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mark twain prize

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TCB Debriefing 11/14 & 11/15/23: David Drake, Chicken Run, John Oliver/Pūteketeke, Jon Stewart, Coyote vs. Acme, Jimmy Kimmel/Oscars, Kevin Hart

November 15, 2023
News
aardman, annapurna, chicken run, coyote vs acme, david drake, jimmy kimmel, john oliver, jon stewart, kevin hart, mark twain prize, netflix, oscars

1. Though self-deprecation is one of the most common modes of stand-up comedy, very few comedians are actually good enough to pull it off as an entire facet of their onstage persona. This is where NYC staple David Drake thrives. Drake’s debut hour, That’s It, special showcases the precarious balance that he achieves of savagely making fun of how crestfallen his life is, but being cool, calm, and collected about it all the same time. Drake’s career as an under-the-table mover or an existential love crisis involving some M or AO rated video game is shared with enough candor, but enough comedic/emotional distance to illicit big laughs/applause for the whole hour. Essentially, the simple, but very hard trick of making fun of yourself as a comedian is getting the audience, on an unconscious level, to know that you’re actually OK (but not so OK that it sounds like you’re flat out lying). A la the name of the special, ‘that’s it’ and Drake does that pretty flawlessly. Enjoy That’s It now for free at your convenience on YouTube here.

2. The charm of Aardman remains undeniable as the sequel to Chicken Run, Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, unveils its first official trailer. Their charm as a studio is so strong with stop animation and delightful British sensibilities that we’d wager this will probably fare better than the MCU’s The Marvels and Pixar’s Elemental when all is said and done.

3. John Oliver succeeded in running away with New Zealand’s Bird of the Century contest as the Pūteketeke won with a resounding landslide to the tune of 300K votes (2nd place didn’t cross the threshold of 20K votes) (NPR) after doing a segment on Last Week Tonight, buying billboards all across the planet, and appearing on Fallon to promote. This is proof positive that American/British meddling in the rest of the world is alive and well.

4. Apple might not get away with citing “creative differences” in cancelling The Problem with Jon Stewart this year (Reuters). Stewart’s commentary on China and Apple’s business ties in China might amount to some very (deserved) hot water in Congress for the tech giant.

5. After being shelved as a tax write-off and drawing the ire of a strike-weary Tinseltown and Internet, Warner Discovery has changed course on the live action/animation hybrid Coyote vs. Acme being shopped around for another distributor, which should mean that the general public will get to see it somewhere in the not so distant future (Deadline). To add insult to injury to AMPTP poster boy, David Zaslav, preview screenings from Hollywood/comedy luminaries Phil Lord and Chris Miller only garnered praise making the attempted write-off seem even more brazen and ridiculous.

6. Jimmy Kimmel will return to host The Oscars in 2024 marking his 4th time hosting the legendary awards ceremony (Variety). That still leaves plenty of room to catch up to Billy Crystal and Bob Hope, but we honestly wouldn’t be surprised if Jimmy surpasses both of them (after all, his studio is only across the street from where the awards have happened for so long).

7. Kevin Hart will be the latest recipient for the Mark Twain Prize for Humor, one of comedy’s most prestigious awards, specifically awarded to a comedian that can be credited with changing public discourse with their comedy. Any takers on how many presenters will bring up The Oscars in their speeches “honoring” Hart?

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Kevin Hart (@kevinhart4real)

8. We’ll leave you with this: We’d like to wholeheartedly remind you that comedy is, truly and very deeply, subjective.

Jon Stewart Correctly Warns of Threat to Comedy Being Authoritarianism, Not ‘Woke Police’ in Mark Twain Prize Speech

June 23, 2022
News
jon stewart, mark twain prize, speech

When it was announced that Jon Stewart would be this year’s recipient of The Mark Twain Prize Humor, we said he was the most deserving winner of said award in a very long time.

Jon Stewart, a true icon of modern comedy/political comedy, made good on that notion in his acceptance speech during the annual ceremony held, once more in person, at The Kennedy Center. Stewart weaved plenty of laughs through dedications and thanking the folks honoring him, then reached what the earned-soapbox-moment about comedy not being under threat within the context of cancel culture, but, rather, despots, authoritarians, fascists, etc. that seek to silence and censor any sort of criticism or deviation from their grand vision for their world.

Checking power via comedy with The Daily Show and now, The Problem with Jon Stewart, has been at the core of so much of Stewart’s comedy (even if that power is Arby’s). Again, that’s why he’s the most deserving Mark Twin Prize winner in many, many years.

See all of that for yourself with Jon Stewart’s Mark Twain Prize speech here.

