Bad: Soulja Boy was there. Not only that, but he also performed the shiteous "Turn My Swag On" track, which I recently had the extreme displeasure of watching spread like wildfire through the impressionable, corn-fed alabaster herds of Southeast Michigan.

Good: The fake movie trailer “Skank Robbers,” which found Jamie Foxx and Martin Lawrence revisit their famed female alter-egos Wanda and Sha Nay Nay turning out a performance that looks better than half the movies we're supposed to be getting excited about this summer.

Good & Bad: The endless Don Cornelius rant. “Soul Train” creator Don Cornelius appeared on stage to present an honorary award to the O’Jays, but managed to shift the conversation his own way and stretch his introduction out to great lengths. “Wow, Don, that was very short!,” The O’Jays said when accepting the award. “He’s always been that slow." But then again, "Soul Train" broke half the acts sitting in the room that night, so he's got a right to talk for an hour straight if he wants to.

Good & Bad: The performances weren't lip-synched, a clear siren call for respectability and authenticity in the industry. As a result, however, almost every singer or performer was slightly flat or off-key. Best New Artist winner Keri Hilson was the sole exception, tearing off a searing medley of "Turnin' Me On" and "Knock You Down".

Bad: The running time. The Oscar-length running time of this year’s BET Awards was 3 hours, 45 minutes. Sure, it was a heartfelt tribute, but by the third hour of the show I was ready to give Michael a break and change the channel. 

Good: Janet Jackson made a brief appearance at the end of the show, addressing the audience as a representative of the entire Jackson family: "To you, Michael is an icon. To us, Michael was family, and he will live forever in our hearts....thank you. Thank you." Then Jamie Foxx and Ne-Yo performed a spot-on, tear-jerking duet of the Jackson 5’s “I’ll Be There.” It was a beautiful finish to an off-balance but well-intentioned broadcast that will be remembered as a successful tribute to the fallen King Of Pop.

The winners:

• Male R&B Artist: Ne-Yo.

• Female R&B Artist: Beyonce.

• Group: Day 26.

• Collaboration: “Blame It,” Jamie Foxx featuring T-Pain.

• Male Hip Hop Artist: Lil Wayne.

• Female Hip Hop Artist: M.I.A.

• New Artist: Keri Hilson.

• Gospel Artist: Mary Mary.

• Video of the Year: “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It),” Beyonce.

• Video Director of the Year: Benny Boom.

• Actor: Will Smith.

• Actress: Taraji P. Henson.

• Female Athlete: Serena Williams.

• Male Athlete: LeBron James.

• Centric Award: Jazmine Sullivan.

• Viewer’s Choice Award: “Live Your Life,” T.I.

• Humanitarians of the Year: Alicia Keys and Wyclef Jean.

• Lifetime Achievement Award: O’Jays