BROADCAST'S ALL FOR SHOW.

Byline: David Kronke Television Critic

Time magazine cover subject Bono continued Wednesday evening on his quest to save the world, one trophy at a time. Alicia Keys and T Bone Burnett had really good nights, too. But the important thing about the Grammys is that when it's a good show, you don't really remember or care who won and lost.

As awards shows go, the Grammys have the right idea: Concentrate on putting on a spectacle, and if you absolutely must give out a gold-plated gewgaw from time to time, well, then, these things happen.

Wednesday's extravaganza was something of a reverent show - by Grammy standards, at least - punctuated by repeated (and only mildly self-serving) references to music's healing powers. Music performed and/or rewarded during the ceremony - U2's ``Walk On,'' Train's ``Drops of Jupiter,'' Keys' album ``Songs in A Minor,'' India.Arie's ``Video'' - dealt with the theme of resilience. The album of the year winner, the soundtrack to the Coen brothers film ``O Brother, Where Art Thou?'' reflected a return to old- fashioned Americana.

Alan Jackson's song about Sept. 11, ``Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning,'' was the only performance that TV cameras showed receiving a standing ovation. The evening even closed with a gospel performance featuring Lifetime Achievement Award winner Al Green and Brian McKnight.

Other musical highlights included the medley of songs from ``O Brother, Where Art Thou?'' featuring Emmylou Harris, Gillian Welch, Alison Krauss, Ralph Stanley and Dan Tyminski; India.Arie's disarming take on ``Video''; OutKast's exuberant version of ``Ms. Jackson''; Joshua Bell's medley of ``West Side Story'' tunes; and the all-star version of ``Lady Marmalade,'' from ``Moulin Rouge,'' a film which, host Jon Stewart noted, ``took us back to the days when the whorehouses were all about the music.''

Stewart, for the second time, was a solid host, opening the evening with a bit about the tight security we all endure everywhere we go these days: Attempting to take the stage, he was frisked, undressed and humiliated. Mainly, though, Stewart knew to stay out of the way; his introductions were short and concise.

Line of the night goes to Pink. Here's her complete acceptance speech for her Grammy for pop collaboration for ``Lady Marmalade,'' delivered while wearing a hooker-in-``Blade-Runner'' costume: ``Hi, Mom.''

As usual, the ceremony elicited a few questions, as well.

Question: How is it that Tony Bennett looks younger than Billy Joel?

Question: 'N Sync performing with rapper Nelly? Who are they trying to kid?

Question: Does it ever occur to presenters to read their embarrassing scripted material beforehand? Among those looking foolish: Britney Spears and Matthew Perry; Jamie Foxx, Ja Rule and Pamela Anderson; Janet Jackson, Matthew McConaughey and Gloria Estefan; Stevie Wonder, Bonnie Raitt and Celine Dion. Sheryl Crow and the Dixie Chicks had the right idea and waited until their TelePrompTer scrolled past their wan japery. And kudos to Kid Rock for remembering the late Waylon Jennings.

Question: What's the idea in giving Quincy Jones a Grammy for not making music?

Question: Do you think anyone quit downloading music off the Internet after listening to recording academy head Michael Greene's stern lecture? And having sat through that, don't you kind of pity his kids?

Question: Has a Grammy winner ever quoted James Joyce before, as Burnett did when ``O Brother'' was named album of the year?

Question: Was the fix in? U2 busked it while accepting their first few trophies, waiting until Record of the Year to unveil their laundry list of thank-you's. What if they hadn't won that one?

The performance-packed Grammys telecast was extended 30 minutes, forcing KCBS-TV (Channel 2) to delay its late night news and talk show programming. Although nobody seemed worried about the schedule change. ``It hasn't affected us that much,'' said Alberto Mendez, an assignment desk editor in the KCBS newsroom. ``Everything's just pushed back, like, half an hour and then tomorrow we'll be back to our regularly scheduled programming.''

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(1 -- color) Cabaret-clad singers Christina Aguilera, left, Mya, Pink, and L'il Kim perform the raunchy classic ``Lady Marmalade'' Wednesday at the Grammy Awards.

(2 -- color) John Stewart, above, on the Backstreet Boys, who strutted on stage in lingerie, a la their video, to receive their award from Olympic ice skating champion Sarah Hughes.

(3 -- color) Spanish vocalist Alejandro Sanz performs the song ``Quisiera Ser'' with Destiny's Child members Kelly Rowland, left, Beyonce Knowles and Michelle Williams, right, at the Grammy Awards.

Kevork Djansezian/Associated Press

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