Miley Cyrus ran around on Sunday’s MTV Video Music Awards nearly naked, and then flashing her nipple during a costume change.

As the camera panned backstage, Miley failed to cover up and the broadcast quickly cut away to the crowd while she continued to talk. She then said, “What’s happening? Oh, sorry.”

Throughout the show, she sang about smoking marijuana and during the final performance of the show – ok, lets stop here. The fact is, Miley and MTV are desperately looking for a scandal that will make Monday morning news.

It’s no secret that MTV is trying to reinvent itself to combat sinking ratings and disinterested teens. MTV primetime programming is reaching 40% fewer viewers in the 12-to-34 target demo than it did five years ago, according to Nielsen.

MTV hasn’t a big hit show in quiet some time. Interest in MTV’s reality shows that came to dominate MTV’s schedule is fading, and, at 23, The Real World is older than its target audience. “Big shows are once in a few years for any network,” says John Janedis, equity analyst at Jefferies. “It’s becoming harder to have smash hits.”

“It’s the perfect storm,” says a former MTV programming executive. “The audience is going digital, reality TV is running dry, there’s more competition for scripted programs. I feel for the executives there.”