Can’t wait to see it!!

Kennedy Center honors Springsteen, De Niro, others
WASHINGTON ó President and Mrs. Obama marked another first as they celebrated a diverse group of Kennedy Center Honorees at the 32nd annual star-studded gala performance on Sunday.
This year, medals went to writer/producer Mel Brooks, 83, actor Robert De Niro, 66, opera singer Grace Bumbry, 72, pianist and composer Dave Brubeck, 89, and singer/songwriter Bruce Springsteen, 60, for their contributions to American culture. And before joining honorees at the Kennedy Center, the Obamas played host at the White House for the first time to winners at a Sunday afternoon reception.
But the big party was the evening gala. While the event draws high-profile talent year after year, Obama’s presence “created a lot of fresh energy,” George Stevens, creator and longtime producer of the Kennedy Center Honors, said before the show.
And many guests were excited for the honorees. “The people who are selected really have contributed to American culture,” said Katie Couric, who was accompanied by beau Brooks Perlin. “They’re real treasures.”
With the president in attendance, security was tight, especially after the scandal over White House party crashers Micheale and Tareq Salahi. “I was a little sick of the Salahis two weeks ago,” said Couric.
Before the show, Melissa Etheridge talked about why she was there: The Boss. “He’s the personification of rock ‘n’ roll,” she said of Springsteen. “The parts that the world loves about America, he personifies.”
Etheridge, who sang Born to Runin the Springsteen tribute, said she met him “in a restaurant in Beverly Hills and he recognized me. … I nearly fainted!”
And while Springsteen was Etheridge’s idol, De Niro was Meryl Streep’s. “De Niro was it. Gold standard. He’s the one we all went to school on, were inspired by, stole from,” said Streep in a heartfelt tribute to the actor, whom she co-starred with in 1978’s The Deer Hunter.
“Bob never judges his characters,” said director Martin Scorsese, a 2007 honoree who collaborated with De Niro on films such as Taxi Driver (1976), Goodfellas (1990) and Casino (1995). “He has compassion for them, so we can have compassion too.”
Ben Stiller, who was in Meet the Parents (2000) and its sequel, Meet the Fockers (2004), with De Niro, said, “You’ll always be my idol. You’ll always be my favorite actor, and I’m pretty sure I’ll always be your favorite Focker.”
Then attention switched to Brubeck, who turned 89 on Sunday. Herbie Hancock remarked, “When he sits down to play, and he turns on that smile, he loses 40, 50 years.” Hancock and Brubeck’s four sons then performed a set which ended in a jazzy rendition of Happy Birthday to You.
The happy mood continued as director Carl Reiner honored Brooks. “Because of you, I got to walk on the same stage as Meryl Streep, the greatest actress in the world, bar none,” Reiner said, adding, “I love you, Mel, and you know that.”
Martin Short, Jack Black, Harry Connick Jr., Richard Kind, Jane Krakowski and Matthew Broderick performed in the Brooks tribute, which featured songs from Brooks’ musical comedies, including The Producers, Blazing Saddles and High Anxiety.
After intermission, Aretha Franklin honored Bumbry. “Several young artists today know nothing about being a diva,” said Franklin. “There was a time when you earned your diva-ness. You could do it by having a voice that started like a gift from God, then developed with the dedicated work of Man. You played all the great opera houses of the world, you broke new ground, you thrilled millions of people. Grace Bumbry has done all of that.”
Springsteen’s salute ended the night. In addition to Etheridge’s number, John Mellencamp sang Born in the USA, and Sting performed The Rising. But first, Jon Stewart spoke: “I’m not a music critic. I cannot tell you where Bruce Springsteen falls in the pantheon of the American songbook, but I am from New Jersey. And I can tell you what I believe. I believe Bob Dylan and James Brown had a baby … that child is Bruce Springsteen.” Stewart added, “He is The Boss. Or, in Washington parlance, I assume he is the music czar.”
Sunday’s tribute will air as a two-hour special at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Dec. 29 on CBS.