This past Saturday, the Black Eyed Peas showed up at the NRJ Awards (the top music awards show in France), and won the award for best international group. Just one more step in the unending world-wide dominance of the Black Eyed Peas, right? Wrong! The group was actually given the award by mistake. The new winner was announced, to the sound of boos.
As the host of the show said, "It happens!" Indeed. Embarrassing mistakes at award shows do happen... and so, in honor of this occasion, we present you with a round-up of the Most Amazing Award Show Mistakes of All Time,after the jump.
Michael Jackson Accepts an Award Instead of Cake (2002 Video Music Awards)
In 2002, MTV's VMA ceremony was held on August 29th... which also happens to be the same day as Michael Jackson's birthday. To celebrate his B-Day, MTV planned an impromptu party. They had Britney Spears present him with a cake, and during her introductory speech, she called Michael "the artist of the millennium."
And that's when things started to get a little... weird. A confused MJ thought that he was being given an actual award for "artist of the millennium" (no such award exists), and began giving a speech of his own. Michael accepted the "award," and then went on to thank (in no particular order), God, his mother, James Brown... and magician David Blaine. A slightly startled audience went along with it, and gave him a standing ovation anyway.
Sigh. Oh MJ, we hardly knew you. And you hardly knew what you were saying.
Avril Lavigne Can't Say "David Bowie" (2003 Grammy Awards)
An eighteen-year-old Avril Lavigne mispronounced the name of one of the most famous rock-stars in the world at the nominations announcements of the '03 Grammys. Announcing the nominees for best male vocal performance, she pronounced the Thin White Duke's name as follows: "David B-OW-ie." Uh, no, Ms. Lavigne. It's said like this: "B-ough-ie." Pronounced "Owe," as in, you sort of owe him an apology.
When told of her mistake, Avril said this: "Oops! I knew that was going to happen..." Yeah. Hey, Avril, considering how hard it is to pronounce your own name (it's AV-roohl Luhv-EEN, for the record), maybe you could take a little more effort when reading the names of others. Just a thought...
Andy Williams to Stevie Wonder: "Can You See Us Now?!" (1976 Grammy Awards)
Sadly, the next awards show moment occurred before the existence of YouTube - otherwise, we'd have approximately one million video clips of it. And speaking of video problems, technical difficulties were rife at the 1976 Grammy awards. Singer Stevie Wonder was all set to perform a live show from Nigeria, but couldn't get connected to the main Grammys stage.
It was at this point that host Andy Williams grew frustrated, and shouted out the immortal words, "Stevie, can you see us now?!" Slight problem, though. Stevie Wonder is BLIND. Whoops.
Many years later, Ryan Seacrest would perform a version of the same mistake when he attempted to high-five a blind contestant on 'American Idol.' Although that's not from an awards show, we thought it worth mentioning... just because it remains mortifyingly awful...
Kristen Stewart Drops Her Award (2009 MTV Movie Awards)
If you're Kristen Stewart, star of "Twilight," you don't just have to worry about dating an abstinence glitter vampire, or about being surrounded by hordes of obsessed fans. No, you also have to worry about more basic things... like gravity.
Here, Kristen accepts a best actress award, then instantly drops it to the ground. Luckily, there's a bizarre popcorn-hatted creature in gold spandex to help her pick it up. And thank God for that.
Marisa Tomei Named Best Supporting Actress by "Mistake" (1993 Academy Awards)
This one isn't actually true... at least not as far as we call tell. Marisa Tomei is considered the biggest dark-horse in Oscars history, and when she won the award for best actress in 1993 (for 'My Cousin Vinny,' of all things), people were taken aback. (One reason for this was that she beat out acclaimed veteran actresses Joan Plowright and Vanessa Redgrave.)
After Marisa won the award, rumors circulated that presenter Jack Palance had been drunk, and had simply read out her name by mistake. However, there seems to be no truth to these rumors. (Although Jack Palance does seem a little confused, calling Judy Davis "Joan," for instance.) The Academy Awards insists that it has two certified accountants at either end of the awards stage, to prevent such a mistake from ever happening. For her part, Ms. Tomei has called the rumors of her getting an accidental award to be "extremely hurtful." And we have to admit, she's got a pretty good point there.
Elizabeth Taylor, Drunken(?) Awards Show Presenter (2001 Golden Globes)
We'll never really know if Elizabeth Taylor was drunk during this show or not. But it's Elizabeth Taylor... so draw your own conclusions. Here, she attempts to read the nominees for best picture during the 2001 Golden Globes. First, she opens the envelope containing the winner by mistake. Then, she receives shouted advice from the crowd. ("I'm new at this!" she says.) Finally, a flustered Dick Clark steps in to help her with the difficult task of reading names from a list. ...And the whole process is redeemed by Ms. Taylor's startled cry at the end: "Glaaaad-iator!!!"
(Note: the Golden Globes footage begins at the 6:15 mark of the video.)
The group was actually given the award by mistake. The German band Tokio Hotel were the real winners, and once the problem was cleared up, they took the stage... to the sound of boos.
That's NOT true!! Tokio Hotel weren't even present in these horrible awards, the crowd booed the guy who announced the wrong winner. No one booed Tokio Hotel. So, pleaee, clear your mistake.
I think i enjoyed Elizabeth Taylor more than any of the presenters of any of the awards She was hilarious and such a nice surprise instead of the ones we see that are too scared to do anything other than what theyre told to do it really made it fun i hardly ever watch the awards and only caught this from reading this column ...really did enjoy it
I remember the Michael Jackson one. That was awkward to say the least.
