The 2008 VMAs were poised to mark the return of Britney Spears. Instead, they will go down in history as the night when that English guy from Forgetting Sarah Marshall almost made the Jonas Brothers cry. Here are some other standout moments from the MTV video music awards show:

Watch out, Britney. You've recently conquered your inner wild child, but party animal Paris Hilton has her eyes on you. We all know that Paris is in the market for a new 'BFF', and she couldn't stop talking about you on the red carpet on Sunday. When asked whether you had a chance at winning Pop Video of the Year, Hilton replied: "I hope so, cause I'm actually presenting Pop Video of the Year, so I really hope it's her."

Casting off her usual "more is more" philosophy, Christina Aguilera really toned it down on the red carpet on Sunday night. Sure, she still had huge lashes and a full train fanned out around her, but for Christina,the simple hair and makeup were decidedly low-key.

Britney Spears' appearance at the VMAs was the subject of considerable buzz this week. Would she give a bizarre, dazed performance, like she did in 2007? Would she tongue-kiss a pop legend like she did in 2003?

Nope. Instead, Britney merely raced through a brief monologue like a first-grader saying the Pledge of Allegiance. "Yay, you said your line and you lost weight," joked a coworker. The pop singer, whose career has been overshadowed in recent years by a litany of personal woes, took home the awards for video of the year, best pop video and best female video, all for the tune Piece of Me.

"I'm in shock right now," the 26-year-old starlet said, after taking the stage for the third time to receive the coveted award for video of the year.

Source: LA Times