9 Things You Didn't See on TV at the VMAs

FUSE TV - 9 Things You Didn't See on TV at the VMAs

Ever wonder what it'd be like to go to the MTV VMAs? Me too! And this year, I found out.

After making the trek down to Brooklyn's Barclays Center (which is beautiful and serves delicious food, BTW) and wading through a sea of fans who'd been waiting for nearly 12 hours outside the arena, I found my seat inside and watched the iconic award show IRL. (And I made sure to tell everyone on Facebook about it. Because come on.)

As expected, seeing the VMAs live is an entirely different experience than seeing it on TV. First and foremost, celebrities are so much shorter in real life! Also, they make them sit in standard stadium seating, just like us plebeians. 

But what happens during the commercial break? How stunning is Rihanna when she's feet from your face? What does Justin Timberlake's breath smell like? Find out the answers to all of those questions (except the last one) below.

1. Lady Gaga's outfit from behind. The show started with an extreme close-up of Gaga's minimally made-up face surrounded by a white canvas. But we in the audience mostly saw the whole thing from behind—a woman dressed in a white robe singing to a camera with a box on her head. Uh, security?

2. Iggy Azalea hugging Lil Kim. Iggy shouted her out when they presented on stage, but I saw them waiting together during the commercial break. Iggy gave Lil Kim a big reassuring hug, almost like she was calming her nerves. It was so sweet!

3. Lil Kim's butt. You only saw her present from the front. Those pants? They were mesh: OMFG.

4. Miley Cyrus' plushies before the lights were on. Exactly. Imagine that—a whole sleuth of giant teddy bears lined up during the commercial break, waiting patiently for their cue while the lights were down. It was like the creepiest kindergarten graduation pageant ever.

5. Justin Timberlake really is that good. That's no TV magic, folks. JT had the standout performance of the night (shout out to Kanye West's cinematic rendition of "Blood on the Leaves," though) and all of that is 100 percent, genuine American craftsmanship and skill. He danced and sang from stage to stage like the seasoned pro that he is, and we almost forgot we were at the VMAs—it was more like a Justin Timberlake concert featuring guests.

6. The decibel level when NSYNC came out. You and your friends might have shrieked in your living room, but multiply that by about 17,000. Almost everyone in Barclays Center found the 14-year-old girl inside of them and let her scream at the top of her lungs!

7. Macklemore's gratitude. His decision to perform "Same Love" (and the surprise addition of Jennifer Hudson) was enough to earn him some brownie points with me. But after they cut to commercial, Macklemore high-fived everyone near the stage whose hand he could reach. Crush status.

8. Rihanna's off-camera persona. Everyone's talking about how pissed/bored RiRi looked during the show. And I can assure you as someone who literally almost bumped into her on the concourse outside of section 17, that was not an act. I'M SORRY, RIHANNA. CALL ME. Which brings me to...

9. VH1's Big Ang! She was there! Did they show her on TV? She is every bit as glorious in real life as she is on TV. I know because I got a pic with her! (I had to!) Actually, so did Rihanna—she was the only thing that cheered her up.

Check out performance highlights from the 2013 MTV VMAs:

G Fella at the T-Shirt Shop: G-Thing

1m

G Fella at the T-Shirt Shop: G-Thing

Must See International TV

20m

Must See International TV

Knuckles at the Tattoo Parlor: G-Thing

2m

Knuckles at the Tattoo Parlor: G-Thing

Success at the Tattoo Parlor: G-Thing

2m

Success at the Tattoo Parlor: G-Thing

On the Road With G-Thing: Deleted Scene

2m

On the Road With G-Thing: Deleted Scene

So You Can't Get Pregnant By Smiling at a Boy?

2m

So You Can't Get Pregnant By Smiling at a Boy?

I Played One on TV

46m

I Played One on TV

The Out100 TV Special

47m

The Out100 TV Special

G-Thing

G-Thing

T-Pain Gets Schooled On Genetics

1m

T-Pain Gets Schooled On Genetics

On Set At The Transcendent Season 2 Promo Shoot

1m

On Set At The Transcendent Season 2 Promo Shoot

You're the Dads Now!

