Hello, readers! “Do the bunch of you promise to succumb whole-heartedly to the merriment?” That is my favorite line from Thoroughly Modern Millie spoken by the one and only Carol Channing (Muzzy). She is on my mind this week due to Broadway websites buzzing about the “First Lady of Musical Comedy.” It seems many of Carol’s friends and collogues are rallying their support to have this American icon selected as a recipient of the 2010 Kennedy Center Honors award. The first time I paid attention to these awards was in 2001 when Julie Andrews was celebrated by the likes of Carol Burnett and Kristen Chenowith in a “this is your life” montage of songs. In all honesty, I hadn’t a clue what she was being honored for other than just being her fabulous self. I’ve since learned this prestigious award is honored to those in the performing arts for their lifetime of contributions to American culture. Confused, I asked myself, “Is there anybody more American or entertaining as Carol Channing?”
With a career expanding over six decades, Ms. Channing’s accolades include two Tony Awards, an Emmy, a Golden Globe, and Oscar nomination. She’s entertained the likes of royalty, presidents, Hollywood legends, and oddly enough, football fans during the 1970 Superbowl half-time show! Her biggest claim to fame is originating the role of Dolly Levi in “Hello, Dolly!” with an impressive 5,000 performances (without missing a single show). More recently, Carol, along with her husband Harry Kullijian, founded the Channing/Kullijian Endowment for the Arts; a charity that is committed to bringing Art back into the California public school system by offering scholarships, lectures and performances.
So why hasn’t this phenomenal octogenarian been honored by a country who reveres her as a national treasure? Hopefully that will not be the case for long! A slew of celebrities such as Lily Tomlin, Lucie Arnaz, Chita Rivera and Phyllis Diller have come forward to publicly voice their opinion on the matter. Even our Tommy Tune Award namesake, Tommy Tune, is among the many in Carol’s corner! The campaign has even made its way to the social media circuit; a Facebook fan page titled “Carol Channing Should Be a Kennedy Center Honoree” has been created to garner public support. (I hope it will have as much success as the “Betty White to Host SNL” page!) With fingers crossed, we’ll only have to wait until Fall when the 2010 honorees are announced. Best of luck to you, Ms. Channing on receiving an honor that’s well deserved and long overdue!
How many of you are familiar with Carol Channing’s career? Did you know our country honored the arts each year with the Kennedy Center Honors? Will you become a fan of Carol’s Facebook page, or write a letter in support of Carol?
Off to send my own regards to the Kennedy Center in Carol’s behalf! See you all next time under the stars!
Thea
P.S. If you’d like to send your own letter in support of Carol Channing, please send it to the following address:
Mr. Michael Kaiser
President, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
The Kennedy Center
Washington, DC 20566
jfcass@kennedy-center.org