Wait, the Grammys Were Actually Fun to Watch?!

From Cosmopolitan

2021 has been a very, very long two-and-a-half-months year, and one thing that's made it feel even more unbearable has been having to watch Hollywood awards shows happen... over Zoom.

Last month, the Golden Globes proved to be a nightmare of cut feeds, overlapping speeches, and technical difficulties, sucking all the fun out of a ceremony that is usually host to a bunch of hammered celebrities making fools of themselves—in a good way. But on Sunday, the Grammys, by comparison, killed it. I had so much fun watching, and it proved that awards shows during the pandemic don't have to be a totally painful snooze. Here's how they did it, and why other awards shows (looking at you, Oscars) should take note.

The Grammys created short videos of the nominees ahead of time, and they also pre-recorded some segments (like the BTS performance), so the show avoided the awkward glitches the Golden Globes and Emmys struggled with. I was so happy to watch Taylor Swift accept her award IRL, instead of watching her feed cut out and have her say, "Should I go? Am I on?" which really happened to Daniel Kaluuya during the Globes.

To be clear, this is only possible with extensive testing and COVID-19 protocols in place; it's no easy feat to have all those people in the same room (or... parking lot?). But knowing the attendees were safe made the viewing experience more pleasant for me, too. Less anxiety, more "Holy shit, Billie Eilish looks amazing."

Obviously, awards shows aren't anyone's prime concern right now, but tuning into a very abnormal Grammys made me feel kinda normal. That video of Taylor Swift and Harry Styles chatting during the Doja Cat performance made me think, "Yeah, maybe there's a light at the end of the proverbial COVID-19 tunnel, and I can let my jaw comfortably rest on the floor while watching this because joy is, actually, allowed." The whole night felt like a balm. If I'm seeing Beyoncé on my screen accepting Grammy number 28, something must be going right.

The ceremony itself seemed to have two main agendas: Applaud the artists whose music got us through the last year, and highlight all the businesses that have suffered because of the pandemic and will need our support in the After Times. The Recording Academy tapped employees at local music venues around the country to present awards, which reminded viewers of the real economic impact the pandemic has had on normal people who work in the music industry. The Oscars, which aren't for another six weeks, can and should adopt the same strategy, so, the Academy, if you're still in the planning stages, here's a list of priorities:

• Get as many nominees in the same space safely, masked up, socially distanced, and COVID-19 tested like it's no one's business

• Pre-record as many segments as possible, to please dear god avoid technical difficulties and awkward lags. I don't need Brad Pitt to remind me of my 9-to-5.

• Show as few people as possible over Zoom, because really, we are all just so tired of that damn interface and ring lights can only do so much.

• Highlight the theaters and businesses that have suffered during the COVID-19 shutdown (especially at the epicenters of the entertainment business, New York City and Los Angeles, where theaters are just now reopening)

If done right, awards shows should remind you how incredible and transformative the arts can be. They should make you appreciate how much movies, music, and television enhance your life and make you feel better even in the crappiest times.

Last night's Grammys ceremony made me remember how much I fucking love music. I danced on my couch as Harry Styles did his little jig, and screamed when his boa went flying. I squealed when Megan Thee Stallion and Cardi B did that twisting leg dance move that made them look like they were one being with four legs. I've been listening to "Future Nostalgia" on repeat all morning, and contemplating whether or not I want to try to learn Dua Lipa's choreo (if anyone finds a YouTube tutorial, hit me up). That's what these shows should do. Make me feel happy to be able to enjoy the ridiculously high level of art that brought me the joy and support I needed to get through this last year. Oscars, you're up next.

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