Kennedy Center Honorees Announced

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Kennedy Center Honorees Announced

Posted: 9/12/12 at 12:24pm

Here are this year's Kennedy Center Honorees. I've put some videos at the end so you can see everyone in action. Congrats to the honorees. Enjoy!
The Kennedy Center Honorees Announced

Kennedy Center Honorees Announced

Posted: 9/12/12 at 12:46pm

I'm happy for Natalia Makarova! She was terrific in her Tony-winning performance as Vera Barnova in "On Your Toes." A legendary dancer who happened to turn in a wonderfully comedic performance on Broadway.

"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."

blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22

Kennedy Center Honorees Announced

Posted: 9/12/12 at 12:48pm

Best-you and me both. I wonder who will play that role in the Encores! production. (Megan Sikora is one person I think could play the role.)

Kennedy Center Honorees Announced

Posted: 9/12/12 at 1:17pm

That's an edgier group than usual.

Kennedy Center Honorees Announced

Posted: 9/12/12 at 1:22pm

^ Exactly my thoughts.

Thrilled for Natalia Makarova! (And congratulate all of them).

Should be a fun performance this year...

"Two drifters off to see the world. There's such a lot of world to see. . ."

Kennedy Center Honorees Announced

Posted: 9/12/12 at 1:29pm

Will Carol Channing ever make the cut?

Kennedy Center Honorees Announced

Posted: 9/12/12 at 2:15pm

The Kennedy Center honors CBS's desire for higher ratings.

Kennedy Center Honorees Announced

Posted: 9/12/12 at 2:53pm

^ That (CBS/ratings) HAS to be the only reason for David Letterman, right?

Kennedy Center Honorees Announced

Posted: 9/12/12 at 3:05pm

You've got to be kidding- David Letterman? I hope this is just a big joke.

#10

Kennedy Center Honorees Announced

Posted: 9/12/12 at 3:12pm

I had the same cynical thought that David Letterman was included because of his CBS association.

I wonder about his selection.
He's part of some truly brilliant company as a Kennedy Center Honoree.
I don't immediately see the fit. But, that's just me...

(I like him, and watch him, but was surprised to hear about his nomination).

"Two drifters off to see the world. There's such a lot of world to see. . ."

Updated On: 9/12/12 at 03:12 PM

#11

Kennedy Center Honorees Announced

Posted: 9/12/12 at 4:22pm

Yaye for Makarova! She really did play a big role in helping put American Ballet Theater on the international dance map. And it means we'll get a dance segment--and one not choreographed by Rob Ashford! (I hope...)

#12

Kennedy Center Honorees Announced

Posted: 9/12/12 at 4:24pm

Still no Liza or Bernadette? Hopefully they will get honored one day!

#13

Kennedy Center Honorees Announced

Posted: 9/12/12 at 4:33pm

I'm very happy to see Makarova listed. Some of the most amazing nights were at ABT seeing her perform. She was also great in On Your Toes.

Letterman seems an odd choice to me.

"I hope your Fanny is bigger than my Peter." Mary Martin to Ezio Pinza opening night of Fanny.

#14

Kennedy Center Honorees Announced

Posted: 9/12/12 at 8:46pm

Hoffman - Definitely
Letterman - What the ****

Weakest group in memory

Carol Channing needs to be here

Poster Emeritus

#15

Kennedy Center Honorees Announced

Posted: 9/12/12 at 9:42pm

Still no Liza or Bernadette? Hopefully they will get honored one day!

I know my bias is showing, but with the way her career is going lately, I think Patti might be honored before Bernadette.

When I see the phrase "the ____ estate", I imagine a vast mansion in the country full of monocled men and high-collared women receiving letters about productions across the country and doing spit-takes at whatever they contain. -Kad

#16

Kennedy Center Honorees Announced

Posted: 9/12/12 at 9:59pm

You guys know that David Letterman sorta changed television, right? It was almost completely irony-free before he showed up (in the very early 80's I believe). His original daytime TV show was actually so out there and ahead of its time, though Emmy-winning, it was canceled (and eventually morphed into his original, iconic late night show).

