Carol Burnett receives Mark Twain Prize for comedy

[n2doc]

US comedian Carol Burnett has been honoured with the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.

Dame Julie Andrews, Tony Bennett and Tina Fey were among those who performed in her honour at the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts on Sunday.

Burnett's variety show began in the 1960s and ran for 11 years, averaging 30 million viewers a week.

"This is very encouraging... it was a long time in coming," Burnett joked as she accepted the prize.

She added: "I understand because there are so many people funnier than I am, especially here in Washington.

"With any luck, they'll soon get voted out, and I'll still have the Mark Twain Prize."

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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-24607553

[L0oniX]

1. Well deserved.

[Egnever]

2. Love her comments

She's still go it.

[pscot]

3. She never made me laugh

or even smile. Not that that means much.

[Tikki]

11. Me either..

But, a lot of people enjoyed her work...so congratulations.


Tikki

[Auggie]

4. Why hasn't Mel Brooks won this award yet? Who makes these decisions?

1998 – Richard Pryor
1999 – Jonathan Winters
2000 – Carl Reiner
2001 – Whoopi Goldberg
2002 – Bob Newhart
2003 – Lily Tomlin
2004 – Lorne Michaels
2005 – Steve Martin
2006 – Neil Simon
2007 – Billy Crystal
2008 – George Carlin
2009 – Bill Cosby
2010 – Tina Fey
2011 – Will Ferrell
2012 – Ellen DeGeneres
2013 – Carol Burnett

Tina Fey, Will Ferrell and Ellen DeGeneres before Mel? Seriously?

[joeybee12]

5. I agree...Tina and Ellen should eventually get it...

But there are legends they need to honor first!

[Auggie]

7. Mel Brooks is a game changer,

like Pryor, Winters, Reiner, Newhart, Michaels, Martin, Simon, Carlin and Cosby. He should have been named much earlier. I'm surprised Larry Gelbart and Woody Allen are absent too.

Fucking Will Ferrell?

[Beacool]

9. I'm surprised that he hasn't won yet.

I didn't know that. Of course Brooks deserves the award. I hope that they rectify this error.

[Orrex]

13. Mel was disqualified for life because of Robin Hood: Men in Tights

Spaceballs put him on probation, but RHMiT was the last straw.

[Auggie]

28. He redeemed himself on Broadway

[Orrex]

32. Jury's still out

The scars are deep.


Aside from those two films, I really do think he's amazing. His performans in The Muppet Movie should earn him the title all by itself!

[pscot]

19. Sid Caeser, Ernie Kovacs, the Smothers Brothers

Bill Murray, Lucille Ball. Gleason, Carroll O'Connor.... Who makes these decisions?

[Faygo Kid]

21. They don't do posthmous. Smothers Brothers my first choice.

The only posthumous award they've done is George Carlin, who died after the announcement was made.

The Smothers Brothers have long been my first choice. They were big time game-changers, and should be recognized. Funnier than hell, too.

[Auggie]

27. Norman Lear is still alive too

[pscot]

35. But subversive

And Sid Caesar isn't dead. Brooks and Reiner came out of his Dojo.

[Faygo Kid]

41. I like subversive. The Smothers Brothers were - are - important.

[Benton D Struckcheon]

31. Will Ferrell???

Mongo! Santamaria!!!

[Gidney N Cloyd]

34. At least Brooks got the AFI life achievment award this year.

[Beacool]

6. More than well deserved.

I used to like watching her show as a kid. I don't think that anyone can think of "Gone With The Wind" without seeing in their minds Carol coming down the staircase dressed in green velvet drapes, with the tassel as a bonnet and the curtain rod still attached to the drapes. Ditto for Gloria Swanson. LOL!!!

[pinboy3niner]

8. "I saw it in the window and I just couldn't resist it."

[Beacool]

10. I have seen it a million times and it still makes me laugh!!!

[AnneD]

22. One of my favs too...

I still chuckle.

I think Mel Brooks should be recognized. He was always cutting edge. The Producers and Blazing Saddles were ahead of their time.

[MADem]

26. MY FIRST THOUGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[vduhr]

30. I thought of that one too.

The curtain rod was perfect.

[Kaleva]

14. That skit is a classic!

[Beacool]

16. Yes, it is.

I've even seen it in other countries while traveling.

[Kaleva]

18. A link to the skit

[Beacool]

25. Thank you!!!

[malaise]

39. ROFL

I never tire of that skit

[longship]

12. I guess it's curtains for the rest of the candidates, then.

R&K

[Beacool]

15. Good one.

My other favorite was the Gloria Swanson skits. "Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up".

That was a great show, something that the whole family could enjoy.

[Orrex]

17. That picture makes her look like she's in treatment

[Dustlawyer]

20. I miss those days watching TV with the family. I was the TV remote!

We only had 3 channels, but that was all we needed, hell, we only had 1 TV! Great programming and REAL NEWS! We miss you Walter Cronkite!

[Cleita]

24. That's the truth.

We had more quality programming and news with those three channels than we have with 200+ today.

[Cleita]

23. Great. She was one of my dad's favorites on the

Gary Moore show and later on her own show. She put a smile on his face during his waning years and me too after he was gone.

[Arugula Latte]

29. I'll echo the "well deserved" remarks.

[11 Bravo]

33. Even though Carol didn't deliver the line, I never laughed harder at a TV skit than this:

[Divine Discontent]

37. he always got 'em! n/t

[Divine Discontent]

36. so deserved! she's incredibly talented. n/t

http://www.zazzle.com/shutdown_the_gop_by_voting_in_2014_government-128195183613839642?rf=238107662556833486

[malaise]

38. Can't wait for the PBS showing n/t

[libnnc]

40. If this doesn't make you smile, check your pulse.

Here she is, with her husband Brian Miller, meeting the POTUS.



I'm in the Tina Fey camp. My adoration of Ms. Burnett stops just short of creepy.

[Rhiannon12866]

42. Loved her show when I was a kid. She's certainly a national treasure.

And I remember seeing the "curtains in the window" sketch first run.