Stars who deserve a Kennedy Center Honor — Page 2

DICK VAN DYKE



Everything the man does becomes an American staple in entertainment. Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, yes. The Dick Van Dyke Show and Diagnosis Murder, certainly. But also his bevy of appearances and hosting gigs on many variety programs and specials.

How about Hal Prince?

The Other One said: "Nathan Lane, Audra McDonald and Lin Manuel Mirandaseemthe strongest contenders of people who are currently and regularly working in theater. Harvey Feinstein, Bernadette Peters andBryan Cranstonare definite possibilities. Frank Langella would be a great choice, but he just might be too "New York."

By the way, Mary Martin was nearing the end of her life when shereceived her Kennedy Center Honor, and Ethel Merman had passed away several years earlier."

I agree re Nathan Lane, surprised i didn't think of him. It may be a little too soon for him, however, for the stupidest reason imaginable. He would receive it for his theatre work, and they seem to be really slow on rewarding theatre people. Audra will clearly get it one day, but not for at least a decade (LL Cool J's award, notwithstanding). Lin Manuel has decades and will need some more hits in his portfolio. He is young and is not going to win a lifetime achievement role for one show, no matter how huge; he will need time and a portfolio of commendable writings, performances, etc. In the Heights is already a contribution to that portfolio.

Dollypop, I know you love Carol Channing, and I loved her in Dolly (didn't see Gentlemen, and did not love anything about the tacky production of Lorelei at the Palace). but I just don't believe they will ever reward someone because of two shows.

Harold Prince was an honoree 23 years ago.

I don't agree with Dick Van Dyke, though you never know. Other than The Dick Van Dyke Show and Bye ByeBirdie, I don't see his portfolio as being the same calibre as other winners. Also, disagree re Ben Vereen...I don't see an impressive body of work.

Of course, after a year in which a 49 year-old LL Cool J won alongside Lionel Richie, I guess anything is possible. Even if I liked the music that LL Cool J performed - and my 25 year old son assures me that it was barrier breaking -- 49 seems very young to me, given the number of much older very deserving people who have not yet been honored.

I often wonder whether the list of winners this year was a partial slap in Donald Trump's face; I assume he would have been happier with a lily-white group that did not include an immigrant or a Rap Artist or Norman Lear.

Call_me_jorge said: "I think Carrie Fisher should get one posthumously."

No-one ever gets one postumously, to begin with. Carrie Fisher??????????????? I think that needs an explanation.

Some random ideas:
Ellen Degeneres
Susan Stroman
Celine Dion
Julie Taymor
Renee Fleming
Reba McEntire
Billy Crystal
Judi Dench
Janet Jackson

Steve C. said: "Just on a quick note, thereare very worthy recipients that are flattered but just don't want one...

Cher will NEVER accept a KCH from this administration. Neither will Bette, nor Jane Fonda...

Doris Day has been asked several times and she graciously declines.

Maggie Smith def deserves one; but you have to show up and I don't think she's crazy about this administration...

Sadly, at a time when the arts are supposed to bring people together, the KCH are poison for at least, the next three years. Caroline Kennedy must be saddened by a lot of this.

Just wait, next year the honorees will end up being a Billy Graham descendent, a Huckabee, and don't forget Scott Baio. Trace Adkins could get one but I think the jury is still out on his own morals and beliefs."

It has been stated before but to clarify , no administration bestows the Kennedy Center Honors. Norman Lear would go nowhere near them if Trump was involved

Steve C. said: "To clarify, I know the "administration" doesn't choose the honorees. However, the President and First Lady are always chosen to bestow this honor or award for them. First, at the honoree ribbon/medal/dinner celebration and then secondly, they are always in the Presidential Box for the television festivities.

When the honorees were named this year, it didn't take 48 hours for Trump to bolt, and decline his part. (just imagine his base having to watch Rump place medals of merit and achievement upon African-American men, hispanic women...need I say more?)"

Sorry, I just meant that Trump will probably never choose to participate so potential honorees won't have any problem accepting.

Hey all! Hi Tag! I agree with all of your picks and a few more. As for Cyndi Lauper, her song for "SpongeBob Squarepants"..."Hero Is My Middle Name" closes Act 1 and is a dynamic "trio" song, leading into the production number to close the act.

I also think that Diana Rigg has certainly expressed and surpassed her talent starting with her work with the Royal Shakespeare Company, that led into tv work that made her a household name (and an object of desire) as Emma Peel on The Avengers in the late 1960's - 70's, through her BBC work, Agatha Christie mysteries, up into the current season of Game Of Thrones where she ultimately met her match in the sordid history of that family. Rigg definitely deserves a Kennedy Center Honor.

I think that between Cyndi, Sara B., Green Day and Billie...Duncan Shiek, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa...these artists and songwriters, among others...there is a lot of "new blood" other than the Pasek-Paul stuff (and I'm not denegrating their work at all).. Aguirre-Sacasa is now doing "Riverdale" on CW and I'm sure there's going to be a musical episode very soon.

Tag said: "Is anyone else not suspicious of the CBS / LL Cool J connection. (ie. you host the Grammys for the next 100 years and stay on NCIS, and we'll give you you a rainbow necklace)"

I didn't see it as a CBS thing so much as a conscious effort to bring more diversity to the Kennedy Center Honors. Not just in the honorees themselves, but in the types of art that gets recognized. (Really all five of them are a big middle finger to fascism.)

And bwaylyric, I can't tell if you're being facetious, but YES this is such a high honor in the arts.

Steve C. said: "Just on a quick note, thereare very worthy recipients that are flattered but just don't want one...

Cher will NEVER accept a KCH from this administration. Neither will Bette, nor Jane Fonda...

Doris Day has been asked several times and she graciously declines.

Maggie Smith def deserves one; but you have to show up and I don't think she's crazy about this administration...

Sadly, at a time when the arts are supposed to bring people together, the KCH are poison for at least, the next three years. Caroline Kennedy must be saddened by a lot of this.

Just wait, next year the honorees will end up being a Billy Graham descendent, a Huckabee, and don't forget Scott Baio. Trace Adkins could get one but I think the jury is still out on his own morals and beliefs."

I actually think that is the best part. Ass-h*le Trump has no influence on these awards; if he did, you can bet your ass that NONE of this year's winners would have been selected.

probably time to retire these awards. The "American" culture is such a joke now, why bother?