Or am I the only one old enough to remember TV pre-Dave and post-Dave? Its hard to imagine now, cause they all do it, talk show and scripted show alike. But Dave did it first, at least the first to do it on a national level.

He certainly deserves tribute.

#17

Kennedy Center Honorees Announced

Posted: 9/12/12 at 10:17pm

I remember TV pre-Dave quite well.

While Dave has certainly been a fixture in TV arena, putting his mark on comedy and late night, I would say that Jack Paar, Johnny Carson and, in his own way, Dick Cavett were more ground-breaking. Including the use of irony.

Kudos to David Letterman on an important career. I have always enjoyed him.

But, to me, it's an interesting and questionable choice for the Kennedy Center.

(That said, I congratulate him and will look forward to his celebration!)

"Two drifters off to see the world. There's such a lot of world to see. . ."

Updated On: 9/12/12 at 10:17 PM

#18

Kennedy Center Honorees Announced

Posted: 9/12/12 at 10:23pm

There was very little irony with Jack and Johnny but you did remind me that Steve Allen, who you oddly forgot to mention, was a direct precursor to Dave. But to argue that Johnny Carson, though a fixture and talent, was anywhere near as ground-breaking as David Letterman makes me think you were a little too old at the time to completely understand what Dave was doing...

#19

Kennedy Center Honorees Announced

Posted: 9/12/12 at 10:26pm

givesmevoice- I would be happy with Patti too!

#20

Kennedy Center Honorees Announced

Posted: 9/12/12 at 10:32pm

Owen22 - your thoughts are incorrect.
I understood what Dave was doing.

We'll agree to disagree on the work of the others I mentioned.

And, I'll continue to be a Letterman fan, and will continue to congratulate him on his nomination and will look forward to watching the show in December.

"Two drifters off to see the world. There's such a lot of world to see. . ."

Updated On: 9/12/12 at 10:32 PM

#21

Kennedy Center Honorees Announced

Posted: 9/12/12 at 10:54pm

Many people in comedy do owe a major debt to Dave too, not just late night (which is in itself huge, he took Carson's place on that front honestly). He is the one who gave Jon Stewart major recognition after flopping as an MTV host, as one major example. He also spread out his work beyond TV with the IndieCar series that he has been very successful with, which means a lot to him as an Indiana native.

I don't see the real controversy or cynicism behind choosing Letterman. His connections to Johnny while also being connected to modern times as really re-inventing the late night talk show host, that gave way to Jon Stewart, Conan O'Brien, Craig Ferguson, and Stephen Colbert, makes him a very important figure. I guess there are people who still remember him as the guy not tapped to replace Johnny Carson. Not his fault NBC diminished The Tonight Show brand.

On the others, I am dreading who will be tapped to do the Led Zeppelin musical tribute. There is always a headscratcher pick with who is chosen to do it but Zeppelin is such a distinctive honoree that I am not sure if anybody around can duplicate their sound and there not being a real re-arranging of their music for the artists/bands chosen.

#22

Kennedy Center Honorees Announced

Posted: 9/12/12 at 11:15pm

I would honestly prefer that no one imitate Zeppelin, or even try to come close. It will be covers (obviously) and I dread the Aerosmith attempt at "Whole Lotta Love". It'd be cool if the Killers or Green Day (or, don't kill me, Maroon 5), modern bands with their own sound, take a shot at some of the iconic numbers.

Updated On: 9/12/12 at 11:15 PM

#23

Kennedy Center Honorees Announced

Posted: 9/12/12 at 11:57pm

If having Letterman receive the honor means that Don Rickles may be performing, I'm for it!

I think Letterman's receiving the honor is justified, frankly. I don't care for him, though I do prefer him to Leno.

We will never have another Johnny Carson. No one ever came even close.

"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle

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