Latest in Mark Twain Prize

Jon Stewart will receive the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts’ 23rd Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, the organization announced today. The award will be presented at a gala performance on Sunday, April 24, in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall. "I am truly honored to receive this award,” Stewart said in…

The 43rd annual Kennedy Center Honors, broadcast annually on CBS, and the 23rd Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, on PBS, will be postponed from their usual Fall slots until next spring and summer, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts announced today. The events are among a roster of previously…

Dave Chappelle accepted the Mark Twain Prize at the Kennedy Center on Sunday by expressing gratitude for friends and family, defending the freedom of speech of comedians and by smoking on stage. “What are they going to do? Kick me out before I get the prize?” he quipped to the audience, according to USA Today, after…

UPDATED, 8:22 AM: The Kennedy Center has set the talent lineup for its Mark Twain Prize for American Humor gala celebrating Dave Chappelle. Bradley Cooper, Tiffany Haddish. Kevin Hart, Trevor Noah, Jon Stewart, John Legend and Chrissy Teigen for the October 27 event at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in…

PBS again must tiptoe through a political minefield as it broadcasts the annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. This year it was Julia Louis-Dreyfus’s turn to be feted at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts ceremony. She's best known these days for her work as vice president Selina Meyer on HBO's Veep, for…

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who last year set a record with her sixth consecutive Lead Actress in a Comedy Emmy for starring on HBO’s Veep, will be the recipient of this year’s Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. The honor, in its 21st year being handed out by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, will be…

For the first time since PBS began broadcasting the Kennedy Center’s Mark Twain Prize ceremony in 2000, the program is going to be rebroadcast on another network. TV One announced today it would telecast the 18th Annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor this Friday at 8 PM ET. The Kennedy Center for the Performing…

UPDATED with PBS statement: PBS just issued this statement: “PBS, WETA, and the program producers are in the process of turning last night's The Mark Twain Prize live event into a broadcast show. Our intention is to include Mr. Murphy's acceptance speech in its entirety. In order to comply with FCC regulations…

In a room of comedy legends and more at Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special in February, he was the star attraction. Now the man who brought Axel Foley and some much more to life is being honored by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Eddie Murphy will be the recipient of this year's Mark Twain…

Jay Leno has just booked his next stop on the Career Achievement Award Express. The former Tonight Show host will receive the 17th annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in a gala October 19 at Kennedy Center in Washington DC. Carol Burnett was last year’s honoree of the award, which the John F Kennedy Center for…