(Photo by Brendan Smialowski / AFP)
Robert Ne Niro took the stage at the Kennedy Center on Sunday and, looking at the box where the honoree sat, talked about his career: “I had no idea you had done so much. And you did it all in a relatively short period of time. You’re only 75. That means you’re only about six years away from reaching the perfect age to run for president.”
The joke drew some of the biggest cheers from the audience of the night — and a laugh from President Joe Biden, 81, who is embarking on a re-election campaign in which his chronological lead, based on polls, is top of mind for voters and the source of doubt for some .
It was also one of the few references to age at Sunday night’s Kennedy Center Honors, which, alongside Crystal, included opera singer Renée Fleming, hip-hop star and actress Queen Latifah, singer Dionne Warwick and singer-songwriter Barry Gibb were honored.
The event, which airs Dec. 27 on CBS, regularly attracts the highest echelons of D.C.’s power structure, not just the president and first lady, but also Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, Justice Sonia Sotomayor (the also received a round of applause) and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff and Federal Reserve Chairman Jay Powell, as well as news anchors, senators and network representatives, as well as governors and ambassadors.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer told reporters that, amazingly, he attended the ceremony for the first time – primarily to support his New York colleague Crystal. “His show on Broadway — he talked about his dad and it reminded me of my dad because I never got to see my dad because he worked overtime,” Schumer said.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said this would likely be her 30th. New House Speaker Mike Johnson was not present, but Pelosi had no plans to criticize the no-show. “I have no idea. I don’t know what his schedule is or what the competition is for his time. I’m just happy to be here.”
Highlights included Lin-Manuel Miranda himself performing a Billy Crystal-esque Oscar medley, first starting with “You started on Soap, the Future had Hope” but then with “Rabbit Test”, it left you depressed, and the audience said, “Nope.”
On “My Favorite Things,” Miranda continued, “Comic Relief lets you showcase your talents by riding a horse like a bat and Jack Palance.”
Rob Reiner, who directed Crystal on “This is Spinal Tap,” “The Princess Bride” and “When Harry Met Sally,” said: “Listen, there are a lot of reasons why we love Billy. “We love him because he makes us laugh. We love him because he is human. And we can recognize ourselves in him. And we love him because he has a big heart and he lets us into that heart on stage, on television and in film.”
He credited Crystal with writing “what I think is the funniest line in all of film history.” This can be seen in the deli scene “When Harry Met Sally Katz,” in which Sally (Meg Ryan) demonstrates how women can fake an orgasm. The woman at the next table says: “I’ll take what she has.” The woman was played by Reiner’s mother Estelle.
Appearing in a recreation of Katz’s Deli, Ryan told the audience, “I’m surprised they even let me go to that place,” then quipped, “The scene seemed natural to me… I’ve actually never been there before.” Anyone who makes it easier to fake an orgasm.
The Crystal tribute also featured Jay Leno, Bob Costas and Whoopi Goldberg, while De Niro called Crystal “one of our finest actors.” De Niro also dropped a few F-bombs, including when he attempted a rendition of “It Had To Be You.”
During the tribute to Warwick, appearances included Cynthia Erivo as Alfie and Mickey Guyton as Then Came You. Saturday Night Live regular Ego Nwodim recalled playing Warwick in a skit in which she made a cameo appearance. She noted that Warwick “never lost his words” and “had the ability to tell it like it is” – especially on Twitter. Debbie Allen credited Warwick with breaking barriers and glass ceilings. “Your voice was the soundtrack of our lives,” said Warwick, the first African-American singer to win a Grammy in the pop category. Herbie Hancock and Clive Davis also appeared.
Queen Latifah was honored by Kerry Washington, Missy Elliott and the Clark Sisters, while four-year-old rapper Van Van, who became something of a viral sensation at age four earlier this year, told her: “Thank you for inspiring us.” “
Fleming was celebrated by Christine Baranski, Tituss Burgess and Sigourney Weaver, who highlighted the opera star’s work connecting music to health and neuroscience as well as arts education, “and it all comes from this amazing voice.”
At a ceremony at the State Department on Saturday, Gibb marveled at being in the “corridors of power” and mentioned two words that have helped him in recent years: kindness and understanding. “And we seem to be losing that in the rest of the world. We have to get it back,” he said. He also paid tribute to his late brothers in the Bee Gees, Robin and Maurice, as well as his brother Andy. “We were a family of music and a family of love,” he said.
Gibbs’ tribute concluded the evening, with the likes of Barbra Streisand and Lionel Ritchie appearing via video, along with Paul McCartney, who expressed some jealousy over “How Deep Is Your Love.” “I should have written it.”
Also appearing were Michael Buble and Ben Platt, who noted that when there was a backlash against disco in the late 1970s – “straight people can be very annoying” – Gibb simply continued his successful career. Steve Gibb, his son, said that there is “a special alchemy when three brothers harmonize together.” Beneath a giant disco ball, Ariana DeBose performed a rousing medley that included “How Deep is Your Love” and “Stayin Alive,” ending with a spray of confetti over the audience.
There’s more to come.