# So-and-so is the Kenny G of \_\_\_\_\_\_\_ **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 3, 2013, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-and-so-is-the-kenny-g-of-_______/649222 "2013-02-03T16:02:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2013, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-and-so-is-the-kenny-g-of-_______/649222/1 "2013-02-03T16:02:31Z")
An old thread ( [Why is Kenny G so hated?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=222983) ) has recently been revived from its slumber, and in its posts it has become obvious that Mr. G is not alone in his disfavor. He’s been compared with Thomas Kinkade of painting notoriety. Rather than hijack that thread how’s about we come up with purveyors of other art and entertainment forms where someone demonstrates similar status to Kenny in their particular field of endeavor. I’ll start with Lawrence Welk is (was) the Kenny G of Big Bands. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2013, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-and-so-is-the-kenny-g-of-_______/649222/2 "2013-02-03T17:18:46Z")
Yanni is the Kenny G of, um, whatever it is that Yanni does. Um, Stadium New Age Soft Rock. Bob Ross is the Kenny G of painting. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2013, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-and-so-is-the-kenny-g-of-_______/649222/3 "2013-02-03T17:21:56Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > I’ll start with Lawrence Welk is (was) the Kenny G of Big Bands. Let’s clarify the terms. Kenny G is hated for two reasons: 1. He is primarily famous and rich for dumbing down a musical genre and claiming to be representative of it. 2. He is a pretty damn bad musician (i.e., not good technically at his chosen craft). Thomas Kincaide, IMHO, fits both criteria. Lawrence Welk, however, does _not_. He could reasonably be argued to fit 1 (although big band was a pretty dumbed down genre already). He does not fit number 2 though. LW was a damn fine pianist, both technically and (when he let himself be) artistically. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2013, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-and-so-is-the-kenny-g-of-_______/649222/4 "2013-02-03T17:23:41Z")
Kenny G is the Kenny G of Jazz. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2013, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-and-so-is-the-kenny-g-of-_______/649222/5 "2013-02-03T18:16:08Z")
Piers Anthony is the Kenny G of fantasy novels. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2013, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-and-so-is-the-kenny-g-of-_______/649222/6 "2013-02-03T18:29:52Z")
Paris Hilton is the Kenny G of acting. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2013, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-and-so-is-the-kenny-g-of-_______/649222/7 "2013-02-03T18:31:51Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Piers Anthony is the Kenny G of fantasy novels. I would’ve gone with the Twilight writer, whasername, Stephanie Meyer? - but understand your case… ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2013, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-and-so-is-the-kenny-g-of-_______/649222/8 "2013-02-03T18:37:17Z")
Mitt Romney is the Kenny G of conservative politics. Jean Auel is the Kenny G of historical fiction. George Lucas is the Kenny G of film directors. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2013, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-and-so-is-the-kenny-g-of-_______/649222/9 "2013-02-03T18:38:54Z")
Michael Crichton is the Kenny G of hard science fiction. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2013, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-and-so-is-the-kenny-g-of-_______/649222/10 "2013-02-03T18:40:00Z")
Pauly Shore is the Kenny G of “comedy.” ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2013, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-and-so-is-the-kenny-g-of-_______/649222/11 "2013-02-03T18:41:22Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > I would’ve gone with the Twilight writer, whasername, Stephanie Meyer? - but understand your case… Nah. Kenny G isn’t _that_ bad. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2013, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-and-so-is-the-kenny-g-of-_______/649222/12 "2013-02-03T19:55:08Z")
Rachel Ray is the Kenny G of food personalities. No, Paula Deen. No, waitaminnit, it’s Guy Fieri. No, hold on… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2013, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-and-so-is-the-kenny-g-of-_______/649222/13 "2013-02-03T20:09:32Z")
Bon Jovi is the Kenny G of Rock and Roll. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2013, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-and-so-is-the-kenny-g-of-_______/649222/14 "2013-02-03T20:15:04Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Bon Jovi is the Kenny G of Rock and Roll. I would also have accepted Bryan Adams. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2013, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-and-so-is-the-kenny-g-of-_______/649222/15 "2013-02-03T20:45:29Z")
Microsoft Windows is the Kenny G of operating systems? ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2013, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-and-so-is-the-kenny-g-of-_______/649222/16 "2013-02-03T21:32:32Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Piers Anthony is the Kenny G of fantasy novels. Agreed! > [@WordMan](#): > > I would’ve gone with the Twilight writer, whasername, Stephanie Meyer? - but understand your case… Nah, I don’t think you can say that since Vampire fiction is itself a dumbed-down (sub)genre. You’d have to compare her to somebody who’s the Kenny G of Kenny G Jazz. Maybe she’s the John Tesh of Vampire fiction. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2013, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-and-so-is-the-kenny-g-of-_______/649222/17 "2013-02-03T22:37:16Z")
Celtic Woman is the Kenny G of Celtic music. Sarah Brightman is the Kenny G of musical theater. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2013, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-and-so-is-the-kenny-g-of-_______/649222/18 "2013-02-03T22:41:06Z")
> [@Zakalwe](#): > > Lawrence Welk, however, does _not_. He could reasonably be argued to fit 1 (although big band was a pretty dumbed down genre already). He does not fit number 2 though. LW was a damn fine pianist, both technically and (when he let himself be) artistically. You’re thinking of [Liberace](http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=endscreen&v=oPAe_uHERy4), who was those things. Welk played the accordion and had [Myron Floren](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqURmXMEGFI) do his heavy lifting. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2013, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-and-so-is-the-kenny-g-of-_______/649222/19 "2013-02-03T22:43:20Z")
Voyager is the Kenny G of Star Trek. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2013, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-and-so-is-the-kenny-g-of-_______/649222/20 "2013-02-03T23:23:21Z")
> [@Jeff\_Lichtman](#): > > Celtic Woman is the Kenny G of Celtic music. > > Sarah Brightman is the Kenny G of musical theater. Celtic music is the Kenny G of folk music. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-and-so-is-the-kenny-g-of-_______/649222.md?page=2)