Saturday, August 30, 2008

Who Is Russell Brand, and how did he score the VMA's?


Who is he and why is HE hosting the VMA’s? Well, Adam Sandler if you want the short answer. The long answer goes as follows. He is a 33 year old British comedian. You may be one of the 5 people that saw “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” in which case you would recognize him as the drug addicted rock n’ roll musician. If not, then like me, you would have no idea who this emo pant wearing bouffant hair styled tool is. But his story to the VMA is… somewhat interesting.
In his teens he attended several prestigious theatre schools, which he got kicked out of. In his twenty’s he became a popular host for British MTV. Until he got fired on September 12, 2001 when he showed up to work dressed as Osama Bin Laden. Cute.
After that he was treated for his drug addiction at Focus Counseling Services in England and at the Key Stone Center in PA for sex addiction. He then wrote an autobiography titled “My Booky Wook” which he openly discusses his hard* drug addiction ( *katelin’s idea of ‘hard’ is heroin and crack) and sex addiction. I know you’re all going to leave this blog to run off and buy the book, but it’s yet to be published stateside. So read on.
In 2006 Brand reconciled with MTV and came back to host a talk show called “1 Leicester Square.” Enter Adam Sandler. He was a guest on the show and the two apparently hit it off. Sandler started to introduce Brand to the movers and shakers of Hollywood. Including the producer of “Forgetting Sarah Marshall.”
So apparently, MTV wanted Brand to host the VMAs because of his checkered past, “That’s the attraction: he brings danger and unpredictability” quotes the president of MTV Networks. Perhaps it’s his Cinderella story appeal. Celebrity with addiction goes off gets cleaned up and makes miraculous return to fame. Cute.
After the VMA’s keep and eye out for his appropriate role in a family oriented Disney flick “Bedtime Stories” opposite Sandler, coming out on Christmas.

-Info courtesy of The New York Times

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