LiveBlogging The Neighborhood Inaugural Ball

By Special Correspondent Arturo R. García, also Published At The Instant Callback

I admit, I spent most of Inauguration Day taking it all in quietly. Even my cynical heart warmed a little during the day. I didn’t have a thing to make fun of. Thank the stars ABC gave me the Neighborhood Inaugural Ball.

8:10 — Delayed start, but: Mary J. looked GREAT, and Will.i.am struck a good note — addition by subtraction of Fergie, perhaps?

8:19 — W. had Ricky Martin. O has Maroon 5. This is progress?!

8:20 — Robin Roberts! Yay! I remember when she was a SportsCenter rookie …

8:21 — Nick Cannon is as much a DJ as George Bush was a Decider.

8:22 — Mariah has a blinged-out mic stand. Take that, Mary J.!

8:25 — Oh shit, Denzel is there?

8:30 — Denzel arrives! PLYMOUTH ROCK, GET THE F-K OFF!

8:31 — Mariah can’t lend the President her mic stand?

8:32 — “How good-looking is my wife?” Epic.

8:34 — Is that Faith Hill next to Denzel?

8:34 — Beyonce nails the first note …

YouTube video

8:35 — Beyonce’s mic also had some bedazzle to it. Is this the next arms race?

8:40 — Homeland Security U.S.A. advert — Good to know Republicans still have some programs to watch.

8:41 — For a comedian, Jamie Foxx is a hell of a singer

8:42 — Shakira’s music sucks nowadays, but DAMN

8:43 — Nice to see Sting is growing another rainforest on his chin

8:45 — We have a president who bumps people. This might work out after all.

8:45 — My friend Chris: “The President may think he’s got good music at his party, but I get to see Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings this week. I win.” Can’t argue with that.

8:49 — These “all-star jams” rarely go well. Damn you, ABC, for not trusting Stevie Wonder to do his own damn song.

8:50 — For a comedian, Ray Romano is a hell of a waste of space.

8:51 — “I can’t believe I’m here.” I can’t believe you’re there either, Romano.

8:53 — This moron is DYING out there. Somewhere, there’s a hotel lounge missing a headliner …

8:55 — Ooo-wee-ooo, Jigga looks like Buddy Holly!

Oh Oh, where’s Beyonce Tyler Moore?

8:57 — Is it me, or does Jay sound like he’s out of breath?

8:59 — Y’know, when I wore glasses like those in fourth grade, I got my ass kicked. Now they’re in fashion?

9:03 — “Destiny calls.” You go straight to voicemail, Lost.

9:03 — Who in the blue hell is Kate Walsh?

9:05 — I don’t think I’ve ever seen Alicia Keys do a song badly.

9:08 — This might be the song of the night, up there with Beyonce

9:09 — Send in the clowns tumblers people jumping around on weird-looking sh-t!

9:10 — Info from my friend Paul on miss Walsh: “Best known for playing Addison Sheppard on Grey’s Anatomy/Private Practice on ABC. Don’t judge me for knowing that.” No, but I will quote you!

9:11 — The crowd doesn’t know what to make of the tumblers. Was the wrestling bear booked?

9:12 — The tumblers are cut off. For the first time in my television-watching life, I wish we’d gotten more commercials.

9:16 — If I sent a text from Tijuana, would Mexico get a star on the Map of Vague Good Feelings?

9:17 — Shakira’s butchering “The Right Side Of The Road,” but DAMN.

9:18 — Shakira, harmonica. Harmonica, Shakira.

9:23 — Stevie! Seriously, who needed The 5 Maroons?

9:26 — SW is stealing the show right from Alicia

9:30 — Grover on Scrubs? I thought Zack Braff was the only sock puppet allowed on that show.

9:32 — Even Biden gets a cheer!

9:33 — Even Biden gets an “AWWWWW”!

9:34 — Even Biden gets a dance!?

9:36 — Make that half a dance.

9:38 — Which final 20 minutes will be worse: the Neighborhood Ball’s or the average SNL’s?

9:40 — Who in the blue hell is Carrie Washington?

9:40 — Faith Hill just answered my question. I apologize, Lorne Michaels.

9:44 — Playing Joan Jett as bumper music is just a f-king cruel tease.

9:46 — Hey, Gitmo might be closing soon — are the CMT Awards looking for a new site?

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