And he deserves it! Don’t you think?
(Jodi shares the story at 41:35)
According to the NY TIMES:
Mr. Letterman, the former host of NBC’s “Late Night” and CBS’s “Late Show,” stepped aside from his innovative after-hours comedy programs in 2015 to pursue other passions and cultivate a topiary-like beard. He will officially receive the prize in a ceremony that will be held on Oct. 22 and broadcast at a later date.
“For decades, David Letterman delivered comedy to America that was smart, authentic and, frankly, what many of us came to rely upon to elevate our spirits after a long day. Raise your hand if, like me, you shifted your bedtime because you didn’t want to miss a moment of Dave on television lest you not be part of the conversation with friends and co-workers the next day.” -Deborah F. Rutter (president of the Kennedy Center)
Mr. Letterman said in a statement: “This is an exciting honor. For 33 years, there was no better guest, no greater friend of the show, than Mark Twain. The guy could really tell a story.”
Previous winners of the Mark Twain Prize include Bill Murray, Eddie Murphy, Jay Leno, Carol Burnett and Ellen DeGeneres.
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