Today's not Conan O'Brien's birthday, but there's reason to celebrate anyway as just the other day The John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington D.C. presented the man with the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. Now, you may have heard that thanks to an "Executive Order", TJFKCFPA has come under the thumb of the current occupant of the White House, something that may have been on O'Brien's mind as he gave his acceptance speech:
I've watched many of these Mark Twain Prize telecasts over the years, and the recipients very rarely mention the man the prize was named after, so as a Twain fan it pleases me to no end that O'Brien did and did so at such great length.
It also makes me think I should include an accompanying video of Twain, but that's not really possible. Late in life he did appear on film, but it was silent film, so we're denied the Great Man's acerbic witticisms. The best I can do is this:
And that's what Conan was talking about!
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The Mark Twain Prize seems to have passed Ruth Buzzi by, but that's the Kennedy Center's loss and not the loss for those of us who lived through a time when she was a regular, and a regularly hilarious, presence on television. Buzzi was best known for Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In and on that once-well-known rapid-fire sketch comedy show she was best known for her portrayal of homely, purse-battering Gladys Ormphby, but she played other characters as well. Perusing through what YouTube has to offer, the following comedy of manners is what gave me the biggest laugh:
Twain, that old foe of propriety, would have loved it.
Bravo to Conan O’Brien who demonstrated that the best humorists are those with great insight and intelligence.
ReplyDeleteWe need the likes of Twain and O'Brien more than ever, Mitchell.
DeleteWhat a tragedy that this great institution is being besieged by the Philistines in Washington.
ReplyDeleteDavid, at least O'Brien got one last shot before it's turned into a re-eductation camp benefit.
DeleteI enjoyed all three of these videos, thanks! One of my favourite Mark Twain truth-tellings is "The War Prayer," particularly the stunning performance of it by Edward Herrmann for PBS about 40 years ago. Unfortunately it was recorded on videotape, not film, so its visual quality has not stood the test of time. But Twain's observations and sentiments certainly have --
ReplyDeletehttps://youtu.be/sVYIRbmxHpc?si=hCVuT4djObBgqKNs
Thank you so much, Debra. I've read "The War Prayer" but did not know there was a film of it out there somewhere. I nearly fell out of my seat at that guttural "AMEN!", and the uncomprehending expressions of the churchgoers were just too much. Edward Herrmann was such a good actor. I'm going to have to do a post on him one of these days.
DeleteI have only seen a little of Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In and found it to be extremely funny indeed! I should check it out more. The one scene I do remember is Peter Sellers explaining cricket to Goldie Hawn! I used to play cricket so that stuck in my head!
ReplyDeleteI have no idea who Conan is sorry.
Ananka, Conan is a comedian who had a series of late-night talk shows here in the U.S. And Goldie Hawn was indeed one of the bigger stars to emerge from Laugh-In.
DeleteLaugh-In was broadcast here and I only vaguely recall her. I love the character name, Amy Vandergilt.
ReplyDeleteLaugh-In was Buzzi's original claim to fame, Andrew, so you saw her at her best.
DeleteI like her :D
ReplyDeleteWelcome to SOAD, Kinga.
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