Monday, 22 December, 2003
Kennedy Center Honors, class of 2003 - THE COMMENTARY
By Joseph Planta
VANCOUVER - Just after the Christmas turkey has been gobbled and once the Boxing Day sales have been conquered, tucking into CBS's broadcast of The Kennedy Center Honors would be in order and highly encouraged. A mainstay for the past 26 years, the broadcast is a remarkable insight into American culture, where five artists from every branch of show business are honoured for their contributions to the arts in America.
The namesake for the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., President John F. Kennedy once said: "I am certain that after the dust of centuries has passed over our cities, we too, will be remembered, not for victories or defeats in battle or in politics, but for our contribution to the human spirit." That quote, oft repeated on the Honors broadcast exemplifies the spirit with which the Center exists, as well as the achievements honoured each year.
The honourees appear throughout the show sitting alongside the President and the First Lady; they watch a biographical film, as well as heartfelt and often moving tributes done by performers from all walks of the entertainment field. There are no acceptance speeches, as the honourees never speak, let alone perform themselves.
President Bush and the First Lady, the Vice President and Mrs. Cheney, and Secretary of State Powell this year, were James Brown, Carol Burnett, Loretta Lynn, Mike Nichols, and Itzhak Perlman. To say, the group, as it is each year, is eclectic is an understatement. Just as diverse is the line-up of performers who perform for the honourees. It's a testament to the vigour of American culture that in one evening a tribute to funk and pop superstar James Brown can be had in the same evening as a classical tribute to violinist Itzhak Perlman; not to mention the all-star country music tribute to Loretta Lynn, plus an old-fashioned show biz tribute to Carol Burnett, and of course a more cerebral look at the life of raconteur, comedian and filmmaker Mike Nichols.
This Friday night, if you dial up CBS on your television set you will see the edited two-hour telecast which took place on December 7th. Alan Alda, Anastasia and Julie Andrews appear, as do Wayne Brady, Candice Bergen and Garth Brooks. Kim Cattrall will be on hand, as will LL Cool J and Chita Rivera. Playwright Tom Stoppard will show up, as will Meryl Streep and former President George Bush.
This year's telecast seems to be fitting in that regular host Walter Cronkite is replaced by Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg, the daughter of President Kennedy. Cronkite, who presided over twenty telecasts, was ailing with laryngitis in early December when the gala was taped. This year, former President George Bush strolled out to a standing ovation to participate in a tribute to country singer Loretta Lynn. After a standing ovation, Bush 41 extols the virtues of the 'Coal Miner's Daughter,' as well as takes a humorous jab at his son, the current President Bush. Along with Sissy Spacek, who played Loretta Lynn in the film version of Coal Miner's Daughter, a country music tribute ensues with a medley of Lynn's songs starring Reba McEntire, Garth Brooks, Patty Loveless and Trisha Yearwood.
Tom Stoppard then strolls out to bring down the house with a tribute to the next honouree Mike Nichols. Droll and witty, Stoppard is followed by Nichols's old comedy partner Elaine May. Then Meryl Streep, who just appeared in his momentous television adaptation of Angels in America, comes out and with Candice Bergen, jabber about how great Nichols is. Beaming wife, the journalist Diane Sawyer, sits behind him, a few feet from the President; which probably did her some good as she got the exclusive interview with President Bush a week or so later, after Saddam Hussein was captured. To wrap up the Nichols tribute, Christine Baranski, Patrick Wilson and Philip Seymour Hoffman come out for a musical tribute to the tune of "That's Entertainment."
The tribute to James Brown ensues with LL Cool J extolling the virtues of the godfather of soul, pop and funk. Dan Ackroyd arrives as his half of the Blues Brothers to perform, as does Brian McKnight, and the gospel singer Yolanda Adams.
From that rocking, the show takes a more stated tone with a classical music tribute headed up by Alan Alda in honour of Itzhak Perlman. Says Alda, whether Perlman is performing Beethoven's "Violin Concerto," or a Bach Canata, or the theme from Schindler's List, Perlman "becomes sorrow. He becomes understanding . . . hope." Pinchas Zukerman then arrives to present a musical tribute which includes the participation of the Perlman Music Group, a group founded by the honouree and his wife, Toby.
To round out the evening, the tribute to comedienne Carol Burnett proceeds. Opening the tribute is 2001 honouree Julie Andrews, whom Burnett honoured that year. Burnett's all-star tribute really is all-star; featuring a fashion show of Bob Mackie wears, with singing and dancing by John Schneider, Scott Bakula, Elaine Stritch, Kim Cattrall, Florence Henderson, Gary Beach, Harvey Korman and Tim Conway, and Chita Rivera (an honouree last year). Then Bernadette Peters enters to sing Burnett's theme song, "I'm So Glad We Had This Time Together," whereupon Julie Andrews manages to join in the singing (as she rarely does nowadays); Burnett is moved to tears.
The telecast is masterfully edited by the show's producer and co-creator George Stevens Jr. Because the gala is long, some editing is done, but the finale will probably be included, which this year is a big production number starring the entire cast and Wayne Brady, the Emmy-winning daytime talk show host, singing and dancing to James Brown's "Living in America." Red, white and blue balloons and streamers flood the stage and the hall dissolves with uproarious applause.
Tune into this broadcast this Friday night. It makes for heart warming and moving viewing, especially when much of America itself is maligned, both fairly and unfairly. This respite into the best of American culture and the arts is certainly welcome and perfect to round out the year.
- 30 -
Questions and comments may be sent to: editor@thecommentary.ca
An archive of Joseph Planta's previous columns can be found by clicking HERE .