- Conan O’Brien received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor
- His comedy pals joined to honor him
- However, many used it as an opportunity to roast President Donald Trump
Conan O’Brien is the proud owner of the latest Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. His friends and colleagues recently gathered to pay tribute to him at Washington’s Kennedy Center.
The ceremony was the first to be held at the venue under Donald Trump’s presidency. However, many used the night as an opportunity to poke fun at Trump, who recently seized control of the venue. As a result, many key Kennedy Center players lost their jobs, as Trump installed himself as the venue’s chair.
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Among those present at the ceremony were Will Ferrell, comedians Sarah Silverman and John Mulaney.
While taking a moment to pay tribute to O’Brien’s long-running comedy career, each made a point of roasting Trump for the recent changes he’s made to both the Kennedy Center and the Government.
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Taking to the stage, Ferrell joked with the crowd, saying, “I’m supposed to be shutting down the Department of Education”.
Meanwhile, Mulaney said that the O’Brien was the recipient of “the 26th and final Mark Twain prize.”
He added: “It’s an honour to be here at the Kennedy Center or, as it will be known next week, the Roy Cohn Pavilion for Big, Strong Men Who Love Cats.”
His gag referenced both Trump’s infamous lawyer and the President’s apparent love of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical Cats.
What was said at Conan O’Brien’s Mark Twain Prize awards show?
Elsewhere, Silverman recalled her time working on Conan’s Late Night show which ran from 1993 to 2009. She told her former boss: “I just really miss the days when you were America’s only orange a*shole.”
Colbert presented a comedy bit using spicy chicken wings, in reference to O’Brien’s memorable Hot Ones appearance. “In light of the new leadership of the Kennedy Center, all of these are right wings and a couple of them are truly insane,” said the comedian and Late Nite host.
Late Nite legend David Letterman even called the comedic gathering a “residence.”
“I’m not a historian, but I believe that history will show in the history for all time, this will have been the most entertaining gathering of the resistance, ever,” he said.
Will Conan O’Brien host the 2026 Oscars?
Awards aside, O’Brien was recently confirmed to host the 2026 Oscars after delivering a well-liked stint at presenting this year’s edition of the show.
Speaking of his impending return, O’Brien said “The only reason I’m hosting the Oscars next year is that I want to hear Adrien Brody finish his speech.”
The line was in reference to Brody’s record-breakingly long Best Actor acceptance speech for his performance in Brady Corbet’s The Brutalist.
