After a year in Los Angeles and a fling with host Ben Stiller, the "MTV Video Music Awards" will return to New York this year with a familiar face as host.

When the 1999 VMAs are broadcast live on September 9, Chris Rock will return to the role of host that he assumed for the 1997 VMAs. For Rock, the date will come on the heels of the release of his upcoming HBO special and CD, "Bigger and Blacker," both of which arrive in mid-July. The 1999 VMAs will also come the week before the fourth season of his HBO series "The Chris Rock Show" kicks off on September 17.

After heading to L.A. last year, the '99 VMAs return to the Big Apple, where they will be staged at the Metropolitan Opera House.

Catch all the sizzlin', star-packed VMA action direct from Miami on August 28. MTV News' preshow kicks things off at 6:30 p.m. ET/PT, followed by big show at 8 p.m.

Vote for the Viewer's Choice Award, see a timeline of MTV Video Music Awards history, and relive highlights of last year's event. And for more MTV Video Music Awards news, check out the MTV News VMA archive.