21m

You're the Dads Now!

Campfire: G-Thing

1m

Campfire: G-Thing

Noodle the Cat bites T-Pain

57s

Noodle the Cat bites T-Pain

I Don't Trust The Cloud

21m

I Don't Trust The Cloud

Keeping Your Girls The Girls In Check: G-Thing

2m

Keeping Your Girls The Girls In Check: G-Thing

Unboxing with T-Pain at ComplexCon - Ep. 2

3m

Unboxing with T-Pain at ComplexCon - Ep. 2

Unboxing with T-Pain at ComplexCon - Ep. 3

3m

Unboxing with T-Pain at ComplexCon - Ep. 3

Unboxing with T-Pain at ComplexCon - Ep 1

3m

Unboxing with T-Pain at ComplexCon - Ep 1

Sensitivity Training: G-Thing

57s

Sensitivity Training: G-Thing

Party Planners: G-Thing

1m

Party Planners: G-Thing

Mr. Thing's Vinyl Collection

14m

Mr. Thing's Vinyl Collection

Pete's Epiphany: G-Thing

1m

Pete's Epiphany: G-Thing

Sensitivity Training: G-Thing

1m

Sensitivity Training: G-Thing

Lena Waithe On Making What She Wants To See (Extended Cut)

17m

Lena Waithe On Making What She Wants To See (Extended Cut)

Pizza Commercial: G-Thing

45s

Pizza Commercial: G-Thing

Track Challenge: G-Thing

56s

Track Challenge: G-Thing

Viewing Party: G-Thing

2m

Viewing Party: G-Thing

Petet's Past: G-Thing

1m

Petet's Past: G-Thing

T

22m

T

Don't Swear In Front of The Song

21m

Don't Swear In Front of The Song

The Clash of the Corps Cast Plays Would You Rather?

3m

The Clash of the Corps Cast Plays Would You Rather?

Extras Ep 01: G-Thing

4m

Extras Ep 01: G-Thing

Knuckles and Success: G-Thing

1m

Knuckles and Success: G-Thing

Ep 7 Recap: G-Thing

3m

Ep 7 Recap: G-Thing

Cipha Sounds What's Ur Thing?

Cipha Sounds What's Ur Thing?

Father Son Breakfast: G-Thing

34s

Father Son Breakfast: G-Thing

Ep 01 Recap: G-Thing

2m

Ep 01 Recap: G-Thing

Ep 3 Recap: G-Thing

2m

Ep 3 Recap: G-Thing

Ep 5 Recap: G-Thing

2m

Ep 5 Recap: G-Thing

Ep 6 Recap: G-Thing

2m

Ep 6 Recap: G-Thing

Ep 02 Recap: G-Thing

3m

Ep 02 Recap: G-Thing

Ep 4 Recap: G-Thing

2m

Ep 4 Recap: G-Thing

Ep 08 Recap: G-Thing

3m

Ep 08 Recap: G-Thing

Ep 04 Extras: G-Thing

7m

Ep 04 Extras: G-Thing

T-Pain's School of Business: Artiphon- The All In One Musical Device | Season 1 Look Back |

1m

T-Pain's School of Business: Artiphon- The All In One Musical Device | Season 1 Look Back |

Fire On The Floor

22m

Fire On The Floor

Battle on the Catwalk

45m

Battle on the Catwalk

Eye On The Prize

44m

Eye On The Prize

Freaky On The Floor

22m

Freaky On The Floor

Eyes On The Prize

22m

Eyes On The Prize

Dikembe Mutombo on Adidas at Sneaker Con

5m

Dikembe Mutombo on Adidas at Sneaker Con

All the Focus is on the Diamonds

21m

All the Focus is on the Diamonds

Cipha Sounds What's Ur Thing? - Trailer

30s

Cipha Sounds What's Ur Thing? - Trailer

I've Got This Foot Thing

21m

I've Got This Foot Thing

Extra G Comes Clean: G-Thing

1m

Extra G Comes Clean: G-Thing

Is Everything Love At The Carters?

