kennedy center – The Comedy Bureau

TCB Debriefing 8/23/23: Ever Mainard, SF Sketchfest, A Very Good+ Night of Comedy, Barbie’s New Record

August 23, 2023

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1. If you’ve somehow been a follower of TCB for any amount of time and don’t know Ever Mainard, you need to fix that issue immediately. Thankfully, they have a brand spankin’ new set for you to see, enjoy, and subsequently become obsessed with Ever’s vulnerable sense of mischief. Please enjoy it repeatedly here.

Also, in case you didn’t know, the new Premium Blend/Comedy Central Presents/Netflix’s The Comedy Lineup/late night sets is Don’t Tell Comedy.

2. If you’re perhaps interested at taking a shot at performing at one of the most prestigious, largest comedy festivals in the world, the SF Sketchfest deadline is coming up fast. Submissions are due at 11:59PM PT on Sun. Sept. 3rd. Get more details and send in your stuff here.

3. A Very Good+ Night of Comedy has nothing to do with a new streaming service, but, instead is probably one of the biggest comedy gala benefits of the year. Supporting Jessica Seinfeld’s Good+Foundation that systemically addresses poverty, headliners Jerry Seinfeld, Kevin Hart, Amy Schumer and Ronny Chieng are all set to perform at Carnegie Hall in mid October (Deadline).

4. Greta Gerwig’s Barbie has officially become the highest grossing movie of 2023 thus far, beating out The Super Mario Bros. Movie (CNN). With an IMAX version that includes a post-credit scene, it’s due to beat more records even if it’ll only play in certain parts of Asia and the Middle East.

5. So, do we need to watch stuff on DVD/VHS rather than streaming or cable to support the strike as media consumers?

Watch a Magnificent Tribute to the Elaine Dance from Seinfeld by Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Jacobson

November 23, 2018

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Sure, this happened months ago and aired over a week ago, but the highly respected Priori Dance Company that Broad City’s Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer enlisted to do a high art tribute to Julia Louis Dreyfus’ famous Elaine dance on Seinfeld for JLD’s Mark Twain Prize ceremony is something that we wanted to make sure you absolutely knew about, just in case you didn’t.

It’s truly magical. Enjoy it here.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus Will Be 2018 Recipient of Mark Twain Prize for American Humor

May 23, 2018

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Julia Louis-Dreyfus Will Be 2018 Recipient of Mark Twain Prize for American Humor

Already, Julia Louis-Dreyfus is one of our most beloved comedic actors just from her roles on Seinfeld and Veep alone and is well deserving of a bust of Mark Twain in this regard. One has to wonder if Seinfeld and Veep alums/cast members will show up and do related bits at the upcoming ceremony.

Also, as far as the Mark Twain Prize is concerned, 2018 will be noted for having Julia Louis-Dreyfus winning and it being the year that Bill Cosby had his Mark Twain Prize stripped from him.

Ceremony for David Letterman’s Mark Twain Prize Airs Tonight on PBS

November 20, 2017

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At 8PM tonight, the evening that David Letterman was honored with one of comedy’s most prestigious awards, The Mark Twain Prize for Humor, will be televised in a special on PBS.

There were plenty of presenters that came out to honor Dave including Steve Martin, Martin Short, Jimmy Kimmel, Amy Schumer, and Bill Murray (of course, Murray is in a ridiculous get up per his tradition with his appearances on The Late Show).

Also, Bill Hader and Fred Armisen did this special edition of Documentary Now! just for Dave.

David Letterman to Be Latest Recipient of Mark Twain Prize for Humor

May 16, 2017

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David Letterman to Be Latest Recipient of Mark Twain Prize for Humor

Today, The Kennedy Center announced what’s regarded as America’s highest honor in comedy, The Mark Twain Prize for Humor, will be bestowed on one David Letterman.

For everything that Letterman did for late night and how he forever affected the way it was done, the award is well deserved.

Bill Murray to Receive Mark Train Prize for Humor

June 13, 2016

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Can’t wait to see what outfit(s), Murray will choose to sport at his acceptance ceremony.

The Mark Twain Prize for Humor, one of the highest honors in comedy, has got its next recipient in Bill Murray. The living legend has not only made his name through movies and TV for decades, but seem to make an entire mythos of himself by just randomly popping into strangers’ lives and bringing some unforgettable absurdity into their lives.

That seems fitting of receiving of this award

Murray is set to receive the award on Sunday, October 23rd.

Eddie Murphy Jokes About Bill Cosby While Receiving Mark Twain Prize

October 19, 2015

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Also, Murphy said that he’ll eventually tell jokes again.

In this video from AP documenting the Mark Twain Prize for Humor ceremony at The Kennedy Center, Murphy actually cracked a joke about Bill Cosby who also happens to still have a Mark Twain Prize to his name (starts at 2:28).

Hopefully, this is the spark that gets the fire burning again for Eddie to return to stand-up.

Eddie Murphy Is the Next To Be Receiving Kennedy Center’s Mark Twain Prize for Humor

October 15, 2015

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(via Variety)

Any takers on if he’ll do something funny on stage like every other Mark Twain Prize recipient has done when receiving the award?

For his storied career as a barrier breaking stand-up comedian, comedic actor years ago, Eddie Murphy will be the latest to receive the prestigious Mark Twain Prize for Humor from The Kennedy Center. He’ll be joining the ranks of Richard Pryor, Carl Reiner, Carol Burnett, Will Ferrell, George Carlin, and more this weekend.

We’ll be curious to see where Murphy will head next after receiving one of comedy’s top honors, especially seeing where he has gone after his Spike TV tribute or his very brief appearance after Chris Rock’s heartfelt speech about him at The SNL 40th Anniversary.

Eddie Murphy Will Be The Next Recipient of The Mark Twain Prize For Humor

April 9, 2015

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(via NY Times)

Maybe this will be the thing that will have Eddie Murphy return to telling jokes on stage?

Following Richard Pryor, Jonathan Winters, Carl Reiner, Whoopi Goldberg, Bob Newhart, Lily Tomlin, Lorne Michaels, Steve Martin, Neil Simon, Billy Crystal, George Carlin, Bill Cosby, Tina Fey, Will Ferrell, Ellen DeGeneres, Carol Burnett, and Jay Leno, Eddie Murphy will be the latest to receive the prestigious Mark Twain Prize For Humor from The Kennedy Center.

With a tribute on Spike TV, some touching remarks from Chris Rock at the SNL 40th Anniversary, and now this Mark Twain Prize, we wonder if there is a ratio of tribute specials to live comedy appearances where he does a little more than say thank you.

Stephen Colbert to Host “The Kennedy Center Honors” Before Taking Over “The Late Show”

November 19, 2014

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(via The Washington Post)

While The Colbert Report comes to a close on Dec. 18th, you’ll have a chance to see Stephen Colbert host once more not too long after that. Of course, Colbert is set to take over The Late Show, but he’s also now going to host the annual Kennedy Center Honors set to broadcast on Dec. 30th on CBS after taping on Dec. 7th.

Lily Tomlin and Tom Hanks are among the honorees and will undoubtedly be fun to see next to or around Colbert, post-Colbert Report.

Carol Burnett Next In Line For Mark Twain Prize For Humor

May 21, 2013

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Carol Burnett Next In Line For Mark Twain Prize For Humor

Congratulations to Carol Burnett for being set to receive this prestigious honor from The Kennedy Center, The Mark Twain Prize for Humor. A whole generation of young folks will hopefully either know who she is and why she deserves the award or learn it as a result of Burnett getting this prize.