His stand-up or personal character is completely different than Brand as a host.
The first year I tuned in because I thought he'd be 'shocking' and outrageous, maybe making the show tolerable or, hope against hope, interesting.
But OMG, all he did was feeble kiss-ass and more kiss-ass, and limp compliments to all the lame-dick celebrities and musicians and MTV. It was just gushing platitudes everywhere. So nauseating I had to turn away.
I didn't watch the second year (so I guess all his MTV ass kissing worked), but I read all about the lame-ass tactlessness that went on. I suspect he tried over-compensating for his gushing the year before, by making tasteless an inappropriate jokes.
Which is all very interesting, because if you see him interviewed or tallking, he seems really cool.