Who hosted the 1992 MTV Video Music Awards at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion?

Dana Carvey hosted the 1992 MTV Video Music Awards at UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion.

The ceremony aired live on September 9, 1992, after MTV moved the event to Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles. The venue offered room for more performances and a larger audience than the earlier arrangements, and MTV promoted the broadcast as its first Video Music Awards ceremony to be completely live, without prerecorded music.

Carvey’s comedy background shaped the show. He appeared in character as Garth Algar from Wayne’s World while accompanying U2 on drums during the band’s satellite performance of “Even Better Than the Real Thing.” He also appeared as Johnny Carson in a Viewers’ Choice vignette.

The 1992 ceremony is remembered for more than its host. Van Halen won Video of the Year for “Right Now,” while the night also became famous for the public tension involving Axl Rose, Nirvana, and Courtney Love. Dennis Miller hosted a later VMA ceremony, which helps explain one common wrong answer.