How About A Carol Channing For Kennedy Center Honors Facebook Campaign?

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 8/28/14 at 5:50pm

I wish that would happen, as dear Carol most certainly deserves that honor. Is there someone with the expertise who can spearhead something like this? I would support that. Just saying...

Updated On: 8/28/14 at 05:50 PM

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 8/28/14 at 6:03pm

There are more significant artists that the Kennedy Center should be giving honors to. All due respect to Ms. Channing, but no.

[Jarethan]

Posted: 8/28/14 at 6:04pm

As much as I love Carol Channing -- though not as much as you do -- she has exactly two roles that could be used to justify this. I think there are a lot more deserving candidates.

Updated On: 8/28/14 at 06:04 PM

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 8/28/14 at 7:19pm

I think she deserves one ... but so do

in no particular order :
Vanessa Redgrave
Maggie Smith
Helen Mirren
Cicely Tyson
Jane Fonda
Ellen Burstyn
Anjelica Huston
Liza Minnelli
Rosemary Harris

And those are just the women.

[mjohnson2]

Posted: 8/28/14 at 7:24pm

I cannot believe Liza hasn't received a Kennedy Center Honors. That is a woman who deserves it.

[Tag]

Posted: 8/28/14 at 7:37pm

Any chance they'd give one to Barbara Walters? Being her retirement year and all?

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 8/28/14 at 7:38pm

The prerequisite for receiving a Kennedy honor - must be able to fill twenty minutes of television.

[bwaylyric]

Posted: 8/28/14 at 7:41pm

Where does a Kennedy Center Honor rank in terms of awards anyway? Who made it such the high honor that it is? When will Lincoln Center start their own awards show?

[Tag]

Posted: 9/9/14 at 11:43pm

Did we miss this announcement? Was there a thread?
2014 Honorees

[GoSmileLaughCryClap]

Posted: 9/10/14 at 12:37pm

With the Kennedy Center Honors I think that longevity plays more of a role than playing one or two iconic roles. Tom Hanks, Patricia McBride, Al Green and Lily Tomlin all share decades of performing at the top of their game, and in the case of McBride, becoming a teacher after 30 years as a star dancer.

Minnelli's career peaked with a monumental year in 1973. Since then she has spent 40 years of an off and on again public life that's never approached that early success.

Similarly, Hello Dolly was the apex of Channing's professional life. The 50 years since have been a similar situation of diminishing returns.

[jnb9872]

Posted: 9/10/14 at 2:30pm

^^ Sting also shares 'decades of performing at the top of his game' - impressive considering that his game has ranged from New Wave pop-rock-reggae to folkish singer/songwriter.

Though I'm honestly surprised he's being honored, even with what I just said his resume still feels a little slight compared to other possible honorees. I still think Joni Mitchell should be next in line among songwriters, among many strong contenders (including Broadway's own Carole King, eh?) Though eventually they have to get started on minimalism in the Classical realm, and Steve Reich and Philip Glass aren't getting any younger. They clearly merit consideration.

As far as actors go, I'm still amazed Al Pacino hasn't been Honored yet. Has he turned it down, perhaps? Tom Hanks is far from unworthy (he's actually, I'd argue, the most worthy of his generation) but Pacino would have come first, I'd have thought. Or perhaps Hanks is just such an irrefutable choice he gets to skip the line a little. The likes of Minnelli and Channing, while popular on this board for obvious reasons, aren't likely to make the grade for awhile.

[SidebySidebyLogan]

Posted: 9/10/14 at 3:08pm

I'm disappointed they missed their chance to honor Elaine Stritch.

[Jarethan]

Posted: 9/10/14 at 6:27pm

Neither Carol Channing nor Elaine Stritch deserve a Lennedy Center award. Period.

Elaine Stritch was a great personality and wonderful performer. However, when the rubber hits the road, what would be the basis...a supporting role in Company? The only thing beyond her great personality would be At Liberty..but one show does not do it. Longevity and Broadway Baby / I'm Still here are not enough.

Carol Channing was great in Dolly. I did not see Gentlemen Perfer Blondes, but I did see Lorelei...I doubt I would rank it in the top 100 musical performances that I have seen. Nothing else she did would contribute to her getting this.

I think there are a few people who have received it and probably did not really deserve it; but, by and large, the recipients have had a lot more on their resumes than either of these women, both of whom, I have to repeat I liked very much...just not Kennedy Honors much.

Updated On: 9/10/14 at 06:27 PM

[GoSmileLaughCryClap]

Posted: 9/10/14 at 9:58pm

Jarethan has keyed into the criteria for this award.