By Anneke Hak

British funny-man Russell Brand was a surprising choice to host 2008’s MTV Music Video Awards (we’re not sure if Americans actually know who he is, let alone would understand his gags). As if he read our minds, Brand entered the stage telling the audience how he really, really is famous. Brand started the show by getting political, he listed the night’s performers before urging Americans “to please elect Barack Obama… on behalf of the world”  and describing George W Bush as a “retarded cowboy fella.” The rest of Brand’s opening dialogue was typically raw, he poked fun at the squeaky clean Jonas Brothers' no sex before marriage message and continually mocked the purity rings they wear, though he did later apologise.