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Kennedy Center Changes

PTBoardOp93 said:
A strange argument to make regarding a building that is named after John F. Kennedy, who was, checks notes President of the United States when the center was being designed and funded, and who appointed his wife, Jackie Kennedy, as first co-chair (with Mamie Eisenhower).
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He was involved in the creation of the center, and was tragically assassinated. It wasn't political patronage.

Jackie was in the same position as Melania now, but nothing was named for her. The question I ask is what has she done for the center? How much money has she raised? From what I've read, the Center is in dire financial shape.
 
PTBoardOp93 said:
A strange argument to make regarding a building that is named after John F. Kennedy, who was, checks notes President of the United States when the center was being designed and funded,
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A different era and time. I don’t believe naming rights were being sold to the extent they are today as when the Kennedy Center opened

It’s also very different (in my opinion) to name something after someone who is deceased than to name it after a living person, especially a non-donor.
 
Larry said:
It’s also very different (in my opinion) to name something after someone who is deceased than to name it after a living person, especially a non-donor.
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I suspect that's the issue that will doom this proposal. Some areas have laws that you can't name something for a living person.
 
TheBigA said:
What a terrible idea:

www.cbsnews.com

House Republicans propose naming Kennedy Center's opera house after Melania Trump

House Republicans on Tuesday advanced a measure that would rename the Kennedy Center's opera house after first lady Melania Trump — as President Trump boosts his influence over the center.
www.cbsnews.com www.cbsnews.com

You can tell these politicians have no idea how to run a non-profit. Typically naming rights of theaters go to major benefactors. Not as political patronage. One of the theaters was named after the founder of Geico Insurance, who gave millions of dollars to the Kennedy Center. The Opera House is where they do the annual Kennedy Center Honors. So they're obviously preparing to turn it into a political night instead of a charity event.
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Because we all know just what a matron saint Melania Trump is to the arts community (They're just LIVID.)

And the sheer GALL. After defunding public broadcasting....
 
PTBoardOp93 said:
A strange argument to make regarding a building that is named after John F. Kennedy, who was, checks notes President of the United States when the center was being designed and funded, and who appointed his wife, Jackie Kennedy, as first co-chair (with Mamie Eisenhower).
Click to expand...

You need to check them notes one hell of a lot more carefully.

The origins of what is now the Kennedy Center go back to the Eisenhower Administration in 1955. It was originally to be called the National Cultural Center.

In 1964, following President Kennedy's assassination, both houses of Congress unanimously passed Public Law 88-260 to rename the National Cultural Center the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

It was a honor bestowed posthumously on an assassinated president. The center's groundbreaking took place in late 1964 and the center did not open until nearly eight years after the president's murder.


The only reason that building is named after a person is that the person in question was an assassinated President of the United States.
 
michael hagerty said:
It was a honor bestowed posthumously on an assassinated president. The center's groundbreaking took place in late 1964 and the center did not open until nearly eight years after the president's murder.
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I did not imply that Pres. Kennedy laid the cornerstone or viewed the debut aria in the opera house. I even described his role ("designed and funded") in the founding of the Kennedy Center.

I appreciate you adding details to my post, but I'm puzzled by your contentious tone. It looks like you're upset at me for not reminding readers of one of the most well known facts of 20th century US History, that JFK was assassinated in 1963.
 
PTBoardOp93 said:
A strange argument to make regarding a building that is named after John F. Kennedy, who was, checks notes President of the United States when the center was being designed and funded, and who appointed his wife, Jackie Kennedy, as first co-chair (with Mamie Eisenhower).
Click to expand...

Context:

Screenshot 2025-07-29 at 5.33.44 PM.jpeg


Your response to BigA said his problem with naming the theater being political patronage was a "strange argument" to make and then, you went on to say what you said.

The naming of the center's opera house, which is what BigA was talking about, was not political patronage. In fact, it has never been named in the 54-year existence of the Kennedy Center. Not for Jackie, Mamie or anyone else.

The naming of the Center itself after President Kennedy was not political patronage. It was honoring a fallen president.

If you were talking about two First Ladies being appointed co-chairs of the project, that's not political patronage either and it falls squarely within the traditional duties of a First Lady of that era.
 
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michael hagerty said:
The origins of what is now the Kennedy Center go back to the Eisenhower Administration in 1955. It was originally to be called the National Cultural Center.

In 1964, following President Kennedy's assassination, both houses of Congress unanimously passed Public Law 88-260 to rename the National Cultural Center the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
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Nothing intended to celebrate the arts should be named for any Trump.

