Grammy special vs. 'FNL': Alicia Keys, Faith Hill face-off with NBC drama

Country star Faith Hill, R&B singer Alicia Keys and singer/songwriter Melissa Etheridge have been tapped to host Friday night's CBS special "My Grammy Moment." For those debating whether or not to watch, CBS has created a handy little website with previews of nearly every clip that could be featured on the show.

There's 50 clips to choose from -- Bob Dylan's 1998 take on "Love Sick" is absent -- and the top 25 will get the run-down on the air. This best-of awards show will surely capture all that's entertaining and puzzling about the Grammys, as a torturous medley or two is sure to make the cut (Bruce Springsteen and Dave Grohl paying tribute to the Clash remains a hilarious head-scratcher).

But even in these strike-afflicted times, the Grammy special will go up against a new episode of "Friday Night Lights."

So before precious DVR space is used, here's a brief compare and contrast:

Some of the artists that may be seen on the Grammy special (based on the clips on the CBS site):

- Prince & Beyonce medley
- Barbra Streisand & Neil Diamond duet
- Eric Clapton & Babyface duet
- John Mayer, Corinne Bailey Rae & John Legend medley
- Dylan
- Alan Jackson
- U2
- Aerosmith (covering the Beatles' "Come Together")
- Paul McCartney, Jay-Z, Linkin Park medley

Some of the artists that have been featured on "FNL" (off the top of this writer's head):

- Spoon
- Drive-By Truckers
- The Bravery
- The Ponys
- Wilco
- Audioslave

Winner: "FNL."

OK, so they're not all winners on "FNL." Audioslave never lived up to the super-group promise, and the Bravery are already more or less forgotten, but the teen drama > the Grammy special here.

Come on, there's some inspired, unexpected choices in there (Matador act the Ponys on TV!), and, more important, zero chance of a medley. Also, it's unlikely you'll hear a heritage act covering someone else. Granted, no idea as to what music may be featured on this week's episode, but the unknown is more exciting in this case.

Drama factor on the Grammy special:

What clips did America vote for?

Drama factor on this week's "FNL":

High school football star Smash gets heavy into the college recruitment game, and QB Matt Saracen is looking beyond his relationship with his new cheerleader girlfriend.

Winner: "FNL"

When America votes on music, America is not to be trusted.

What happened the last time we allowed America to vote on an award show? The American Music Awards turned into the "American Idol" Music Awards.

Take a dude dumping a cheerleader and the high-stakes game of college recruitment -- one not shown on TV/film/anything enough -- over that any day.

(Photo courtesy Stefano Paltera /For the Times)

Comments

[Frankie R.]

I'd rather watch the Grammy special. Being a Grammy buff and all...FNL never really appealed to me...I guess I found most of the characters on the show just plain annoying or just not enough boy's locker room/shower scenes (just teasing)...Besides why would I want to relive high school again?...