Best and Worst of the 2011 'Soul Train Awards'

By: Erin E. Evans | Posted: November 28, 2011 at 10:54 AM

Mindless Behavior (Getty Images)

With every award show that airs, it's becoming more and more evident that they are more fun with Twitter commentary to back them up (check out ours @theroot247). In case you missed the Soul Train Awards last night and want to catch up, we've rounded up a few of the show's top moments and some of the best tweets to accompany them. The show re-airs on BET on Tuesday at 8 p.m. EST.

Setting the Stage

Morris Day and the Time opened the show by performing several of their hits. Miguel and Lloyd, who performed later in the show, should definitely take notes.

#besttweet: @djquicksilva: Morris Day had Swag before we knew what Swag was

Standout Performance in Gladys Knight Tribute? Mary Mary

The gospel duo brought some soul to an otherwise weak tribute to Gladys Knight with their performance of "Midnight Train to Georgia." And following her acceptance speech, Knight pulled Bebe Winans onstage to perform "I Need You." You can watch it here.

#besttweet -- @mfeeney: I just hope Gladys Knight's special award is not a Gold Plate with Chicken and Waffles. C'mon BET don't let me down! #thatisall

Most Random Backup Singers Ever?

Yes, the 40th anniversary of Soul Train should span four decades' worth of musicians. But Dave Hollister, Freddie Jackson and Kenny Lattimore as the Pips? Did this seem like an afterthought to anyone else?

#besttweet -- @4Kast: Did the #SoulTrainAwards call up every irrelevant artist right now and ask them to perform??? #QuestionsThatNeedAnswers

Most Energetic Performances

With a performance of Montell Jordan's '90s hit "This Is How We Do It" and T.I.'s "Big Things Poppin'," Cedric the Entertainer got the crowd going in his opening number (stanky leg included). But the show's energy didn't seem to pick up again until Mindless Behavior, a quartet of 14-year-olds, jumped on the stage.

#besttweet -- @only1coko: Mindless Behavior is very cute BUT I thank God for...NEW EDITION!!!!! Lol

The Heavy D Tribute

With just a little more than a week to plan a tribute to Heavy D, the Soul Train Awards did a pretty good job of rounding up talent to honor the Overweight Lover: Naughty by Nature, Big Daddy Kane, Kurtis Blow, Whodini, Goodie Mob and Doug E. Fresh.

Best/Worst Reality-Show Star Appearance

Maybe it was the microphone levels, but the performance of "Love Overboard" by Tamar Braxton and "the Pips" seemed lukewarm. But Ms. Braxton finally got her moment to shine onstage. (And was it just us or did most of the performances of the night sound like the microphones were turned down really low? Even Chrisette Michele sounded a bit off.)

#besttweet -- @finessemitchell: I love Tamar.com and she didn't sound bad so DON'T HATE.org. #soultrainawards.net

Standout Performance in Earth, Wind & Fire Tribute

While Robin Thicke and Joe did fine jobs on this tribute, Eric Benet could have handled this all by himself. He was the clear standout.

#besttweet -- @hollyrpeete: OK @ebenet your falsetto: Reeediculous! You never cease to amaze me w that voice of yours...YOU should cover "Reasons" #soultrainawards

Most Anticipated Moment

Wolf Blitzer, aka Blitz, Dougie-d with Doug E. Fresh at last year's Soul Train Awards, so we were expecting him to one-up himself this year. And after his interview with A.J. Calloway on the preshow, we were sure he was going to impress us again. But beatboxing? Literally, beating cardboard boxes with drumsticks? Don't quit your day job, Blitz.

#besttweet -- @soulbounce: #SoulTrainAwards By golly, I think that Wolf Blitzer got more soul than Herman Cain.

Best Stage Presence

When Theo -- er, Malcolm-Jamal Warner -- graced the stage to introduce the tribute to Earth, Wind & Fire, "mmmmm!" and "yessss!" echoed across the black women's Twitter pages.

#besttweet: @brokeymcpoverty: THEO YOU BETTER WEAR THAT SUIT LIKE GORDON GARTRELLE MADE IT! YES

Honorable Mentions

Anthony Hamilton's Soul Train conductor hat, the CGI snow for Cee-Lo and Melanie Fiona's performance of "Fool for You," and Lovita Alizé Jenkins and Cedric Jackie Robinson's brief reprise of their characters on The Steve Harvey Show.

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