Tokio Hotel's RIDICULOUSLY long-awaited next album, Humanoid, is FINALLY FINISHED. That's not to say it's READY, but it is DONE. The hold up? BILL AND TOM'S SQUEE-INDUCING IN-FIGHTING!

Bill and Tom whittled down Humanoid's potential 25 songs to 13 (what, oh what will become of those 12 songs, hm? I say Tokio Hotel fans DESERVE a bonus CD!), the Kaulitz twins have been in Los Angeles, and now Humanoid moves onto the mixing stage of its getting-borned life.

So what was it like to be IN THE  STUDIO (mind... BLOWN at the prospect) with Bill Kaulitz? According to producer David Jost: "At the writing and recording sessions, his emotional extremes are his greatest asset. In the studio Bill's truth is always his last mood and his latest feeling," Jost wrote. "Sometimes Bill was entering the studio — dreaming wide awake — and then he pulled out those crumpled-up slips of paper with his song ideas on it, from various pockets and bags."

"Dreaming wide awake???" Can you EVEN?

Bill Kaulitz HIMSELF had this to say about recording Humanoid: "We have never before put so much time into an album. And although, or maybe even because we have worked on this album for so long, in some way it feels kind of strange to close it now and let it go. Now we have to prepare ourselves again to spend days and nights not in the studio any more but back in the tour bus again."

Okay. Calming. Down. Now. That's what I know. More on Humanoid at MTV News.

+ After winning three awards, not flubbing her lines and looking beyond gawgeous, Britney Spears is already being hailed as the 2008 VMAs' official "comeback kid." Which explains the three shiny silver Moonmen and pageant-worthy smile. (MTV)

+ Needless to say, over-the-top VMAs host Russell Brand enthusiastically agreed. "Consider this the resurrection of Britney Spears," he told reporters. "If there was a female Christ, it's Britney." What's more, Brand predicts this is just the beginning. "This could be the dawning of a new age for America," he mused. (MTV)

+ Meanwhile, Brand's big mouth got him into some trouble when he poked fun at the Jonas Brothers' chastity rings, prompting celebs to take sides. Natch, we already know where Jordin Sparks stands. But now? Paris Hilton surprises us by affirming she's Team Purity, all the way. GO JO! (MTV)

+ And now onto the fashion! Find out how Rihanna, Lindsay and Lauren Conrad stood out from the crowd plus read our VMAs Red Carpet Rewind to catch up on this year's hot new trends. (MTV)

+ Speaking of The Hills gals, LC and Audrina Patridge were all smiles at the official VMAs afterparty -- never mind the dramatic mascara-dripping showdown you saw on last night's episode. (MTV)

+ 'Course, that doesn't mean Audrina has to understand LC's appreciation for all things Kid Rock. (MTV)

+ Meanwhile, Good Charlotte held court at the In Touch Idols and Icons afterparty, while Samantha Ronson deejayed, Lindsay supervised and Mischa Barton fended off unwanted advances. (E! Online)

+ Plus, here's a few things you didn't see on the red carpet pre-show. Like the fact that nobody knows how to make an entrance like T-Pain. Nobody. (MTV)

+ And Kanye West explains why he gave the VMAs another chance. (MTV)

This massive pool here on the Paramount lot is known as the "B Tank," and it can be filled with gallons and gallons and gallons of resource-draining water (cool, right?) to simulate an ocean (the sky backdrop you see in the corner is about the size of a football field, to give you some perspective) like they did for the movie Jaws back in 1975.

Or, you can fill it with thousands of dollars' worth of lighting, hundreds of people, and one very special artist who'll be closing down the 2008 VMAs on Sunday night.

Who will that VIP be?

Leave your guesses in the comments. I'll give you four hints: It’s not Michael Phelps. Or an animatronic shark. Or Richard Dreyfuss. Or Jim Cantiello, though you can check out his on-the-scene reportage in the video at the bottom of this post.

Britney’s back -- for REALS -- and honestly, we're probably as amazed and eagerly anxious as you are. Except for those of you hardcore Britney fans who aren’t shocked at all; both Britney’s personal life and career have been on an upswing, and her just-announced appearance at this Sunday's VMAs may be just the beginning of her total transformation after a chaotic, drama-filled year. Here’s a look back at Britney's top all-time top VMA moments, from the is-she-naked body suit, to the slithering "Slave 4 U" snake, to the Madonna kiss seen ‘round the world.

