VMA Sneak Peak today

Hey Gasmii,

I’m off to the VMA preview. It’s supposed to start at noon PST today. If we can get it going, then watch the widget below as we are going to do our best to broadcast it live. The video below will be replaced by the VMA preview. Keep checking for updates.

Russell Brand will be lifting the curtains on the 25th annual MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS with the help of some very special guests. For the first time in its history, MTV will give you a peek at this year’s show including the music, the people, the sets, as well as a couple of very BIG announcements.

Fingers crossed our technology works!

(video after the jump)

Also, I was not able to get the video up of Fonzworth Bently introducing the gifting suite as my camera pooped out, but here is a list of what all the celebs are getting…over $15,000 worth of swag:

Here is the audio of the interview if you’d rather hear it than read (click on black box below to open audio):

Andy Warhol Watches will be gifting two of its premium watches, Fragile Existence and Crosses & Guns, which feature artwork from Warhol’s early days as a fashion illustrator; works that laid the foundation for the Pop Culture movement that challenged the world to see art differently. The Andy Warhol Collection is a forward-thinking watch collection which embraces Warhol’s creativity and sophisticated sense of design and his ability to see the familiar from an unexpected perspective.

The Best of Everything will be gifting a limited edition Calatrava Cross created exclusively for the VMAs and presented by one of their premiere luxury partners, Diamond Cutters International. The Best Of Everything chose the Calatrava Cross, a symbol which is said to bring “the best of everything” to the wearer, a perfect fit for rhe company whose mission is to provide its clients with once-in-a-lifetime experiences and unparalleled access and luxury.

Boblbee, a lifestyle bag company from Sweden, will be gifting the talent a laptop bag and the Double Decker 40L, which with multiple pockets is the perfect carry-on. Boblbee products are light weight in combination with impact protection, extreme functionality, daring designs and advanced ergonomics. Boblbee: For what you do at home, at work, at play. Visit www.boblbee.com for more info.

The Bungalows at Cofresi Beach in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic will be gifting the talent a four night/five day stay in a one-bedroom Grand Bunglaow. The five-star, all-inclusive property features 108 plush, private guestrooms; a 17,000 square-foot spa and fitness center offering exclusive treatments and luxury products by Kerstin Florian; world-class cuisine at Social Restaurant & Lounge; 24-hour private concierge service and a staff to guest ratio of 2:1.

Dunlop Manufacturing, the world’s leader in guitar accessories, will be gifting the talent a choice of 2 boxes of guitar strings or 2 boxes of bass guitar strings, along with a system 65 maintenance kit, accessory pack and turbo tune. Visit www.jimdunlop.com for more info.

Farouk Systems will be gifting the 1″ CHI Nano Digital Ceramic Hairstyling Iron and the CHI Nano Ceramic Hair Dryer. The CHI Ceramic Nano Auto Digital Iron is the Award Winning CHI Ceramic Hairstyling Iron combined with Nano Technology. These new products, called CHI Nano combine Nano silver particles and CHI Ceramic particles to passively disinfect exposed surfaces, thus preventing transfer of contamination and microbe growth between cleaning.

Fekkai hair care collection is the ultimate in luxury hair care. Fr̩d̩ric developed his line to meet the particular needs of different hair types, and infused each product with nutrients essential for restoring and rejuvenating the hair. In addition to providing exceptional professional results, Fekkai products feature luxurious textures and refreshing, invigorating scents. The Fekkai package includes a sampling of the best of from the Fekkai line.Technician Shampoo and Conditioner to gently cleanse and restore mositure with a blend of botanicals, avocado oil and protein. Over Night Hair Repair Рthe first product in a breakthrough hair care category. Overnight Hair Repair brings the innovative technology of skincare treatments to the hair. This intense treatment is specifically designed to repair and replenish dry, damaged hair while you sleep. Coiff Controle РA miraculous non-chemical balm that helps hair go straight while you dry.

Fendi will be gifting the talent a pair of their limited edition Fendi sunglasses. This Fendi sunglass skillfully combines the Fendi logo with a skull detail on the temples.