Now if you want to honor bad reality TV, he's the man.
 
nomadcowatbk said:
the ratings might actually be higher with D list MAGA stars, people tuning in to see a train wreck
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Depends on what you mean by D-list. If the show will feature a bunch of unknowns, then the train wreck seekers will dominate. But there are plenty of entertainers who support the MAGA cause and have enough star power to attract significant viewership. The honors and performance will probably have to carry on without Broadway's involvement. Classical music and opera? Don't know, as artists in those genres aren't known for making their political views known or being social justice activists. But if the Kennedy Center board wants to bestow its accolades on conservative-minded personalities in less "high-brow" cultural circles, CBS could wind up with a show with considerable mainstream appeal.
 
CTListener said:
But if the Kennedy Center board wants to bestow its accolades on conservative-minded personalities in less "high-brow" cultural circles, CBS could wind up with a show with considerable mainstream appeal.
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If you look back at the previous honorees, each group had a woman, a black person, and a Hispanic. The performances reflected those honorees. I doubt they'll feel the need for that kind of diversity this time.
 
TheBigA said:
If you look back at the previous honorees, each group had a woman, a black person, and a Hispanic. The performances reflected those honorees. I doubt they'll feel the need for that kind of diversity this time.
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Thanks for saying that so I didn't have to. Not only won't the puppet Kennedy Center board feel that need (because its chairman never has), but CBS under its new ownership won't mind either.

Now, will advertisers boycott this new-look, conservative KC Honors show, or will Corporate America rejoice that it doesn't have to worry about right-wing rage anymore and double down on advertising?
 
CTListener said:
Now, will advertisers boycott this new-look, conservative KC Honors show, or will Corporate America rejoice that it doesn't have to worry about right-wing rage anymore and double down on advertising?
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What we've found is there's a different group of advertisers that support MAGA. You hear them all on conservative radio, you see them on Fox News. This new group came about because of the Rush Limbaugh ad blockade. MAGA has its own advertisers who live off supporting MAGA. The pillow guy is an example. They know there's a devoted fan base, and they want to reach it.

What they haven't got into yet is supporting non-profits. That concept is foreign to them because they're so driven at profit-making businesses. Most of them don't believe in sharing their wealth with the arts. The arts world is seen as woke. So while the KenCen itself is struggling with donations, this show will likely be a hit.
 
CTListener said:
Depends on what you mean by D-list. If the show will feature a bunch of unknowns, then the train wreck seekers will dominate. But there are plenty of entertainers who support the MAGA cause and have enough star power to attract significant viewership.
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I'm not sure how we would cherry-pick this list to get there:

www.imdb.com

Celebrities officially endorsing/supporting Donald Trump

List of people who expressed support for Donald Trump, regarding the 2024 US presidential election.
www.imdb.com www.imdb.com
 
michael hagerty said:
I'm not sure how we would cherry-pick this list to get there:

www.imdb.com

Celebrities officially endorsing/supporting Donald Trump

List of people who expressed support for Donald Trump, regarding the 2024 US presidential election.
www.imdb.com www.imdb.com
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They could have Buzz Aldrin talking for an hour, that could actually be interesting. Kelsey Grammer and John Ratzenburger reminiscing about George Wendt, that's good for a segment. The rest of the show could be Elon actually being forced to use that infernal chainsaw, collateral damage and all. The rest of the D list could do cameos as presenters or ushers.

If CBS holds to tradition and airs the Kennedy Center Honors* on a slow night after Christmas, it might get a 3 share.

(* Which by then might be the "Epstein Center Honors.")
 
Weiserguy said:
They could have Buzz Aldrin talking for an hour, that could actually be interesting.
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Buzz is 95. An hour? Okay, sure.

"This...is CBS."

Weiserguy said:
Kelsey Grammer and John Ratzenburger reminiscing about George Wendt, that's good for a segment.
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That'll be fun:

www.foxnews.com

George Wendt’s mistaken jabs at John Boehner link 'Cheers' and Ohio politics

The late George Wendt mistakenly linked John Boehner to a scandal during a 1990 TV appearance, affecting Boehner's congressional campaign in Ohio.
www.foxnews.com www.foxnews.com

essential pullquote:

Jolivette was Wendt’s brother-in-law. He periodically parachuted into Ohio’s 8th District to campaign for Jolivette and against Boehner. So Hall asked him about Wendt’s political involvement and Jolivette.

Wendt proceeded to essentially libel Boehner on the air. Wendt never mentioned Boehner by name. But Wendt mixed up Lukens and his sex scandal with Boehner. On national TV, no less.
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Weiserguy said:
If CBS holds to tradition and airs the Kennedy Center Honors* on a slow night after Christmas, it might get a 3 share.

(* Which by then might be the "Epstein Center Honors.")
Click to expand...

"Ghislaine Maxwell and the night of a thousand stars...we checked their IDs...they're all over 18---honest!"
 


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