Conan O’Brien Feted With Mark Twain Prize as Comedians Take Aim at Trump: ‘I Miss the Days When You Were America’s Only Orange A–hole’

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Veteran talk show host Conan O’Brien received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor from the Kennedy Center on Sunday during an entertaining event filled with tributes from many peers, interspersed with gentle jabs directed at the Trump administration by various participants, even including the prize recipient himself.

fellow Mark Twain Prize laureate Will Ferrell was present at the celebration for O’Brien. He couldn’t help but make a reference to the ongoing political events in Washington. Jokingly, Ferrell said that he didn’t plan enough time for the ceremony, as he should have been closing down the Department of Education instead: “I’m actually supposed to be shutting it down,” he joked.

Following his stint as host at the Oscars, O’Brien was bestowed with the Mark Twain prize by David Letterman, during the comedic tribute event that concluded the yearly gathering. This heartfelt comedy roast will be broadcasted on Netflix later, marking the Kennedy Center’s first national event since its leadership – chair David Rubenstein and president Deborah Rutter – were replaced under President Donald Trump, who assumed the role of the center’s chairman himself.

This year marked the 26th edition of the Mark Twain program, which maintained its classic structure featuring comedians’ testimonials accompanied by video clips. The honoree and his family enjoyed the show from a seating area close to the stage in the Concert Hall, while the program was brought to life by Done + Dusted.

In its usual structure, the Twain program showcased tributes from peers mixed with video segments. Notable figures like Will Ferrell, Tracy Morgan, Sarah Silverman, Reggie Watts, Kumal Nanjiani, Adam Sandler, and Bill Burr were among those who participated. Some made jabs at President Trump while expressing praise for the honoree. Notably, a past Twain Prize recipient, Will Ferrell, expressed remorse for not being able to dedicate more time to the event due to his supposed commitment to closing down the Department of Education.

Silverman made her appearance in the parade expressing regret over the shifting era, commenting to O’Brien, “I used to think you were America’s unique orange buffoon.” She then proceeded with a maturely explicit comedy routine inspired by a detailed picture of O’Brien’s lips, which was displayed on each seat in the Concert Hall. Additionally, comedian John Mulaney joked that the venue should be renamed “the Roy Cohn Pavilion for big, strong men who adore ‘Cats'”—a reference to the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical that Trump suggested they put on.

Another noteworthy moment featured Stephen Colbert and “Hot Ones” host Sean Evans collaborating in an engaging interview. They put the spotlight on the honoree by serving him progressively hotter chicken wings, all while discussing a variety of subjects.

As a movie enthusiast, I can honestly say that there were some poignant moments during the event as well. The gravity of the situation wasn’t missed by the recipient, who humbly expressed that receiving the award from Letterman felt “unfathomable.” He vividly remembered his days in 1987, just two years after graduating college and struggling to find a job writing for NBC’s “Late Night With David Letterman” in LA. He was informed that the position had been filled. In a candid moment, he shared with the audience how terrified he was at that time.

O’Brien stated, ‘Suppose an angel from the future materializes and informs me that in 40 years, I will be performing on the Kennedy Center stage, with David Letterman presenting me the most esteemed comedy award. I would have reacted, “Hold on! Is it true that David Letterman is still alive at that time? He’s supposed to be 40 years older than me!’

Afterward, he broke into a heartwarming repetition, expressing gratitude towards Rubenstein and Rutter, and acknowledging “the wonderful individuals who have been part of the Kennedy Center for so long, who had concerns about the uncertainty of the days ahead.

patriotism is the act of supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.” This message resonated strongly with the audience, resulting in prolonged applause.

After expressing the mood, there ensued a procession reminiscent of Mark Twain characters, each dressed in white attire, with Will Forte, initially sitting among the spectators, taking the lead.

Since the past month, Washington D.C.’s prestigious arts hub, The Kennedy Center, has been in turmoil. This turbulence began when President Donald Trump dismissed several board members, including former chairman Rubenstein. Subsequently, Trump assumed presidency of the center himself. In response to this move, prominent figures like Shonda Rhimes, soprano Renée Fleming, and musician Ben Folds stepped down from their roles at The Kennedy Center.

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The Kennedy Center, one of Washington D.C.’s most renowned cultural centers, has been in a state of disarray since the last month. This instability started after President Donald Trump dismissed several board members including Rubenstein, who served as chairman previously. Following this, Trump took over as president of the center. Consequently, notable figures such as Shonda Rhimes, soprano Renée Fleming, and musician Ben Folds relinquished their positions at The Kennedy Center.

Trump dismissed Rutter, a long-term president, from her position, even though she had announced her resignation at the end of this year. Instead, Trump appointed Richard Grenell to serve as the temporary head of the Kennedy Center.

This year, Trump’s actions have built upon the tumultuous connection he had with the Kennedy Center in his initial presidency. Due to Trump’s radical political stance, he has been shunned by many artists and entertainers. Since his election in 2016, the traditionally non-partisan Kennedy Center Honors found itself in a political storm as numerous artists pledged not to participate if Trump attended, which is usually the case for the U.S. president at this event. In response to this impasse, Trump and First Lady Melania decided not to attend the Kennedy Center Honors ceremonies during his first term.

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2025-03-24 18:28