The 2018 edition of the Grammy Awards is in the books, and as award season rolls around, everything is started to hot up until we get to the culminating night when the Academy Awards take place.
But until then, the Grammys had the chance to provide various elements of the music industry the recognition they deserve, but their choice of host, James Corden, isn’t exactly getting the same acknowledgement. Things went from bad to worse, finishing with his sketch that ended with him having a bloody nose. [SCROLL TO BOTTOM FOR VIDEO]
It didn’t start off well for him, as he chose to give all of those who lost out in their awards categories ‘consolation puppies’.
James Corden should be deported ASAP
— Brian Donnelly (@bdonnzzz) January 29, 2018
I guess it’s quite a sweet idea on paper, if a little too nice, and those in attendance seemed to enjoy their consolation prize, as James Corden said: “I should say to all the nominees that who are not going home with a Grammy – I don’t want anyone to be upset tonight, so the good news is nobody goes home empty-handed because all night we will be handing out consolation puppies.”
“So if you didn’t get a Grammy, you get a puppy.”
Didn't win a #GRAMMY? That's okay, you can get a consolation puppy.
Watch The #GRAMMYs now on CBS and CBS All Access: https://t.co/rtZ7sSGFOC pic.twitter.com/d2qratWobI
— CBS (@CBS) January 29, 2018
From there, tiny adorable little puppies were handed out to the likes of Jerry Seinfeld, Sarah Silverman and Jim Gaffigan by assistants in the crowed.
The comics looked delighted, as did the other Grammys guests sitting nearby, such as Anna Kendrick, who later tweeted at the time: “One of consolation puppies just got walked past me so the night is pretty much downhill from here. #GRAMMYs”
Those who were viewing at home also seemed delighted with the consolation prize, as they deemed it to be better than the actual awards themselves.
One person wrote on Twitter: “Man, they are giving out puppies at the #Grammys
I want one”
While another enthusiastically, and very shoutally, wrote: “I AM LIVING FOR THE CONSOLATION PUPPIES AT THE GRAMMYS”
Many other onlookers, however, did not share the notion of those who liked the consolation puppies, and were concerned about the animals ‘ welfare, given that they were just handed out into a large, crowded and extremely loud room.
Animal rights charity Peta led the charge in criticising awards organisers for the stunt, as they took to their Twitter account to write: “Very disappointed that the #GRAMMYs chose to gift puppies as a joke. Animals are not toys. #AdoptDontBuy”
It wasn’t just the activists who thought this, as their condemnation was shared by an equally large corner of the internet as those who enjoyed it.
One person writing on the social media site said: “#GRAMMYs puppies How could they give puppies away as prizes it’s disgusting .shame on you”
Another wrote: “@GMB @PeterEgan6 horrified to see #grammys giving puppies as consolation prizes!! They aren’t prizes. How is that any different to giving a puppy for Xmas? U doing all the education done over recent years”
Another said: “I get that it’s a gag, but I don’t like the idea of giving out puppies during the #Grammys. Puppies are living beings, not inanimate trophies. #consolationpuppy”
Another asked: “Handing out puppies at the #Grammys am I the only one that thinks that was shocking and cruel?”
While another said: “Why were the #GRAMMYs giving out puppies? I’d like to know where they ended up after the show?! A dog is not a gift, it is a life that you’ve have to treasure forever”
“#GRAMMYs I am disgusted that those puppies were used as some sort of prop/stunt – it’s a totally inappropriate way to treat animals” blasted another.
While another said: “Runners Up at The Grammys given “puppies to cuddle”. Hollywood just keeps on giving. You couldn’t make it up …”
And another: “I can’t believe they handed out puppies at the Grammys…………”
It goes on for a while…
It seems as though James Corden’s efforts as host weren’t off to the best start, and it didn’t seem to get much better when the Gavin and Stacy star imported his signature gimmick Carpool Karaoke into the show, but this time upped his game, and instead of belting out a classic song in the car, he took to the New York Subway with Sting and Shaggy.
With Shaggy and Sting by his side, Corden tried his hardest to sweep the subway carriage off its collective feet and into one big sing-along jam. The only problem was, the commuters on that day were simply not having any of it.
Free to be as loud as he pleases with his guests in the comfort of a car, it seemed as though Corden was not afforded the same pleasure whilst trying to whip the subway up into a singing frenzy, as in the video, the trio start off their karaoke with Sting’s stalker national anthem Every Step You Take, but they’re told to “shut the f**k up” by a man dressed as a builder.
Mind you, it could have been real. Nothing surprises me these days.
Then, in an effort to get a better response, the trio ventured further down the carriage, singing a rendition of Shaggy’s classic It Wasn’t Me, until a woman savagely says to Corden: “No one wants to hear you sing.”
Despite the TV host pleading with the subway riders to allow him to create a ‘viral moment’, they told the trio to find another train to bother. Or else.
However, the clip culminates in the builder squaring up to Corden and promising to dish out some brutal artistic censorship if he and his famous pals don’t get lost. After failing to comply with this threat, the British star is promptly punched right in the face as the camera cuts to black.
Next thing you know, the famous trio are looking more than a little dismayed, with James sporting a load of bloodied tissues up his nose.
Corden tried his best to make the most of a golden opportunity as he hosted the Grammys, but it never seemed to click for the English presenter, and feedback from his hosting job wasn’t exactly favourable.
“Corden was an affable host whose energy never flagged, [but] it wasn’t his best outing at an awards show. His jokes and introductions were acceptable, but not much more than that.”
The Los Angeles Times added: “An onstage attempt to riff with Jay-Z about showing him around New York didn’t get much laughter. A presentation of consolation-prize puppies to the comedy album nominees after Dave Chappelle’s Grammy win felt too hasty to build any momentum.”
It’s a shame, in a way, that Dave Chappelle was up for a Grammy, or maybe he would have hosted. That would have been great – the best comedian alive today hosting the Grammys.
Oh well, at least we got to see Sting and Shaggy sing together on a subway.