Five Four Clothing will be gifting the talent their men’s Five Four Whittingham Black poplin woven shirt and their IRO nylon shirt jacket. Five Four embodies the spirit and culture of its time. Through its progressive designs and modern aesthetic, the collection reflects the essence of a brand without any boundaries. As Five Four evolves over time, it will always maintain the vision that has inspired the lifestyle behind the brand. The brand was founded in 2002 by Creative Director Andres Izquieta, along with partner Dee Murthy.

Gahl Eden Sasson, author and professor of Kabbalah and Astrology will be gifting his book, “Cosmic Navigator – Design Your Reality with Astrology and Kabbalah”, his CD “The Alchemy of Sound” and an astrology private reading at the Golden Bridge Yoga. Sasson weaves the threads of all faiths into one rope helping his students and clients climb to their higher selves achieving what they often imagined impossible. Sasson consults many politicians, entrepreneurs and celebrities such as: Academy Award Winner Forest Whittaker, Uma Thurman, Patricia Arquette and John Cusack. His first book A Wish Can Change Your Life is endorsed by HH the 14th Dalai Lama and was selected by Madonna for her 2007 book club.

Gypsy 05 is pleased to present both an introduction to our passion for environmental improvement as well as a preview for our one of a kind hand processed designs. Gypsy 05 will be gifting each recipient their most popular organic maxi dresses in a beautiful navy ombre dye process done just for this gifting along with a men’s will be given long sleeved crew necks with a hand processed print technique and navy ombre combination. Gypsy 05 hopes the talent enjoy their unique expression and enjoy going environmentally friendly with us together!

Harmonix Music Systems and MTV Networks will be gifting the music video game Rock Band 2, a new platform for music fans and gamers to interact with music like never before. Rock Band challenges rockers to master the lead/bass guitar, drums, and vocals or play in a cooperative band experience.

Jour & Nuit will be gifting the following sandals: Madison- a high heel crocodile leather platform, Inez – a black satin heel with a crystal t strap or braided silver t strap, Duchess- a gold slide flat with crystals or gold snake options, or Aubrey – a brown suede mid heel sandal with a crocodile asymmetrical strap or crystal pyramid straps. Jour & Nuit, French for day and night, is the first luxury shoe to feature interchangeable straps that can be removed completely and transferred to other soles in the collection. Conceived and designed by Hillary Chan Latos, the collection is handcrafted in Italy and features revolutionary clasps on the interchangeable straps that are durable and strong to withstand everyday use. Each shoe comes with two sets of straps, with additional straps available for purchase separately.

KINGS OF GLORY and QUEENS OF GLORY, Los Angeles based premium brands, will be gifting Kings Of Glory/Queens of Glory is gifting the talent from their clothing line. Both the men’s and women’s collections feature pima cotton tees, fine gauge cashmeres, lightweight cotton jackets, knits and leathers. The undertones of royalty and military sensibilities continue as essential aspects of the brand, evident in the refined construction of each garment. Look for us at www.KingsofGlory.com or www.QueensofGlory.com.

KRK Systems, a leading manufacturer of studio monitors and recording control room solutions, will be gifting the new limited edition Rokit6 G2 CB monitors to recipients of the official 2008 MTV Video Music Awards gift bag. For years, the Rokit has been the most popular choice for accurate monitoring in home and project studios large and small. Rokit enthusiasts include guitar and bass players, electronic musicians and re-mixers, beginning artists and industry professionals. Available for a limited time, exclusively in Guitar Center stores, the special edition Rokit6 G2 CB boasts all of the sought after features of the traditional Rokit Series (front-firing bass port, soft-domed tweeter, glass aramid composite cone), with a unique additional feature that is sure to set it even further apart from the competition… a vivid new yellow finish.

California’s stand-out design team Lust4Luxe luxury handbags will be gifting the Zoe box purse, from hand woven, bronze metallic patent lambskin exclusively for the MTV Video Music Awards. Beyond being incredibly fashion forward, each stand out bag comes complete with a patented internal lighting system, exclusively found at www.lust4luxe.com

The Mill Valley Hat Box is gifting the talent custom hand-crafted hats specially designed for the MTV Video Music Awards. The store has been in downtown Mill Valley for almost 20 years, serving the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. At the Mill Valley Hat Box you’ll find hats ranging from everyday casual to fine couture, as well as custom hats designed by the owner and milliner, Danielle Schubert.

