Best & Worst: American Music Awards 2009

By Emily Christianson and Patrick Kevin Day

“American Idol” sometimes get criticized for cranking out safe, digestible, inoffensive pop stars. But this year’s runner-up, Adam Lambert, did his best to break out of that rap with his ultra-lewd closing performance of “For Your Entertainment.” ABC censors had to quick-cut to an odd aerial shot of the audience when Lambert had a male backup dancer simulate oral sex on him midsong. Parents may be outraged, but thank God for that. We were thinking music was getting a little too stale.

VOTE: Provocative or porn?

AMAs red carpet arrivals gallery

Taylor Swift is tops at AMAs

Live performance reviews