I would be in shock if the Black Eyed Peas could win that award with Tokio Hotel in the same category. Tokio Hotel wins just about every award they're nominated for. Rightfully so of course.
Michael Jackson did win the "artist of the millennium" award. I remember MTV announced it on their website prior to the telecast, but later pulled it an hour before the show aired. For an unknown reason they decided to trick and embarrass him (the person who put their station on the map in the first place). Since his death, they have admitted on their website that they did award him "artist of the millennium".
I feel bad for the Black Eyed Peas....but Tokio Hotel deserved to win! I cheered for them and voted for them. They are awesome! One more step for Tokio Hotel's world domination! ;)
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umm i think they should have been nicer in this about avril... it wasnt right. mabey you people should get some manners!!!!!! :P im serious it's a mistake! FYI EVERYONE MAKES THEM!!!! IM SURE YOUR NOT SO PERFECT UR SELF! GEEEEZZZZ! GET A LIFE ND STOP MAKING PPL FEEL BAD!!!!!!! omg! :|
Uhmm, avril, if you don't know how to pronounce the name David Bowie, you don't deserve to play to an open stage audience let alone all those screaming teenies. and re: Black Eyed Peas, you guys suck the worst of any band that ever walked the planet, I would listen to Milli Vanilli or Vanilla Ice or anything heinous like that before I'd ever listen to y'all.
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This past Saturday, the Black Eyed Peas showed up at the NRJ Awards (the top music awards show in France), and won the award for best international group. Just one more step in the unending world-wide dominance of the Black Eyed Peas, right? Wrong! The group was actually given the award by mistake. The new winner was announced, to the sound of boos.
In 2002, MTV's VMA ceremony was held on August 29th... which also happens to be the same day as Michael Jackson's birthday. To celebrate his B-Day, 
An eighteen-year-old Avril Lavigne 
Sadly, the next awards show moment occurred before the existence of YouTube - otherwise, we'd have approximately one million video clips of it. And speaking of video problems, technical difficulties were rife at the 1976 Grammy awards. Singer Stevie Wonder was all set to perform a live show from Nigeria, but couldn't get connected to the main Grammys stage.
This one isn't actually true... at least not as far as we call tell. Marisa Tomei is considered the biggest dark-horse in Oscars history, and when she won the award for best actress in 1993 (for 'My Cousin Vinny,' of all things), people were taken aback. (One reason for this was that she beat out acclaimed veteran actresses Joan Plowright and Vanessa Redgrave.)
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The group was actually given the award by mistake. The German band Tokio Hotel were the real winners, and once the problem was cleared up, they took the stage... to the sound of boos.
That's NOT true!! Tokio Hotel weren't even present in these horrible awards, the crowd booed the guy who announced the wrong winner. No one booed Tokio Hotel. So, pleaee, clear your mistake.
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some peope like getting their black eyed peas tossed with jelly or syrup. i prefer syrup. BIG PHONY TEETH SMILE.
Who is Tokio Hotel anyhows?
Tokio Hotel didn't take the stage...they didn't attend.
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The poor dear was probably effected by the drugs she has been on for years for health problems. Give her a break you heartless people!
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I think i enjoyed Elizabeth Taylor more than any of the presenters of any of the awards She was hilarious and such a nice surprise instead of the ones we see that are too scared to do anything other than what theyre told to do it really made it fun i hardly ever watch the awards and only caught this from reading this column ...really did enjoy it
OK... nice that you changed it, but now there's no mention that the actual winner was Tokio Hotel...
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Marissa Tomei won best supporting actress that year, not best actress.
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what ever
Tomei won for best actress, not supporting actress. And I believe it was 1992, not 1993.
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No, she did win best supporting. But you're right in that it was in '92 and not '93.
The thing that people don't relize it that David Bowie said that Avril actually said his name correcly and everyone has been saying it wrong.
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I remember the Michael Jackson one. That was awkward to say the least.
I would be in shock if the Black Eyed Peas could win that award with Tokio Hotel in the same category. Tokio Hotel wins just about every award they're nominated for. Rightfully so of course.
Reply
Michael Jackson did win the "artist of the millennium" award. I remember MTV announced it on their website prior to the telecast, but later pulled it an hour before the show aired. For an unknown reason they decided to trick and embarrass him (the person who put their station on the map in the first place). Since his death, they have admitted on their website that they did award him "artist of the millennium".
Reply
Re: Michael Jackson and MTV artist of the Millenium award....what took you so long to admit to what you did? After his death is too little too late.
I feel bad for the Black Eyed Peas....but Tokio Hotel deserved to win! I cheered for them and voted for them. They are awesome! One more step for Tokio Hotel's world domination! ;)
Reply
NEW LOVABLE CHARACTER "MARTIN".....Everyone's favorite seasoned citizen! Check him out and order his LIMITED EDITION 2010 CALENDAR. This is a fundraiser for the talented young lady who created "Martin". Please visit www.amalia-anne.net and order your autographed calendar today!
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♥♥♥
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umm i think they should have been nicer in this about avril... it wasnt right. mabey you people should get some manners!!!!!! :P im serious it's a mistake! FYI EVERYONE MAKES THEM!!!! IM SURE YOUR NOT SO PERFECT UR SELF! GEEEEZZZZ! GET A LIFE ND STOP MAKING PPL FEEL BAD!!!!!!! omg! :|
Reply
Uhmm, avril, if you don't know how to pronounce the name David Bowie, you don't deserve to play to an open stage audience let alone all those screaming teenies.
and re: Black Eyed Peas, you guys suck the worst of any band that ever walked the planet, I would listen to Milli Vanilli or Vanilla Ice or anything heinous like that before I'd ever listen to y'all.