A little known Arsenio Hall was invited to host the 1988 MTV VMAs, and he turned out to be so good at what he did on stage that MTV decided to keep him as the host for four years. Fresh off a movie with Eddie Murphy, the hilarious Hall was at his best hosting the VMAs. This year’s big winner was INXS walking away with four Moonmen including the all important Viewer’s Choice award Video of the Year for Need You Tonight/Mediate. Janet Jackson's "The Pleasure Principal" was chosen for Best Choreography over Michael Jackson and Prince.
Performances included Aerosmith "Dude (Looks Like a Lady)", Elton John’s “I Don't Wanna Go On With You". But in the end it looked like Guns 'N Roses with Welcome to the Jungle was what it took to blow the roof off the Universal Amphitheatre. Slash’s blazing guitars and Axl’s vocal prowess simply rocked the party. One of the greatest performances they were to deliver together and the MTV VMAs witnessed it.
List of Nominees and Winners at the MTV Video Music Awards 1988
Video of the Year
- INXS - Need You Tonight/Mediate
- George Harrison - When We Was Fab
- Bruce Springsteen - Tunnel Of Love
- U2 - Where The Streets Have No Name
- U2 - I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
Best Male Video
- Prince - U Got The Look
- Terence Trent D'Arby - Wishing Well
- George Harrison - Got My Mind Set On You
- Bruce Springsteen - Tunnel Of Love
- Steve Winwood - Back In The High Life
Best Female Video
- Suzanne Vega - Luka
- Cher - I Found Someone
- Lita Ford - Kiss Me Deadly
- Janet Jackson - The Pleasure Principle
- Jody Watley - Some Kind Of Lover
Best Group Video
- INXS - Need You Tonight/Mediate
- Aerosmith - Dude (Looks Like A Lady)
- Eurythmics - I Need A Man
- U2 - Where The Streets Have No Name
- U2 - I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
Viewer's Choice
- INXS - Need You Tonight/Mediate
- George Harrison - When We Was Fab
- Suzanne Vega - Luka
- U2 - I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
- U2 - Where The Streets Have No Name
Best New Artist
- Guns N' Roses - Welcome To The Jungle
- The Godfathers - Birth, School, Work, Death
- Buster Poindexter - Hot, Hot, Hot
- Swing Out Sister - Breakout
- Jody Watley - Some Kind Of Lover
Breakthrough Video
- INXS - Need You Tonight/Mediate
- George Harrison - When We Was Fab
- Squeeze - Hourglass
- Suzanne Vega - Luka
- XTC - Dear God
Best Concept Video
- Pink Floyd
- George Harrison - When We Was Fab
- INXS - Need You Tonight/Mediate
- U2 - I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
- XTC - Dear God
Best Stage Performance
- Prince - U Got The Look
- Aerosmith - Dude (Looks Like A Lady)
- Grateful Dead - Touch Of Grey
- Elton John - Candle In The Wind
- Roy Orbison - Oh, Pretty Woman
- U2 - Where The Streets Have No Name
Best Video From A Film
- Los Lobos - La Bamba
- The Bangles - Hazy Shade Of Winter
- Bryan Ferry - Kiss & Tell
- Peter Gabriel - Biko
- Bob Seger – Shakedown
Best Direction
- George Michael - Father Figure
- Eurythmics - You Have Placed A Chill In My Heart
- Pink Floyd - Learning To Fly
- R.E.M. - The One I Love
- XTC - Dear God
Best Choreography
- Janet Jackson - Pleasure Principle
- Michael Jackson - Bad
- Michael Jackson - The Way You Make Me Feel
- Prince - U Got The Look
- Sting - We'll Be Together
Best Special Effects
- Squeeze
- George Harrison - When We Was Fab
- INXS - Need You Tonight/Mediate
- Grateful Dead - Touch of Grey
- George Harrison - Got My Mind Set On You
Best Art Direction
- Squeeze
- INXS - Need You Tonight/Mediate
- George Michael - Faith
- George Harrison - When We Was Fab
- Bruce Springsteen - Tunnel of Love
Best Editing
- INXS - Need You Tonight/Mediate
- INXS - Devil Inside
- Loverboy - Notorious
- Prince - U Got The Look
- Bruce Springsteen - Tunnel Of Love
Best Cinematography
- Sting
- George Michael - Father Figure
- Pink Floyd - Learning To Fly
- Robert Plant - Heaven Knows
- Suzanne Vega - Luka