Trevor Noah hosted a Grammys for people who actually like award shows

Nobody sounded more excited about the Grammys than host Trevor Noah, whose highly caffeinated opening monologue included going around the room and marveling at

Nobody sounded more excited about the Grammys than host Trevor Noah, whose highly caffeinated opening monologue included going around the room and marveling at the stars in attendance, frequently asking, “Are you kidding me?” It was tempting to say, “Dude, you’re the comic, you’re supposed to be kidding me.” Yet Noah’s relentless positivity might be onto something in terms of recognizing the relationship between the host and a shrinking award-show audience that doesn’t necessarily want to be told how uncool they are for carving out a few hours to watch. Through the years, that’s become a popular semi-ironic posture for award-show hosts, from Ricky Gervais’ acerbic, I-don’t-need-this-stinking-job stints at the Golden Globes to Jo Koy’s attempt to approximate some of that snarkiness in his Globes outing last month, which fell about as flat as a stand-up act can and put Koy on the defensive in its aftermath. Comics can garner applause and earn street cred for letting some air out of the pomposity of these events. If the people inside the room don’t laugh or appear uncomfortable, the theory in certain circles is “Hey, they’re privileged celebrities who can’t take a joke, that’s on them.” The reality, though, is “How it plays in the room” only represents part of the equation, and an equally significant one – certainly to the networks carrying these telecasts – is how the material plays to an audience at home. That’s where the disconnect in a detached, isn’t-this-silly, too-cool-for-school attitude might be the most pronounced. Noah has consistently offered a clear counterpoint to that in his Grammy appearances, giving the impression of relishing his front-row seat. Anthony Anderson also played the role of unabashed cheerleader and TV fan in hosting this year’s strike-delayed Emmy Awards, which, not necessarily thanks to his efforts, was widely and rightfully deemed one of the best of those ceremonies in years. (It was also the lowest-rated Emmys ever, for various reasons, so the good tidings didn’t translate into more viewers, just more satisfied ones.)