Kennedy Center Honors '18

According to reports, the Schuyler Sisters reunited to perform for the Hamilton quartet getting their honors tonight. Christopher Jackson, who is on a CBS show (the network that airs the honors), also performed.

Kristen Chenoweth performed for Reba, and Adam Lambert and Cyndi Lauper performed for Cher. The show airs at the end of December.

The Kennedy Center Awards used to be given to honor a full career of a widely celebrated and beloved talent. Lin is certainly talented- and in twenty years, might be worthy of this type of career honor- but at this point, Kennedy Center is clearly honoring the ratings it think it will get as a result of picking a popular cultural force- a departure from the norm and - in my opinion- NOT deserved at this point in his career. Would rather have seen Dick Van Dyke- or Betty White get it.

BWAY Baby2 said: "The Kennedy Center Awards used to be given to honor a full career of a widely celebrated and beloved talent. Lin is certainly talented- and in twenty years, might be worthy of this type of career honor- but at this point, Kennedy Center is clearly honoring the ratings it think it will get as a result of picking a popular cultural force- a departure from the norm and - in my opinion- NOT deserved at this point in his career. Would rather have seen Dick Van Dyke- or Betty White get it."

But you're making up that Lin is getting it for his career, which isn't true. Lin, Kail, Lacamoire, and Blankenbuehler all got "a unique Kennedy Center Honor as "trailblazing creators of a transformative work that defies category." So, it's sort of like giving out a special Tony, etc., it isn't the same thing exactly...

JBC3 said: "Hamilton receiving a KC honor violates the entire history and tradition of the institution and the awards.

And the further away we get from Hamilton's opening, the less I think it was as groundbreaking and Earth-shattering as seemed to be the consensus at that time.

It is an excellent show, but upon close examination I do not think it is that much more of a trailblazer or norm-defier than other musicals at different point's in the form's evolution."

Thank you for this. It's almost sacrilege to say anything that might lessen HAMILTON's hype. I saw it -- the tour here in San Francisco -- enjoyed it, thought it was very good, but I never understood why people fall over themselves to praise it. Groundbreaking? I don't know, that's a relative term. It's groundbreaking to some, not so much to others. I find myself more intrigued by what big project LMM will do next. Everything he does for the rest of his life will be compared to HAMILTON. And that's a hell of a lot of hype to live up to and exceed.

PatrickDC said: "I'll bet you a dollar -- or maybe a ten dollar bill would be more appropriate -- that the Hamilton tribute will be thevery last segment when the Kennedy show is broadcast. CBS will want to keep viewers tuned in all evening in order to see the one segment the majority want to see."

...which is pretty remarkable for a Broadway show...for it to enter the consciousness of the general public in such a major way...

Back in 2015, CBS replaced the longtime producer of the show and since then they've focused on a more diverse, more pop culture oriented show, so there's going to be some late 20th Century pop acts and anything that will help network synergy. Just look at last year, when it was Gloria Estefan and Lionel Richie, and LL Cool J and Norman Lear. (LL was really both.)

I think I might have been less disappointed with Lin's inclusion- at age 38- if they had five legends- and then awarded this special award. right now he is taking the place of an artist who has earned this honor with a lifetime of commitment to the arts during a lifetime of projects. Then, if they want to give one- two -three- special awards- fine by me. Perhaps Black Panther could be included- Beyonce is a trailblazer- and on and on....

Updated On: 12/3/18 at 03:07 PM