Chris Rock to host this year's MTV Video Music Awards

Date: 27 Jun 2003 09:50:32 -0700
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http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=494&ncid=763&e=1&u=/ap/20030626/ap_en_tv/people_chris_rock
Chris Rock Will Return to Host MTV Awards
Wed Jun 25, 8:52 PM ET
By CHRISTY LEMIRE, AP Entertainment Writer
NEW YORK - Chris Rock (news) will be back as host of the MTV Video
Music Awards, the cable channel announced Wednesday.
AP Photo
But he acknowledges that his stand-up skills are a little rusty.
So the comedian is going on a cross-country club tour to prepare for
the 20th annual awards show Aug. 28 at Radio City Music Hall.
"I haven't performed in a lo-o-o-o-ng time," Rock told The Associated
Press in a phone interview Wednesday.
After starring in the Emmy-winning "Chris Rock Show" on HBO in the
late '90s, he's been focusing on films the past few years, including
"Down to Earth," a remake of "Heaven Can Wait"; "Bad Company" with
Anthony Hopkins (news); and this year's "Head of State," his
directorial debut, in which he starred as a presidential candidate.
Rock won't announce his comedy show dates ahead of time — he
wouldn't even say where the tour will begin next week. Tickets will go
on sale in each city just 24 hours in advance.
But after having hosted the irreverent awards show in 1997 and 1999,
Rock knows that much of the comedy springs organically as the evening
progresses. Jimmy Fallon (news) from "Saturday Night Live (news - Y!
TV)" — of which Rock is an alum — was the host last year.
"You watch people host these shows who change outfits eight times in
the show. No — watch the show. That's the most important thing,"
Rock said.
"Half the time the presenters don't read what's on the cue cards and
you never know when Diana Ross (news) is going to grab Lil' Kim's
(breast), and you'd hate to miss that because you're putting on
something from Banana Republic."
Rock was referring to one of the more outrageous moments in Video
Music Award history in 1999, when Ross fondled rapper Lil' Kim's left
breast, which was covered only in a lavender pasty.
Over the past year, though, the 37-year-old has been keeping busy with
more wholesome activities — his daughter with wife Malaak
Compton-Rock, Lola Simone, who's turning 1 on Saturday.
"You just want to protect your kid from stuff. It makes you want to
work harder as an artist. Now you need the money — what's
college going to cost in 18 years?" he asked.
"I've had two callings in life: stand-up comedy and fatherhood," added
Rock. "Those are the only things I embrace."
___
On the Net:
http://www.mtv.com/onair/vma/2003/