Hey, fellow “Lost” fans - think you’re already confused this season with the sideways universe and new pack of Others to keep track of? Check out this hilarious video where some non-“Lost” watchers at Newsweek explain what they think is happening on the show. Can’t say that their final theory about Sawyer (“He looks like Fabio” - priceless) is completely off base…everyone expects Jack to be the hero, but has the former con man been completely redeemed?

http://popwatch.ew.com/2010/02/04/lost-confused-non-watchers/

Am I the only one who thinks this is a really bad idea? And no offense to the Canadian chest-thumper, but isn’t it a little insulting to Cyndi Lauper to have Celine Dion sing her part when Cyndi is alive and well and perfectly capable of recreating it herself?

Personally, I’d rather see all of the original cast (the living ones, that is)reunite for an updated version rather than watch a Jonas Brother and Justin Bieber mess with musical history.

Of all the themes of the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards – the lightweight diva battle between Beyonce and Taylor Swift and the large number of first time winners (Jason Mraz, Maxwell, Lady Gaga, Swift and, of all bands, Judas Priest) topping them—there was one overriding premise of Sunday’s show: It was entertaining.

Sounds obvious, doesn’t it? Music’s biggest night should define entertainment.

But, in recent years, with the proliferation of rap stars whose idea of performing is to prowl the stage and taunt the censors (witness the bleep-fest that was the Drake/Eminem/Lil Wayne performance) and the academy’s love affair with dinosaurs who, while deserving in some categories, tend to lower the pulse of the room, it was refreshing to see some young blood onstage.

Lady Gaga admirably kicked her critics in the teeth with her riveting show opener with kindred spirit Elton John. Yeah, the outfits are ridiculous and her constant craving of the spotlight grows tedious – but couldn’t the same once be said of the man sitting across from her at the piano, gamely wearing his own glittery poker face?

And Swift, well, her performance with Stevie Nicks probably didn’t win her any new fans, and made those familiar with her work question whether someone whose pitch is always so shaky live deserves four Grammys. But, she’s 20. And she writes her own songs – good songs, songs that resonate across generations. It’s impossible not to like her as a performer because her excitement is infectious. As cringe-inducing as she was, butchering “Rihannon” as a patient Nicks tried to whack her tambourine hard enough to mask the warbling next to her, Swift’s gangly charm somehow overpowers her obvious shortcomings.   

But the two best performances of the night came from pop powerhouses Beyonce and The Black Eyed Peas.

While it’s curious that Beyonce chose two defiant songs – the layered “If I Were a Boy” and a cover of Alanis Morissette’s “You Oughta Know” (which she performed nightly on her last tour) – it was awesome that she didn’t do the obvious. Every person in the Staples Center probably expected a leotard-clad B to prance around the stage to “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)” or belt “Halo.” After all, they were her two nominated songs. But by opting for female empowerment anthems against a stark militaristic backdrop and ferocious vocal performance, Beyonce proved why she’s the alpha female of the music industry.

As for the polarizing Peas, sure, they’re a little silly and their songs are often nothing more than glorified chanting. But personally, I can’t wait for their Hampton Coliseum show in a couple of weeks because if last night’s performance was an indication, it will be one heck of a fiesta. Between the silver robot people and the garish space wear, coupled with the uncorked energy of “I Gotta Feeling,” the Peas, who took home three Grammys, proved there is nothing wrong with the occasional musical party.

There wasn’t any partying backstage – at least not in the press area – but many of the evening’s winners popped by to field a few questions.

Some highlights:
—Maxwell, looking more than a bit like a young Marvin Gaye in a charcoal suit and shades, humbly cradled his pair of Grammys (Best Male R&B Vocal for “Pretty Wings” and Best R&B Album for “BLACKsummers’ Night”) and said, quietly, “I’m here to be a messenger, when people see you’re more real and that fame isn’t about what you want to be, it’s better. You can’t take anything for granted. Year five of being away I was wondering to myself, did I make a mistake? But I found a resurgence of love for what I do musically. It wasn’t about the accolades or chart positions, I just wanted to do something that made me feel happy for doing it…I’m so grateful, I can’t tell you enough.

