Latest news with #MarkTwainPrizeforAmericanHumor
Express Tribune
03-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Bill Burr fires back at journalists with bold remarks about Elon Musk and Luigi Mangione
Bill Burr has sparked controversy once again with his blunt remarks towards journalists who pressed him about Elon Musk and the Free Luigi Mangione movement. During the 2025 Mark Twain Prize for American Humor ceremony, Burr, who was there to support Conan O'Brien, found himself in the hot seat when asked about his opinions on these topics. Bill Burr refuses the media bait: "You journalists need to get your balls back" — COMBATE |🇵🇷 (@upholdreality) April 2, 2025 When questioned about the Free Luigi movement, Burr responded sharply, dismissing the inquiry by saying that he had already expressed his views and felt journalists hadn't done their homework. The situation escalated when Burr was asked about Elon Musk's role in government, a subject he has often avoided. Burr responded by saying he doesn't follow the news and doesn't believe it's a comedian's responsibility to address such matters. However, it was Burr's response to the journalists that really caught attention. He told them, 'You guys need to have balls again — which you don't,' criticizing their tendency to shy away from bold stances. Burr, known for his outspoken nature, made it clear that he believed journalists should take more responsibility for their own narratives, rather than relying on others to provide their opinions. Burr's comments continue to stir debate, highlighting his frustration with media coverage and his tendency to challenge societal norms. While his bluntness is part of his comedic style, these remarks are likely to spark further conversations about media responsibility and the role of celebrities in political discourse.
Washington Post
27-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
American art is no place for partisan politics
This past Sunday, Americans ought to have been able to unambiguously celebrate Conan O'Brien's extraordinary contributions to comedy at the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor ceremony held at the Kennedy Center. Unfortunately, this year's event was partially overshadowed by the removal of the leaders who made this occasion possible — especially former Kennedy Center chair David Rubenstein. As a co-creator of the Mark Twain Prize, a former Kennedy Center board member and — until a few weeks ago — special adviser to the chairman, I have witnessed firsthand David's unyielding commitment to American culture. His leadership was essential, even-keeled and patriotic. That's why his termination makes me deeply concerned for the future of American culture: If we can't unite behind the ideals David represented, what can unify us?
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘A real fear': Nikki Glaser says she's scared to make political jokes in the Trump era
Comedian Nikki Glaser is warning about the chilling effect Donald Trump's second term has had on the country's comedy landscape. Glaser said there's 'a real fear' among some comedians that they could be 'detained' over political jokes, especially those involving the president. 'Like, you just are scared that you're gonna get doxxed and death threats, or who knows where this leads, like, detained,' Glaser told Deadline on Sunday. 'Honestly, that's not even like a joke,' she continued. 'It's like a real fear. So it's unfortunate that that's true, but I'm not gonna lie and say I don't think about that sometimes and go, 'Oh, God. Can I just say, I hope they all know, I can be up on the gallows and say I was just joking. I'm a comedian.' I hope that that's a defense.' The comedian, known for brutally honest celebrity roasts, also told The Hill she no longer 'felt safe' including political jokes in her routines. 'I missed that moment where I could say stuff, because I had a point of view and I felt safe speaking to that,' Glaser said. 'I went from being like, 'I don't want to talk about politics because I don't want to alienate anyone,' to like, 'I want to talk about it but now I'm scared to.' And that's just that's a s‑‑‑-y place to be.' Glaser made the comments at Sunday's ceremony for the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. The event, celebrating honoree Conan O'Brien, was held in the shadow of a slow-rolling controversy at the performing arts center. Back in February, Trump fired multiple members of the board of trustees and appointed himself chairman. Trump vowed to rid the center of 'woke' influences, drag shows and 'anti-American propaganda.' Not all of Glaser's fellow comedians shied away from mocking the president at Sunday's