From cnn.com:
Was it just me, or did Brian Wilson look like he was audio-animatronic? … I half expected his eyes to roll back and him pitch straight-legged off the balcony. And how would you like to have to sit next to “Ms. Ross” and her hair? But it was a good show, overall. - Dr. Disney
This year, its Diana Ross receiving the Kennedy Center Honors, along with Steve Martin, Martin Scorsese, Brian Wilson and pianist Leon Fleisher.
Stevens, now 75, continues producing the show he created three decades ago. Over the years, the Kennedy Center Honors — airing Wednesday evening on CBS — have evolved and grown in stature. Beyond the president and all the Washington power players, the show, which was filmed December 2, seems to attract more A-listers every year.
Ciara was on stage singing and dancing to the Diana Ross hit single “Upside Down,” right after tributes from Smokey Robinson, actor Terrence Howard, Jordin Sparks from “American Idol” fame and Vanessa Williams. Yolanda Adams sang “Reach Out and Touch Somebodys Hand” with a 125-member choir, bringing tears to Ross eye.
The honors have become the consummate Washington event. Tickets now go for $4,000 for orchestra seats — way up from the $150 they charged that first year, in 1978. After 30 years, the show still draws more than 8 million viewers on television.
This year, actress Cameron Diaz has a touching tribute for Scorsese. And viewers will see Steve Carell, star of NBCs “The Office,” feigning confusion over who hes there to honor. He starts a tribute to Scorsese until Caroline Kennedy whispers something in his ear. Then he switches gears ever so naturally. “Steve Martin is a national treasure,” Carell says.
Art Garfunkel calls Beach Boys founder Wilson “our Mozart of Rock and Roll.” Wilson and Ross can be seen on their feet clapping and dancing along with the audience when Hootie and the Blowfish performs “I Get Around” and “California Girls.” Even President Bush was groovin — in a presidential way, of course.
The glitz and glam began the night before, when the awards were bestowed at a black-tie dinner at the State Department.
