Comedy’s “A” List to Honor Carlin

Forget the Kennedy Center Honors. This fall’s toughest ticket might be the Mark Twain Awards on November 10.

Days before George Carlin died in June, the Kennedy Center announced that the controversial comic would receive its prestigious humor prize. After discussions between the Kennedy Center and Carlin’s family, the decision was made to go forward with the ceremony. Carlin will be the first posthumous winner.

Ever since word spread that the show would pay homage to the groundbreaking comedian, the first host of Saturday Night Live, the Kennedy Center has been besieged by the comedy world’s “A” list with offers to help and requests for tickets.

While the program remains in flux, look for the audience and stage to be packed with such past Twain honorees as Whoopi Goldberg and Steve Martin as well as Saturday Night Live alums—perhaps Will Ferrell—and standup pros like Bill Maher. The show will feature clips of Carlin’s work as well as friends reminiscing and telling stories.

This article first appeared in the August 2008 issue of The Washingtonian. For more articles like it, click here. 

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