Sure, Spears took the stage in a sparkly black bra and some tight, barely-there bottoms that her backside sprung out of like a jack-in-the-box, mouthing along to her latest single, "Gimme More," while dancers gyrated on stripper poles, real classy like.

But for a gal whose past VMA appearances have seen her locking lips with Madonna and dressing up in a weird leather biker get-up suggestive of a very confused Hells Angel, it was a rote, aloof and disheveled appearance unworthy of all the hype that surrounded it.

"Wasn't that incredible?" comedian Sarah Silverman quipped after Spears' performance. "She's amazing. She's 25 years old, and she's already accomplished everything she's going to accomplish in life."

Silverman got the show off to a bruising start, lampooning Spears and preening punch-line Paris Hilton with such crude, cutting -- and hilarious -- precision that the crowd fell into an uncomfortable silence for stretches.

But who needs good manners at the VMAs?

It's not really an awards show, and it doesn't pretend to be. Instead it's a party for the sake of partying, which is really the best kind of party anyways.

Besides, isn't that just what Kid Rock needs, another excuse to cut loose?

And that's exactly what he did on Sunday night, getting into a brawl with fellow rocker, and Pam Anderson ex, Tommy Lee, with the two getting escorted out of the show.

But that only added to the semi-controlled chaos that was the VMAs.

Leading up to the show, a long, winding red carpet snaked its way through the middle of the Palms casino floor, flanked by screaming fans who clung to the metal railing like static electricity and rubbernecked from slot machines

"Anybody who doesn't work for MTV needs to move or gamble," a security guard ordered loitering onlookers.

The show took place throughout the casino -- in various Fantasy suites, the Rain nightclub and The Pearl concert hall -- for a loose, raucous vibe.

Some of the best moments of the night came via some unlikely collaborations, like the Foo Fighters knocking the snot out of Prince's "Darling Nikki" with Gnarls Barkley crooner Cee-Lo Green and System of a Down frontman Serj Tankian joining the group for a frantic take on the Dead Kennedys' "Holiday in Cambodia."

Other highlights included a hair-raising, hellfire-and-brimstone version of George Michael's "Freedom" by Alicia Keys, and Lil' Wayne and Panic! at the Disco frontman Brendon Urie jamming together in a suite with Fall Out Boy.

Before the show, Panic drummer Spencer Smith talked up the hotly anticipated sophomore disc from the young Las Vegas band.

"We started a few months ago; we wrote eight or nine songs and then decided to kind of put those songs on the side and start over," Smith said, noting that the group had greatly tinkered with its sound. "Now we've got like 10 new songs, and we start recording in a few weeks."

Panic! took home top honors at the 2006 VMAs for Video of the Year, which went to Rihanna this year for her hit "Umbrella," which also was named Monster Single of the Year.

Other winners included Fergie for Female Artist of the Year, Beyoncé and Shakira for Most Earthshattering Collaboration and Gym Class Heroes for Best New Artist.

Seemingly everywhere was Justin Timberlake, who performed with 50 Cent and Nelly Furtado and who took home trophies for Male Artist of the Year and the Quadruple Threat award, which honors artists who have achieved success in a variety of mediums.

But perhaps his best move came when he decided to bite the hand that feeds him.

"I want to challenge MTV right now to play more videos," he said with a grin during the first of his acceptance speeches, urging MTV to start living up to its name again.