AMAs 2018: Best, Worst And Weirdest Moments

BEST SURPRISE

Jennifer Lopez may not be known for her ballads, but that performance of "Limitless" was — dare I say — electric.

BEST REACTION SHOT (RUNNER-UP)

Don't feel bad, John Stamos — Post Malone and Ty Dolla $ign aren't for everyone.

BEST ROGUE MOMENT

Proving himself capable of yelling at people indoors as well as on the street, Billy Eichner paused his presentation to urge viewers to register to vote: "If you believe in equality for women ... for people of color ... for the LGBT community. ... if you believe that climate change is real!" He even directed viewers to visit Vote.org, "like Taylor Swift told you to!"

BEST FULFILLMENT OF PROPHECY

I was mostly kidding about Camila Cabello joining Taylor Swift's coven earlier. But then the former Fifth Harmony singer won her first AMA as a solo artist, like, five minutes later. Don't let anyone tell you that magic isn't real.

BEST REACTION SHOT

Taran Killam didn't just watch Cardi B's AMAs performance. He experienced it.

WEIRDEST 'CASUAL' VOTING PLUG

There are subtle ways of encouraging viewers to register to vote. And then there's the Tracee Ellis Ross approach: "Coming up, Benny Blanco, Halsey and Kalid all join forces. ... VOTE!"

BEST INDUCTION

Remember that time Taylor Swift thanked Camila Cabello for joining her "tour," then made everyone at the Microsoft Theater watch in stunned silence as she force-fed her a two-liter bottle of blood?

(OK, there's a slight chance I'm confusing the AMAs with an episode of American Horror Story I watched recently — but I'm pretty sure I got it right.)

BEST SELF-DEPRECATING (AND SURPRISINGLY INSIDE-BASEBALL) JOKE

Amber Heard could have simply introduced Twenty One Pilots without taking a jab at her personal career failures. But she didn't. Instead, she said, "Twenty One Pilots... which is exactly how many TV shows I've been on that have not gotten picked up."

(I hope she wrote that joke herself. Otherwise, it was just mean.)

BEST REMINDER TO WATCH HOME ALONE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

Was Macaulay Culkin the obvious choice to present the award for Favorite Male Artist, Pop/Rock? Of course not. But did the mere sight of him make me want to grab a hairbrush and sing "White Christmas" in front of the mirror? You bet.

WORST CAMERA WORK

Go home, cameraman. You're drunk.

WEIRDEST CAMERA CUTS

I promise this is the last I'll speak of them as a unit, but did anyone else notice how many times the producers kept cutting back to the Supreme during Camila Cabello's performance of "Consequences"?

BEST REALIZATION

I got so happy when Tyra Banks was introduced as "the star and executive producer of Life-Size 2." I always forget that movie is happening. What a time to be alive.

WORST THING TO HEAR TOWARDS THE END OF AN AWARD SHOW THAT'S ALREADY IN DANGER OF RUNNING LONG:

It's time for a performance of Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody." In its entirety.

(That said, I actually thought Panic! At the Disco did a bang-up job.)

BEST SEIZING OF A PERFECT MOMENT

One of this year's most memorable speeches came courtesy of Taylor Swift. After breaking the record for the most AMA wins ever, she said, "This award — and every single award given out here tonight — was voted on by the people," she said. "And you know what else is voted on by the people? The midterm elections on November 6. Get out and vote. I love you guys."

(Marsha Blackburn is shaking.)

BEST ENDING

Can all award shows end with Gladys Knight "Amazing Grace"-ing us off to sleep? What an incredible tribute that was to the Queen of Soul.