VH1 is going bananas with New York-based music events.
On Thursday the music cable channel announced it was joining with Miramax and Cablevision to present a Madison Square Garden benefit concert featuring Paul McCartney and the Who for victims of the attack on the World Trade Center.
On Friday, VH1 said it would tape the seventh annual “VH1/Vogue Fashion Awards” in New York on Oct. 19 for cablecasting as a two-hour primetime special Oct. 22.
But the plan is to tone down the glitter and frivolity, said Todd Schwartz, executive producer of the awards show, and “tip our hat to New York’s unstoppable energy and rhythm.”
There’ll be no on-air host this year for the first time, which should speed up the awards presentations for categories such as stylish artist (male and female), rebel designer of the year and most glamorous couple.
Schwartz said the show will produce a couple of set pieces in outdoor Gotham locations featuring performers and thesps. Alicia Keys, Lenny Kravitz and John Mellencamp will perform, and presenters include Dylan McDermott, Salma Hayek, Angie Harmon, Sean Combs, Renee Zellweger and Courtney Love.
