Conan O’Brien to Receive 2025 Mark Twain Prize for American Humor

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Conan O’Brien will be the next recipient of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.

On March 23, O’Brien will be celebrated at the yearly Mark Twain Prize event held at the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington D.C. (The ceremony will later be available on Netflix.) The comedian, podcast host, and former late-night show presenter – who is also scheduled to host the Oscars on March 2 – will become the 26th recipient of this award, joining an esteemed group that includes Richard Pryor, Carl Reiner, Whoopi Goldberg, Tina Fey, Eddie Murphy, and his predecessors in late-night television, Jay Leno and David Letterman, among others.

As a devoted admirer, I’d express it like this: “For four decades, Conan O’Brien has graced our homes with his unique brand of intelligence, silliness, insight, and laughter. From his stints at Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons, including the legendary monorail episode, to late-night talk shows, podcasts, and all things Team Coco, Conan is a genius when it comes to innovation and transformation, always pushing boundaries in pursuit of fresh comedic highs. I’m thrilled to be part of the celebration honoring his extraordinary legacy and lasting impact with a night of uproarious laughter in the concert hall on March 23.

I’m proudly announcing that I’ve become the inaugural recipient of the Mark Twain Prize, not for my comedic skills, but for my exceptional work as a riverboat pilot.

Conan O’Brien initially kick-started his professional journey with HBO’s “Not Necessarily the News” and later penned scripts for both “Saturday Night Live” and “The Simpsons“. In 1993, he assumed the role of host on NBC’s “Late Night>” following David Letterman’s departure to CBS. For a short while, he also stood in for Jay Leno as the host of “The Tonight Show>” between 2009 and 2010. However, when NBC reversed its decision about his hosting the latter show, he embarked on a comedy/variety tour across various cities before eventually settling at TBS where he hosted “Conan” for an impressive run of 11 years.

Currently, Conan O’Brien is the host of the podcast “Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend,” and his Team Coco team manages various other audio shows. Additionally, O’Brien appears in and serves as executive producer for the Max travel series “Conan O’Brien Must Go,” which has been renewed for a second season.

O’Brien shared with The Hollywood Reporter that he thrives in being unique, not conforming to typical norms. He believes his humor shines brightest when he’s not holding the reins of power. He recounted a conversation where someone questioned his freckles, thinking he might be unwell. Such situations, where there’s an element of self-deprecation, are what amuse him most.

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2025-01-16 16:24