Teen Choice Awards 2006 - In a Word "Awkward"

Accepting the award for Teen Choice Love Song for a song about the aftermath of his relationship with Jessica Simpson,the show's co-host, Nick Lachey, in describing his own feelings, gave perhaps the best word for the entire evening - "awkward." Jessica Simpson and Dane Cook did their best to move things along in the live broadcast while maintaining the interest of a captive audience of celebrities on-camera and, likely, a restive audience at home. However, advertised performances and special appearances continually fell flat and, unfortunately, sank most of the entertainment portion of the proceedings.

Nelly Furtado's performance of "Promiscuous", the biggest pop single of summer 2006, suffered due to visible illness that had befallen collaborator Timbaland. Rihanna's performance of her huge pop smash SOS suffered from costumes in search of a style, amateurish green lasers, and her own wooden stage presence. By the time Nick Lachey walked to the podium to accept his award, his good-natured, self-deprecating humor in accepting the Teen Choice surfboard was a breath of fresh air.

The Teen Choice Awards did manage a moment of heartfelt emotion in the presentation of the Teen Courage Award. The story of autistic teenager Jason McElwain's dramatic basketball success augmented with appearances of stars like Shaquille O'Neal and Lebron James brought tears to more than a few eyes in the audience. Surrounded on the stage by his teammates and coaches, McElwain's own words of acceptance were clearly the most dramatic moment of the night.

However, a few moments that the Teen Choice Awards hoped would be among the most memorable from the 8th annual show still remained. The proceedings closed with a "surprise" award to co-host Jessica Simpson giving way to the final performance of the evening. Britney Spears, in her new look dark hair, stepped to the podium clad in a babydoll dress to introduce the debut of husband Kevin Federline's new single "Lose Control." Suffice it to say, my conclusion is the Teen Choice Awards gambled...and lost.

Some fear that the Teen Choice Awards are endangered due to the upcoming end of their publishing partner, the magazine Teen People. The magazine will close up shop in September, 2006, but, for the forseeable future, the awards are expected to continue.

Music Winners:

• Single — Fall Out Boy, "Dance, Dance"
• R&B artist — Rihanna
• Rock group — Fall Out Boy
• R&B/hip-hop track — Nelly Furtado, feat. Timbaland, "Promiscuous"
• Rock track — Fall Out Boy, "Dance, Dance"
• Love song — Nick Lachey, "What's Left of Me"
• Breakout, female — Rihanna
• Song of the summer — Nelly Furtado, feat. Timbaland, "Promiscuous"
• V Cast Music artist — Nelly Furtado