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But even Noah struggled Sunday to pump life into a flat show. His dialogue between awards and performances felt wooden and rehearsed. ... The Grammys played it too safe after three years of uncertainty, causing the show itself to be the night’s biggest loser.
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There were highs — in the performances, tributes and surprise wins — which created a level of excitement that seemed almost foreign to the ceremony. But there were also the lows: the disappointing losses and the mawkish lessons laced through the night. ... Progress was on the mind of the Recording Academy this year — both in the awards given and the structure of the show. But there were too many contradictions and historical elisions — like dedicating an award to Dr. Dre after a night of speeches and performances by Black women underscoring safety and empowerment — to make it wholly convincing.