Kennedy Center Honorees 2017

[nealb1]

Some very interesting choices this year......dancer and choreographer Carmen de Lavallade, Gloria Estefan, LL COOL J, Norman Lear and Lionel Richie. 

[Call_me_jorge]

I'm guessing Gloria Estefan will be receiving the performance with Broadway actors? 

[bwaylyric]

Will any of them turn it down in these Trump years?

[kaykordeath]

bwaylyric said: "Will any of them turn it down in these Trump years?

 

"

Conversely-Will he even bother to show up and feign interest in anything remotely cultural?

[nealb1]

Exactly - will he just skip it like he did the White House Correspondents dinner?  Or, propose cutting the program all together?  Wouldn't surprise me in the least.

[JBC3]

Washington Post critic—

The Kennedy Center Honors abandons the arts for pop culture

[LYLS3637]

JBC3 said: "Washington Post critic—

The Kennedy Center Honors abandons the arts for pop culture"

 

I am not knowledgeable enough regarding the works of LL Cool J, Gloria Estefan, or Lionel Ritchie to really argue one way or another, but Norman Lear is a F@CKING PIONEER. His art changed our society. I would go so far as to say he's the Voltaire of late 20th Century America.

[bwaylyric]

JBC3 said: "Washington Post critic—

The Kennedy Center Honors abandons the arts for pop culture

 

"

I wonder how much say does CBS/Les Moonves have in the choice of recipients.  LL Cool J (NCIS)?  If they wanted to honor a rapper/hip hop artist, there are others who are more worthy IMO.  Looking at this list, seems like they're more concerned about who would give CBS the best telecast.  On the other hand, it would be great to see the US Marine Corps chorus belt out Mama Said Knock You Out.

[nealb1]

Very true.  When all is said and done, it's a tv show.  

[bryan32]

I think that ll cool j is to young 

[madbrian]

I think Lionel Ritchie is the weak link in that group.  For the life of me, I can't understand how Cher hasn't been honored yet.

[nealb1]

Cher?  Ok....................???????????????????

[nsguy45]

Still no love for Carol Channing? Chita, and others, have been campaigning for years to get Carol a KCH.

[DramaTeach]

http://variety.com/2017/tv/politics/norman-lear-president-donald-trump-kennedy-center-1202515465/ 

 

This article says that Normal Lear plans to skip the reception dinner (but he will attend the ceremony) because of Trump's proposed arts cuts. It also says that all other recipients plan on attending.  

[Melissa25]

I second the vote for Cher.

LL Cool J ??????????

 

[Jarethan]

This is the most ridiculous Kennedy Center honorees list ever.  LL Cool J and Lionel Richie and Gloria Estefan when Bernadette Peters or Patti Lupone or Sally Field or Jessica Lange or Glenn Close or Kevin Kline or Cher or Bette Midler have not been rewarded, just off the top of my head.  What about Cynthia Gregory?  I am not sure if Peter Martins has won or Suzanne Farrell.

How old is Cool J? 

Maybe this list of people -- which definitely is not Trump's idea of appropriate honorees, i.e., three African Americans, one Hispanic immigrant and one of the most liberal producers in television / entertainment history and serious Trump critic into his 90s -- is actually directed at Trump.  It will give Trump an excuse not to participate, which I am sure the winners would love.

Where is Chichi?  Where is Antonio Sabato Jr?  Where is that country singer?

 

 

 

PS -- Chita Rivera has already won

[bwaylyric]

Does the president have to be invited?

[Jarethan]

bwaylyric said: "Is the president always invited?

Absolutely.  I have seen many pictures of him at the actual award ceremony (as opposed to the entertainment) and have always assumed that he was the one who presented the award, i.e., placed it over their head.  

It is the biggest event of the Washington season.  Everyone is there.  They get to gawk at all the 'stars'.

 

[South Fl Marc]

Not a single classical music star? Well, at least I can save the couple hours I usually use watching the show. LL Cool J ???? You have got to be kidding me.

[OlBlueEyes]

I wonder if this bears part of the responsibility for the turn away from dull classical and jazz performers to our current trash pop culture? Will we see Kim Kardashian next year?

A year-ago Kennedy Center Honors had a 1.2 rating/4 share in the key 18-49 demographic and about 9.3 million viewers overall. This year, it tied a record low 0.9 rating, which it previously had fell to in 2013. The show two-years-ago marked a low of a rounded 7.2 million viewers; this one was up around 7.5 million — still down quite a bit year over year.