Grammy nominees announced
The awards celebrated the diversity of music as six different artists tied for lead nominee — Kanye West, Jay-Z, Frank Ocean, Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys, Mumford & Sons and fun.
Drawn into a circle of poetry giants
![Drawn into a circle of poetry giants](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20121206092952im_/http://img.wpdigital.net/rf/image_90x60/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2012/12/06/Web-Resampled/2012-12-05/Spivack_RobertLowellHis--90x60.jpg)
REVIEW | In ‘With Robert Lowell and His Circle,’ Kathleen Spivack recalls time among poetry’s greats.
PBS picks up second season of ‘Call the Midwife’
![PBS picks up second season of ‘Call the Midwife’](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20121206092952im_/http://img.wpdigital.net/rf/image_90x60/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2012/09/04/Style/Images/00_39_32MB.jpg)
‘Midwife’ Christmas special to air Dec. 30; second season debuts March 31.
Rihanna gets fashion competition show at Style network
![Rihanna gets fashion competition show at Style network](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20121206092952im_/http://img.wpdigital.net/rf/image_90x60/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2012/12/05/Style/Images/157302038.jpg)
Aspiring designers to make outfits for celebrities.
Discovery jumps on doomsday bandwagon with ‘Zombie Apocalypse’
![Discovery jumps on doomsday bandwagon with ‘Zombie Apocalypse’](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20121206092952im_/http://img.wpdigital.net/rf/image_90x60/WashingtonPost/Content/Blogs/tv-column/StandingArt/walkingdead.jpg)
Three days after AMC telecast the mid-season finale of AMC’s “The Walking Dead,” Discovery Channel announced its new special.
John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John star in 2012’s oddest holiday video
![John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John star in 2012’s oddest holiday video](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20121206092952im_/http://img.wpdigital.net/rf/image_90x60/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2012/10/30/Style/Images/Cover__300RGB.jpg)
This almost undid years of “You’re the One That I Want” loyalty. Almost.
MiXt delivers a freewheeling program
![MiXt delivers a freewheeling program](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20121206092952im_/http://img.wpdigital.net/rf/image_90x60/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2012/12/05/Web-Resampled/2012-12-05/miXt2%20(steiner)--90x60.jpg)
REVIEW | Trio brings imagination, sophistication and exuberance to Kennedy Center’s Terrace Theater.
Cynics and optimists on Christmas
![Cynics and optimists on Christmas](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20121206092952im_/http://img.wpdigital.net/rf/image_90x60/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2012/11/30/Style/Images/Night%20Before%20Christmas%201.jpg)
One Theater Alliance show pokes at the yuletide spirit; the other is a take on “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
An ‘All I Want for Christmas is You’ update
![An ‘All I Want for Christmas is You’ update](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20121206092952im_/http://img.wpdigital.net/rf/image_90x60/WashingtonPost/Content/Blogs/celebritology/201212/Images/0_0carey.jpg)
Jimmy Fallon, the Roots and Mariah Carey make Carey’s yuletide staple surprisingly tolerable.
‘Good Morning America’ unveils Miss America pageant judges
![‘Good Morning America’ unveils Miss America pageant judges](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20121206092952im_/http://img.wpdigital.net/rf/image_90x60/WashingtonPost/Content/Blogs/tv-column/Images/157349145-188--90x60.jpg)
Miss America judges include three ABC show stars.
Entertainment Videos
![Petraeus in 2011 Fox News interview: ‘I’m not running’ for president Petraeus in 2011 Fox News interview: ‘I’m not running’ for president](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20121206092952im_/http://img.wpdigital.net/rf/image_296w/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2012/12/03/Interactivity/Images/petraeus-compos1354556831.jpg)
Petraeus in 2011 Fox News interview: ‘I’m not running’ for president
In a 2011 recording obtained by The Washington Post, Fox News’s K.T. McFarland, acting as Fox News president Roger Ailes’s proxy, talks to then-General David Petraeus about his presidential ambitions for 2012 and beyond, seeming to encourage the general to think twice about running for the White House.![Dustin Hoffman, David Letterman on Kennedy Center Honors Dustin Hoffman, David Letterman on Kennedy Center Honors](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20121206092952im_/http://img.wpdigital.net/rf/image_90x60/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2012/12/03/Interactivity/Images/crop-dd1354497371%20copy1354552390.jpg)
Dustin Hoffman, David Letterman on Kennedy Center Honors
The Washington Post’s Ned Martel talks to stars on the red carpet at the Kennedy Center Honors. The annual awards were given to Dustin Hoffman, David Letterman, Buddy Guy, John Paul Jones, Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and Natalia Makarova for their cultural contributions to the nation.![Artist Cai Guo-Qiang ‘explodes’ tree on the National Mall Artist Cai Guo-Qiang ‘explodes’ tree on the National Mall](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20121206092952im_/http://img.wpdigital.net/rf/image_90x60/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2012/11/30/Style/Videos/Images/tree_screengrab_FINAL_HORN2.jpg)
Artist Cai Guo-Qiang ‘explodes’ tree on the National Mall
If you’re picturing millions of toothpicks raining down on Constitution Avenue, think again. Contemporary artist Cai Guo-Qiang’s “Explosion Event” was more conceptual than that. His pyrotechnic pine tree required a unique blend of gunpowder and imagination.![Raw: Cai Guo-Qiang lights up Christmas tree at Freer Gallery Raw: Cai Guo-Qiang lights up Christmas tree at Freer Gallery](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20121206092952im_/http://img.wpdigital.net/rf/image_90x60/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2012/11/30/Style/Videos/Images/treexplosionfinal.jpg)
Raw: Cai Guo-Qiang lights up Christmas tree at Freer Gallery
Chinese pyrotechnics artist Cai Guo-Qiang sets off explosions on a pine tree in front of the Freer Gallery on the National Mall.![First dog Bo examines White House holiday decor First dog Bo examines White House holiday decor](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20121206092952im_/http://img.wpdigital.net/rf/image_90x60/WashingtonPost/Content/Blogs/in-the-loop/Images/134296921.jpg)
First dog Bo examines White House holiday decor
VIDEO | Bo tours the White House inspecting the holiday decorations before its doors are opened for visitors for the holiday season.Diversions
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Crosswords
Challenge your memory and vocabulary with four classic Post puzzles. | Daily | Sunday | Puzzler
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Minibar 2.0: Bigger, not better
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NPR’s ‘A Jazz Piano Christmas’ to be dedicated to Dave Brubeck
Saturday’s concert at the Kennedy Center will be dedicated to the late jazz legend.
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