The singer said he was still awestruck that he performed with Roberta Flack during the telecast and hopes to work with her on a new album.

“The fact that I was even in proximity,” Maxwell said, shaking his head with a smile. “Her soul and her spirit are incredible.”

—Bela Fleck scored Best Contemporary World Music Album for “Thrown Down Your Heart: Tales From the Acoustic Planet, Vol. 3- Africa Sessions.”

Backstage, Fleck, clad in a cream shirt and black embroidered jacket, dug his hands into his pockets and acknowledged winning his 10th career Grammy.

“I wish I could say I was too cool to care, but I do care and I appreciate it when I’m recognized for the work I do because I know it’s not very mainstream, that it’s very left of center.”

—The scrubby Kings of Leon guys, who noted onstage that they were a little drunk, continued the theme backstage.

“Our mom is here tonight – we’re getting her wasted!” singer Caleb Followill proclaimed, his voice turning sing-songy on the last word.

The guys also discussed their theory about why Kings of Leon – whose “Use Somebody” snagged Record of the Year away from Swift, Beyonce, Lady Gaga and The Black Eyed Peas -  have, until this year, been more popular overseas.

“There’s so much music out there, especially in America,” said drummer Nathan Followill. “In England and Europe, our back story is a little more fascinating and they jumped on the [family aspect] of our story.”

—Atlanta’s Zac Brown Band , winner of the cursed Best New Artist award, is an overnight sensation 13 years in the making.

Not too long ago, the band was relentlessly playing clubs, but for their spring tour - - before they hit the road this summer with Dave Matthews – the group is tackling arenas and large theaters.
Brown said since the venues have to be booked months in advance, they basically bet on themselves that their popularity will sustain the venue size.

“I would rather have 2,000 or 3,000 empty seats than turn away 1,000 people who might otherwise be following us for the rest of their lives,” he said.

—The always-entertaining Alice Cooper explained how he’s managed to be Alice Cooper for so long: “I figured out how to divorce the character, you leave him onstage. That’s what killed Jim Morrison; same with Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin. That character doesn’t belong in this world. He doesn’t want to play golf, doesn’t want to be married.

Cooper, an avid golfer for years, said that initially, he was a closet player because he feared a golfing image might ruin his rock credibility. He initially picked up the game after quitting drinking and found, “It’s the most addictive thing on the planet.”

Now, Cooper is part of a rock and roll pantheon of golfers.

“Iggy Pop plays. Dylan plays. Every heavy metal performer on the planet plays.”

And one of his biggest golfing rivals?

“Kenny G and I are at each other’s throats all the time. He’s two strokes better than me.”

Though they never came back to talk to the press about their three Grammy wins, the Black Eyed Peas traipsed through the hallway, happily (verrrry happily) leaning against each other. The teeny tiny Fergie, who seemed to be followed by a hairdresser, also had chipper-looking hubby Josh Duhamel in tow.

Photo: Kevin Mazur: Wireimage.com

The gleeful Taylor Swift made a quick pitstop backstage on her way to the airport to catch a flight to Australia.

The Twizzler-thin singer, clad in a floor-length dark blue/green gown, hadn’t realized she was the youngest Album of the Year winner until a journalist mentioned it to her, prompting another round of wide eyes and “Oh my gosh!“es.

When asked if she had any divided loyalty between country and pop music, Swift said, “Country is my love. It’s going to be my home because of the stories that are told within country music. I grew up in Pennsylvania and my friends didn’t listen to country, but I did because I could identify with these stories so well. But then to have [the music] organically cross over to pop, it makes me so thankful for this year ... When you’re making music, it’s the healthiest thing to remove stereotypes. It’s not boys versus girls, country versus rap. It’s nothing that you don’t make it. It’s trying to make an album that you hope will be good enough to win album of the year. [But] I did not see it coming tonight.“

As Swift begrudginly exited the room—truly, this young woman is rightfully enjoying every second of her explosive success—someone asked where she will put her Grammys.

