Mark Twain Joke

Last year I complained about Will Ferrell winning the Mark Twain Prize for American humor.  Since the award was first handed out in 1998, by and large it's been given to titans who've been major names in comedy for decades.

Then, two years ago, Tina Fey won.  I could almost see it, since she'd done well on SNL, prime time TV and movies, and was an actor and a writer, and a bit of a trailblazer.  Even then, though, she was too young and there were too many others more deserving.

Then, with Ferrell, you at least had a guy who did well on TV and became a movie star, but still is hardly someone I'd put in the top rank, and also someone who is still arguably in mid-career.

Now this year the recipient is Ellen DeGeneres. Come on.  She was a decent stand-up who starred in a passable sitcom and now has a daytime talk show.  Here are some of the names who haven't been given the award: Woody Allen, Mel Brooks, Carol Burnett, Don Rickles, Jerry Seinfeld, Robin Williams, Eddie Murphy, Bill Murray.

The Prize was a wonderful chance to honor greats.  Instead it's become...well I'm not sure what it is any more, but its value has certainly been cheapened.