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Mark Twain

Humor must not professedly teach, and it must not professedly preach, but it must do both if it would live forever. — Mark Twain		 Mark Twain Prize for American Humor
Will Ferrell

Celebrating Will Ferrell

Broadcast information

The Fourteenth Annual Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize aired on PBS stations nationwide on Monday, October 31 at 9 p.m. ET(check local listings). Incase you missed the broadcast, watch the show below or check out some great moments and interviews with the performers on the videos page.

The 2011 Mark Twain Prize

Taped at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on October 23, the 90-minute special featured a star-studded cast of Ferrell's friends and colleagues including top entertainers Ed Asner, Jack Black, Matthew Broderick, Adam McKay, Conan O'Brien, John C. Reilly, Paul Rudd, Molly Shannon and more. The evening paid tribute to the humor and accomplishments of the popular writer, actor and producer.

Watch the 2011 Mark Twain Prize Celebrating Will Ferrell:


The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humor was created in 1998 by The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Mark Krantz, Peter Kaminsky and Bob Kaminsky and John Schreiber to recognize the art of humorists who have had an impact on American society in ways similar to the distinguished 19th century novelist and essayist best known as Mark Twain. As a social commentator, satirist and creator of characters, Samuel Clemens was a fearless observer of society, who startled many while delighting and informing many more with his uncompromising perspective of social injustice and personal folly. He revealed the great truth of humor when he said, "Against the assault of laughter nothing can stand." Will Ferrell will be presented with a copy of an 1884 bronze portrait bust of Mark Twain, sculpted by Karl Gerhardt (1853-1940). The bust and its images are courtesy of the Mark Twain House, Hartford, Connecticut.

Credits

Will Ferrell: The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize is a production of WETA Washington, D.C.; CoMedia; Mark Krantz Productions; Cappy Productions and The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Executive producers are Bob Kaminsky, Peter Kaminsky, Mark Krantz, Cappy McGarr and Michael Kaiser. WETA executive producers are Dalton Delan and David S. Thompson. Click here for a full list of credits.