The Teen Choice Awards

The Teen Choice Awards began in 1999 and are presented by the Fox network every year. This awards show is a cross between the Nickelodeon Kid's Choice Awards and the MTV Awards. Bob Bain and Michael Berg collaborated on the show, targeting the demographic between the ages of 10 and 20. The show's format has stayed the same throughout its 10-year run, by honoring those who achieve success in the fields of entertainment and athletics, including music, television, movies, and sports. Other, non-traditional categories are also included, such as "Choice Summer Most Fanatic Fans," "Choice My-Spacer," "Choice Movie: Hissyfit," "Choice hottie (male)," and "Choice hottie (female)."

Teens can vote for their favorites by filling out ballots available in magazines that are targeted to their demographic or by voting online at Fox. In 2008, the Fox network created the site Teen Choice Awards, which became the official website for the show. More than 32 million votes were cast in 2008's awards show.

The Teen Choice Awards, which boasts appearances by many celebrities in the world of television and music, awards custom made, life-sized surfboards to the winners in each category. Every year an original new design of the surfboard is created. There has even been a spin-off of this show created on You Tube. From 1999 to 2007, the show was pre-taped. In 2008, it went live for the first time.

Various celebrities have hosted this awards show throughout the years, such as David Spade, Paris Hilton and Nicole Ritchie, Hilary Duff and Rob Schneider, Dane Cook and Jessica Simpson, Nick Cannon, and Mylie Cyrus. With such a wide range of actors, the show appeals to teenagers throughout the U.S. Musical performers at past shows have included Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera, No Doubt, Usher, Shaggy, Aaron and Nick Carter, Nelly, BBMak and Jennifer Love Hewitt, Kelly Clarkson, Evanescence, and The Donnas, Blink 182, Gwen Stefani, Kevin Federline, Mariah Carey and Avril Lavigne.

As appealing as the show is to teenagers, there has been some controversy surrounding it. Parents Television Council (PTC), a conservative media watchdog group, claims that the show glorifies celebrities who they see as bad role models for teenagers. They criticized the 2000, 2005, and 2006 shows for awarding rated R films, as well as entertainers they claim are not appropriate for teenagers. The PTC attacked Nelly Furtado and Timbaland for performing a song called "Promiscuous," claiming it sends a mixed message to teens. The 2005 and 2006 shows were labeled by the PTC as the "Worst Family TV Show of the Week," after they were broadcast on Fox.