Jon Stewart to Be Latest (and Most Deserving) Recipient of Mark Twain Prize for Humor

January 19, 2022
News
jon stewart, mark twain prize

More often than not, The Mark Twain Prize for American Humor is simply seen as comedy’s highest honor in the U.S. The award is indeed that distinguished, but don’t be fooled into thinking that it’s just about who are the most renowned people in comedy. Specifically, the Kennedy Center, the organization in charge of the award, details the prize going to “…individuals who have had an impact on American society in ways similar to the distinguished 19th-century novelist and essayist Samuel Clemens, best known as Mark Twain.”

Even some of the funniest comedians throughout the history of stand-up, sketch, improv, etc. have not necessarily changed the national dialogue or perspective on the zeitgeist. Arguably, nearly all comedians fall short of that mark, which is why The Mark Twain Prize for American Humor is such a rare honor.

That all said, Jon Stewart with just The Daily Show with Jon Stewart alone has more than earned the merit of this distinction as, announced earlier today, he will be the next recipient of the award. On top of that, there is all of his advocacy, activism, and his return to TV with The Problem with Jon Stewart that almost makes you wonder what took so long for The Mark Twain Prize to go to Stewart (maybe because he wasn’t a cast member or writer on SNL?).

Maybe, had he gotten it in, let’s say 2015, he wouldn’t have left TV the year Trump got elected? That’s truly impossible to say, but, at the very least, Stewart is finally getting this incredibly well deserved bust and recognition.

We’re sure Mark Twain would have something to say about a credit card company sponsoring his award and in the same spirit, we hope Jon Stewart will too.

Breaking news: @JonStewart is the next recipient of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor!

Thanks to our presenting sponsor, @CapitalOne, for helping us celebrate a legendary comedian and satirist in style this spring. #TwainPrize pic.twitter.com/notSkkIT8g

— The Kennedy Center (@kencen) January 19, 2022

Dave Chappelle To Receive Mark Twain Prize for Humor

May 7, 2019
Uncategorized
dave chappelle, mark twain prize, mark twain prize for humor

Dave Chappelle To Receive Mark Twain Prize for Humor

Often, people overlook what specifically the Mark Twain Prize for Humor is given out for and just end up thinking it goes to living legends in comedy. Specifically, the award honors that have a significant cultural impact, perhaps changing the way we think about things, via humor. 

Dave Chappelle, arguably better than many other recent recipients, fits this bill perfectly. No matter what you think of Chappelle, both now and then, he has left an indelible mark on the country (and the world for that matter) with his comedy and has, for many, changed how they see things. Certainly, his acceptance speech will be watched closely (maybe more closely than most of these Mark Twain Prize speeches save for Will Ferrell’s).

His ceremony is set for Oct. 27th at the Kennedy Center and will air likely weeks later. Already, we’re wondering what the odds are that they’ll do a bit where he no shows and hides on another continent.  

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

November 20, 2017
Uncategorized
david letterman, kennedy center, mark twain prize, pbs

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
Uncategorized
david letterman, kennedy center, mark twain prize

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.

Watch Bill Murray’s Mark Twain Prize Acceptance Ceremony on PBS Tonight

October 28, 2016
Uncategorized
bill hader, bill murray, david letterman, emma stone, jimmy kimmel, mark twain prize, pbs, steve martin

The awarding of The Mark Twain Prize for Humor to Bill Murray has already happened. However, it was shot and edited into a special that will air on PBS tonight at 9PM.

You can watch how David Letterman, Steve Martin, Aziz Ansari, Emma Stone, Jimmy Kimmel, Bill Hader, and more pay tribute to Murray and his comedy legacy later this evening.

Bill Murray to Receive Mark Train Prize for Humor

June 13, 2016
Uncategorized
bill murray, kennedy center, mark twain prize

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: The Mark Twain Prize” Special Airs Tonight

November 23, 2015
Uncategorized
eddie murphy, jay pharoah, kevin nealon, mark twain prize, pbs

9PM on PBS.

While Eddie Murphy has already received his actual Mark Twain Prize for Humor at the ceremony, the rest of us only know that he ribbed Bill Cosby during his acceptance speech.

We don’t know what Kevin Nealon Jay Pharoah, and more were up to during the ceremony, but it seems like they were there honoring Eddie in their own particular way. 

We’ll definitely be curious to see if Eddie’s acceptance speech goes a little more into some bits/material/etc.

Eddie Murphy Jokes About Bill Cosby While Receiving Mark Twain Prize

October 19, 2015
Uncategorized
bill cosby, eddie murphy, kennedy center, mark twain prize

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
Uncategorized
eddie murphy, kennedy center, mark twain prize

(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.

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