The 22 best and worst moments of the BET Awards

Stars turned out in droves for Sunday night’s BET Awards, honoring the best work of the last year by African-Americans in entertainment. Basically one giant party, the show was full of ups and downs. From Chris Brown’s nightie to Usher’s epic medley, here are the best and worst moments of the night.

The Best

As the host, Chris Rock killed it.

The funnyman started the night out with a bang, declaring the BET Awards “the Black World Cup” and tackling everything from the Solange elevator incident to Donald Sterling’s racism in the opening monologue. The true mark of a successful joke, though, is one that p—-s someone off, which Rock managed to do when he poked fun at the very large Rick Ross’ attempt to cash in on headphones like Dr. Dre, naming them “Dia-beats.” He later zinged him two more times. Ross was not a fan.

August Alsina got emotional.

It’s always nice to see that people actually care about these things. Alsina set a tone after winning the first award of the night for best new artist, letting the tears flow.

Gary Owen and Mike Tyson hit it off.

In the banter before presenting an award, Tyson asked Owen how it felt to be the token white guy in the new movie “Think Like A Man Too.” He replied, “It’s kind of like being the token black guy in the ‘Hangover’ movies, Mike.” Somebody wrote the bit for them, of course, but it was good nonetheless. Somebody put these guys in a buddy cop movie.

Kenya Moore got a moment in the big leagues.

The “Real Housewives of Atlanta” star not only got to utter her catchphrase — “gone with the wind fabulous” — she got to do it while holding a scepter, the very item that got her in the middle of a legendary beat-down at the show’s most recent reunion. It lasted three seconds, but hey, people know who you are, Kenya Moore! You win reality TV.

White people were dumb.

In a pre-taped segment, Chris Rock visited the whitest place he could think of, a monster truck rally, to ask white people questions about the BET Awards. Unsurprisingly, they didn’t know very much, save for one friendly redneck who knew the lyrics to Drake’s “Started From the Bottom” and as a result, most likely got laid Sunday night.

Usher threw it back.

For reasons unknown, Usher presented a medley of his greatest hits, including “Confessions,” “U Remind Me” and “Caught Up.” We’re not saying it had anything to do with no one caring about his new song “Good Kisser,” also included in the set, but we’re not not saying it.

Kevin Hart auditioned for ‘Scandal.’

In a bit in which he “crashed” Kerry Washington’s presentation of an award, Hart introduced himself as “Oliver Pope,” Olivia Pope’s long-lost brother on her hit show “Scandal.” This needs to actually happen.

Jennifer Hudson looked all sorts of fine.

She sang two songs, but what you really need to see is that body in that dress. A million women across the nation immediately signed up for Weight Watchers.

Nicki Minaj was bats–t per usual.

In a reference to the music video for her latest single “Pills N Potions,” Minaj rapped alongside someone dressed in a full bunny costume. If that wasn’t random enough, she also rose out of a giant mushroom and brought out a random chick who danced around in a Britney-at-the-VMAs nude bodysuit. Later, she was in fine form as she accepted her award for best female hip hop artist, throwing shade at some unnamed rappers. “When you hear Nicki Minaj spit, Nicki Minaj wrote it,” she snapped before making a face only a GIF could love.

But Beyonce and Jay Z were the best, obviously.

The king and queen of music closed out the night off-site straight from their “On The Run” tour with “Partition,” and it was everything America wanted and needed. Bow, slay, praise Jesus, etc.

The Worst

Pharrell missed a major opportunity.

To open the show, he performed his song “Come Get it Bae” and brought out Missy Elliott to join him. That’s great and all, but the song features Miley Cyrus. How are you going to not have Miley Cyrus perform at the BET Awards? Think of the cultural appropriation! Think of the think pieces!

Also, Pharrell wore UGGs.

To accept his awards and to introduce a tribute to Lionel Richie, the “Happy” singer took to the stage in every sorority sister’s favorite form of footwear. We’ve let you make the Arby’s hat a thing, dude, but don’t push it.

Speaking of questionable attire, Usher wore his raccoon hat.

Yep, he’s still trying to make roadkill happen.

There was a really stupid sideways moving walkway.

It brought out all the presenters from backstage — only a few feet, mind you — at a glacial pace. Not only was it pointless, it brought about memories of the airport, which is never okay.

Lupita Nyong’o was a no-show.

She won for best actress, but she wasn’t there to accept it. Viewers on Twitter had plenty to say about it. (For the record, fellow winner Drake wasn’t there either.)

https://twitter.com/akacharleswade/status/483408953649287169

Paris Hilton didn’t perform.

More than once, Chris Rock called out the seemingly random attendance of pop sensation Paris Hilton (“Wow, you are getting your Kardashian on tonight,” he cracked.) Actually, music genius Hilton is signed to Birdman’s Cash Money Records, and she just filmed two new music videos. It is a shame and crime against music that she did not perform.

There was a painfully long and boring tribute to Lionel Richie.

He won a lifetime achievement award, which meant we were subjected to like a billion minutes of him, including a second John Legend performance, in case you didn’t fall asleep the first time he sat at a piano. The whole thing went on for so long, it started to feel like an entirely different show, said one really clever Twitter user.

And they didn’t even spell his name right.

Congrats on your win, Lionel Ritchie!

Chris Brown is still a thing.

Noted terrible person Chris Brown got his song and dance on to “Loyal” while wearing what was pretty much a flannel nightgown. Chris Rock summed it up, saying that the criminal was “dancing like he’s free.”

Poor Keke Palmer spent a lot of time talking about hashtags.

When will these shows realize there is nothing interesting about watching someone talk incessantly throughout the night about social media in bumpers before commercial breaks? We get it. People tweet about things that are on TV. Next. Also, tangentially, this was very accurate:

Robin Thicke is still creepin’.

He opened his performance by dedicating the song to his ex, Paula Patton, whom he allegedly cheated on, saying “I love you, and I miss you.” At what point is this just straight-up stalking?

Somewhere in the middle

Not black person Iggy Azalea brought it hard.

The Australian rapper joined T.I. for their addictive team-up “No Mediocre” before seguing into her Billboard chart topper “Fancy.” Although in no way a black entertainer, she is very talented, so we guess this one’s a toss-up. Whatever, by now, she’s in the fast lane to Tokyo.