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Grammys 2012: CBS delay on West Coast angers social media

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Why wasn’t the 2012 Grammy Awards show broadcast live on the West Coast? That was the question many music fans in the Pacific time zone were asking Sunday night.

The ceremony was similarly tape-delayed last year, but with the increasing popularity of “social viewing” — watching live events along with friends and strangers on Twitter, Facebook and other social media sites — the West Coast time delay was hugely frustrating to Californians. While those on the East Coast saw the show live, West Coasters couldn’t see the ceremony, complete with its tribute to Whitney Houston and the return of Adele, until three hours after it began at the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles.

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“WHY are the #GRAMMYS not going live on the West Coast ?!?!?!” tweeted Preston Willis (@pwils02), a sentiment echoed across the Twittersphere.

PHOTOS: Grammys 2012 winners

Show Tracker commenter Lola Lloyd voiced annoyance on behalf of Angelenos: “Being live a couple of miles away then waiting for 3 hours for a tape delay makes no sense. Especially on a weekend night. For one thing it makes live blogging impossible. Plus the winners are posted before we see the show. UNFAIR!”

Several actors also got into the act on Twitter; “Lost” actress Rebecca Mader (@bexmader) vented: ‘So silly that the Grammys isn’t airing live in LA. Bleugh.” While Lenny Jacobsen (@Lennyjacobson), who plays Lenny on “Nurse Jackie,” tweeted: ‘Not fair that the #Grammys are not live on the West Coast.. i can’t make fun,I mean watch them in real time with the rest of you.’

Even CNN’s Piers Morgan got in on the act, grousing on Twitter: “Twitter means you can’t air ‘live’ awards shows 3hrs late on West Coast. Get a grip @CBS - Oscars/Emmys both aired same time both coasts.” He continued a little while later, “So let me get this straight - the #Grammys are airing live in Nigeria, but not in LA, where it’s actually happening? Nice work @CBS #goons.

Show Tracker commenter Constance Clark proposed that West Coasters protest: “I’m SO upset that we here on the west coast have to wait 3 hours to see the Grammys!! It is down right unfair. We here should NOT watch so they have dismal ratings. Then, we win.”

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— Joy Press

Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images.

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