The Grammys, to me, came off as a smashing success. Different bands played us in and out of the ad breaks from atop a Vegas rooftop. The performances inside the venue were lively and adept. The telecast ended BANG on time, and with a rockin’ final jam from The Brothers Osborne. And in what felt like a direct challenge to the Oscars doing LESS to celebrate the crews that make it all possible, the Grammys had behind-the-scenes personnel — like tour managers and costumers — come out to introduce some of the acts. I think all of this would have been great even without any other context, but it absolutely helps that we’re coming off an Oscars ceremony that — leaving out the really big, bad moment — was dull and insufficiently celebratory of its own industry. The Grammys could really sweep in and show ‘em how it’s done.

[Photos: Rob Latour/Shutterstock, Kevin Mazur, Rich Fury, David Becker, Johnny Nunez, Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for The Recording Academy, Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images, Chris Pizzello/AP/Shutterstock]