We asked for your help, and you did not disappoint. You voted in record numbers, whittling the number of Moonman hopefuls for Best Male Video and Best Female Video at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards down to the net five, as the nominees were revealed Friday (July 25).
After thousands of votes on VMA.MTV.com (along with ballots from select industry insiders), two diverse battles are set. A partner off of legendary pop icons will square off against two congener newcomers and one cunning underdog in the combat for Best Female Video. Pop queen Britney Spears takes another step on the rejoinder trail as her "Piece of Me" grabs a nomination, spell Mariah Carey will try to end her VMA dry spell with "Touch My Body." "American Idol" champ Jordin Sparks scads a nomination for her Chris Brown collaboration "No Air," and Rihanna is in the running as well with "Take a Bow." Quirky long shot Katy Perry rounds out the Best Female race with her cheeky summer anthem "I Kissed a Girl."
Meanwhile, hip-hop's hot streak continues in the Best Male Video category as two of the hottest MCs in the game face off against some of R&B's leading men. Lil Wayne's "Lollipop" exploded this year, so it's no surprise that he's in the running, along with T.I., whose "No Matter What" chronicles his struggles o'er the past year. Chris Brown and Usher made the list with "With You" and "Love in This Club" respectively, and Flo Rida is in the mix with "Low."
Of course, when one threshold closes, some other opens, my friends — voting in two other categories is now officially open at VMA.MTV.com. Hundreds of hopefuls will now duke it out in the Best Hip-Hop Video and Best Pop Video categories! The nominees will be proclaimed on future Friday's installment of "FNMTV." After that, two more rounds of voting remain to square off the nominees for Best Dancing in a Video, Best New Artist, Best Rock Video and the highly desired Video of the Year.
The 25th VMAs will take place at the legendary Paramount Pictures Studios in Hollywood on September 7. The Jonas Brothers are confirmed to perform, and British funnyman and "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" co-star Russell Brand was just announced as the show's host.
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