Effing A, MTV!

I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but God bless Pete Wentz. Sure, he’s the male Jennifer Anniston of the new millennium with the most copied haircut since the “Rachel” (he says he bit it from Rihanna. I think it’s the other way around). He’s also done the seemingly impossible: Pete Wentz has brought music back to MTV.

As the host of the new show FNMTV (as in “effing MTV”), Wentz presides over a completely bananas mix of new music with an impressive range. While it’s the big hit-makers that keep the kids squealing, enough genuine good music is mixed in to make it the most sonically entertaining hour on MTV in far too long (who do I have to arm-wrestle to get “120 Minutes” revived?).

Even though I’m still kicking myself for not being able to attend the taping of the second episode (where Lil Wayne positively destroyed the studio with an incendiary run through the ubiquitous “A Milli”), the news that I would be seeing Rihanna and No Age perform was enough to RSVP with a quickness for episode number three.

Yes, you read that right: Totally awesome L.A. art-punks No Age (see them tonight, June 27, for free at the Getty museum). With a stage manager/hypeman imploring the Technicolor crowd of teens and tweens to show them as much love as “an act you already know,” seeing Randy Randall and Dean Allen Spunt run onstage to deafening screams from people who were just moments before hollering for Atlanta rapper T.I. is oddly reassuring. It was even better seeing the audience slowly get into the decidedly trippy new No Age video for “Eraser,” which premiered on the show. Bonus points to No Age for showing a Husker Du video clip as an example of a prime influence on their sound. Score one for the good guys.

From guest panelist Kid Sister (that's her in the middle) cackling “Go ‘head, No Age, and do yo’ thang!” after lauding them for their DIY approach to the surprisingly lusty roar that greeted P Diddy’s male version of Danity Kane, Day26 (dudes can sing though, proving that the Jodeci model never goes out of style), the show has an egalitarian agenda (and surreal edge) that’s quite refreshing.

After a strong show-closing duet of “If I Never See Your Face Again” between Rihanna and Maroon 5, I somehow found myself in the backstage area after taking a wrong turn on my way out. Let’s actually call it a right turn, as it also brought me about two feet away from Rihanna herself. You think she looks good in pictures? You have no idea…

This episode of FNMTV debuts tonight (Friday, June 27). Check local listings for showtimes. 

—Scott T. Sterling