• March 31, 2005

Documentarian Ken Burns joined a pantheon Tuesday that includes the likes of Isaac Hayes (the soul singer and voice of the cartoon character Chef on Comedy Central's "South Park") and Daniel Libeskind (the headstrong architect of the 9/11 memorial site). Smithsonian Magazine hosted the latest installment of its "Most Interesting People We Know" cocktail/luncheon series, which honors individuals who have contributed positively to the culture, at the Museum of Television and Radio in New York.

Burns, who recently debuted his most recent work, "Jack Johnson: Unforgivable Blackness," which chronicled the tumultuous life of the early 20th-century boxer, discussed his passions-- history, jazz, and baseball--opining that the steroid controversy won't irreparably harm the sport. "Baseball has survived worse trials," he said.

"This series represents an important way to get out and meet our advertisers and further cement what we're all about as a magazine and as a brand," said Amy Wilkins, the magazine's publisher.

--D.K.