To peach their own. (Images via video stills)

The 2021 MTV VMAs were off to a bootylicious start when Madonna — following a sweet sort of updating of her “Happy Anniversary, Darling” spot for MTV (that was wishing the network a happy 1oth, this was wishing it a happy GULP 40th) — showed up in full Dita Parlo gear, turning around to helpfully provide a big ass to kiss for any of her haters.

SURPRISE! The #VMAs begin with an introduction from the one and only @Madonna pic.twitter.com/YmWtjabVJ7

— MTV NEWS (@MTVNEWS) September 13, 2021

It was good TV, and probably great promo for her October 8 Madame X concert film on Paramount+.

Lil Nas X killed another live performance on a major awards show, arriving to save the somewhat boring MTV VMAs at the Barclays Center Sunday night.

I also loved that he was introduced by another Black gay man, Billy Porter:

Billy Porter introduced Lil Nas X and was serving looks! #vmas #LilNasX #MTVVMAs pic.twitter.com/aA504BYaQh

— GoreJust Goth (@gorejustgoth) September 13, 2021

my jaw? on the FLOOR. @LilNasX just KILLED it with @JackHarlow 🔥 #VMAs pic.twitter.com/Z54jXXP2E2

— Video Music Awards (@vmas) September 13, 2021

Also liked that the show welcomed back other '80s icons in honor of its anniversary, including Cyndi Lauper (demanding women's rights) and David Lee Roth. I actually wish they'd gone even further into it and gotten Janet Jackson and a host of others I'm thinking of. (Maybe Janet could close the show still, as it isn't over yet.)

ABOVE: Everybody run ...

BELOW: Keep reading for the end of the U.S.'s longest war, LGBTQ elements in the colonies, gay nightlife in Greensboro and more ...

My shot of Mj from 2018, at the Pose launch in Harlem (Image by Matthew Rettenmund)

The Emmys were awash with nominations for the same shows over and over — The Crown, Mare of Easttown, The Handmaid's Tale, we get it!

They were also filled with diversity and quite a few LGBTQ highlights:

ABOVE: And just like that, Kim Cattrall who?

BELOW: Keep reading for Chris Landon's cancer scare, a night with Billy Porter, the sexiest actor you've never heard of and more...

ABOVE: It's Grace Fucking Jones's birthday!

BELOW: Keep reading for the Ric Weiland story, Susan Collins in trouble and more ...

ABOVE: Next year will be the 100th anniversary of Bea Arthur's birth. And hopefully next year, in January, we will be celebrating Betty White's 100th birthday.

BELOW: Keep reading for a new reason to be Proud, the performance we've needed from Elton for Years & Years, Ellen DeGeneres gleefully telling us to go fuck ourselves (JOKINGLY, but I think she loved saying it and we deserve it) and more ...

This is Millie Bobby Brown in Victor/Victoria pic.twitter.com/kiu8ybrISO

— Louis Virtel (@louisvirtel) October 26, 2020

ABOVE: I don't post Louis Virtel often because it seems too obvious; I would hope you all know him and follow him. But just in case, this is one of his best yet.

BELOW: Keep reading for Mark Consuelos's bulge, Trump's chances in Texas and Pennsylvania, 50 Cent recants Trump endorsement, Kushner smears Black people as lazy and more...

Michelle is not kidding around, guys. (Image via video still)

(1) Michelle Obama made an impassioned plea to voters — and clearly to Black voters in particular — urging all to vote and reminding everyone what is at stake: