The 50 Greatest Things You Missed at the 54th Grammy Awards

It's something of a culture shock to be sitting in a basement apartment on a cold and rainy Seattle evening after having spent the previous night in Los Angeles in the same room (well, arena) as Paul McCartney and Bruce Springsteen. Part of me wants to curl up in bed and wallow in my post-vacation depression, but I'd be a remiss journalist if I didn't share my observations from attending last night's 54th Grammy Awards at the Staples Center. It was a strange weekend to be in Los Angeles--I'm referring, of course, to the glitz of the Grammys being somewhat overshadowed by the sad drama of Whitney Houston's death on Saturday night. That unexpected event definitely cast a pall over the ceremonies, but this being L.A. and the entertainment business, the party still went on. In the style of our 2011 Coachella blog post, here are the 50 greatest things you missed at the Grammys this year (from the pre-telecast and the official telecast, both of which I attended):

Pre-Telecast

1. Skrillex thanking the EDM community, Justice, and Daft Punk after winning Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical for "Cinema."

2. Skrillex, still rocking the half-shaved head, otherwise known as "The Skrillex."

3. A tiny hobbit-like figure, upon closer examination revealed to be Sum 41's Derek Whibley, wandering through the aisles.

4. Chick Corea air piano-ing while presenting the Grammys in the Christian categories.

5. Chick Corea air stand-up-bass-ing while presenting Best Tropical Latin Album to Cachao.

6. Last year's Justin Bieber-robbing Best New Artist winner Esperanza Spalding wearing a giant white and orange bedsheet draped over a red skirt.

7. Member of OK Go saying, "I can't believe I'm going to say this... but I accept this award for Betty White," after White wins Best Spoken Word Album but sadly does not show up.

8. Matt Stone, after "The Book of Mormon" wins Best Musical Theatre Album: "Mormons are having a great year! They've got a Grammy now too!"

9. Skrillex to Deadmau5: "You should've worn a tux. Get with it."

10. Tony Bennett receiving a standing ovation after winning his sixteenth Grammy, Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album for Duets II.

11. Jimmy Jam flubbing the title of Kanye West's My Beautiful Dark Fantasy after it wins Best Rap Album. (West is a no-show).

12. Corinne Bailey Rae in a beautiful black floaty-hemmed Christian Siriano dress, winning Best R&B Performance for her cover of Bob Marley's "Is This Love."

13. Tony Bennett bringing Amy Winehouse's parents, Mitch and Janis, on stage after Bennett and Winehouse's duet, "Body and Soul," wins Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.

14. Mitch Winehouse: "We shouldn't be here; our darling daughter Amy should be."

15. Mitch Winehouse: "Long live Whitney Houston. Long live Amy Winehouse. Long live Etta James. What can I say, there's a beautiful girl group up in heaven."

16. Taylor Swift hiding in the back watching Steve Earle's performance of "This City."

17. Taylor Swift high-fiving her entourage after winning Best Country Solo Performance for "Mean."

18. The Civil Wars' John Paul White, after winning Best Country Duo/Group Performance for "Barton Hollow": "I just lost a bet. I bet a man a bottle of whiskey this wouldn't happen."

19. Hostess MC Lyte presenting the Grammy for Best Alternative Album to "Born I-Vuhr."

20. Bon Iver's Justin Vernon concluding his acceptance speech by shouting "Jagjaguwar!" into the mic.