American Music Awards begin in LA

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 18 (UPI) -- The 2007 American Music Awards show has begun in Los Angeles with comedian Jimmy Kimmel presiding over the telecast for the fourth time.

Fergie, an AMA nominee for favorite female artist, opened the show by performing a medley of some of her biggest hits.

The scripted telecast was written before the Writers Guild of America strike began Nov. 5.

Taking the stage, Kimmel warned the crowd: "This is going to be a little bit loose tonight because I am a member of the writer's guild and we're on strike," he said. "It may not look like it, but I'm striking in my heart, so I wasn't allowed to write any jokes for tonight's event, which is good for those of you here in the front area, but bad really for the rest of the world who has to sit through made-up crap. So, what I'm going to do tonight, instead of entertaining you with my comedy is I'm going to entertain you with my little singing and dancing ability tonight."

Kimmel then brought Jordin Sparks and Kelly Pickler onstage to help him do "the Soulja Boy" dance. Soulja Boy himself appeared to give them a lesson.