The technical categories for this year’s Video Music Awards–Best Choreography, Best Direction, Best Editing, Best Special Effects, Best Cinematography, and Best Art Direction–were announced today, and the big winner, inexplicably, is the Pussycat Dolls’ “When I Grow Up,” which received nods for Choreography, Direction, Cinematography, and Art Direction. Why five minutes of dayglo-framed midriffs and Nicole Scherzinger making stupid faces set to some of the most grating beats to come out of Darkchild’s studio laboratory is worthy of not just attention, but accolades, is an utter mystery to me. Perhaps someone on the nominating committee was a big fan of “Cold Hearted,” and appreciates the Dolls–and director Joseph Kahn’s–efforts to bring back “sexy” synchronized dancing on scaffolding? [Full list of nominees]