JONI MITCHELL WAITS PATIENTLY, PENSIVELY: Having recognized Carole King last year, the Kennedy Center Honors will stay in Laurel Canyon for one more year to hang a rainbow ribbon and medal on James Taylor this December, along with Al Pacino, Mavis Staples, pianist Martha Argerich, and The Eagles, whose intended 2015 award was delayed by Glenn Frey's illness, ultimately resulting in his death.

In 2008, Benner noted that Pacino was certainly on the "how has he not won yet?" list, along with Lou Reed, David Bowie, and Prince. (The latter two may have been invited.) Also on the never-awarded list: James L. Brooks (come on!), Jerry Lewis, Martin Scorsese, Neil Young, Norman Lear, Dick Van Dyke, Mary Tyler Moore, Glenn Close, and Gene Hackman.

GET READY TO MATCH THE STARS:  Your panel for the first episode of the new star-studded big-money Match Game?  In seat order: Tituss Burgess, Rosie O'Donnell, Michael Ian Black, Debra Messing, JB Smoove, and Sutton Foster. 

BUSTING ON THIS MAKES ME FEEL GOOD: Fall Out Boy and Missy Elliott have recorded the title song to an upcoming summer film for which some here have expressed interest.

IF SLUGWORTH WANTS A GOBSTOPPER, HE'LL GET ONE: Seriously, is Grandpa Joe (from Willy Wonka) fiction's most evil character until Ramsey Bolton>?

YOU NEVER FORGET KIDS LIKE EMILY, OR ANDY, BUT THEY FORGET YOU:  For the record, I prefer the Grierson/Leitch 1-17 ranking of Pixar films to Owen Gleiberman's because the former properly gets Ratatouille way ahead of anything Cars-related, though I have no ability to or interest in ranking the Toy Story films against each other, each of which is perfect.

THE TOUGHEST CASE I'VE YET TO FACE:  Wicked will fly to film screens on December 20, 2019, so go ahead and start casting. (Not that we haven't tried once or twice before.)

Also, Lin-Manuel Miranda has confirmed -- in addition to his July 9 end-date -- that they will film the current cast of Hamilton before he leaves the show, though whether that will be made publicly available is TBD.  Determined, however, is that if you want to see She Loves Me with its revival cast, they'll stream it live online for $9.99 on June 30.

EDITED: Also, how about a Tony Kushner-penned, Spielberg-somehow-involved remake of West Side Story?

ANOTHER QUARTER OF THE EGOT:  The 2016 Emmy Ballots are out, and some interesting observations:

• A number of shows opted to submit only one episode in the writing category to avoid cannibalizing votes--among them?  Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (Pilot), black-ish (the BLM episode), The Goldbergs (Dirty Dancing), Master of None (Parents), Kimmy Schmidt (finale), The Good Wife (finale), The Leftovers (International Assassin), Horace and Pete (Episode 3), Mr. Robot (pilot), 
• Documentary Now! is considered a variety series (more specifically, a "variety sketch series"), not a comedy series, but only Hader is submitted as a lead actor, Armisten is supporting.
• The various Muppet performers are all listed in lead actor for The Muppets.
• Adele is a likely nominee for her Radio City special.  A win would leave her just T shy of EGOT.
• You are not a lead, despite being submitted as one:  Brett Dalton (Agents of SHIELD), Cuba Gooding, Jr. (American Crime Story), Dianne Wiest (Life in Pieces), Elizabeth Henstridge (Agents of SHIELD), Reshma Shetty (Royal Pains).
• Fred Armisen has 4 separate submissions for guest actor in a comedy (Man Seeking Woman, SNL, Kimmy Schmidt, and Difficult People).
• Long-ish shot nominee who I'm really rooting for?  Tovah Feldshuh, Outstanding Guest Actress Comedy.