LOS ANGELES - Only a few more viewing days until Christmas - what's a person to do? Keep watching those holiday programs, natch, but make room for some culture with the Kennedy Center Honors.
The 27th annual ceremony, 9-11 p.m. Tuesday on CBS (WRDW-TV, Channel 12), pays tribute to the film world's Warren Beatty, Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee and to music's Elton John, soprano Joan Sutherland and composer-conductor John Williams for their contributions to the arts.
The performers and presenters also are impressive, among them Angela Bassett, Jack Nicholson, Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, Itzhak Perlman and Renee Fleming.
During the ceremony taped earlier this month, Nicholson tweaked his former co-star and director ("Reds"). "For years, Warren has dreamed of attending these awards," Nicholson said. "Unfortunately, not as a Kennedy honoree but as president of the United States."
The husband-and-wife acting team of Davis, 86, and Dee, 80, were recognized for their stage and film careers and their political activism. Combs, who appeared in a recent Broadway revival of "A Raisin in the Sun," said he was inspired by Dee, part of the original production: "Ruby wanted me to understand how high the stakes were, that failure was not an option."
With President Bush in the audience, presenter Robert Downey Jr. tried a little political humor as he paid tribute to pop star John. It remains to be seen whether Downey's rambling speech, which at times drew nervous laughter from the crowd, survived the editing process intact.
Other shows to look out for:
- "Outta Control Christmas," 9 p.m. Sunday on HGTV explores the lighter side of the season, visiting decorated homes that flaunt their holiday spirit with everything they've got. One Cincinnati homeowner brings decorations in on 18-wheelers to create what he calls "The Las Vegas of the North Pole." A rotating-elf display above the door is part of the look, but it's a sleigh built around a John Deere lawn mower that's the real traffic-stopper.
- For those who want substance, Fox News Channel offers "The Birth of Jesus," 9 p.m. Sunday. In the hourlong special, anchor Jon Scott visits Bethlehem, Nazareth and Jerusalem to examine the biblical story of Jesus' life. Among the experts who weigh in: John Dominic Crossan and Jonathan Reed, authors of "In Search of Paul: The New Quest to Understand His World and Words."
- Three swell movie reruns add to the season's joy: The wryly wonderful "A Christmas Story," on TBS, an annual 24-hour marathon of Jean Shepherd's tale starting at 8 p.m. Friday; "A Christmas Carol," 9 p.m. Friday on NBC, a classy Hallmark Entertainment musical version of Dickens' classic tale with Kelsey Grammer as Scrooge; and "The Sound of Music," 8 p.m. Saturday which... oh, c'mon, EVERYBODY knows about the Julie Andrews evergreen.
- Want to ruminate on the year slipping away? "TV Guide's Greatest Moments 2004," 8 p.m. Monday on ABC promises a "star-studded trip" through the year's memorable television events. Will Ashlee Simpson's lip-synch slip on "Saturday Night Live" make the grade? Surely Ken Jennings' excellent adventure on "Jeopardy!" is included. Tom Bergeron hosts, with Joan and Melissa Rivers serving up commentary. And there's more: TV Guide Awards will be handed out like Christmas candy. Perhaps "Desperate Housewives" star Eva Longoria, snubbed for a Golden Globe nomination, will win as favorite newcomer here. Excitement is building.
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