Zachary Levi To Host Video Game Awards

First off, Zachary Levi is a nice, safe choice for host. He's moderately popular with the mainstream (Chuck, Tangled) and he has geek cred (Halo voiceover and Internet presence). Levi has also not been shy about publicly stating his love for video games. So, in reality, the only downside to Levi doing this show is his enthusiasm to perform, which may lead him to consenting to whatever the producers and show runners wish him to do. That's a blank check I'd rather he'd not write.

Looking at the music and celebrity lineup, it's a mixed bag of *shrug* and *eyeroll* with only Joe Montana and Jerry Rice piquing my interest. Though, Joe has lost a lot of cred in my book for promoting those goofy Reebok walking high-heel gym shoes or whatever they're called. I guess I should be glad that Jimmy Fallon isn't listed (yet).

I think the only reasons for the true viewership listings are for the trailer premieres and with Bioshock Infinite, Bioware's next project and the opening cinematic of Diablo III slated, I do not believe people will be disappointed. What saddens me is this is the reason people watch the show. Basically, gamers sit through 84 minutes of uninspired programming and 36 minutes of commercials for a handful of trailers they could see on the internet the next day.

The "real" reason for the awards is the part I think people care the absolute least about - the awards themselves. During the last Aggrocast, I literally had to look up who won Game of the Year honors last year, because frankly, no one gives a damn. This paragraph (from below) I think best demonstrates why I think this is such a damn laughable institution.

Nominees for Spike TV’s 2011 “Video Game Awards” were determined by the VGA Advisory Council, made up of a group of some of the most well-respected video game journalists from media outlets including Entertainment Weekly, USA Today, Game Informer Magazine, Kotaku, Joystiq, GameSpot, IGN and WIRED.

Really, Kotaku and Entertainment Weekly have "well-respected" video game journalists? I'm sure they only made it because the guy who writes reviews without playing the games for Maxim wasn't unavailable and the writers at The Onion had too much class to do it. This does not bode well.

Lastly, the one bright spot announced today is the planned appreciation award that will be given to the three founders of Blizzard Entertainment. The Gamer God Award is an apt name for three individuals who truly have contributed so much to the gaming industry and community. This will definitely be a dedication I will be happy to commit my attention to - well deserved.

The bottom line is that while I will continue to be cautiously optimistic as to the validity and legitimacy of the Video Game Awards, I will be realistic that the outcome will not be favorable in the eyes of the general populace. I'm sure it will be fantastic for the publishers showing their wares and the sponsors' and Spike TV's pocketbooks, but the industry as a whole has never come out the better after the VGAs. The crude jokes, obligatory eye candy and "dude-bro"-ness of the previous shows has consistently left a bad taste in our mouths and deep blemishes on the industry's dignity.

We need, no, we deserve an award show that truly spotlights and appreciates the contributions of its members over the past year. Recently, the Country Music Awards were on and while I did not watch them (not a fan), the commercials stated that it was "Country Music's Biggest Night" and "Country's Night to Shine." Real dignity and class from a related industry while Spike TV's biggest concern is how short they can get Brooklyn Decker's skirt.

Zac Levi To Host 2011 “Video Game Awards”

ZACHARY LEVI PLUGS IN AS HOST OF SPIKE TV’S 2011 “VIDEO GAME AWARDS”

Show To Feature A Performance By The Black Keys Of Their Video Game Hit “Lonely Boy”

Grammy Nominated Electronic Artist Deadmau5

Will Perform Throughout The Telecast

“Gamer God” Award To Be Bestowed Upon Blizzard Entertainment Founders

And World Premiere Of New Footage From “Diablo III” To Be Shown

“VGAs” Air LIVE On Spike TV And MTV2 And Will Be Streaming On Spike.com

Saturday, December 10 At 8:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM PT

New York, NY, November 30, 2011 – Star of NBC’s “Chuck,” voice actor for “Fallout: New Vegas” and “Halo: Reach,” owner of the nerd culture site www.TheNerdMachine.com and video game super fan Zachary Levi will host Spike TV’s 2011 “Video Game Awards” (#VGA). Telecasting from Los Angeles, CA and featuring some of the most notable names in video games, Hollywood, music, sports and more, the two-hour event honoring the outstanding achievements within the video game industry over the past year will premiere LIVE on Spike TV, MTV2 and Spike.com on Saturday, December 10 at 8:00 PM ET/5:00 PM PT.