39s

Is Everything Love At The Carters?

T Pain's School of Business Bloopers Bothering T-Pain

1m

T Pain's School of Business Bloopers Bothering T-Pain

Melissa and G-Fella BBQ: G-Thing

1m

Melissa and G-Fella BBQ: G-Thing

At the Buffet, There Are No Rules

21m

At the Buffet, There Are No Rules

T-Pain's School of Business: Vite Ramen- The World's Healthiest Ramen

1m

T-Pain's School of Business: Vite Ramen- The World's Healthiest Ramen

Anthony Ramos On 'The Good & The Bad' (Extended Cut)

12m

Anthony Ramos On 'The Good & The Bad' (Extended Cut)

You're Cut

20m

You're Cut

Ice-T and Coco

22m

Ice-T and Coco

Don't Be Nice

1h 34m

Don't Be Nice

Fluffy's Hot Spots Ep. 3: The Can't-Miss Gems of Harlem

1m

Fluffy's Hot Spots Ep. 3: The Can't-Miss Gems of Harlem

T-Pain's School of Business: Kiwi Campus-The Ultimate Food Delivery Robot

1m

T-Pain's School of Business: Kiwi Campus-The Ultimate Food Delivery Robot

Is Nya A Baller On The Low?

51s

Is Nya A Baller On The Low?

This Season On Clash of The Corps

1m

This Season On Clash of The Corps

Cody Spells Out Love On The Field

1m

Cody Spells Out Love On The Field

Ian Performs Sexy Slow Jam "Every Living Little Thing"

3m

Ian Performs Sexy Slow Jam "Every Living Little Thing"

Don't Cancel Me - Trailer

1m

Don't Cancel Me - Trailer

T-Pain's School Of Business

T-Pain's School Of Business

T-Pain, Phora, Jack & Jack

26m

T-Pain, Phora, Jack & Jack

T-Pain and Jhene Aiko

20m

T-Pain and Jhene Aiko

Don't Be Nice - Trailer

1m

Don't Be Nice - Trailer

You Always Pick Scissors

20m

You Always Pick Scissors

"Become Who You Are"

46s

"Become Who You Are"

Come As You Are

1h 42m

Come As You Are

Should Reality TV Be Nip/Tucked?

23m

Should Reality TV Be Nip/Tucked?

What To Expect On Clash of the Corps

1m

What To Expect On Clash of the Corps

The Transcendent Star On Donald Trump: Dear Bambiana

1m

The Transcendent Star On Donald Trump: Dear Bambiana

G Fella and Suits Back to Their Roots: G-Thing

2m

G Fella and Suits Back to Their Roots: G-Thing

T-Pain's School of Business - Sizzle

59s

T-Pain's School of Business - Sizzle

T-Pain and Young M.A

20m

T-Pain and Young M.A

T-Pain's Encounter With A Roach

48s

T-Pain's Encounter With A Roach

Mario Lopez: One On One

Mario Lopez: One On One

They Done Gave Us a TV Show

20m

They Done Gave Us a TV Show

Come As You Are - Trailer

2m

Come As You Are - Trailer

Papa You Are My Dad

21m

Papa You Are My Dad

All You Ever Wished For

1h 21m

All You Ever Wished For

Ate Mile

8m

Ate Mile

Pusha T Breaks Down His ADIDAS Partnership

2m

Pusha T Breaks Down His ADIDAS Partnership

T-Pain's School of Business: First Look

1m

T-Pain's School of Business: First Look

T Pain's School of Business Bloopers Birds

45s

T Pain's School of Business Bloopers Birds

How to Make T-Pain's Beef Pie

1m

How to Make T-Pain's Beef Pie

T Pain's School of Business Bloopers Basketball

30s

T Pain's School of Business Bloopers Basketball

T-Pain’s School of Business: Teaser

30s

T-Pain’s School of Business: Teaser

Young M.A On The Struggle of Giving Up Meat

9m

Young M.A On The Struggle of Giving Up Meat

All You Ever Wished For - Trailer

2m

All You Ever Wished For - Trailer