It’s Madonna forever; she’ll open the VMAs

Here’s another sign that Madonna is forever:
She’ll do the opening number in this year’s Video Music Awards — 42 years after she was nominated as best new artist.
Back then, the VMA’s were strictly on MTV; this year, they’re 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. ET Sept. 27 on CBS, MTV and other networks. And this year, at 68, Madonna (shown here_ leads with 11 nominations, including song of the year (“Bring Your Love”) and artist of the year.
Her nomination in ’84 was followed by five more in ’85 and then, in ’86, one of the first Video Vanguard awards. In all, she’s had 19 wins and more than 80 nominations. And now she’s the opening act.
That was one of several news bits CBS offered tody, at the end of a busy press conference. Others were:
— Tuesdays will be specials night for a while. Previously announced was a “Judge Judy” special Sept. 22. Newly added is “The Amazing Race: Around the World”; that will be Sept. 29, a week before “Race” begins its season. The season will include a visit to its 99th country; most-visited is China, 16 times.
— Also starting early (Sept. 23) is “Survivor.” This 51st season, Jeff Probst said, starts an era when rules fluctuate. “No two seasons will ever be the same.”
— The scripted shows don’t start until Oct. 4, but will bring some new tweaks. “Marshals” will add Jeffrey White in the Jimmy character from “Yellowstone” … Marg Helgenberger will play the missing mother of Sarah Silver (Maggie Lawson) on “Boston Blue” … And Ink will do a guest song on the Oct. 23 “Fire Country.”