What I'm Doing Right Now

I'm watching the Kennedy Center Honors broadcast, a show I sometimes avoid due to my allergy to excessive praising of rich, famous folks by other rich, famous folks. They're honoring Al Green, Patricia McBride, Tom Hanks, Lily Tomlin and Sting. Stephen Colbert is hosting, which is probably because CBS wants to introduce America to the real Stephen Colbert instead of the one who's an ignorant right-wing pundit. Colbert did a good opening monologue but right now, it's half-past Lily Tomlin and he hasn't had much to do.

One funny moment: David Letterman was introduced and he came out to talk about Mr. Hanks. As soon as Letterman was at the podium, Colbert came out as if he was there to take over the speech from him. Dave turned to him and said, "Not yet" and Stephen turned and walked off.

Neil Patrick Harris is hosting the Academy Awards in February. That may well mean he won't host the Tonys in May, which makes me wonder if Mr. Colbert will be tapped for the job. I don't think he's ever been in a Broadway show but he was in the 2011 concert productions of Company with N.P.H. and he's presented and performed on past Tony broadcasts. CBS will want to keep him in front of the public during the long spell between the end of The Colbert Report and the commencement of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. So I'll bet they at least discuss having him host the Tonys. That is, assuming Neil Patrick Harris doesn't want to do two awards shows within three months.