Random thoughts, having watched 95 percent of the show …
• Roberta Flack can still sing, but her plastic face doesn’t move. Literally, it does not move • Taylor Swift is great, and I’m thrilled she won Best Album because the CD rocks. But Taylor Swift with Stevie Nicks—no good • Maxwell is Marvin Gaye: 2010 • Did anyone really need to hear Bon Jovi do Livin’ On a Prayer for the 593,213,432nd time? • Hall & Oates didn’t win. Bummer. • For my money, Dead and Gone by T.I. and Justin Timberlake was the year’s best song. Won nothing, but an epic tune. • Who the f*** invited Ricky Martin? • Placido Domingo presented an award to Rihanna. She didn’t even look at him, and uttered nary a word. You’re a 21-year-old pop star who, if all the stars align, will be doing Vegas variety shows in 10 years. Show some respect to a legend • Strong, strong showing from Eminem, who remains a lyrical phenomenon • When LL Cool J is being introduced as “the star of NCIS …” well, the world has exploded. • What’s not to like about Mos Def? • Usher is wearing sunglasses indoors. Why? • Pearl Jam did a Target commercial. What the hell? 
• Fergie has a tremendous voice. She really does. But the Black Eyed Peas suck, and in the not-too-distant future their fans will look back and agree with me. • Beyonce absolutely, positively butchered Alanis Morissette’s You Oughta Know. I like B, but a pop princess can’t sing that tune. It has to be done with venomous anger. • Flipped to the Pro Bowl for 8 seconds. This game shouldn’t exist. Nobody plays hard. •
