Proudly Music-Agnostic Comedian Sebastian Maniscalco Is Hosting the MTV VMAs

This years MTV VMAs host is…Sebastian Maniscalco. The comedian made the announcement Tuesday night during an interview with Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show.

“Its huge, its huge,” Maniscalco said. “I am so excited.”

Maniscalco then launched into a quick bit, doing an impression of his father ragging him about his lack of music knowledge (“You dont know nothin about music!”). “I didnt really grow up with pop culture music, but I think this is gonna be fun, cause MTV wants an unfiltered look of the VMAs through my eyes,” he said. Maniscalco also brought a taped bit to the show, featuring himself as he prepares for the big awards show with a little help from his doubtful wife, Lana Gomez. The theme of the bit? Maniscalco is out of touch with modern music and knows nothing about modern artists, like Billie Eilish and Cardi B! “What is that, a spice or a supplement?” he said of the latter.

“As soon as they announce the VMAs, three million teenagers are gonna search who the hell is Sebastian Maniscalco?” he quipped. Folks, there is probably going to be a lot more where that came from.

Compared to recent VMA hosts like Katy Perry and Miley Cyrus, Maniscalco is real a left-field choice. Hes incredibly successful as a standup, sure; he landed on Forbess highest-paid comics list in 2018 and has several specials, most recently Stay Hungry on Netflix. But that doesnt necessarily make him an obvious VMAs host. His comedy style revolves more around observational humor and quips about his Italian-American upbringing than topical, pop culture skewering punchlines, which is kind of what an MTV-approved host needs. And as he already joked, Maniscalco isnt necessarily in the know when it comes to modern music, which could make for an awkward time when hes cracking jokes about not knowing who Cardi B is to Cardi Bs face. Past comedians who have hosted the show include Kevin Hart, Chelsea Handler, and Fallon himself, entertainers who are more in the know when it comes to mainstream pop. Of course, MTVs unusual gambit does have potential to draw in more viewers thanks to Maniscalcos dedicated following . . . but well just have to wait until August 26 to find out whether it works.

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