'Sesame Street' and Earth, Wind & Fire among Kennedy Center honorees

The iconic children's television program "Sesame Street" along with the R&B collective Earth, Wind & Fire will be among those recognized at this year's Kennedy Center Honors, one of America's most prestigious arts awards.

The Kennedy Center -- Washington's performing arts complex that serves as a living monument to slain president John F. Kennedy -- announced Thursday that actress Sally Field, genre-spanning singer Linda Ronstadt and 11-time Grammy winning conductor Michael Tilson Thomas would also be among the 2019 class.

The choice of "Sesame Street" -- a childhood staple that premiered in 1969 to high viewership and glowing reviews, which this year is celebrating its 50th anniversary -- marks the first time the Kennedy Center will honor a television program and the second time it chose a work of art rather than individuals.

Last year's inclusion of the groundbreaking musical "Hamilton" was the first such instance.

The program's co-founders will accept the award on the show's behalf, the Kennedy Center said. There was no word yet on whether cast members including the bright yellow Big Bird and furry red monster Elmo, known for his falsetto voice, will attend the December 8 gala.

"In this class of Honorees, we are witnessing a uniquely American story: one that is representative of so many cultural touchstones and musical moments that make our nation great," said Kennedy Center President Deborah Rutter in a statement. 

"We're not just looking back; these Honorees are urging us to look forward as well."

Criticism of Trump
The Kennedy Center Honors traditionally take place in the presence of the president, but Donald Trump, despised by many cultural and entertainment figures, has skipped Washington's rare night of red-carpet glamour for the past two years.

A number of this year's nominees have criticized the president: the funk-inflected Earth, Wind and Fire requested Trump stop using its music during his 2016 campaign, and folk-tinged Ronstadt has voiced anger over the White House separation of immigrant families at the US-Mexico border.

The 73-year-old Ronstadt -- who the Center dubbed the "consummate American artist -- sang her last concert in 2009 after a four-decade career that saw her deftly perform everything from country and rock to opera and Broadway standards.

Earth, Wind and Fire's unique poppy blend of funk, jazz, soul and R&B has made them one of the best-selling musical groups of all time. The legendary group has played before former presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton.

Tilson Thomas, 74, currently the director of the San Francisco Symphony, has conducted major orchestras throughout the US and Europe, garnering accolades including France's Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.

And the Oscar-winning Field, 72, boasts extensive film credits including "Forrest Gump" and "Steel Magnolias" along with top television roles including on "Sybil" and "ER."

The gala, now in its 42nd year, will be broadcast on US network CBS on December 15. 

source: news.abs-cbn.com

El Gamma Penumbra wins 'Asia's Got Talent'

MANILA - This time the trophy was theirs.

Four years after their grand finals bid in "Pilipinas Got Talent," shadow play group El Gamma Penumbra was named the first-ever winner of the Asia-wide edition of the global format Thursday.

The all-Filipino troupe from Batangas City beat eight other finalists, including three other Philippine acts, after earning the most public votes from the regional audience of "Asia's Got Talent" -- which is billed as the biggest talent search in the world.

Suspense gripped Marina Bay Sands in Singapore as the top three acts awaited the results, which were announced by Filipino hosting duo Marc Nelson and Rovilson Fernandez.

"Thank you to our dear creator for giving us this wonderful talent that we can share to all of you," Marvin Marfa of El Gamma Penumbra said shortly before the announcement of the winner.

He added: "[Thank you] to 'Asia's Got Talent' for giving us this wonderful journey, to our respected judges who can inspire more people, we want to be like you someday."

"To all Filipinos in all parts of the world, laban na ito, para sa inyo 'to! Maraming, maraming salamat sa pagmamahal niyo sa grupo. Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!"


Khusugtun, a traditional music ensemble from Mongolia, placed second; while Filipino classical singer Gerphil Flores, who is also a former "Pilipinas Got Talent" contestant, finished third.

Both Filipino contenders in the top three were early favorites in the talent search, which debuted in March on AXN Asia. El Gamma Penumbra and Flores were hailed, at different times, as "golden acts" -- a distinction given by judges that secures a contestant a spot in the next leg of the competition.

They, along with fellow Filipinos Gwyneth Dorado and Junior New System, each got a standing ovation in the final performance night last week.

El Gamma Penumbra took the stage with its signature message of social relevance, this time about caring for the environment. Flores, meanwhile, had judge David Foster promising her global fame after a rendition of "The Impossible Dream."

Judges Anggun, Vanness Wu and Melanie C similarly praised the younger Filipino contenders -- Dorado, with her performance of Sia's "Titanium," and Junior New System, with its energetic dance to recent and retro pop hits.


