Conan O'Brien honored at Kennedy Center but Trump targeted by many comics as his moves there loom large
Washington — On a night when half a dozen people made jokes about this being the last-ever Mark Twain Prize, Conan O'Brien made sure the ceremony at the John F.Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts ended on a high note.O'Brien accepted the award for lifetime achievement in comedy Sunday night while acknowledging the backstage turmoil that hangs over the future of the cultural center in Washington.O'Brien, 61, was named the 26th recipient of the Mark Twain Prize in mid-January.Last month, Mr.
Trump dissolved the Kennedy Center's board of directors and named himself chairman.The new board includes political allies like White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, longtime senior Trump aide Dan Scavino, second lady Usha Vance and Fox News host Laura Ingraham.On Sunday, O'Brien specifically thanked Rubenstein and Rutter - drawing an extended round of applause - as well as Kennedy Center staffers who, he said, were "worried about what the future might bring." He said the example of Mark Twain's own life and career was particularly resonant at this moment in American history.
"Twain hated bullies....
He punched up, not down, and he deeply empathized with the weak," O'Brien said."Twain loved America, but he knew it was deeply flawed." A Mark Twain impersonator then emerged from the audience.
After a back-and-forth debate with O'Brien, he joined him on stage and the pair slow danced for a while.They were then joined by a dozen more Twain impersonators and previous Twain Prize recipient Adam Sandler for a raucous rendition of Neil Young's "Rockin in the Free World."Barbs aimed at Trump's Kennedy Center changes That musical ending capped off a night when the uncertain fate of the Kennedy Center itself was woven through the multiple tributes and testimonials to O'Brien.
"I think it would be insane not to address the elephant in the room," comic Nikki Glaser said on the red carpet before the ceremony."It's in the air tonight.
This night i...