ceremony. John Mulaney joked that the Kennedy Center would soon be renamed 'The Roy Cohn Pavilion for Big, Strong Men Who Love 'Cats,'' a reference to Trump's late mentor, political fixer Roy Cohn and the president's affinity for the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical. Will Ferrell said the event was a distraction since he was 'supposed to be shutting down the Department of Education' instead of attending. During his acceptance speech, O'Brien appeared to make a thinly veiled reference to Trump in his praise for the prize's namesake, telling the crowd, 'Twain hated bullies ... He punched up, not down. And he deeply, deeply empathized with the weak ... Twain was allergic to hypocrisy and he loathed racism. Twain was suspicious of populism, jingoism, imperialism, the money-obsessed mania of the Gilded Age and any expression of mindless American might or self-importance.' 'Above all, Twain was a patriot in the best sense of the world,' O'Brien added. 'He loved America but knew it was deeply flawed. Twain wrote, 'Patriotism is supporting your country all of the time and your government when it deserves it.'' This article was originally published on
The Hill
24-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hill
Nikki Glaser says she's ‘scared' to tell political jokes
Comedian Nikki Glaser says she went from being too 'angry' to tell political jokes to being too fearful. 'I'm at the point now that if I don't say something political, it's because I'm scared to, not because I'm like, I don't think I have a right to do that,' Glaser said Sunday at the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor ceremony at the Kennedy Center in Washington. 'It's now like I missed that moment where I could say stuff because I had a point of view and I felt safe speaking to that. And I totally missed that,' Glaser, who hosted the Golden Globes in January, said. 'I went from being like, 'I don't want to talk about politics because I don't want to alienate anyone,' to like, 'I want to talk about it but now I'm scared to.' And that's just that's a s—-y place to be,' the 40-year-old comic said. Asked what she's scared of, Glaser replied, 'Of getting on some sort of list because I spoke in opposition to the powers-that-be. Who wouldn't be? I'm not stupid. I see how this stuff works.' 'But I'm just joking,' she said of any future political barbs. 'Everything I say is a joke. I'm a comedian,' she said. Glaser's remarks about the current political climate for comedians came after ITK questioned whether she still considers herself 'too angry' to perform wisecracks related to politics. 'I don't do any political jokes. I just steer away from it,' she told ITK last year. 'If I get too angry, sometimes it can be funny, but it's like I'm too angry to be funny and people can sense that. It turns you off when you're watching someone just like rage and lose control,' she said at the time.
The Guardian
24-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Comedians roast Trump as Conan O'Brien honored at Kennedy Center
Leading comedians have defied Donald Trump's takeover of the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in a show that one described as 'the most entertaining gathering of the resistance, ever'. Trump did not attend Sunday's Mark Twain Prize for American Humor honouring Conan O'Brien for lifetime achievement in comedy. But his ears may have been burning as comics and celebrities joked at his expense in what became a rallying cry for freedom of artistic expression. None was more direct than Sarah Silverman, who told how she had appeared on O'Brien's late night TV show. 'They wrote a bit where Conan interviews Hitler, who comes on because he's embarrassed that he's being compared to Donald Trump,' she recalled, 'and they cast me as Hitler'. Silverman, a Jewish woman, was not an obvious choice for the part. 'They chose me and it's this way of thinking that makes Conan great again.' Turning to look at O'Brien, who has ginger hair, she added: 'I just really miss the days when you were America's only orange asshole.' The audience erupted in laughter. Silverman also referenced an episode of O'Brien's show in which she took a sideways photo of his mouth so that it resembled a vagina. She urged the audience to look under their seats for a photo of O'Brien's lips then alluded to Trump's notorious boast on Access Hollywood about touching women's genitals. 