2020 Kennedy Center Honors- Page 2

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 3/28/20 at 9:08pm

I was thinking about this and I think Susan Stroman should get one. If not next year, then at least in the next five years.

[Robbie2]

Posted: 3/28/20 at 9:26pm

Call_me_jorge said: "I was thinking about this and I think Susan Stroman should get one. If not next year, then at least in the next five years."

Stro!?  Sorry that won't happen.

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 3/29/20 at 8:29am

" At this point, I would say that it's fairly obvious that the major consideration for the KCH is RATINGS.  It's noticeable in recent years that demographics play a huge part in who is chosen.  Gloria Estafan, LL Cool Jay, Oprah Winfrey?  Any of the people mentioned on this thread are incredibly more deserving than these folks, who also represent the KCH's misguided attempts at "diversity" (oh brother).  It's like a checklist is being paraded in front of us to make sure all categories are covered.  Let's face it, these "honors" will never be respected the way they desire until they stop pandering to the lowest common denominator and truly represent the finest in artistic achievement.  And I'll add that Gene Hackman should have been a part of this group a generation ago. "

The members of Led Zeppelin and The Who get honored but not The Rolling Stones, really -lol.

[theatreguy12]

Posted: 3/29/20 at 2:31pm

yankeefan7 said: "" At this point, I would say that it's fairly obvious that themajor consideration for the KCH is RATINGS. It's noticeable in recent years that demographics play a huge part in who is chosen. Gloria Estafan, LL Cool Jay, Oprah Winfrey? Any of the people mentioned on this thread are incredibly more deserving than these folks, who also represent the KCH's misguided attempts at "diversity" (oh brother). It's like a checklist is being paraded in front of us to make sure all categories are covered. Let's face it, these "honors" will never be respected the way they desire until they stop pandering to the lowest common denominator and truly represent the finest in artistic achievement. And I'll add that Gene Hackman should have been a part of this group a generation ago. "

The members of Led Zeppelin and The Who get honored but not The Rolling Stones, really -lol."

True, yankee.  There really is no rhyme or reason to a lot of these award shows.

Having friends in both the film and TV industry here in LA, winners of award shows are more about how well these movies, actors, and shows politic and sell their product and themselves than what is actually deserving. Same goes with the Hollywood Walk of Fame.  It's not about someone being contacted by some outside source about their body of work and honored as such. It's about, are you also willing to pay for it and fill out the paperwork?

I'm sure the same goes for KCH.  You can downplay Dick Van Dyke saying he's a 60s guy mostly and that the younger generation doesn't know about him.  But his body of work stands alone, regardless of who does and doesn't know who he is.  I dare say you give a millennial, or someone younger than that, a list of the winners and they wouldn't know who most of them are.

I mean, LMM?  Come on.   When you see all the people who have been passed by.  I know he had ITH, but prior to Hamilton he was just another talented guy from Broadway.  Hardly a body of work that outdoes the likes of Minelli, Van Dyke, and hundreds of others who have not been given the award.

I agree, yankee. It's largely about demographics.  And sometimes, in the case of LMM, whoever happens to be the flavor of the month.  All kinds of things have proven to play a part in it.  Not the breadth of work.

[Tag]

Posted: 3/29/20 at 2:47pm

Yes the KCH jumped the shark when they honoured Hamilton.

The awards haven't been the same since creator/producer George Stevens Jr. was let go in 2014.

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 3/29/20 at 3:34pm

" I'm sure the same goes for KCH.  You can downplay Dick Van Dyke saying he's a 60s guy mostly and that the younger generation doesn't know about him.  But his body of work stands alone, regardless of who does and doesn't know who he is.  I dare say you give a millennial, or someone younger than that, a list of the winners and they wouldn't know who most of them are.

I mean, LMM?  Come on.   When you see all the people who have been passed by.  I know he had ITH, but prior to Hamilton he was just another talented guy from Broadway.  Hardly a body of work that outdoes the likes of Minelli, Van Dyke, and hundreds of others who have not been given the award.

I agree, yankee. It's largely about demographics.  And sometimes, in the case of LMM, whoever happens to be the flavor of the month.  All kinds of things have proven to play a part in it.  Not the breadth of work. "

I agree with you totally, especially about Dick Van Dyke. He was in one of the all time classic TV series in the 60's but was also in popular TV show "Diagnosis:Murder" which I believe ran for 8 years and ended in 2001. In addition, he was in several classic movie musicals and has won a bunch of awards in his lifetime that already have been mentioned.

