Mark Twain Prize

UPDATE – And like that, he’s dead. George Carlin passed away yesterday from complications due to a heart attack from what I hear. He will be missed.

George Carlin is set to be the recipient of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. I didn’t know there was such a thing. Apparently it’s only been around for eleven years. The comedians that have won it to date are:

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

PBS will be broadcasting the awards in Novemeber. That’s a pretty good list right there. Granted there are a whole bunch of funny folk that could be there. Carlin is certainly one of the funniest folks I know that are still drawing breath. He informed the sense of snark I have, thankfully balanced by a love of The Cos and Jerry Clower. I listened to every comic album I could lay my hands on by all three of these guys.

So before I bless you with some youtubery of the greatness that is Carlin, who has yet to be on the list that should be? Who will be on there in twenty-five years? Is there anyone that shouldn’t be?

My answers and some vids after the jump.

Language Warning (of course)

7 Words

Things That Come Off Your Body

Hippie Dippy Weatherman

Who should be on it? Carol Burnett, Mel Brooks
Who will be? Hopefully the above and in addition some “newer” comedians like Seinfeld and maube Seth Rogen.
Who shouldn’t be? Whoopi maybe? I mean she was funny back in the day, but is she in the same league as the others?

  • Ali

    Robin Williams.
    Definitely Mel Brooks.
    Monty Python Cast.
    Benny Hills.

  • http://sidfaiwu.com/blog sidfaiwu

    Bob Saget!
    Carrot Top!

    …okay, seriously, most of my favorite humorists are all British. Too make things worse, I don’t know many comedians’ names. I didn’t even recognize half the list! But I’ll definitely second the Mel Brooks suggestion.

  • Ali

    Robin Williams.
    Definitely Mel Brooks.
    Monty Python Cast.
    Benny Hills.

  • Scott

    Sid, which ones don’t you recognize? Actually Saget’s standup is wicked sharp.
    Ali I like your suggestions, but Python and Hill are exempt being British. Robin should DEFINTELY get an award.

  • http://sidfaiwu.com/blog sidfaiwu

    Now you’re just asking me to embarrass myself. Okay, the names I don’t recognize are Jonathan Winters, Carl Reiner, Lily Tomlin, Lorne Michaels, and Neil Simon. Some of the names I’ve definitely heard, Lily Tomlin and Lorne Michaels for instance, but I couldn’t tell you who they were or what they do/did.

  • Scott

    Part of that might be a function of your age. You should hit youtube for some Winters stuff. Reiner made a bunch of movies. Micaels invented SNL. Lily Tomlin is crazy funny. Youtube will be your friend. If you like good comedy spend some time looking them up.

  • Scott

    Neil Simon is a playwright. Check IMDB and I bet you’ll have heard of his movies too.

  • Kansas Bob

    I loved Jonathan Winters and Newhart. Suspect that Seinfeld and Williams will one day be added … and maybe Leno? He does make me laugh..

  • http://sidfaiwu.com/blog sidfaiwu

    I wouldn’t be surprised to see Bill Cosby on the list one day.

  • http://sidfaiwu.com/blog sidfaiwu

    What about some of the really old guys like Abbot and Costello or W.C. Fields? Perhaps the Three Stooges, Laural and Hardy, and Charley Chapman as well. They’d make fine additions.

  • http://darwen.us/southcon/ Darrell

    I saw the presentation in ’98 when they gave the award to the late, great Richard Pryor. I remember Chris Rock coming out to, ostensibly, praise Pryor and, instead, ranting about how Mark Twain himself was a racist. I remember sitting there thinking “Huh?” and “Man, I used to really like Chris Rock.”

  • Kansas Bob

    Hard to believe that Carlin passed away yesterday. I loved Al Sleet!

  • Scott

    Yeah when I heard that this morning I freaked out a little thinking about this post.

  • http://sidfaiwu.com/blog sidfaiwu

    It’s sad news, but why freak out?

  • Scott

    Oh just the timing was interesting. I was like, “Man I just posted about him.” That’s all.

  • http://www.theartofgettingby.com Janet

    Mark Twain prize for American humor? I guess you really do learn something new every day.

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