Maclaine, Joel and more among Kennedy Center honorees...

Raspberries!

MacLaine is a more than worthy pick... I think I had Al Pacino pegged as my pick for the actor's slot but there's no disappointment there for me.

I also had Herbie Hancock pegged, which is no surprise to me after his being at seemingly every KCH event you can find on YouTube. Kind of surprised by both Billy Joel and Carlos Santana, not that either is undeserving but that makes three musicians. By the way, not that I think there's a problem with their formula for presenting the Honors, but if they could do a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame-style all-Star Jam with Joel, Hancock and Santana that would be tremendous. You've got a pair of all-star keyboardists as well as a pair of jazz-rock fusion greats... at least Santana and Hancock should team up somehow, seeing as they've been serial collaborators for the last decade or so.

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Oh, Maclaine is certainly deserving. But I worry that Carol will never have her moment. We won't have her forever...

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I don't understand why the KCH threads are viewed through a lens of Carol Channing. Selections are not made to rebuke those not chosen. It seems like tunnel-vision while very worthy artists are bestowed with this very prestigious honor.

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Updated On: 9/12/13 at 12:43 PM

As long as it's not carol Channing I'll watch.

Shame about Carol Channing, Elaine Stritch and Debbie Reynolds not getting their due, but I'm sure that all 5 honorees are very deserving. Congrats to all of them!
I was very much surprised to find out that Betty White has yet to be presented with Kennedy Center Honors. I thought she was presented with one years ago.

Marilyn will never get one, you have to be alive to receive one.

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MCfan2, I also thought it was interesting that only a year after the diversity board was formed, 3/5 honorees are minorities. That's more minorities than the last 3 years combined. It's also more minorities than the first 10 years combined.

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Skittles, it's as many as the last 2 years combined, and two less than the last 3 years combined...

And yeah, Joey. I kind of don't think they are.

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Martina Arroyo is a remarkable artist, teacher and person. For those not familiar with her I suggest you watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKWheYlPT7g

"The list skews very musical. How about a novelist or journalist? Of course musicians make for a better television special, which is really what it seems to be about."

The Kennedy Center Honors were created to honor the performing arts. This year happens to be a lot of musicians but there have been many actors, dancers, directors and even playwrights honored. There are many other awards given to journalist and writers.

Also all of these musicians are extremely different and most of the arts involve music. Unless you are playwright or an actor who doesn't do anything musical of course music is going to show up the most at these awards.

Updated On: 9/14/13 at 12:22 PM

"The Kennedy Center celebrates five extraordinary individuals who have spent their lives elevating the cultural vibrancy of our nation and the world," said Kennedy Center Chairman David M. Rubenstein.

Really? Liza Minnelli? I used to love Liza Minnelli. She had 10 to 14. great years in which she made herself a musical theatre legend. And she was terrific. She was also quite an actress in her younger years in Sterile Cuckoo and Tell me that you Love Me Junie Moon.. Then most of the time she abused her privlidged place with drugs, alchohol, abusing her talent by phoning in performances in, not doing her actor homework, missing many performances and irresponsibility. She tended to be the same "Sally Bowles"character in all of her later work. And you want to give her an award for cultural vibrancy?

As for Carol Channing. She is deserving. I love(d) seeing her in anything. I'm a big fan.
Carol always brought a big smile to my face. On the plus side.. hopefully she will live until they acknowledge her.

I do think that she is a problematic choice in that she developed a perfectly honed persona that didn't change much over the years. When something doesn't change it doesn't lead to cultural vibrancy. Not sure how she effected the entire world or if the entire world knows her which also seems to be a criteria.

The people that win seem to be people who were flexible and variable with their personas and artistic choices. That definition does not fit Liza or Carol.

Carol is a favorite but I'm not sure she lives up to the definition of the award. Don't think Liza does either. Ask Lorna. She'll agree with me.

Updated On: 9/16/13 at 02:52 PM