Behind The Scenes

With the aid of a copier and a little gaffer's tape, foreign territory quickly becomes home.
Photo Credit: MTV News
The "TRL" staff moves into temporary digs behind the American Airlines Arena.
Photo Credit: MTV News
Construction begins on the dock where stars and their yachts will arrive.
Photo Credit: MTV News
The stage where Ashlee Simpson, Jadakiss, and New Found Glory will perform during the pre-show starts to take shape.
Photo Credit: MTV News
Inside the arena, work is well underway on the VMA set.
Photo Credit: MTV News
The VMA crew tests video screen for the big show.
Photo Credit: MTV News
A VMA flag is hoisted high in front of the arena (next to the U.S. flag and the Florida state flag).
Photo Credit: MTV News
A three-story Moonman is erected in front of the arena (in case anyone was unclear about what was going on in the venue that week).
Photo Credit: MTV News
Work is almost complete on the stage and set for the VMAs.
Photo Credit: MTV News
Presumably to prevent Jada from getting heatstroke, a roof is placed over the pre-show performance stage.
Photo Credit: MTV News
The pre-show crew begins to rehearse camera movements to get a sense of how the performances will look.
Photo Credit: MTV News
The red carpet. Looks a lot less glamorous this way, doesn't it?
Photo Credit: MTV News
See, now this is what red carpet is supposed to look like.
Photo Credit: MTV News
The pristine nature of the plush new carpet must be maintained until it can be properly trampled by celebs, publicists, managers, assistants, wranglers and hangers-on.
Photo Credit: MTV News
The carpet's in place, and finishing touches are made on the gauntlet the stars will run on their way into the show.
Photo Credit: MTV News
Ashlee Simpson and her on-site trailer (undoubtedly the finest motor coach in all of Dade County).
Photo Credit: MTV News
Instead of maps, we use this to get around inside the arena.
Photo Credit: MTV News
Gear is color coded to help the crew know what to move when (Hoobastank fans, please do not take offense to the spelling of that band's name).
Photo Credit: MTV News
The dock is finally set and ready for hot yacht action.
Photo Credit: MTV News
Sway runs through rehearsals early on the day of the show.
Photo Credit: MTV News
Pitbull rehearses as the pre-show's "house band."
Photo Credit: MTV News
Diddy, Mase, Bruce Willis and a small army arrive at the dock.
Photo Credit: Jason Merritt
Carmen Electra works the crowd as she hits the entrance to the red carpet.
Photo Credit: Jason Merritt
Suchin Pak greets Fat Joe and Tony Sunshine at the MTV News pre-show home base.
Photo Credit: Jason Merritt
Nelly, Kurt Loder and VMA week's busiest man, Fat Joe, hang at the MTV News pre-show home base.
Photo Credit: Jason Merritt
Paris Hilton mingles with Benji, Billy and Joel from Good Charlotte at the MTV News pre-show home base.
Photo Credit: Jason Merritt
Nelly and Jay-Z share a moment on the red carpet.
Photo Credit: Jason Merritt
MTV News' Gideon Yago sails into the sunset, literally.
Photo Credit: Matt Paco/MTV News
The sun sets on the 2004 MTV Video Music Awards.
Photo Credit: Matt Paco/MTV News