“My Grammys? You mean all FOUR of them,“ she said, jokingly. “Why, I imagine I’ll have four options!“

The Dave Matthews Band presented an inspiring performance of “You and Me,“ complete with another only-Dave-can-get-away-with-that dance. But the C’ville guys left the Grammy ceremony without any trophies for “Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King.“

Taylor Swift surprised only the most naive with her Album of the Year win for “Fearless” (coincidentally - or not - the biggest selling album of 2009), taking home four awards out of her eight possibilities, and shutting DMB out of the biggest category of the night. Swift, 20, is also the youngest-ever Album of the Year recipient.

The band also lost Best Rock Album to Green Day’s stellar “21st Century Breakdown.“

Beyonce, meanwhile, set her own Grammy record with her six wins (out of 10 nominations) as the most decorated female in one year. Norah Jones held the previous record, with five.

While Swift’s live performance with the always-welcome Stevie Nicks illuminated her shortcomings as a singer, it’s hard not to be a little tickled by her enthusiasm.

“This is the story when we’re 80 years old that you tell your grandkids…the story I’ll be telling them over and over again. Thank you, thank you, thank you,“ she breathlessly exclaimed on stage.

Who can begrudge the kid one night of happiness?

One of the toughest things about working in the press room is navigating 20 things at once. It was one of those moments when Green Day was being ushered back to talk to us at the exact second Michael Jackson’s kids were taking the stage. So, I didn’t catch anything Green Day said during their exceptionally brief appearance (though I can tell you that Billie Joe is very small and very thin).

But some other highlights from backstage visitors:

—Alice Cooper, looking every bit the rock star in a long, black conductor’s coat and ruffled white shirt, said he’s a fan of fellow performance artist Lady Gaga. “She sang with Elton and nailed it. I think she proved her point tonight. I love everything about what she’s doing; she’s going to be around for as long as she wants to be.“

—Keith Urban namechecked John Fogerty as the artist he’d most like to work with. “He sounds exactly like he did in Creedence. I feel a real brotherhood with him for some reason—maybe it’s that guitar/singer thing. But I’d love to do something with him.“

—Pink, wrapped so tight in her mermaid-like dress she had to hop onto the backstage platform, said that after touring for a year and half, she was going to “go home, cook and get fat.“ On her way out of the room, she called back to the press corps, “Get some beer!“

—Zac Brown took the opportunity to say thanks to one more group—radio. “I forgot to thank country radio for helping us, because people have been connecting with our songs.“ Brown, in his knit cap and surrounded by his large band, said it was an “amazing” feeling to not only perform at the Grammys, but to win, something the group wasn’t expecting.

The ladies’ run at domination ended when Kings of Leon won Record of the Year for their inexplicably popular “Use Somebody.“ Charmingly, Caleb Followill, in true scuzzy rocker form, told the audience that he was a little drunk.

A few minutes later, when Green Day bested the Dave Matthews Band and U2 (now officially unloved by Grammy for “No Line on the Horizon”) for “21st Century Breakdown” (Best Rock Album), singer Billie Joe Armstrong capped his acceptance speech by announcing he was off to do shots with KOL.

So far, the show has been an impressive entertainment spectacle, from those metallic robot people roaming the stage during The Black Eyed Peas’ crackerjack double punch of “Imma Be” and “I Gotta Feeling” to Pink’s aerial prowess.So why not have a few rockers to smudge up the joint?

Beyonce’s performance of “If I Were a Boy,“ the best song on the very strong “I Am…Sasha Fierce,“ and Alanis Morissette’s “You Oughta Know,“ might be my favorite Grammy performance of the past decade.

Talk about fierce. And if anyone can effortlessly teeter between righteous rage and pent-up hurt, it’s Beyonce.

Didn’t really need the crotch grab, though. One Michael Jackson tribute tonight will be enough.

For more than a decade, Billy Joel and Elton John have toured together on what they’ve dubbed the “Face 2 Face” tour.

After tonight’s opening with the ever-entertaining Lady Gaga and her soulmate in sequins, Elton John, I think if Joel ever gets tired, John has found himself a new tour mate.

Mashing her “Speechless” with his “Your Song” was surprisingly entertaining, and, say what you will about pop’s newest tart, she does know how to sing, which is more than can be said for many of her peers.

Besides, anyone who can not only pull off a green butterfly leotard and talk Elton into wearing a matching glitter mask has to at least be admired for her chutzpah.