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Did NBC out-hip the Grammys?

Whatever the ratings, reruns of Betty White and 'SNL' counter-programmed CBS to a pulp

By Kenny Herzog Feb 11, 2013 12:24PM
Days before broadcasting the 55th Annual Grammy Awards, CBS had already sent the literal memo that this year's music-industry homage would be an exceptionally safe and scripted affair. As it turned out, the show was both a yawningly calculated production and uninspiring celebration of blah-rock like Mumford & Sons (who've been hilariously and accurately critiqued of late as little more than an in-house Chuck E. Cheese act) and fun., the latter of whom won over just about no one with their tales of hard-luck club life in previous bands the Format and Steel Train.

Adding insult to injury was the fact that neighboring big-three network NBC aired a rival, vastly superlative block of TV honoring a nonagenarian small-screen legend and sketch show decades past its prime.

Bing: Grammys | "SNL" | Betty White

"Betty White's Second Annual 90th Birthday Special" offered the winning combination of deserved schmaltz for its honoree and genuinely funny tributes from myriad peers including Sarah Silverman, Lily Tomlin and Whoopi Goldberg. Suffice it to say, their relentlessly beeped, bawdy segments would have given Grammy censors fits. 

Meanwhile, a rerun of "Saturday Night Live: In the '80s" followed up White's extravaganza with a thoroughly enjoyable past-blast into the show's tumultuous, ultimately resurgent, decade. Even those who'd caught its initial 2005 broadcast had to enjoy re-digesting its candid interviews with key players including Lorne Michaels and Julia Louis-Dreyfus and wealth of footage, from Eddie Murphy's unforgettable satires to Phil Hartman's early nonsense. At minimum, it certainly offered meatier meta-entertainment than the contrived motions Taylor Swift, Rihanna et al sleepwalked through one station away.
 
 
So, in case you missed it and actually endured the Grammys in their grueling, totally inconsequential entirety, here's a montage of vintage Murphy "SNL" bits that should make up somewhat for the 180 minutes CBS can never give you back.

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13Comments
pony
Feb 12, 2013 8:51PM
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Stop giving LL Cool J the hosting job= zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

WorkingMan202
Feb 12, 2013 2:36PM
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The nominees were mostly unheard of or definitely not Grammy worthy, and the winners scripted.

 

Are they kidding?  Album of the year is "Mumford and Sons?"

And the biggest joke - Best Rock Performance, Song, and Album - "The Black Keys?" 

 

SERIOUSLY?

toyota3
Feb 12, 2013 9:51AM
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Sorry, but the Grammy's are "BORING". 

DVR'd it and fast forwarded thru 99% of it and then hit delete.

 American Music Awards "much better". 

BBQ GRITS
Feb 12, 2013 7:52AM
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please lets kill rap and hip hop like disco  dam it play an instrument  and sing .rap i can write a rap song in 10 seconds with a 25 dollar casio+  -slap my bitches -slap my hoes -suck my mangian a dn suck my toes -going to the toliet pass me a roll -snoop dog he likes his weed he's not in jail if it was you you wern't get no bail-
BBQ GRITS
Feb 12, 2013 7:47AM
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music now sucks-dam it stop using computers -go buy some 60 and 70's rock music .i have never even heard any music by any of these people out unless i see them by mistake on late night talk show etc thank you mommie and daddie putting all your beatles-rolling stones-the who- led zeppelin on cd's and the records still in great condition

Darthfrodo
Feb 12, 2013 7:44AM
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They just don't make music anymore that people over 30 listen to (Except country I suppose, but they all sound the same). A majority of people my age listen to 'Oldies' these days. Are 20 somethings still going to be listening to Rap in 30 years? I guess we'll see, but I doubt it.
beckylou58
Feb 12, 2013 7:38AM
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Wow, you seem like a really unhappy person.  Yes, there were uninspired production numbers on the Grammy telecast, but there were also joyful, interesting performances by artists who were proud to be making music in front of a wide variety of their peers.  I found it to be very entertaining.  While I was a big SNL fan back in the day, I would much rather spend my limited TV time watching live music than a rehash of clips that are available anytime on youtube.
RANDY NELSON
Feb 12, 2013 7:19AM
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Watching Grammy's. Seemed so polished, compromising & safe. Where were the bad asses?? The ones that sing & write about the wonder & bitches of being young, finding your way in the world with uncompromising edge. - Neil Young once sang: My, My, Rock & Roll Will Never Die. Watching this makes me wonder about that........ :)
marie leavens (lovecookmom)
Feb 12, 2013 7:02AM
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Could care less about grammys! Betty White rocks.

 

OBXSnoopy
Feb 12, 2013 6:39AM
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Everyone was watching the mid-season premiere of "The Walking Dead".
tmej
Feb 12, 2013 5:51AM
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Kenny you come across as a sad, sad person. I bet that "blah-rock" bank Mumford and Sons makes way more money from their "Chucke E. Cheese" act that you ever will from your overly opinionated blog.

Feron
Feb 12, 2013 4:33AM
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It had nothing to do with the CBS memo. The Grammys have been nothing but corporate crap since the early 90's. All manufactured scandals, wardrobe malfunctions and melodramatic high school rivalries. People are starting to tune the celebutards and no talent out. I was so happy to see the Betty White show as an option and then switched to PBS UK for some more talent.
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