Days before the results show, El Gamma Penumbra member Marfa expressed hopes that one of the Filipino acts, not necessarily the group, would bring home the top prize to the Philippines.

"Ang honest po na pakiramdam namin ngayon, manalo o matalo, okay na po kami," he said, pointing out that the group was satisfied with its finals performance, which moved Anggun to tears... Kaya kung sino man ang manalo... Sana Pinoy! Para ang kauna-unahang winner ng 'Asia's Got Talent' ay Pilipino."

The lone country to have multiple acts in the finals, the Philippines was joined by contenders from Mongolia (runner-up Khusugtun), Thaliand (boys' rock band The Talento), China (acrobatic duto Gao Lin and Liu Xin), Singapore (girls' tap dance group Dance Thrilogy), and Japan (dance troup Triqstar).

Flores, a music student in the University of the Philippines, early on identified the dance acts as her toughest competitors. But her eyes were firmly on the goal -- to revive interest in classical music and showcase her talent to a wider audience.


That Foster promised to take her under his wing -- as he had done with Filipino singing sensation Charice -- was admittedly beyond what she had expected to achieve in joining "Asia's Got Talent."

In an emotional moment during Thursday's results show, Foster went up on stage to comfort a crying Flores after her exclusion from the top two. The multiple Grammy winner requested to give his message to Flores in private, but host Rovilson clued in viewers on the off-mic conversation -- "Asia's Got Talent" won't be the last the world will see of Flores.

Like El Gamma Penumbra, which joined competitions time and again, Flores has said she sees herself as an example of success despite initial or repeated failures, as long as "you keep believing in yourself."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

WATCH: PH dance crew's 'flawless' finals performance in 'AGT'

The Filipino dance group Junior New System wowed with their "flawless'' performance during the finals of "Asia's Got Talent."

The group, composed of students from the Philippines, danced to a mash-up of pop hits, which included Spice Girls' "Wannabe," for their performance at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore.

The Filipinos did not only get a standing ovation from the audience, but also from the judges.

Junior New System is one of the nine acts in the grand finals of "Asia's Got Talent," which includes fellow Filipinos Gwyneth Dorado, Gerphil Flores, and El Gamma Penumbra.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

US sitcom features 'Tinikling' danced to 'Shake It Off'

A popular Filipino folk dance that uses bamboo sticks has been featured in the hit ABC show "The Middle".

In episode titled "The Sink Hole", Sue, played by Eden Sher, has to pass her P.E. class by doing well in a tinikling routine.

She performs it to Taylor Swift’s hit song "Shake it Off".

"The Middle", which features the Heck family, is currently in its sixth season. Balitang America, November 19, 2014

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

TV5's Batibot a finalist in prestigious Prix Jeunesse International Festival 2012

MANILA, Philippines - Batibot, the well-loved all-Filipino children’s program, is back in the international scene as a finalist in the prestigious Prix Jeunesse International Festival 2012.

The highest-rating children’s program was chosen as one of the finalists for the “Up to 6 years old Non-fiction” category and is set to compete with 11 other entries from European, North and Latin American and Asian countries (Japan and India) in this 25th festival Jubilee from June 1-6 in Munich, Germany.

Festival Coordinator Kirsten Schneid wrote Batibot’s producer, “Prix Jeunesse International 2012 received a record number of entries. It also makes me really happy that Batibot’s next generation is in the finals! The pre-selection was so tough, out of 353 only 86 programmes made it to the final round. You and your team can be really proud!”

TV5’s Batibot’s entry is an episode on “Art Around us: Shapes and Lines” and features basic concepts that help very young children make sense of their world: arts as well as relationships (friendship), simple basic concepts: shapes, colors, puzzles.

And since the Philippines is celebrating the 100th birth year of Jose Rizal, our national hero, this along with the other episodes of Batibot in seasons 2 and 3 have visual and other references to him and other historical figures as a contribution to developing Filipino children’s basic understanding and appreciation for their own history as a people, a nation.

Batibot’s themes, stories, visual and sounds focus on the essentials of living, growing and learning in a world that is both enriched and challenged by the human and cultural diversity that exists in the Philippines and the bigger world.

Batibot previously earned various Prix Jeunesse awards: one “Special Jury Prize” in 1990, the “BMW prize for most outstanding program produced with limited facilities” in 1998 and the UNICEF Prize for Prix Jeunesse in 2002.

Batibot continues its mission of providing the most valuable and the most innovative content for kids to watch and enjoy. Watch TV5’s Batibot weekdays at 9:30am and every Saturday at 8:30am.

source: interaksyon.com