Dumb question: entire USA sits at one table. Who sits at the head of it?

Meltdown99

Tom Hanks over-rated ... now that gave me a great laugh.  Not only is he not over-rated he's one of the most genuine celebrities on the planet...

tempo_n_groove

Meltdown99 said:

Another good choice Samual L. Jackson

If you like to hear the word "muthafukka" all the time, then yes.

KC138045 said:

tempo_n_groove said:

Oprah. 

What is wrong with you people?

Everybody loves Oprah!!!

I don't like Oprah or Bruce(his music anyways)

I say Morgan Freeman just so he can narrate the dinner

For narrating it should be James Earl Jones.

Meltdown99

tempo_n_groove said:

Meltdown99 said:

Another good choice Samual L. Jackson

If you like to hear the word "muthafukka" all the time, then yes.

KC138045 said:

tempo_n_groove said:

Oprah. 

What is wrong with you people?

Everybody loves Oprah!!!

I don't like Oprah or Bruce(his music anyways)

I say Morgan Freeman just so he can narrate the dinner

For narrating it should be James Earl Jones.

Then Samual L it is ... 

Annafalk

It's Eddie Vedder off course,  

dankind

Mr. Hankey, the Christmas Poo

tempo_n_groove

dankind said:

Mr. Hankey, the Christmas Poo

Damn Dan, why you gotta go that route?

Poncier

Mary Lou Retton

darwinstheory

curmudgeoness said:

Hmm. I'm not a fan of most of the names mentioned. They might be fighting words, but I'd wager that Tom Hanks is the most overrated actor of our time.

Please accept my sincerest apologies but, I found myself unable to take you're otherwise well written post with a great seriousness upon reading your opening statements.

I don't think we would be able to have someone with a formal political background. Especially with the great divides amongst people and parties in recent times. For this reason, the likes of Michelle Obama would likely not be the best choice. I'd be fine with it, but I'm sure it is only a matter of time before a far right person gives his/her $.02. Just as many would do if someone suggest any members from our current administration. 

It is my belief, that we are looking for someone whom people with all political affiliations can get behind. I think that's where people (myself definitely included) come up with the likes of the Oprah's and the Tom Hanks of the country. Obviously there is nobody that all Americans will get behind. But the most well liked and respected American female HAS to be Oprah, doesnt it? Who is the most well liked and respected American male? Gates? Hanks? Warren Buffet? Ditka? Lol...hell, I don't know.

PJWGIII

darwinstheory said:

David S. Pumpkins! Any questions?

The idea of David. S. Pumpkins doing this is so perfect for the concept of the character it is absolutely awesome.

HesCalledDyer

curmudgeoness said:

Hmm. I'm not a fan of most of the names mentioned. They might be fighting words, but I'd wager that Tom Hanks is the most overrated actor of our time.

I like the round table idea.

How about more women? In the Willie Nelson vein, how about Dolly Parton? She's Nelson's songwriting equal. Or Mavis Staples? Or Michelle Obama?

While I'm tempted to argue the absurdity of the original question (no offense intended, OP, my mind immediately went to visualizing the size and placement of the table, how one would even know where the head was and who sat there, etc.), I think it does lead to an interesting cultural question: who is the defining character, the embodiment, of American (literary) culture? England has Shakespeare, Russia has Pushkin, Germany has Goethe, Poland has Mickiewicz (nice statue of him in Krakow!) -- who is the quintessential American author, the "father" of American literature? We also could have the same discussion about other art forms -- who is the embodiment of American music? Etc. 

Probably Mark Twain. But there's also Hemingway, Hawthorne, Whitman, Poe, Dickinson (mother of American literature?) to choose from.

HesCalledDyer

Music:

B.B. King, Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, Buddy Holly, Elvis, Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, Bill Withers.

Meltdown99

Winfrey is a terrible choice she is disliked by many...

tempo_n_groove

Meltdown99 said:

Winfrey is a terrible choice she is disliked by many...

Oh stop it...

Fine , I'll choose Natalie Portman then...

darwinstheory

Meltdown99 said:

Winfrey is a terrible choice she is disliked by many...

Case and point...

pjhawks

tempo_n_groove said:

Meltdown99 said:

Winfrey is a terrible choice she is disliked by many...

Oh stop it...

Fine , I'll choose Natalie Portman then...

I dislike Natalie Portman....

how about Justin Timberlake? does anyone dislike him personally?  maybe not a fan of his music but seems like a cool dude.

HesCalledDyer

tempo_n_groove said:

Meltdown99 said:

Winfrey is a terrible choice she is disliked by many...

Oh stop it...

Fine , I'll choose Natalie Portman then...

I know where she can sit after dinner...

Poncier

HesCalledDyer said:

tempo_n_groove said:

Meltdown99 said:

Winfrey is a terrible choice she is disliked by many...

Oh stop it...

Fine , I'll choose Natalie Portman then...

I know where she can sit after dinner...

What if dinner is Mexican food or franks & beans?

HesCalledDyer

Poncier said:

HesCalledDyer said:

tempo_n_groove said:

Meltdown99 said:

Winfrey is a terrible choice she is disliked by many...

Oh stop it...

Fine , I'll choose Natalie Portman then...

I know where she can sit after dinner...

What if dinner is Mexican food or franks & beans?

Gotta weigh the benefits to the disadvantages.  She's vegan, anyway, so I'm not too worried.

Meltdown99

pjhawks said:

tempo_n_groove said:

Meltdown99 said:

Winfrey is a terrible choice she is disliked by many...

Oh stop it...

Fine , I'll choose Natalie Portman then...

I dislike Natalie Portman....

how about Justin Timberlake? does anyone dislike him personally?  maybe not a fan of his music but seems like a cool dude.

Yes,  I dislike his music, but do like him...

Meltdown99

The head of the table is one of our own @brianlux