“Zac Levi is an avid gamer who is truly a part of gaming culture and understands the fans,” says Casey Patterson, Executive Producer and Executive Vice President, Event Production, Talent&Studio Relations for Viacom Entertainment Group. “He has great ideas about this year’s show. Zac is all about honoring the year in gaming and ushering in the future by showcasing massive world premieres at this year’s event. We’re excited to be working with Zac.”

Audience members and viewers will also be treated to a live performance by Grammy Award recording artists The Black Keys, who will perform their video game hit, “Lonely Boy,” and the duration of the festivities will feature Grammy nominee and dance music innovator deadmau5, who will transform the show with his visual representation of sound into a real life video game experience.

Among the list of presenters and attendees are Sports Illustrated cover model and star of “Battleship” Brooklyn Decker, “Family Guy” star and voice of Joker in the “Mass Effect” series Seth Green, cast members of “Workaholics” Blake Anderson, Adam Devine and Anders Holm, multiplatinum and Grammy Award-winning recording artist LL Cool J, stars of the upcoming “American Reunion” Jason Biggs and Seann William Scott, the most prolific quarterback and wide receiver combination in NFL history, Hall of Famers Joe Montana and Jerry Rice, and many more to be announced shortly.

This year, Spike TV will be bestowing the Gamer God Award upon the three founders of Blizzard Entertainment for their immense contributions to the electronic gaming medium. Creators of the “World of Warcraft,” “Starcraft” and “Diablo” entertainment universes, Blizzard is celebrating its 20th anniversary – as well as the 15th anniversary of “Diablo” – in 2011. Co-founders Michael Morhaime, Allen Adham, and Frank Pearce will accept the award and treat Blizzard’s global community to the full never-before-seen opening cinematic of the company’s upcoming release, “Diablo III.”

The talent joins the already announced never-before-seen world premieres of the most anticipated games of 2012 and beyond, including BioWare’s next project, the next “Alan Wake” game and “Metal Gear Solid: Rising,” “Tom Clancy’s Rainbow 6 Patriots,” “Transformers: Fall of Cybertron,” and Most Anticipated Game nominee, “BioShock Infinite” as part this year’s “VGA” festivities.

For additional information about other “VGA” world exclusives and announcements, fans can log onto VGA.spike.com and get updates via Twitter @SPIKE_TV, as well as the hashtag #VGA.

Leading the way with 12 nominations at the 2011 “VGAs” is “Portal 2” by Valve. Rocksteady Studios’ second adventure featuring the Dark Knight, “Batman: Arkham City” garnered 10 nominations, while the third chapter in the Nathan Drake adventure, “Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception” by Naughty Dog and independent game “Bastion” rounded out the top most- nominated games with 9 and 5 nods each, respectively.

Nominees for Spike TV’s 2011 “Video Game Awards” were determined by the VGA Advisory Council, made up of a group of some of the most well-respected video game journalists from media outlets including Entertainment Weekly, USA Today, Game Informer Magazine, Kotaku, Joystiq, GameSpot, IGN and WIRED.

For the first time, Viacom Media Networks will broaden the reach and impact of the 2011 “VGAs” by simultaneously airing the show LIVE on both Spike TV and MTV2, as well as on Spike.com. Internationally, the “VGAs” will air in over 100 countries and territories around the world.

Mark Burnett, Casey Patterson and Carol Donovan will serve as executive producers of Spike TV’s 2011 “Video Game Awards.”

The presenting sponsors for the 2011 “Video Game Awards” are the all-new Chevy Sonic, Dr Pepper TEN, KFC Hot Wings and KRAFT Macaroni&Cheese Dinner. Energizer® Ultimate Lithium is the associate sponsor, with AXE and Mission Impossible-Ghost Protocol serving as digital sponsors.