Ben and all:  just to be clear:  Keillor would be a terrific choice, in my
view.  I'm sure many if not most on here would agree.

In the past much of the debate on here has regarded the meaning and purpose
of the Award, and some comments have been similar to Terry's, in downplaying
the comparison between Twain and someone like Will Ferrell or Tina Fay.
I've always said it's about just being funny, plain and simple.

here's how the website describes the award:

The Mark Twain Prize recognizes people who have had an impact on American
society in ways similar to the distinguished 19th century novelist and
essayist best known as Mark Twain. As a social commentator, satirist and
creator of characters, Samuel Clemens was a fearless observer of society,
who startled many while delighting and informing many more with his
uncompromising perspective of social injustice and personal folly. He
revealed the great truth of humor when he said "against the assault of
laughter nothing can stand."

so there is some discrepancy, as far as having "an impact ... in ways
similar" to MT.  Unclear what that might mean, since none of these awardees
so far is truly a world-class novelist/ essayist -- and so the debate
continues.

I still think, if it's about that sort of "impact", and about being truly
gut-wrenchingly funny, we should include some of the old-timers.  It's
certainly possible that some have been offered the award and turned it down
(it might require appearing, of course, like many awards)-- and the website
says Bill Cosby did that twice.

Here's another few names from the past =  Norman Lear.  Do you recall (if
you are my age or older) the massive splash that his now shows, especially
All in the Family, made in American culture?  Similarly, MASH and Alan Alda,
who wrote and directed many of those shows and acted as creative
consultant.

Will Ferrell is really funny, but Norman Lear had "impact" -- and he was
funny too.


--hb

On Fri, Sep 23, 2011 at 9:36 AM, Ben Wise <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> Thanks, Terry, for expressing my sentiments, exactly!  I don't understand
> wh=
> y Garrison Keillor isn't the obvious choice for the award, for all the best
> r=
> easons (no one like him for his range and talent as story teller and
> humoris=
> t extraordinaire, social critic and satirist, sophisticated wit....promoter
> o=
> f general wisdom and love for human beings and their foibles...), but last
> t=
> ime I mentioned that on this list a few years ago,  he was panned by one
> pos=
> ter (likened to "watching paint dry"!!) and not defended by anyone else.
>  I'=
> m completely baffled by this response from Twain afficionados. But I'm
> plugg=
> ing for him anyway.
>
> Ben
>
> --
Harold K. Bush, Ph.D
Professor of English
Saint Louis University
St. Louis, MO  63108
314-977-3616 (w); 314-771-6795 (h)
<www.slu.edu/x23809.xml>