from the Fosse choreographed Sweet Charity.

This year's other big nominee, Lady GaGa had this to say of her nominations. "After years of hustle in New York City, where we made our art videos in bars, myself and the Haus of Gaga are honored to receive nine nominations for the 2009 VMAs." As only GaGa could, she went on to say, "We believe in the immensity and the promise of 'showbiz' and will continue to give it mouth-to-mouth, till it's vomiting return. All you need is a camcorder, a flashlight and one truly great idea. Thank you, MTV, for being our video flagship, and for supporting this bunch of inspired kids, who love to get wasted and make art together." Madonna circa 1981 anyone?

Not to be left out, Britney Spears is this year's reigning comeback queen. (sorry Whitney, you've got a year to prove you're really back) Britney is well represented with seven nods including: Video of the Year, Best Pop Video, Best Direction, Best Editing, Best Cinematography and Art Direction and the previously mentioned Best Choreography.

The full list of nominations is below (as always, my picks are BOLDED)

Video of the Year
• Beyonce Knowles - "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)"
• Lady GaGa - "Poker Face"
• Eminem - "We Made You"
• Kanye West - "Love Lockdown"
• Britney Spears - "Womanizer" (probably gonna be Beyonce, but one can hope)

Best New Artist
• Lady GaGa - "Poker Face"
• Drake - "Best I Ever Had"
• 3OH!3 - "Don't Trust Me"
• Kid Cudi - "Day 'N' Nite"
• Asher Roth - "I Love College"

Best Male Video
• Eminem - "We Made You" (there's a reason he been 'in bed' with MTV, this is probably it)
• Ne-Yo - "Miss Independent"
• Kanye West - "Love Lockdown"
• T.I. - "Live Your Life" featuring Rihanna
• Jay-Z - "D.O.A."

Best Female Video
• Lady GaGa - "Poker Face"
• Beyonce Knowles - "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" (why else would she rip of Fosse?)
• Katy Perry - "Hot N Cold"
• Kelly Clarkson - "My Life Would Suck Without You"
• Taylor Swift - "You Belong With Me"
• Pink - "So What"

Best Hip-Hop Video
• Eminem - "We Made You"
• Flo Rida - "Right Round"
• Kanye West - "Love Lockdown"
• Asher Roth - "I Love College"
• Jay-Z - "D.O.A."

Best Pop Video
• Britney Spears - "Womanizer"
• Beyonce Knowles - "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" (but it should be Cobra Starship)
• Lady GaGa - "Poker Face"
• Wisin & Yandel - "Abusadora"
• Cobra Starship - "Good Girls Go Bad" featuring Leighton Meester

Best Rock Video
• Coldplay - "Viva la Vida"
• Paramore - "Decode"
• Kings of Leon - "Use Somebody" (if Twilighter's rule the votes, then it's Paramore by association)
• Green Day - "21 Guns"
• Fall Out Boy - "I Don't Care"

Breakthrough Video
• Yeah Yeah Yeahs - "Heads Will Roll"
• Matt and Kim - "Lessons Learned"
• Passion Pit - "The Reeling"
• Bat for Lashes - "Daniel"
• Anjulie - "Boom"
• Cold War Kids - "I've Seen Enough"
• Death Cab for Cutie - "Grapevine Fires" (just my fav)
• Gnarls Barkley - "Who's Gonna Save My Soul"
• Chairlift - "Evident Utensil"
• Major Lazer - "Hold the Line"

Best Choreography
• Beyonce Knowles - "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" (see Female Video)
• Kristinia DeBarge - "Goodbye"
• Britney Spears - "Circus"
• Ciara - "Love Sex Magic" featuring Justin Timberlake
• A. R. Rahman and The Pussycat Dolls - "Jai Ho (You Are My Destiny)" featuring Nicole Scherzinger (I wish)

Best Direction
• Beyonce Knowles - "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)"
• Lady GaGa - "Paparazzi"
• Britney Spears - "Circus"
• Cobra Starship - "Good Girls Go Bad" featuring Leighton Meester
• Green Day - "21 Guns"

Best Editing
• Beyonce Knowles - "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)"
• Lady GaGa - "Paparazzi" (at least she had more than one hit this year)
• Britney Spears - "Circus"
• Miley Cyrus - "7 Things"
• Coldplay - "Viva la Vida"

Best Special Effects
• Gnarls Barkley - "Who's Gonna Save My Soul"
• Lady GaGa - "Paparazzi"
• Beyonce Knowles - "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)"
• Eminem - "We Made You"
• Kanye West - "Paranoid" featuring Mr. Hudson (gotta love a nice horror noir homage)

Best Cinematography
• Bob Fossee • Beyonce Knowles - "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" (ok, last one, I swear)
• Lady GaGa - "Paparazzi"
• Britney Spears - "Circus"
• Green Day - "21 Guns"
• Coldplay - "Viva la Vida"

Art Direction
• Beyonce Knowles - "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)"
• Lady GaGa - "Paparazzi"
• Britney Spears - "Circus"
• Gnarls Barkley - "Who's Gonna Save My Soul"
• Coldplay - "Viva la Vida"

Best Video (That Should Have Won a Moonman)
• David Lee Roth - "California Girls"
• Foo Fighters - "Everlong"
• U2 - "Streets Have No Name" (wow..can't believe it didn't win first go-round...as my girl Chelsea Handler would say, "Woopsey!)
• George Michael - "Freedom"
• OK Go - "Here It Goes Again"
• Tom Petty - "Into the Great Wide Open"
• Dr. Dre - "Nuthin' But a 'G' Thang" featuring Snoop Dogg
• Beastie Boys - "Sabotage"
• Bjork - "Human Behavior"
• Radiohead - "Karma Police"

If you think I totally missed the boat with my picks, leave a comment below with who YOU are pulling to win tonight's coveted Moonmen. The MTV VMAs air tonight on MTV beginning with their pre-show and red carpet coverage at 8/7c. Twilight fans rejoice! In addition to the new trailer, joining MTV's Sway and Tim Kash will be celebrity fashion correspondent and Twilight star, Ashley Greene. Inside Radio City will be reporters Jim Cantiello and Kim Stolz. Popular video blogger, iJustine, Justine Ezarik has been tapped as MTV's official Twitter correspondent for the festivities.