MTV Rappers to square off on New Year's Eve show
Entertainers scheduled include Clay Aiken, Hilary Duff, Ludacris and Simple Plan.
By TERRY MORROW
SCRIPPS HOWARD
Standing in his pajamas during the New Year's Eve mayhem of Times Square last year, MTV personality Quddus had a case of "rookie jitters."
It was his first time to see the merrymaking first hand as part of the MTV team. The booze was flowing. The music was rockin'. People were required to show up in their bedclothes.
"To see everybody that I work with, to see people I respect, in their pajamas was kind of bugged out," he said. "To see my contacts in those kinds of clothes was a trip.
"Seeing Ashton Kutcher drunk on air was kind of an experience, too, because I never knew when he was going to drop the mike and moon the crowd."
Guy Lombardo might be spinning in his grave.
MTV has added a rock 'n' roll spin to New Year's Eve for well more than a decade now. Their veejays headline the live event, with musical acts performing in Times Square.
What to expect
This year's celebration begins at 10:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Clay Aiken, Hilary Duff, Ludacris and Simple Plan are scheduled to perform. Also appearing are Erika Christensen, Chingy and the cast of the WB drama "One Tree Hill."
The evening will also be a competition among hip-hop artists. MTV's champion from last spring's "MTV's MC Battle I" Reign Man will face off against Wrekonize, the champion of "MTV's MC Battle II," to determine who is the lyrical king of the ring.
Fans voting during the event on MTV.com will determine the winner.
Simple Plan will perform the midnight tune, a cover that has yet to be announced. This marks the Canadian band's first appearance at the MTV event.
"My first thought will be that I hope we don't mess up," said Chuck Comeau, drummer for Simple Plan. "My second (thought) will be looking back" on the year.
Quddus will be reporting from inside the comfort of the MTV Studios in Times Square. Most of the other veejays will be doing duty outside in Times Square.
This year, though, they'll be dressed in their normal street clothes.
The alcohol factor
Is Quddus hoping some major star will show up drunk again this year?
"I'm someone who believes you can have a good time without alcohol," he said, "but I have to admit that it is always funny to see someone drunk. I cannot lie."