VMAs BOUND TO BE MORE HEATED THAN "BATTLEBOTS"

Forget that ear-biting Mike Tyson or those wussy pro wrestlers. The real action will take place Thursday (9/7) at Radio City Music Hall in New York, as the teen dreams and the real Slim Shady duke it out at the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards.

The annual event has pitted Eminem against the world. The misogynist rapper is vying for six Moonman trophies, as are popsters NSYNC. In what's got to be the most heated Viewer's Choice Category ever, pop tart Christina Aguilera is going head-to-head against Em. And outside the venue, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation and the National Organization For Women plan to protest MTV's support of the artist whom they feel is spreading a message of homophobia and violence against women.

Slim Shady, whose performance will be introduced by funny man Jim Carrey, is hoping to nab statues for Video Of The Year, Best Male Video, Best Rap Video, Viewer's Choice, Best Direction In A Video and Best Editing In A Video for "The Real Slim Shady."

NSYNC's "Bye, Bye, Bye" is up for Video Of The Year, Best Group Video, Best Dance Video, Best Pop Video, Viewer's Choice and Best Choreography In A Video.

Aguilera is hoping for a win in five categories including Best Female Video, Best Pop Video, Best New Artist In A Video, Best Choreography In A Video, and the aforementioned Viewer's Choice award for "What A Girl Wants."

The Red Hot Chili Peppers are also vying for five VMAs. The venerable rockers' "Californication" is competing for Video Of The Year, Best Group Video, Best Direction In A Video, Best Special Effects In A Video and Best Art Direction In A Video. The Chili Peppers are guaranteed one Moonman, as the band is being honored with the coveted Video Vanguard Award for its outstanding contribution to the music video medium.

Along with Eminem, RHCP, NSYNC and Aguilera, VMA performers include Sisqo, Blink-182, Janet Jackson, Rage Against The Machine, and Britney Spears. Rising rapper Nelly will take the place of DMX, who was a no-show for ceremony rehearsals.

And to think, people were once appalled by Madonna's frolicking to "Like A Virgin" in a wedding dress.

MTV's pre-VMA coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. (ET) and the ceremony kicks off at 8 p.m.

Here's the list of nominees for the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards:

Video Of The Year
Blink-182, "All The Small Things"
D'Angelo, "Untitled (How Does It Feel)"
Eminem, "The Real Slim Shady"
NSYNC, "Bye, Bye, Bye"
Red Hot Chili Peppers, "Californication"

Best Male Video
D'Angelo, "Untitled (How Does It Feel)"
Eminem, "The Real Slim Shady"
Kid Rock, "Cowboy"
Moby, "Natural Blues"
Ricky Martin, "Shake Your Bon Bon"

Best Female Video
Aaliyah, "Try Again"
Britney Spears, "Oops!... I Did It Again"
Christina Aguilera, "What A Girl Wants"
Macy Gray, "I Try"
Toni Braxton, "He Wasn't Man Enough"

Best Group Video
Blink-182, "All The Small Things"
Destiny's Child, "Say My Name"
Foo Fighters, "Learn To Fly"
NSYNC, "Bye, Bye, Bye"
Red Hot Chili Peppers, "Californication"

Best Rap Video
DMX, "Party Up"
Dr. Dre featuring Eminem, "Forgot About Dre"
Eminem, "The Real Slim Shady"
Eve featuring Faith Evans, "Love Is Blind"
Jay-Z featuring U.G.K, "Big Pimpin'"

Best R&B Video
Brian McKnight, "Back At One"
D'Angelo, "Untitled (How Does It Feel)"
Destiny's Child, "Say My Name"
Toni Braxton, "He Wasn't Man Enough"

Best Hip-Hop Video
Juvenile, "Back That Thing Up"
Lauryn Hill, "Everything Is Everything"
Limp Bizkit featuring Method Man, "N 2 gether Now"
Q-Tip, "Vivrant Thing"
Sisqo, "Thong Song"

Best Dance Video
Britney Spears, "(You Drive Me) Crazy"
Jennifer Lopez, "Waiting For Tonight"
NSYNC, "Bye, Bye, Bye"
Ricky Martin, "Shake Your Bon Bon"
Sisqo, "Thong Song"

Best Rock Video
Creed, "Higher"
Kid Rock, "Cowboy"
Korn, "Falling Away From Me"
Limp Bizkit, "Break Stuff"
Metallica, "I Disappear"
Rage Against The Machine, "Sleep Now In The Fire"

Best Pop Video
Blink-182, "All The Small Things"
Britney Spears, "Oops!... I Did It Again"
Christina Aguilera, "What A Girl Wants"
Destiny's Child, "Say My Name"
NSYNC, "Bye, Bye, Bye"

Best New Artist In A Video
Christina Aguilera, "What A Girl Wants"
Macy Gray, "I Try"
Papa Roach, "Last Resort"
Pink, "There You Go"
Sisqo, "Thong Song"

Best Video From A Film
Aaliyah, "Try Again" ("Romeo Must Die")
Aimee Mann, "Save Me" ("Magnolia")
Metallica, "I Disappear" ("Mission: Impossible 2")
R.E.M.., "The Great Beyond" ("Man On The Moon")
Sisqo, "Thong Song (remix)" ("The Nutty Professor 2: The Klumps")

Viewer's Choice
Britney Spears, "Oops! ... I Did It Again"
Christina Aguilera, "What A Girl Wants"
Eminem, "The Real Slim Shady"
NSYNC, "Bye, Bye, Bye"
Sisqo, "Thong Song"

Breakthrough Video
Bjrk, "All Is Full Of Love"
Blur, "Coffee And TV"
Chemical Brothers, "Let Forever Be"
Nine Inch Nails, "Into The Void"
Supergrass, "Pumping On Your Stereo"

Best Direction In A Video
D'Angelo, "Untitled (How Does It Feel)"
Eminem, "The Real Slim Shady"
Foo Fighters, "Learn To Fly"
Lauryn Hill, "Everything Is Everything"
Red Hot Chili Peppers, "Californication"

Best Choreography In A Video
Aaliyah, "Try Again"
Alanis Morissette, "So Pure"
Christina Aguilera, "What A Girl Wants"
Jennifer Lopez, "Waiting For Tonight"
NSYNC, "Bye, Bye, Bye"

Best Special Effects In A Video
Bjrk, "All Is Full Of Love"
Lauryn Hill, "Everything Is Everything"
Metallica, "I Disappear"
Red Hot Chili Peppers, "Californication"
Supergrass, "Pumping On Your Stereo"

Best Art Direction In A Video
Filter, "Take A Picture"
Macy Gray, "Do Something"
Red Hot Chili Peppers, "Californication"
Supergrass, "Pumping On Your Stereo"

Best Editing In A Video
Aimee Mann, "Save Me"
Blaque, "I Do"
Eminem, "The Real Slim Shady"
Metallica, "I Disappear"
R.E.M., "The Great Beyond"

Best Cinematography In A Video
Filter, "Take A Picture"
Macy Gray, "Do Something"
Madonna, "American Pie"
Metallica, "I Disappear"
Stone Temple Pilots, "Sour Girl"