An example of demographics is Oprah Winfrey getting Kennedy Center award. I agree she deserved honor but how in the heck did she receive one and not Phil Donahue who created the talk show with audience format and Oprah called the "King Of Daytime".

How come comics like George Carlin or Richard Pryor were never given an award, is anybody going to deny their comedic genius? Bill Cosby was given one (it was later rescinded) and that was probably because he was supposedly wholesome and not controversial like Pryor or Carlin. How about Robin Williams? He was incredible stand up comedian, was in popular TV show (Mork & Mindy) and nominated four times for Oscar (won once).

I am sure if you really spend a little time you can find people that were not given award who you felt deserved one - oh well.

Updated On: 3/29/20 at 03:34 PM

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 3/29/20 at 3:55pm

Ratings are, unfortunately, a big factor. On the flip side, the televised ceremony is the ONLY thing that makes this awards ceremony even mildly relevant or honorable (since the President is currently not involved).

It's all about the group that's assembled each year. Every group of recipients needs 1-2 "anchors" from varied industries (a big actor, comedian, and/or musician), + a "very niche person" (Carmen de Lavallade, Michael Tilson Thomas, Martha Argerich, Chita Rivera, Grace Bumbry), + a few others who can receive tributes by major artists. Many of the Broadway folks fall into the "very niche person" category. There's also the matter of diversity and gender parity, and getting the honorees to commit to being there.

[theatreguy12]

Posted: 3/31/20 at 11:07am

Tag said: "Yes the KCH jumped the shark when they honoured Hamilton.

The awards haven't been the same since creator/producerGeorge Stevens Jr. was let go in 2014."

A good way to put it. When I saw them awarded I immediately thought that the KCH doesn’t really mean much anymore. I personally saw the purpose of the KCH compromised a bit with that choice. Really have little interest in it from here on out. 

[AADA81]

Posted: 3/31/20 at 4:02pm

Gene Hackman

Ellen Burstyn

 

[aldebaran]

Posted: 3/31/20 at 4:28pm

I've tracked this for years. They have a public nom form on their site & I have been trying to get them to wake up as we are losing our stars. Scoop is no direct standard but generally 30 yrs in the arts with accomplishments (undefined).  Yes they skipped over some people as they began to follow a modern trend (Doris Day, Carol Channing, MTM).  My current list hopefully to come in the next 2 award shows:  musical conductor:  Daniel Barenboim;  classical music composer:  Morten Lauridsen; musical groups:  Fleetwood Mac/Chicago;  all-around actress:  Glenn Close;  film score composers:  Hans Zimmer, Howard Shore;  actress/comedien-Whoopie Goldberg;  r&b singers:  Dionne Warwick, Roberta Flack; singer/actress-Bette Midler; new age composer Chip Davis of the Mannheim Steamroller; stage actor:  Ben Vereen;  tv/film:  Bob Newhart, Dick Van Dyke; tv actress:  Betty White;  folk singer/composer:  Joanie Mitchell, Lorenna McKennit;  dance:  Michael Flatley, Jean Butler of Riverdance fame;  music theatre composer:  Bill Whelan, Cameron MacIntosh;  classical/theatrical singers:  Lesley Garrett, Sarah Brightman.  One observation I've made is they rarely select a tv actor.

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 3/31/20 at 4:44pm

" My current list hopefully to come in the next 2 award shows:  musical conductor:  Daniel Barenboim;  classical music composer:  Morten Lauridsen; musical groups:  Fleetwood Mac/Chicago "

I like both musical groups but them getting Kennedy Center award would probably be awkward due to the not so good relationship within the bands. Lindsey Buckingham sued Fleetwood Mac which was settled out of court and Peter Cetera did not even show up to Chicago being inducted in the Rock and Roll HOF. That being said, I would love to hear the music they would play for both groups at a ceremony.

[fbueller]

Posted: 3/31/20 at 7:54pm

Tag said: "The awards haven't been the same since creator/producerGeorge Stevens Jr. was let go in 2014."

Thanks for this!  I was wondering what had happened.  The quality of the show has gone down so far !