2017 Kennedy Center Honorees

[franktangredi]

Carmen de Lavallade
Gloria Estefan
LL Cool J
Norman Lear
Lionel Richie

LL Cool J is the youngest honoree since Stevie Wonder, who was also 49. His selection brings rap (which has been around for more than 30 years) into the fold.

Norman Lear, at 95, is one of the oldest nominees. He has announced that he will forgo the White House reception and only attend the gala.

[silverscreenselect]

Norman Lear, at 95, is one of the oldest nominees. He has announced that he will forgo the White House reception and only attend the gala.

I'll bet Norman really, really, really, really wishes he'd made the cut last year.

But LL Cool J shaking hands with Trump might be kind of fun to watch.

[silverscreenselect]

I know LL Cool J is a fixture on NCIS Los Angeles, but that was never going to get him to the Kennedy Center. de Lavallade had a few movie roles in her career, especially a part in a very good (and seldom seen) film noir, Odds Against Tomorrow with Robert Ryan and Harry Belafonte. But no one is on the list this year who is primarily known for his or her acting. That's rather unusual. (Last year Al Pacino was one of the honorees.)

[littlebeast13]

But LL Cool J shaking hands with Trump might be kind of fun to watch.

LL's Mama may give him some advice on that....

lb13

[franktangredi]

I know LL Cool J is a fixture on NCIS Los Angeles, but that was never going to get him to the Kennedy Center. de Lavallade had a few movie roles in her career, especially a part in a very good (and seldom seen) film noir, Odds Against Tomorrow with Robert Ryan and Harry Belafonte. But no one is on the list this year who is primarily known for his or her acting. That's rather unusual. (Last year Al Pacino was one of the honorees.)

I noticed that. I'd like to see Michael Caine honored.

The person I'd most like to see honored is Terrence McNally. There have been damn few playwrights up there - Tennessee Williams, Arthur Miller, Neil Simon, and Edward Albee. (If August Wilson hadn't died so young, he certainly would have been added to that list by now.)

[Estonut]

I know LL Cool J is a fixture on NCIS Los Angeles, but that was never going to get him to the Kennedy Center.

Of course not. It took his hosting of "Lip Sync Battle" to put him over the top.