The 1996 VMAs oversaw MTV’s attempt at making the VMAs the first awards in space. Dennis Miller was back hosting the MTV VMAs for the second time in a row at Radio City Music Hall in New York. MTV had arranged for live broadcast with the Russian MIR Space Station, the only issue at hand- neither Miller nor the cosmonauts understood a word each other was saying. It was a bad start to the evening; nevertheless MTV had a whole bag of tricks for the night.
The alternative rock band Smashing Pumpkins fronted by Billy Corgan walked away with five Moonmen, including the ones for Video of The Year and Breakthrough Video. Alanis Morissette’s Ironic bagged three awards including Best Female Video and Best New Artist. Coolio’s Gangsta’s Paradise won Best Rap Video and Bush’s Glycerine got them the Viewer’s choice award. As usual the performances blew the crowd away, a newly re-united KISS stormed through Rock N’ Roll All Night and The Cranberries wooed the crowd with Salvation.
The Gallagher brothers (Oasis) were up to their usual bickering, among themselves; Liam seemed to be unsatisfied with Noel’s performance and stormed off stage during a performance of Champagne Supernova. Others on the bill included Mettalica, The Fugees, Alanis Morissette, Bush, LL Cool J and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. A hugely anticipated regrouping of the band Van Halen fell flat with band members at each other’s throats, backstage. Despite minor setbacks MTV pulled off the VMAs for yet another year.
List of Nominees and Winners at the MTV Video Music Awards1996
Video of the Year
- The Smashing Pumpkins
- Bone Thugs-N-Harmony - Tha Crossroads
- Foo Fighters - Big Me
- Alanis Morissette – Ironic
Best Male Video
- Beck - Where It's At
- Bryan Adams - The Only Thing That Looks Good On Me Is You
- Coolio - 1,2,3,4 (Sumpin' New)
- R. Kelly Ronald Isley - Down Low
- Seal - Don't Cry
Best Female Video
- Alanis Morissette - Ironic
- Björk - It's Oh So Quiet
- Tracy Chapman - Give Me One Reason
- Jewel - Who Will Save Your Soul
Best Group Video
- Foo Fighters - Big Me
- Bone Thugs-n-Harmony - Tha Crossroads
- The Fugees - Killing Me Softly
- Hootie & The Blowfish - Only Wanna Be With You
Best Rap Video
- Coolio & LV
- 2Pac & Dr. Dre - California Love
- Bone Thugs-n-Harmony - Tha Crossroads
- LL Cool J - Doin' It
Best R&B Video
- The Fugees - Killing Me Softly
- Toni Braxton - You're Makin' Me High
- Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men - One Sweet Day
- D'Angelo - Brown Sugar
Best Dance Video
- Coolio - 1,2,3,4 (Sumpin' New)
- Everything But The Girl - Missing
- La Bouche - Be My Lover
- George Michael - Fast Love
Viewer's Choice
- Bush
- Bone Thugs-n-Harmony - Tha Crossroads
- Coolio & LV - Gangsta's Paradise
- Metallica - Until It Sleeps
- Alanis Morissette - Ironic
- The Smashing Pumpkins - Tonight, Tonight
Best Hard Rock Video
- Metallica - Until It Sleeps
- Alice In Chains - Again
- Marilyn Manson - Sweet Dreams
- Rage Against The Machine - Bulls On Parade
Best Alternative Video
- The Smashing Pumpkins
- Bush - Glycerine
- Everclear - Santa Monica
- Foo Fighters - Big Me
Best New Artist
- Alanis Morissette - Ironic
- Tracy Bonham - Mother Mother
- Garbage - Stupid Girl
- Jewel - Who Will Save Your Soul
Best Video From A Film
- Coolio & LV
- Brandy - Sittin' Up In My Room
- Bush - Machinehead
- Adam Clayton & Larry Mullen - Mission Impossible
Best Direction
- The Smashing Pumpkins
- Björk - It's Oh So Quiet
- Foo Fighters - Big Me
- Alanis Morissette – Ironic
Best Choreography
- Björk - It's Oh So Quiet
- Janet Jackson - Runaway
- George Michael - Fast Love
- Quad City D.J.'s - C'mon N' Ride It (The Train)
Best Special Effects
- The Smashing Pumpkins
- Beatles - Free As A Bird
- Bone Thugs-n-Harmony - Tha Crossroads
- Green Day - Walking Contradiction
Best Art Direction
- The Smashing Pumpkins
- Björk - It's Oh So Quiet
- The Cranberries - Salvation
- Salvation – Tongue
Best Editing
- Alanis Morissette - Ironic
- Beck - Where It's At
- Red Hot Chili Peppers - Warped
- The Smashing Pumpkins - Tonight, Tonight
Best Cinematography
- The Smashing Pumpkins
- Brandy - Brokenhearted
- Eric Clapton - Change The World
- Coolio & LV - Gangsta's Paradise
- Madonna - You'll See
Breakthrough Video
- The Smashing Pumpkins
- Björk - It's Oh So Quiet
- Garbage - Queer
- Radiohead – Just