All the Weird, Awkward, and Just Plain Bizarre Moments from the 2023 MTV Movie & TV Awards

Are the MTV Movie & TV Awards ever really must-see TV? Unclear, but this year they didn’t have a red carpet, they didn’t have a host, and they weren’t even aired live! The two-hour event honoring the “best” of film and television from the past year was a bizarre occurrence that reminded us of the strange cobbled-together awards shows that aired during COVID. Luckily for you, we watched the whole dang thing so you didn’t have to. Here are the most bizarre events from the night’s ceremony.

The Weirdest Moments from the 2023 MTV Movie & TV Awards

Trailers for the MTV Movie & TV Awards with Drew Barrymore saying she’s hosting air mere moments before the MTV Awards air with no host

While the professional M3GAN cosplayer was originally planned to host the award show, she bowed out the week before the festivities in solidarity with the WGA writers on strike. The strike also was the impetus for the event’s red carpet being scrapped and the ceremony pivoting from a live event to a pre-recorded special.

Drew Barrymore’s Josie Grossy from Never Been Kissed get’s her first kiss with Cocaine Bear

Despite not being the host, Drew did make appearances in pre-taped bits that had been written and shot before the live event. In the opening, Drew’s iconic Josie popped up in scenes from the nominated films and TV shows, before ultimately locking lips (and doing cocaine?) with the one and only Cocaine Bear.

Related: Read All About Drew Barrymore's Kids. Their Names, Ages, and Fathers

Tom Cruise accepts the Golden Popcorn for Best Performance in a Movie while flying an airplane

For Cruise’s pre-taped acceptance speech for Top Gun: Maverick, he shouted thank you to movie fans and promoted the new Mission: Impossible film while actually flying a plane with the statue behind him.

Related: Tom Cruise's Net Worth Soars Thanks to Top Gun: Maverick

SO MANY FLASHBACKS

Without a host, a crowd, presenters, or even acceptance speeches in some cases, the awards show basically just showed dozens and dozens and dozens AND DOZENS of old clips. The awards show was basically YouTube.

Zoom and FaceTime acceptance speeches

With no in-person acceptance speeches, all the winners sent in pre-recorded bits. Most had that glorious April 2020 Zoom call sheen, but one from Vanderpump Rules cast for Best Reality On-Screen Team actually looked like a Cameo-style vertical video from her couch.

Sylvester Stallone is apparently now a reality tv star

A trailer for the new reality TV show starring Stallone and his daughters aired during one of the commercial breaks during the awards show. Sly arrived on my screen about an hour into this show, and I had to wonder if my brain had started to dissolve.

Ghostface accepts the Golden Popcorn for Best Fight

Courteney Cox didn't seem to be available to send in an iPhone video acceptance speech, but her Scream VI fight partner Ghostface filled in for her. Who is behind the Ghostface mask though? THAT'S what I want to know, and is it actually just Drew?

A controversial Selena Gomez video resurfaces for some reason

Of all the clips they had to choose from in the show's 30+ year history, MTV opted to re-air an extended sequence from a 2013 Selena Gomez performance of "Come & Get It." The Bollywood-inspired performance was called out by the Hindu community when it aired originally, and it feels even more cringy now.

M3GAN didn't win Best Musical Moment

EXCUSE ME! WHAT? HOW?!?!?!?!?!?! Whoever didn't vote for her had better watch out the next time they're walking their dog.

Drew Barrymore still wins Best Host and gives an acceptance speech from her bathroom

This somehow feels like the exactly right way to end this hot mess of a show.

Next, The Complete List of 2023 MTV Movie & TV Awards Winners