Topic: Honor Roll

The Kennedy Center Honors are characterized as a rejection of establishment entertainment norms, specifically noting that popular audience favorites rarely receive major awards. Sylvester Stallone is highlighted for never winning an Academy Award despite his commercial success with the Rocky franchise. A discussion of the band Kiss follows, including an anecdote about a high-quality tribute band performance in Seattle and the financial success of Gene Simmons.

The University of Colorado Boulder issued guidelines discouraging "offensive" Halloween costumes, such as sombreros or geisha outfits. Meanwhile, a school in Calgary, Alberta, abolished its honor roll to avoid hurting the self-esteem of students who do not receive awards. These trends are attributed to the "self-esteem movement" and a shift away from competitiveness in Western society.