Absent One Direction sweeps Teen Choice Awards

Unlike in the long ago past when teenagers were pretty much kept silent until they are allowed by their elders to speak, kids nowadays have a say on practically everything. In fact, lots of consumer goods now specifically target the huge teenage market and boy, do they know what they want and when they want it. 

I thought of this while pondering on the categories and winners of the annual Teen Choice Award. This one comes from Fox Television. Now 16 years old, it started out as a cross between the American Music Awards and the MTV Movie Awards except that aside from films, music and television, Teen Choice also honors achievements in sports, fashion, the digital media and whatever notable accomplishment anywhere, arises within a year.

As in both instances, it is the fans who choose the winners by casting their votes online or through ballots. But in the case of Teen Choice, only teenagers, aged 13 to 19 are allowed to vote. As a result, the choices often turn out different but very popular. This year, the teenagers were entrusted with an even more important responsibility. They got to suggest new categories. 

This is why, there is now a Choice Selfie Taker won by One Direction; a Choice Male Hottie, also won by One Direction; a Choice Twit won by Taylor Swift; a Choice Instagrammer, Ariana Grande; Social Media King, Justin Bieber and Queen Caitlyn Jenner; Choice Movie Scene Stealer, Chris Evans in Avengers: Age of Ultron; A Choice Movie Hissy Fit to Anna Kendrick of Pitch Perfect 2; Choice Model, Kendall Jenner; and other, strange to us but to teens, relevant categories.

Another proof of how important Teen Choice has become is in the way celebrities now make it a point to attend the ceremonies usually held in Los Angeles. Ellen DeGeneres came this year and she got to take home a Surfboard trophy of her own. The Teens named her Best Comedian. Vin Diesel was also there and he bagged severaI Surfboards for Furious 7. Those Surfboards, once thought crazy, have now become coveted trophies, collectors’ items and status symbols.

This year’s bash held last Aug. 16 at the Galen Theater was a huge, fun success. Well, top winner One Direction — who got eight Surfboards — was on tour and accepted via video. But the boys were not really missed. There were great performances, Little Mix sang Black Magic and 5 Seconds Of Summer did She’s Kinda Hot. Gabourey Sedibe danced to You’re So Beautiful by Jussie Smollett and Bryshere “Yazz” Gray of Empire. It was also nice to see Robin Thicke picking up his career after his divorce as he did I Don’t Like It, I Love It with Flo-Rida. 

Oh yes, there were also lots to talk about afterwards like how pretty and talented Perrie Edwards of Little Mix is. She was formerly engaged to Zayn Malik of One Direction. And some heartwarming moments like when Vin Diesel dedicated the Choice Movie Action/ Adventure Actor Award won by Paul Walker to his late friend’s only daughter, Meadow Walker. Or  in the return to Teen Choice Lifetime Achievement awardee Britney Spears to accept the Choice Candie’s Style Icon Award.

Here now are the Teen Choice Awards 2015 Music winners:

Male Artist, Ed Sheeran; Female Artist, Demi Lovato; Music Group Male, One Direction; Music Group Female, Fifth Harmony; International Artist, Super Junior.

 Song Female Artist, One Last Time by Ariana Grande; Song Male Artist, Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeran; Song Group, Steal My Girl by One Direction.

Country Song, Little Toy Guns by Carrie Underwood; R&B/Hip Hop Song, See You Again by Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth; Rock Song, Take Me To Church by Hozier; Love Song, Night Changes by One Direction; Break Up Song, Bad Blood by Taylor Swift featuring Kendrick Lamar; Party Song, No Control by One Direction.

Breakout Artist, Little Mix; Next Big Thing, Bea Miller; Collaboration, Bad Blood by Taylor Swift featuring Kendrick Lamar; Song from a Movie or TV Show, See You Again by Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth from Furious 7.

Summer Song, Worth It by Fifth Harmony featuring Kid Ink; Summer Female Music Star, Taylor Swift; Male Music Star, Ed Sheeran; Summer Group Music Star, One Direction; Summer Tour, One Direction On The Road Again. 

For the rest of the winners, please check out the Teen Choice website.