Conan O’Brien Will Receive the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor

Back in 1993, Conan O’Brien’s career seemed like it might end before it really even began when NBC nearly canceled his fledging 12:30 am talk show, convinced they’d made a mistake by handing over David Letterman’s desk to an unknown comedy writer barely out of his twenties. But they kept him on the air and O’Brien found his comedic voice along with a mass audience. Today, he’s a beloved elder statesman with a hit podcast, a brilliant new travel show, and an upcoming stint as the host of the Academy Awards.

And on March 23, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts will present him with the 26th Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. “I am honored to be the first winner of the Mark Twain Prize recognized not for humor,” O’Brien said in a statement, “but for my work as a riverboat pilot.”

An edited version of the ceremony will air on Netflix. “For four decades, Conan O’Brien, has brought his unique blend of the smart, silly, insightful, and hilarious into our homes,” Deborah F. Rutter, President of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, said in a statement. “From Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons—including the unbelievably funny monorail episode—to late night, podcasts, and all things Team Coco, Conan is a master of invention and reinvention, consistently pushing the envelope in search of new comedic heights. I look forward to honoring his immense legacy and enduring impact with an uproarious evening in the Concert Hall on March 23.”

The Mark Twain Prize for American Humor was first given to comedian Richard Pryor in 1998. Over the years, it’s been handed out to everyone from Carl Reiner and Neil Simon to Steve Martin, Bill Murray, Billy Crystal, Tina Fey, and Dave Chapelle. O’Brien made appearances in the past to honor Lorne Michaels, Will Ferrell, and Adam Sandler.

O’Brien’s TBS talk show went off the air in 2021. He’s stayed remarkably busy over the past few years by hosting the acclaimed podcast Conan O’Brien Needs Friends and the HBO travel series Conan O’Brien Must Go. On March 2nd, he’ll emcee the Academy Awards for the first time in his long career. “America demanded it, and now it’s happening: Taco Bell’s new Cheesy Chalupa Supreme,” he said in a statement when the announcement hit in November. “In other news, I’m hosting the Oscars.”