'You go ahead and leave those photos on your seat when you go. The guy who took over loves grabbing pussy.' Trump's seizure of the Kennedy Center in Washington has shaken the arts world. That change has come to the flagship venue was clear from the moment celebrities walked a red carpet opposite a wall mounted with gold-framed photos of Trump, first lady Melania Trump, and the vice-president and second lady, JD Vance and Usha Vance. It was the first signature event here since Trump last month appointed himself chair, pushing out billionaire philanthropist David Rubenstein. He also dismissed board members appointed by Joe Biden and installed officials loyal to him. Trump handed leadership reins for the Kennedy Center to Richard Grenell, a close ally and former ambassador to Germany who is serving as envoy for special missions in the current administration. The new board, which includes the White House chief of staff, Susie Wiles, and Usha Vance, fired the center's president, Deborah Rutter. Trump posted on social media that those who were dismissed 'do not share our Vision for a Golden Age in Arts and Culture'. Several artists, including the producers of musical Hamilton and actor and writer Issa Rae, have announced they are cancelling appearances at the venue. Ticket sales have also slumped. On Sunday night a series of comedians paying tribute to O'Brien did not pull their punches, with many targeting the institution's uncertain future and some implying that the prize itself would be unlikely to survive the Trump era. John Mulaney said: 'It's an honour to be here at the Kennedy Center or, as it will be known next week, the Roy Cohn Pavilion for Big, Strong Men Who Love Cats'. Cohn, a hardboiled lawyer, was Trump's mentor. Trump praised Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical Cats during a visit to the arts complex last week. Mulaney added: 'Congratulations to my friend Conan O'Brien on receiving the 26th and final Mark Twain prize.' Will Ferrell described the event as a distraction because 'I'm supposed to be shutting down the Department of Education'. In a segment involving increasingly spicy chicken wings, late night host Stephen Colbert said: 'In light of the new leadership of the Kennedy Center, all of these are right wings and a couple of them are truly insane.' Praising O'Brien, Colbert continued: 'He never backs down. Case in point, when he accepted the Mark Twain prize, this was a very different place. Today they announced two board members: Bashar al-Assad and Skeletor' – referring to the former dictator of Syria and a cartoon villain. David Letterman, another giant of late night, acknowledged the iconoclastic mood in the auditorium when he said: 'I'm not a historian, but I believe that history will show in the history for all time, this will have been the most entertaining gathering of the resistance, ever.' O'Brien was chosen to replace David Letterman as host of NBC's Late Night show in 1993 despite no significant on-camera experience. He had spent the previous years as a writer for Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons but went on to host Late Night for 16 years. He went on to host another talkshow on the cable station TBS, while launching successful podcasts and travel shows, and hosted this year's Oscars. Not known as a political satirist, O'Brien used his accepted speech on Sunday to make pointed comments about the current climate. 'Thanks to the people who invited me here a few months ago, Deborah Rutter and David Rubenstein,' he said. 'Honestly, I don't know why they're not here tonight. I lost wifi in January. I guess they're stuck in traffic. 'And a special thanks to all the beautiful people who have worked here at the Kennedy Center for years and who are worried about what the future might bring. My eternal thanks for their selfless devotion to the arts.' The audience stood, clapping and whooping. Standing beside the prize, a bust of 19th-century writer and humorist Twain, O'Brien went on to note: 'Twain hated bullies … He punched up, not down, and he deeply, deeply empathised with the weak. Twain was allergic to hypocrisy and he loathed racism. 'Twain was suspicious of populism, jingoism, imperialism, the money-obsessed mania of the Gilded Age and any expression of mindless American might or self-importance.' He added: 'Above all, Twain was a patriot in the best sense of the world. He loved America but knew it was deeply flawed. Twain wrote, 'Patriotism is supporting your country all of the time and your government when it deserves it.'' Again the audience roared its approval. But the night ended on a suitably lighthearted and zany note as performers dressed as Twain danced on stage while O'Brien and Adam Sandler played Neil Young's Rockin' in the Free World. Previous winners of the Mark Twain prize include Kevin Hart, Sandler, Jon Stewart, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Carol Burnett. Sunday's show will be streamed on Netflix on 4 May.
