Discussions / Live Q&A’s

Do you think it's too late to start a new petition? I'll leave that in your hands. (And how long before the White House pulls the plug on this goofy petition site? Is that getting used for anything serious?)

There is also my talented actress cousin Kimberley Argetsinger -- yes, we're really related! 

No one calls her Kimberly Kardashian, though, do they? Should we start?

Read the print edition of The New  Yorker. It's outstanding week in and week out. Also, it's got a paywall that keeps you from reading the best stuff. But I've got extra copies here on my desk if you want one.

We will ask her the next time we see her.

(Quoted: Wendy Rieger on Hurricane Sandy)

They had Springsteen last time, didn't they? At least at the Inauguration Eve concert. Oh, and they must have had Aretha Franklin at the inauguration itself, right? And she had that hat. . . . For those just catching up, it was announced this morning that James Taylor, Beyonce and Kelly Clarkson will perform at the inauguration. (I know you were hoping for a reunited Led Zeppelin, but they've made it pretty clear they're not interested in getting back together. )

Truly, I spend a big chunk of my year trying to predict upcoming Kennedy Center Honorees -- I'd be very good at this. (Brain stretcher for today: Who will be the first hip-hop honoree, and when will that happen?)

New committee will review Kennedy Center Honors selection process

I think the flap was about a 73-year-old man gushing over a hot young thing, although he never used the word hot and she wasn't offended at being called beautiful.

Wasn't much of a game, when it came down to it. I actually felt sorry for Notre Dame, which was a feat.

That's who I'm advocating for too. It sounds crazy, but the coloring, the cheekbones, the curves -- it could work. And you do want an a-lister in this role, right? Casting "Rodham," the movie.

That's a friendly handy-man neighbor thing to do. It's not that hard, but it helps to have someone who has done it before. Find one and offer a six-pack ---after the grill is set up.

I think we all learned a lesson about propane grill safety. Very scary.

Nope. Left that one to serious fans who would get a kick out of meeting the cast in person.

YES.

No, sorry, you weren't following, or maybe I wasn't clear -- after introducing you to my cousin, I resumed the chatter's original thread, which was the topic of Kimberlys in popular culture; I was noting that no one ever refers to Kanye's girlfriend as "Kimberly Kardashian."

Hmmm, no. Did you?

Seems the polite thing to do. She's 31 today, and hope the mom-to-be is feeling well enough for a bite of cake.

I bet both of them could do it.

It will not be Snoop Dogg. Maybe Run DMC, or Dr. Dre. Not Snoop.

You're in luck: Your life becomes interesting again tomorrow, when the worst/best show on TV resumes.

Agreed. A little over the top, like he hadn't seen a looker in a long time. But nothing that set off alarms for me.

That was one of our original suggestions, if you read the story.

I swear, we solved this question in last week's chat, but now I can't remember. Kimye? Krystal? I'll go back and check.

A 6. He's young, has a fierce work ethic, and will be back as soon as he can. He's a great young quarterback and he's ours, so I'm optimistic. Think Stephen Strasburg.

Hahaha. Stay away, Brent. I'll let you follow her on Twitter if you're nice.

You know, he might be the second or third hip-hop honoree. Because Ladies Love him.

Hey, it was her breakout moment -- good thing she was made up for the unexpected camera love. She is maybe 24 at the most (she was 23 when competing in Miss USA a few months ago) -- and, well, I still think AJ is a more appropriate choice for her than Brent Musburger.

She's too old now, too, to play a 20-something Hillary.

Gotta think out of the box, you know?

Same thing, right?

No, his career didn't really endure long enough, I'm afraid.

At least an Hispanic honoree, which is too bad for an deserving artist.

Yes, and thanks for reminding me of that. I thought of you all when I read Ben Smith's Cramer story the other night.

Good question. We'll have to follow up with Hannah Willman in a few months to see if any big offers followed her star-is-born moment. I do wish I'd been there too. For those who missed it, both the star and her understudy for "My Fair Lady" fell sick last weekend, and Willman stepped out of the chorus to handle the role.

Has to include cute grandkids.

Yes! And hopefully by these guys too, singing exactly this song in exactly these same stage costumes. (I know it's not a Run DMC song, but they did sample it, and it is awesome.

You missed it. She got the honor in 2010.

I didn't take it that way -- just that he had an attractive mother. The overall vibe was "Quarterbacks have all the luck."

