Kennedy Center Honors

Miranda was great.  I'm reserving final judgment on some of the choices of the new producers until we see more, but I am missing a bit of the "formality and grace" of years past. The biographical films don't need a set up and never received them in the past. They just rolled.

Updated On: 12/29/15 at 09:26 PM

That set is so ugly. Bring back the plain white one please! And maybe the president and First Lady are going through a bit of a rough patch.

The Honors were filmed on the night earlier this month when the President addressed the nation about the terror attack in San Bernadino. So he gave that live TV address and then arrived late to the Kennedy Center.

LOVE how they worked Janelle into that Carole tribute. 

Unfortunately, Aretha Franklin appeared to pull the focus from honoree Carole King. All I could think of was Franklin's recent shenanigans in the audience at THE COLOR PURPLE. 

Does anyone else think that Brooklyn joke from beautiful fell flat? Do they still have that line on tour?

They should release all of these tributes on DVD with bonus material from each one.

Call_me_jorge said: "Does anyone else think that Brooklyn joke from beautiful fell flat? Do they still have that line on tour?"

It's still in the tour. I caught it about a week ago in Chicago. It definitely did not get the same reaction as when I saw it on Broadway (what also may hurt is the fact that it's not mentioned that she is performing at Carnegie until you revisit the concert at the end of the show - so you wouldn't know unless you read the playbill, but that's a discussion for another time)

I just watched it on cbs.com. A really beautiful show. I could hardly stop the tears from coming during that tribute to Rita Moreno. She has been a source of pride for us Puerto Ricans for such a long time - It's great to see her get the recognition she deserves. That she is still going strong at her age is awe inspiring. She looked beautiful. The tributes by Gina Rodriguez and Lin Manuel Miranda were flawless. 

I just love Lin Manuel, another source of great pride for my community. I have no doubt that he will receive a Kennedy Center Honor himself. 

Although the "America" number was abbreviated it was great to see Miss Karen Olivo again strutting her stuff. I selfishly wish she would return to the stage.

And Rosie Perez was hilarious recreating Rita's "Muppet Show" performance.

There was Boricua Pride up on that stage that night. Loved every minute of it and it was just one more reason I am so proud to be Puerto Rican.

Show was odd for me in several ways

1.  The President was addressing the nation after the events in California, so he arrived late.  In fairness to him (and to the fact that this was time shifted) they could have kept the camera off the First Lady sitting alone in the box.  It would have been tacky to explain, on air, why he wasn't there, but they didn't have to make it appear that he "had better things to do" even though he really did have "more important things to do." especially since his remarks from the reception in the East Room were prominently featured.

2.  Thought it was very strange to see George Lucas' wife do the intro. I'd bet a nickel that the intro was supposed to be done by JE Jones, (who narrated the film), but that he was unable to attend at the last moment -- anyone know anything about that?  She was charming, but I thought it more than strange that she was in the box with a handheld, and that her comments didn't follow the usual template.  I would have thought that there would be someone who could have filled in from the stage -- one of the presenters?

3.  Seemed to me that the films and particularly the intros to the films were much more "unfocused" -- I thought the sentiment of the Moreno intro was lovely, but she did seem to be "blithering" a bit, and saying the same thing more than once.  I would have thought that would have been kept really tight by the producers.

4.  I still miss Art Buchwald. 

Scott J Campbell is gorgeous.

I thought Aretha brought the house down and James Taylor was in great voice. Sarah was in great voice too. She sounded much better than she did at her NY City Center concert.

Miss Moreno is one special and adorable woman.  Many, many years ago I had the task of being her handler on a film so I spent several days with her during the shoot.  Due to this, I had the privilege of asking her endless questions about her career from her small bit in SINGIN' IN THE RAIN to the details of filming WEST SIDE STORY.  Just the details of how she faked her dance audition in front of Jerome Robbins are delicious and inspiring on many levels.  Fate was truly on her side on this film.