Propellerheads Software will be gifting the award-winning music software Reason. Reason comes in the shape of a classic studio rack. Think of it as having a recording studio inside your computer, packed with music and audio gear including: drum machines, samplers, synthesizers, mixers, EQs, reverbs and other effects. Included on the Reason DVD-ROM is a complete soundbank containing sounds, loops, patches and grooves for producing all styles of music.

PUMA will be gifting its new Cell Meio shoe – the perfect blend of fashion and function that showcases PUMA’s new premium visible technology, inverse duoCELL. The Cell Meio L is PUMA’s statement visible technology product this season, perfect for the runner looking to run with ultimate style. Additionally, PUMA will also be gifting apparel items from its RUNWAY Collection – inspired by the motto “Look good, feel better, play harder.”

Rhapsody (R) will give a full year of its critically-acclaimed Rhapsody digital music

service. Rhapsody offers instant access to over four million songs on the PC, directly to the living room through TiVo and on portable music devices, such as the Philips GoGear 8GB MP3, which will also be gifting so the talent can enjoy their year of Rhapsody on the go, with Philips’ FullSound Technology for superb audio quality. From rock and alternative, to hip-hop and country music, Rhapsody delivers the ultimate digital music experience for every music fan.

Red Carpet Runway will be gifting a portable Red Carpet Experience at the 2008 Video Music Awards. The celebrity talent will each receive a red carpet mirror that can be redeemed for a complimentary portable, 8′ x 8′ customized backdrop + red carpet, that they can design with their own logos, themes and style. With Red Carpet Runway, your next birthday party, house party, baby shower, et al will never be the same. RedCarpetRunway.com Are You Red Carpet Ready?

Qi Cashmere will be gifting a duster and scarf specially made for the talent; fans of the Qi line include Rihanna and Jessica Alba! Qi is a contemporary knitwear company that is sexy, chic and always modern. Qi strives to push the envelope in season, with the use of imported yarns, cotton, cashmere, and cashmere blends.

Quasar Light Therapy will be gifting each talent a Baby Quasar, a revolutionary photo rejuvenation anti-aging and acne skincare system designed to help reverse the signs of aging, lessen the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and enlarged pores, banish breakouts and achieve healthy, younger-looking, beautiful skin.

The Sonya Dakar Jet Set is the perfect travel companion! This travel-friendly collection includes a Sonya Dakar face wash, Hydrasoft Lotion Moisturizer, and seaweed detox gel, all in FAA-approved sizes and packaged in a sleek and stylish travel case. The Visualift Eye Cream,Aromasol Mist toner and lip balm complete the regimen, while the famed Sonya Dakar Drying Potion is perfect for overnight breakouts!

Tarte cosmetics will be gifting an assortment of natural makeup for the talent to enjoy the ultimate in green glamour. From smoky eyes and berry cheeks to rich-hue full lips, tarte delivers the season’s look naturally. It’s all about health coutureâ„¢–the marriage between runway-inspired fabrics and skinvigoratingâ„¢ ingredients.

Taverniti So Denim will be gifting the talent a pair of their premium denim. Taverniti So Denim combines an all-American vintage look with directional denim styling.

Using the finest premium fabrics and materials, Taverniti So Denim was one of the first denim lines to make the “worn and weathered” look a statement.

UGO CACCIATORI has produced limited edition pendants for the MTV Video Music Awards. Though iconic part of the current collection, they have been revised for the occasion. The UGO CACCIATORI story shows a new aesthetic possibility of romanticism in contemporary times. Referencing eccentric and intellectual style of life, the design reflects a sophisticated construction of shapes combined with a wide comprehension of textures and oxidations. The result is a hand-made expression of contents and forms giving life to a collection whose construction is closer to a novel than to the established seasons of fashion. Not just an accessory line but also the seed of a complete series of objects emerging from a tale as from an inner dreamy vision where the global perception of fairy and fantasy find a definite reference point in luxury.

Ultrasone of America will be gifting their latest technology HFI-780 headphones. All Ultrasone headphones feature the patented S-Logicâ„¢ or S-Logic Plusâ„¢ natural surround sound technology which provides a more natural listening experience while protecting you ears from damage. Ultrasone headphones do this by delivering lower SPLs (sound pressure levels) for the same perceived volume and by shielding you against electromagnetic radiation emitted by all electronic devices.