1999 MTV VMAs: A then-17-year-old Britney teamed up with *NSYNC at the 1999 VMAs for their classroom-themed performance of “Baby One More Time” and "Tearin' Up My Heart,” cementing her image as a sexy, suggestive school girl on our collective conscience forever. Hailed as the next Madonna, she quickly lapped the boy band she once opened for (fronted by then-boyfriend Justin Timberlake); when her album eventually went certified platinum 14 times, she graduated from opening act to main attraction. (Watch the performance here.)

2000 MTV VMAs: Britney and  Christina Aguilera, both former Mouseketeers, proved there was no hate between the pop princesses when they presented an award together. That same night, then-18-year-old Britney shocked the world with a not-that-innocent live performance -- a mash-up of the Rolling Stones’ "Satisfaction” and her own hit, “Oops ... I Did It Again,” which took on new meaning when a she ripped off a pinstripe suit and fedora (so Fosse!) to reveal a nearly naked bodysuit. Not a girl indeed.

2001 MTV VMAs: Britney's “Slave 4 U” got a very “Welcome to the Jungle” makeover when Britney slithered onto the stage at the 2001 VMAs in a leafy Garden of Eden-meets-Maxim mag two-piece, enshrouded in an albino python, complemented by a caged tiger, and dancers dressed like zebras. PETA was not amused, but it was one of Britney's most iconic, awe-inspiring performances ever. (Watch the performance here.)

2002 MTV VMAs: Britney didn’t perform at the 2002 VMAs, but she didn’t need to -- that year Forbes magazine named her the world's most powerful celebrity of 2002. The same year she played a virgin in the movie Crossroads, she hit the 2002 VMAs dressed like a dominatrix, and left the spotlight -– and the scandal –- to Michael Jackson, who mistook the birthday cake she presented him as a lifetime achievement award. Oops…

2003 MTV VMAs: Two years before the birth of her first son, Britney teamed up with Christina Aguilera and Madonna in an homage to the same song Madonna opened the first-ever VMAs with in 1984. Dressed like a bawdy bride, Britney locked lips with Madonna and created the most scandalous make-out moment in VMA history. (Watch the performance here.)

2006 MTV VMAs: By then a married mother with her second kid on the way, Britney and Kevin Federline checked into the VMAs via video to present the year's Best R&B Video.

2007 MTV VMAs: Britney continued a scandal-plagued year by opening the 2007 VMAs with one of her most-discussed performances ever.

2008 MTV VMAs: Britney adds to her 16 nominations, (no wins... yet) with three additional nominations (Video of the Year, Best Pop Video, and Best Female Video), shows the world she’s on the mend when she appears with Russell Brand and a massive elephant in promo spots for the 2008 VMAs -– looking more radiant than ever.

We know she'll be opening the show, but what will the big moment hold? We don't know, but if Britney's involved, it's gonna mean we're gonna be talking about it. And talking about it. Will Britney's next VMA appearance be a serious one? Or will it employ some of the syrupy Southern sweetness that originally endeared her to America? Will other celebrities join her on the stage and show their support, or will she make her mark solo?

Watch the 2008 VMAs on Sunday, September 7 at 9pm sharp to see what Britney's got planned for her next VMA mega-moment.

+ Underage driver Miley Cyrus gets (herself) an early Sweet 16 present. (Scandalist)

+ It's the end of the world ... and the All-American Rejects know it. (Rolling Stone)

+ You know you're Katy Perry when you have to actually TRY to not be sexy. (MTV)

+ Pepa (of Salt-N-Pepa fame) has just written her memoirs! Word has it, they just might make you wanna shoop. (BWE)

+ Slipknot beats out The Game on the latest Billboard 200 album chart. Weirdest rivalry ever? (Billboard)

+ New Kids on the Block are still refusing to fade into pop culture obscurity. (Idolator)

+ Fashion experts explain how to rock the VMAs red carpet without looking like something the cat -- or worse, Lil' Kim! -- dragged in. (MTV)

No matter how hard they beg, how loudly the yell or how many times they ask, we simply will NOT shut up and let those persistent little Ting Tings go.

Fortunately, they're not exactly flying under the radar these days. In addition for battling Britney for Video of the Year at next week's 2008 VMAs, they'll also be joining VMA house band DJ AM and former Blink 182 drummer Travis Barker on stage for some crazy collabo fun. 'Kay fine, honestly, we're not sure exactly what they'll be doing -- performing their VMA-nominated hit? Breakin' with the ABDC crews? Miming their way out of an invisible cardboard box?? But since we loves us some Ting Tings, we certainly plan on finding out...

