After a much-heralded, much ado about nothing return to celebrity, Britney Spears [ tickets ] swept Sunday's (9/7) MTV [ tickets ] Video Music Awards with three Moonmen, for Video of the Year, Best Pop Video and Best Female Video Sunday (9/7). They were her first VMA prizes.

"I'm speechless," Spears said after accepting the Best Female Video award from actor Jamie Foxx. "Oh my goodness, thank you. This is an honor. I first want to thank God, first and foremost, for blessing me like this. My two beautiful boys for inspiring me every day and for my fans. Thank you very much."

Minutes earlier, she made two appearances at the start of the awards ceremony, held at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles. A taped skit with "Superbad" actor Jonah Hill was ho-hum. And, on stage, in a slinky silver dress meant to show off her toned body, Spears announced a milestone--very quickly and to the point.

"Thank you so much. Thank you for all the love. I'm here tonight to celebrate a very important birthday, the 25th anniversary of the VMAs. This is the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards and it starts right now."

Aside from Spears' first win, it wasn't the awards that made news. It was the performances. Rihanna [ tickets ] kicked off the show with "Disturbia." The Jonas Brothers [ tickets ] offered an acoustic-turned-electric rendition of the rollicking "Love Bug," on the doorstep of a set on Paramount's back lot. Hot pants-loving Katy Perry [ tickets ] ("I Kissed a Girl") paid tribute to the VMA's 25th anniversary with a cover of Madonna's "Like a Virgin" with the help of house band DJ AM and former Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker. T-Pain and Leona Lewis joined Lil Wayne [ tickets ]--or the "Million Dollar Man," as introducer Michael Phelps called him--for a medley. Lil Wayne, sans tooth bling, also went sans pants, as his white trousers fell below his groin. Despite dealing with a broken rib, Pink slayed a pyro-happy performance of her latest single, "So What." Christina Aguilera [ tickets ] unveiled yet another incarnation of herself with her nightclub-worthy "Keeps Gettin' Better." Smokey-voiced Kid Rock introduced ill-placed handclaps within "All Summer Long." Kayne West, who previously said he would boycott the VMAs, closed the show.

Spears wasn't the only multiple award winner. Off camera, Gnarls Barkley [ tickets ] were multiple winners as well, taking home Best Choreography and Best Art Direction for their video "Run," according to a press release. On camera, the Pussycat Dolls won "Best Dancing in a Video" for "When I Grow Up" and thanked the troops for their hard work overseas. Best New Artist Tokio Hotel [ tickets ] didn't want to thank its record company or management--just the fans. For the complete list of winners, see below.

The event was hosted by British comedian Russell Brand, best known in the US as musician Aldous Snow in the film "Forgetting Sarah Marshall." He urged Americans to vote for Barack Obama "on behalf of the world," before calling President George W. Bush a "retarded country fella." "In England, George Bush wouldn't be trusted with a pair of scissors." His political rant continued by calling Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin a "VPILF," a "Vice President I'd Like To …" He also dubbed her pregnant daughter a "publicity stunt."

The Jonas Brothers weren't safe from Brand's humor, either. He poked fun of the trio's wearing of rings signifying their commitment to God and maintaining their virginity until marriage. He later apologized, saying "promise rings; well done everyone."

While introducing T.I.'s bit, "American Idol" winner Jordin Sparks stuck up for the brothers.

"I just have one thing to say; one thing about promise rings. It's not bad to wear promise rings because not every guy or girl wants to be a slut," said Sparks, who reportedly wears one as well.

2008 MTV Video Music Award Winners

Video of the Year
Britney Spears, "Piece of Me;" Director: Wayne Isham

Best Rock Video
Linkin Park, "Shadow of the Day;" Director: Joe Hahn

Best Dancing in a Video
Pussycat Dolls, "When I Grow Up;" Director: Joseph Kahn

Best New Artist
Tokio Hotel

Best Pop Video
Britney Spears, "Piece of Me"
Director: Wayne Isham

Best Hip Hop Video
Lil Wayne, "Lollipop"
Director: Gil Green/D. Carter

Best Female Video
Britney Spears, "Piece of Me"
Director: Wayne Isham

Best Male Video
Chris Brown, "With You"
Director: Erik White/Chris Brown

Best Art Direction
Gnarls Barkley, "Run"
Director: Happy; Art Direction: Happy/Kells Jesse

Best Special Effects
Kanye West [ tickets ] f/ T-Pain; "Good Life"
Special effects: X1 FX

Best Cinematography
The White Stripes; "Conquest"
cinematography: Wyatt Troll

Best Editing
Death Cab For Cutie; "I Will Possess Your Heart"
editor: Jeff Buchanan

Best Direction
Erykah Badu; "Honey"
directors: Erykah Badu and Mr. Roboto

Best Choreography
Gnarls Barkley, "Run"
Director: Happy; Choreographer Mikey Rooney