So, tomorrow night is the Brit Awards. I almost forgot. Which isn’t good. I’m a music journalist after all. If I don’t care, and I’m paid to, who the hell will? Still, it’s hardly surprising that The Brits 2009 is a contender for the most irrelevant two hours on television. Just look at the nominations for Best Male Solo Artist.

Ian Brown – with the best will in the world, love him, Best Male? Hardly George Michael is he?

James Morrison – music’s answer to woodchip.

Paul Weller – how long can you trade on your backcat? Next they’ll be nominating Sir Two Thumbs Up McCartney for Best New Artist.

Streets – Mike Skinner must surely be the only viable winner, and even then, probably belongs in another category.

Will Young – see Ian Brown.

Compare that to the best International Male category – Beck, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Neil Diamond, Seasick Steve – and British music doesn’t exactly look like a hot bed of creativity, glamour or even memorable music.

With Duffy, Adele and Coldplay confirming 2008 as being one of the least exciting years for music in living memory, it’s no wonder the music industry is tanking. The always overblown U2 are opening the show, the ever stylish Pet Shop Boys are closing, but there’s a good hour and a half in the middle there that won’t have anyone on the edge of their seat.

Having stayed up all night on Nov 4 to see history being made, I fully intend to chuck in work early and spend Tuesday afternoon watching hope return to the free world. For anyone thinking of doing the same, the guardian have just put a handy five day guide to Barack Obama’s inauguration online here. You’re welcome.

The other day I did something I never thought I’d do. I emailed Channel 5 with a scheduling query. I know, who’d have thought Channel 5 had a schedule worth querying. I wanted to know when they were going to show the second season of Californication, which started in September in the US. After a week they replied saying that while they held the rights to show season two, they had no plans to do so.

That’s the last time I email them for anything.

If you didn’t see it – and why would you have, it was on Channel 5 – go and buy the season one boxset now. Here’s the season one trailer to explain why.