Don't miss them on the VMAs this Sunday, September 7 at 9p.m. ET/ PT, and see what these two crazy, iPod-hocking Brits have up their sleeve. But first, brush up on your Ting Tings trivia with five things you never knew about them PLUS the real story behind their name.

+ The Jonas Brothers rock out in street meat-inspired clothes, set themselves up for a litany of "Hey! Nice buns!" jokes. (Jonas Updates)

+ Meanwhile, Taylor Swift appears to have come down with a nasty case of Jonas fever. (MTV)

+ Coldplay announces plans to release a Viva la Vida leftovers album! (Rolling Stone)

+ Weirdest couple ever alert! Pamela Anderson and...Michael Jackson?? (Scandalist)

+ Remember those "This is your brain on drugs" commercials? Amy Winehouse doesn't! (NY Daily News)

+ New Kids on the Block swear their comeback tour will have all the right stuff. (Billboard)

+ Should Britney get a VMAs do-over? We say: Absolutely! And Perez Hilton totally agrees! Except he has a few pointers for the recovering pop star. "Have the hair looking good, wear something that fits [and] don't be allegedly drunk before you're onstage." (MTV)

The Jonas Brothers -- who are committed to just saying no to sex and drugs -- and VMA host Russell Brand, who's a former drug and sex addict, have more in common than you'd think!

For starters, they all have backgrounds in theater and comedy -- Russell started acting as a kid, Nick did Broadway, and Joe originally wanted to be a comedian -- they all favor skinny jeans, they'll all be at the 2008 VMAs on Sunday, September 7th, and they all share great respect for Nick, Kevin, and Joe's (and Frankie's!) mom, Denise Jonas.

In a recent interview with MTV UK, Russell Brand commended the Jonas Brothers by way of Denise, commenting, "How the Jonas Mother was able to keep an amp in her uterus is one of the greatest mysteries, because them boys were born already possessing an incredible talent.”

Read the rest of Russell's MTV UK interview and see what he has to say about VMA VIPs like The Hills girls, Miley Cyrus, and Lindsay Lohan, watch Denise Jonas wake her boys up in the morning, and get more Russell Brand.

+ Happy bday, MJ! The man behind "Billy Jean," "Beat It" and "The Way You Make Me Feel" turns half a century old today! Or half a century young, if you're feeling optimistic. (Scandalist)

+ And in honor of the birthday boy, here's a photo flipbook spanning Jacko's three-decade-long musical career. (Rolling Stone)

+ Meanwhile, Faith Hill and Jessica Simpson make EW's Top 20 Worst Cover Songs Ever list. (The Boot)

+ Breaking: Miley Cyrus' "7 Things" is about Nick Jonas! Probably! (MTV)

+ Which still doesn't explain why Tim Gunn just described her as "too tarty." (NYP)

+ Kid Rock's latest album continues to blow up! "Suck it, iTunes!" he says. (Billboard)

+ Remember that guy who leaked nine sorta sucky songs from Guns N' Roses' new album? Turns out he could be in for some serious jail time! (Idolator)

+ Fat Joe calls Daddy Yankee a sellout for supporting John McCain and his mysterious female/Alaskan running mate. (MTV)

+ Trust us, you do not want to mess with Solange Knowles before she's had her morning coffee. (The Hip Hop Chronicle)

+ It's official: Usher has the best abs in the business. WE KNEW IT! (Black Voices)

+ T-Pain is accused of ruining gospel music. (MTV)

+ Axl Rose is courting Kelly Osbourne the only way he knows how. (Scandalist)

+ Chris Brown is serious about voting for Barack Obama. Dead serious... (Best Week Ever)

+ Are the Jonas Brothers growing up?? Because we were kinda hoping they'd stay EXACTLY THE WAY THEY ARE for the rest of our lives. Or at least till we're, like, 30.  (MTV)

+ Fountains of Wayne frontman Adam Shlesinger to write for The Colbert Report. (Stereogum)

+ T.I.'s "Whatever You Like" is already living up to its name. (Billboard)

+ Oasis inspires Metallica's Lars Ulrich to give up cocaine. (NME)

+ Hilary Duff's dad to spend 10 days in jail for refusing to pay for his daughter's bday party. Worst. Birthday. Ever. (Yahoo!)