Kennedy Center Honorees Announced

[hockeynut2]

Here are this year's Kennedy Center Honorees. I've put some videos at the end so you can see everyone in action. Congrats to the honorees. Enjoy!
The Kennedy Center Honorees Announced

[best12bars]

I'm happy for Natalia Makarova! She was terrific in her Tony-winning performance as Vera Barnova in "On Your Toes." A legendary dancer who happened to turn in a wonderfully comedic performance on Broadway.

[dreaming]

Best-you and me both. I wonder who will play that role in the Encores! production. (Megan Sikora is one person I think could play the role.)

[Jon]

That's an edgier group than usual.

[NYadgal]

^ Exactly my thoughts.

Thrilled for Natalia Makarova! (And congratulate all of them).

Should be a fun performance this year...

[morosco]

Will Carol Channing ever make the cut?

[raker]

The Kennedy Center honors CBS's desire for higher ratings.

[rjm516]

^ That (CBS/ratings) HAS to be the only reason for David Letterman, right?

[Broadwayhunk]

You've got to be kidding- David Letterman? I hope this is just a big joke.

[NYadgal]

I had the same cynical thought that David Letterman was included because of his CBS association.

I wonder about his selection.
He's part of some truly brilliant company as a Kennedy Center Honoree.
I don't immediately see the fit. But, that's just me...

(I like him, and watch him, but was surprised to hear about his nomination).

[EricMontreal22]

Yaye for Makarova! She really did play a big role in helping put American Ballet Theater on the international dance map. And it means we'll get a dance segment--and one not choreographed by Rob Ashford! (I hope...)

[supportivemom]

Still no Liza or Bernadette? Hopefully they will get honored one day!

[Huss417]

I'm very happy to see Makarova listed. Some of the most amazing nights were at ABT seeing her perform. She was also great in On Your Toes.

Letterman seems an odd choice to me.

[Mr Roxy]

Hoffman - Definitely
Letterman - What the ****

Weakest group in memory

Carol Channing needs to be here

[givesmevoice]

Still no Liza or Bernadette? Hopefully they will get honored one day!

I know my bias is showing, but with the way her career is going lately, I think Patti might be honored before Bernadette.

[Owen22]

You guys know that David Letterman sorta changed television, right? It was almost completely irony-free before he showed up (in the very early 80's I believe). His original daytime TV show was actually so out there and ahead of its time, though Emmy-winning, it was canceled (and eventually morphed into his original, iconic late night show).

Or am I the only one old enough to remember TV pre-Dave and post-Dave? Its hard to imagine now, cause they all do it, talk show and scripted show alike. But Dave did it first, at least the first to do it on a national level.

He certainly deserves tribute.

[NYadgal]

I remember TV pre-Dave quite well.

While Dave has certainly been a fixture in TV arena, putting his mark on comedy and late night, I would say that Jack Paar, Johnny Carson and, in his own way, Dick Cavett were more ground-breaking. Including the use of irony.

Kudos to David Letterman on an important career. I have always enjoyed him.

But, to me, it's an interesting and questionable choice for the Kennedy Center.

(That said, I congratulate him and will look forward to his celebration!)

[Owen22]

There was very little irony with Jack and Johnny but you did remind me that Steve Allen, who you oddly forgot to mention, was a direct precursor to Dave. But to argue that Johnny Carson, though a fixture and talent, was anywhere near as ground-breaking as David Letterman makes me think you were a little too old at the time to completely understand what Dave was doing...

[supportivemom]

givesmevoice- I would be happy with Patti too!

[NYadgal]

Owen22 - your thoughts are incorrect.
I understood what Dave was doing.

We'll agree to disagree on the work of the others I mentioned.

And, I'll continue to be a Letterman fan, and will continue to congratulate him on his nomination and will look forward to watching the show in December.

[strummergirl]

Many people in comedy do owe a major debt to Dave too, not just late night (which is in itself huge, he took Carson's place on that front honestly). He is the one who gave Jon Stewart major recognition after flopping as an MTV host, as one major example. He also spread out his work beyond TV with the IndieCar series that he has been very successful with, which means a lot to him as an Indiana native.

I don't see the real controversy or cynicism behind choosing Letterman. His connections to Johnny while also being connected to modern times as really re-inventing the late night talk show host, that gave way to Jon Stewart, Conan O'Brien, Craig Ferguson, and Stephen Colbert, makes him a very important figure. I guess there are people who still remember him as the guy not tapped to replace Johnny Carson. Not his fault NBC diminished The Tonight Show brand.

On the others, I am dreading who will be tapped to do the Led Zeppelin musical tribute. There is always a headscratcher pick with who is chosen to do it but Zeppelin is such a distinctive honoree that I am not sure if anybody around can duplicate their sound and there not being a real re-arranging of their music for the artists/bands chosen.

[Owen22]

I would honestly prefer that no one imitate Zeppelin, or even try to come close. It will be covers (obviously) and I dread the Aerosmith attempt at "Whole Lotta Love". It'd be cool if the Killers or Green Day (or, don't kill me, Maroon 5), modern bands with their own sound, take a shot at some of the iconic numbers.

[CapnHook]

If having Letterman receive the honor means that Don Rickles may be performing, I'm for it!

I think Letterman's receiving the honor is justified, frankly. I don't care for him, though I do prefer him to Leno.

We will never have another Johnny Carson. No one ever came even close.