Will Ferrell Honored: Breaks Mark Twain Award
Will Ferrell has been honored with the Mark Twain American Humor Award during Sunday night’s ceremony and upon accepting the trophy, dropped and broke it.
Taking place in Washington, DC, the awards ceremony was established in 1998 for those who have shaped American society with their work, as Mark Twain once did.
When Ferrell finally received the bronze bust of Twain, he accidentally dropped it on stage. Picking up the broken pieces, he thanked the audience.
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Ferrell noted the significance of the award after joking that he had turned it down 13 times, and told CNN it is “the only legitimate award that recognizes comedy.”
Well known for his portrayal of George W. Bush on “SNL,” Ferrell explained that playing the former president was one of his favorite roles.
“We hit it at the perfect time when people wanted some sort of comedy after the eight years we just went through,” said the comedian according to AP.
Other celebrities Conan O’Brien, Andy Samberg, Jack Black, and Paul Rudd also attended the 14th Annual Mark Twain Awards ceremony at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Talk show host Conan O’Brien told the Washington Post that Ferrell “magnifies and celebrates his flaws, just to entertain us.”
Actor Jack Black said of Ferrell, “It’s about time he got some official Washington, D.C. props,” adding that Ferrell “reigned supreme” on “Saturday Night Live” for seven years.
Past winners Tina Fey, Richard Pryor, Lorne Michaels, and Steve Martin also attended on Sunday.
The ceremony was taped for broadcast on PBS stations nationwide on Oct. 31.
Friday, the honored comedian took a tour of the White House during his visit to the U.S. capital.
Ferrell co-produces HBO’s comedy “East Bound and Down” and is set to star in the upcoming telenovela comedy series “Casa de Mi Padre.”
