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The MTV EMAs kicked off with a bang last night when Miley Cyrus descended from the ceiling of the Ziggo Dome in a next century space mobile to the soaring beat of "We Can't Stop." The rising pop superstar set the tone for the show with a kick off performance that was on point and spiced up with a sense of adventure. (That should come as no big surprise as the visual theme of this year's EMAs was space and intergalactic travel.)

I was at the Ziggo Dome, a state of the art new concert hall in Amsterdam, two hours before showtime. Being there so early gave me plenty of time to take in the stage and the venue. The EMA staging was simple. There was one (circular) main stage that connected to a smaller stage just to the right. The smaller circular stage was connected to a pseudo bar area filled with alien creatures that was also the spot for all the award announcements and many of Redfoo's "intergalactic" hosting bits.

Redfoo was the perfect host for the night. He was able to stir the crowd with his signature hilarity and "Let's Get Ridiculous" bits that kept the show light and fun to watch.

Robin Thicke followed Miley Cyrus' opening and he performed his global monster hit "Blurred Lines" that threw the crowd in a frenzy. Tall and twerking Aussie rapper Iggy Azalea joined him on stage that gave the performance some extra pizzaz and sex appeal. It was a clever change up that gave the song a fresh new appeal.

Katy Perry's very first TV performance of "Unconditionally" was impressive. The pop star was raised from the main stage and wrapped in a cocoon of long, colorful skirt drapes that made Perry appear like a skinny giant singing from above the clouds. It was a simple, yet very effective way to add dramatic flair to the heartfelt ballad/love confession.

Eminem, yesterday's surprise addition to the EMA line up, received a lifetime achievement award (announced by Rita Ora), and performed "Bezerk" and "Rap God." It was an inspired performance that showed that Marshall Mather continues to be massive force in rap and hip hop. Over in The Melkweg concert venue, Snoop Dogg performed his classic "Gin & Juice" to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Doggystyle that was ported into the mainshow. He was accompanied on the boards by DJ Afrojack. 

Other noteworthy performers included The Killers (who performed "Shot At The Night" and "Mr Brightside") and Bruno Mars who turned the Ziggo Dome into a glittering strip joint with "Gorilla." Miley Cyrus returned with her full band to perform a gut-wrenching rendition of "Wrecking Ball" that showed some true grit with her inspired vocal delivery.

Our friends of Icona Pop closed the show with a stomping rendition of "I Love It" that had the crowd high on their feet for a dizzying finale (including a drop of glitter at the end). Caroline and Aino were immaculately styled inspired by Jane Fonda's Barbarella to stay consistent with the space theme of the show.

Let's not forget about the awards as well! Winners included Bruno Mars (Best Male), Katy Perry (Best Female), Miley Cyrus (Best Video) and Eminem (Best Hip Hop). Five-time nominee Justin Timberlake left the show empty-handed.

Overall, it was a MTV EMAs to remember that the Dutch should look back on proudly. Only minus were the constant jokes about Amsterdam that perpetuated many of the stereotypes about the city. There were lots of quips about coffee shops, hash brownies and the red light district. Those jokes felt tired and passé, and do not properly reflect what the city has to offer. That's an opportunity missed with millions of people watching around the world.