He does not. But he could still serve his guests, right?

Well, she's earned it.

Hmm, I disagree. She's too ethereal.

Interesting, didn't know that.

Blowouts usually are.

I know, really. I'm filling up my Netflix queue with Gerard, Gerard, Gerard. Did you know he apparently used to be quite handsome, as evidenced by this picture of him with a monkey?

Yes, she's a good Kimberly. And good to see her working again, too, in "Nashville," which is a very good TV series you all should be watching.

Ha.

Amy Adams is actually too old for a young Hillary. She's 38.

It's all about the commas, isn't it? Eats, Shoots, and Leaves: 

"A panda walks into a restaurant, sits down and orders a sandwich. After he finishes eating the sandwich, the panda pulls out a gun and shoots the waiter, and then stands up to go. "Hey!" shouts the manager. "Where are you going? You just shot my waiter and you didn't pay for your sandwich!"

The panda yells back at the manager, "Hey man, I am a PANDA! Look it up!"

The manager opens his dictionary and sees the following definition for panda: "A tree-dwelling marsupial of Asian origin, characterised by distinct black and white colouring. Eats shoots and leaves."

Probably Stewart.

Sugar Hill Gang! Jump on it! I cannot get this song out of my head today, so might as well spread it to you.

Are you saying she's a One Hit Wonder?

That's worse than Lilo as Liz Taylor. Seriously.

Ah, good point. I was thinking they'd pretty much worked their way through all the notables of that generation, but indeed, Hackman is lacking from that list. It's been a couple years since the Post has done a list of who's been overlooked, but here's a round up by the LA Times (which itself needs to be updated: both Buddy Guy and Hoffman have been honored by now).

Not seriously.

It was, perhaps, just very French.

Thanks for joining the chat, David Remnick!

That's such an interesting idea, but I think the allure of being the first US women president is pretty compelling. I don't have a dog in this fight -- just fascinated to see how it all unfolds.

Ha. I love Lena Dunham but I don't see her in this role.

Ha. No.

Unfortunately, you have to be alive to accept a Kennedy Center Honor. The surviving Beastie Boys may, someday in the distant future, be considered, though I do not think they'll be the first hip-hop honorees.

Am I correct in remembering that that was actually a good movie?

Absolutely, which is the crux of the problem. But the next honoree will be shadowed by the fact of the flap.

I don't know much about her ancestry, but she is responsible for this amazing, amazing song.

Hey, the guy's major talent is being an emcee -- why deny him the chance.

Eva Longoria to host Latino inaugural celebration for Obama featuring top entertainers

Not yet. It will happen, though.

Probably not. (Who's sitting in Dan Snyder's box?)

She's a wreck and it's a pity that there's no one who seems to be able to get her back on track.

No, the sudden fascination with Gerard Depardieu is about him leaving France and moving to Belgium -- and then accepting a  Russian passport from Vladimir Putin -- because he was irked by French tax hikes. (The drunken behavior is old news.)

This other person disagrees.

Okay, thanks.

Hmm, don't think his career got enough traction, really.

Nope. My theory is that it's because it would be too unwieldy -- unlike The Who or Led Zeppelin, their ranks have not been thinned significantly by death (though, RIP Brian Jones), and then it would be like, well do you have Mick, Keith, Charlie and Ron Wood (not in the original lineup) and Bill Wyman (not playing anymore). . . And then suddenly you've got a big crowd in the president's box.

Nope. And he died 12 years ago; they missed their chance.

Because you're not a celebrity and life is not fair?

No invites for us! And probably never will be.

Glad you liked it.

Basically, that's the story. That's the other hitch -- they have to be alive, and they have to agree to show up. Paul Farhi did a good story recounting these dilemmas:

It can be hard for Kennedy Center or Library of Congress to give away awards

One opinion.

Hasn't happened yet, but it could.

Another.

And a third.

The George Jones tribute a couple years ago was one of my favorites. Loretta Lynn, Roy Acuff, Dolly Parson, Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson have also been honored.

Oh, maybe.

Well, there goes my afternoon.

Okay, there goes my evening.

No hot tickets. The inauguration is all about cold weather, long lines and usually no food. My advice: Stay home if you can; if you can't, dress warm, wear flats and eat before you go.

We'll talk more next week. In the meanwhile, send your tips and sightings to reliablesource@washpost.com. Next week, all.