An award , sometimes called a distinction , is given to a recipient as a token of recognition of excellence in a certain field. When the token is a medal, ribbon or other item designed for wearing, it is known as a decoration .
19-651: The Mark Twain Prize for American Humor is an American award presented by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. annually since 1998, except for the years 2020 and 2021. Named after the 19th-century humorist Mark Twain , it is presented to individuals who have "had an impact on American society in ways similar to" Twain. The Kennedy Center chose Twain in recognition of his role as
38-441: A title of honor , and an object of direct cash value, such as prize money or a scholarship . Furthermore, an honorable mention is an award given, typically in education , that does not confer the recipient(s) a higher standing but is considered worth mentioning in an honourable way. An award may be conferred as a state decoration by a sovereign state , dynasty or other public authority (see fount of honour ), or
57-584: A controversial social commentator and his "uncompromising perspective of social injustice and personal folly." A copy of Karl Gerhardt 's 1884 bust of Twain is presented in a ceremony usually in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall, during which the recipient is celebrated by his or her peers. The event is a significant fundraiser to benefit the Kennedy Center, which sells tickets as well as access to dinners and after-parties featuring
76-527: A private organisation or individual. The latter may also include ecclesiastical authorities, such as in the case of ecclesiastical awards . For example, the Nobel Prize recognizes contributions to society, while the Pulitzer Prize honors literary achievements. An award may be a public acknowledgment of excellence without any tangible token or prize. Awards for sports tournaments often take
95-558: A producer, a stand-up comedian and a media proprietor , among others. In awarding the prize to Lorne Michaels in 2004, a Canadian-American, McGarr explained that "the Mark Twain Prize honors American humor, not necessarily American humorists". According to a 2013 article in The Washington Post , little is known about the selection process to receive the award. A Kennedy Center spokeswoman stated, "A short list
114-470: Is "to honor the greatest contributors to American comedy of our time". Each awardee has a background in humor which has been a source of joy for many, showcased extensively on more than one occasion in more than one form, and as a part of the American comedic tradition having influenced industry and culture, is a legacy for American humorists to take inspiration from. Awardees have included a writer, an actor,
133-457: Is an entrepreneur who controls any means of public or commercial mass media , through the personal ownership or holding of a dominant position within a media conglomerate or enterprise. Those with significant control of a large media -based forum may also be called a business magnate . Since the advent of social media , influencers and entertainers who have garnered large followings on platforms have also been considered media proprietors. In
152-569: Is compiled by the executive producers [of the ceremony] and presented to a group comprised of representatives from the Kennedy Center board of trustees , as well as the Kennedy Center senior management and programming staff". But McGarr stated in 2013 that "there's really no committee... It's really a consensus decision. There's not any single person who decides." He also added the award's executive producers — McGarr, Mark Krantz and Peter and Bob Kaminsky — have always decided in consultation with
171-428: Is often awarded to an individual, a student, athlete or representative of a group of people, be it an organisation , a sports team or a whole country . The award item may be a decoration or an insignia suitable for wearing, such as a medal , badge , award pin or rosette . It can also be a token object such as a certificate , diploma , championship belt , trophy or plaque . The award may also be accompanied by
190-426: The Kennedy Center's chairman and president, David Rubenstein and Michael Kaiser . He also stated that the primary criteria is that "to choose people who've had a full lifetime of making us laugh and who've had a great influence on the people who've followed them." Award An award may be described by three aspects: 1) to whom it is given to 2) what 3) by whom, all varying according to purpose. The recipient
209-476: The United States, newspaper proprietors first became prominent in the 19th century with the development of mass circulation newspapers. In the 20th century, proprietorship expanded to include ownership of radio and television networks, as well as film studios, publishing houses, online platforms, and other forms of multimedia companies. Reflecting this, the term "press baron" was replaced by "media baron" and
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#1732775645531228-461: The appropriateness of participation awards for students in United States schools. A relative field to awards is phaleristics , an auxiliary science of history and numismatics which studies orders , fraternities and award items , such as medals and other decorations. Media proprietor A media proprietor , also called a media executive , media mogul or media tycoon ,
247-516: The award thrice. Robin Williams had also refused the award. Since Carl Reiner , honorees are given the opportunity to meet the president, although some refuse. Twain had interactions with Ulysses S. Grant and Theodore Roosevelt . McGarr, a former Kennedy Center board member who is a co-founder and co-executive producer of the Twain Prize, writes in his book that the mission of the prize
266-401: The award was CNN, and in 2024, a multi-year partnership with Netflix was announced. Carol Burnett received the award at age 80 in 2013, while the youngest recipient has been actress and comedian Tina Fey , at age 40 in 2010. The Kennedy Center's intent is to give the award to living persons, but one recipient, George Carlin , died in 2008 before receiving his award. Carlin died five days after
285-574: The celebrities. As of 2024, 25 individuals have been awarded the award: six women and 19 men. Bill Cosby 's award was rescinded by the Kennedy Center in 2018. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic , there were no awards in 2020 or 2021. In 1997, Murray Horwitz brought the idea of a dedicated comedy award, on par with the Oscars , Grammy Awards or Tony Awards , to John Schreiber and Mark Krantz, partners in an entertainment firm. The original conceptualization
304-419: The form of cups , following a tradition harking back to the ancient Greek tripod given to winners in athletic contests. The Stanley Cup is a modern example. In contrast, awards for employee recognition often take the form of plaques or crystal pieces. An award may carry a monetary prize given to the recipient. Finally, an award may recognize participation rather than victory. There is controversy regarding
323-470: The official press release that he would be awarded the prize. Bill Cosby accepted his award at the Kennedy Center in 2009. He had twice refused the award, stating that he was disappointed with the profanity used in the inaugural ceremony honoring Richard Pryor. After Cosby was convicted of sexual assault in 2018, the Center stripped Cosby of his award and his 1998 Kennedy Center Honors. Mel Brooks has refused
342-399: The show. At this stage it was decided to name the prize after Mark Twain. The inaugural recipient of the award was Richard Pryor . The first two years of the prize honoring Pryor and Jonathan Winters were taped and broadcast on Comedy Central . From 2000 to 2022, the award presentations were taped for broadcast on PBS .( McGarr 2021 , pp. 173, Chapter 27) In 2023, the broadcaster for
361-593: Was an award which would celebrate one comedian, unlike the Kennedy Center Honors , which were more all-encompassing, and the venue would be the White House . They took the idea to Ann Stock , then the White House social secretary . The White House was considered an inappropriate venue at the time, so the Kennedy Center was suggested. Bob Kaminsky, Peter Kaminsky and Cappy McGarr were brought onboard and Comedy Central would coproduce and broadcast
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