Our friend Kent has asked, " Why is it that the prize has never been awarded
to anyone known primarily for writing?"

The "impact" of the awardees on our society is significantly affected by
whether they're in town or not. (sigh) Read on. 

The event is a significant fundraiser to benefit the Kennedy Center. It was
the brainchild of wonderful people. Peter Kaminsky and all of his excellent
work aside, the prize is just that. It's a prize. I saw an A&E (?)
presentation on the MARK TWAIN PRIZE where the "awarders" sat at a round
table discussing the potential "awardees." And what was discussed?
Literature, society, culture, values? Naw, that wasn't discussed much. Turns
out that a lot of this "selection process" is clap trap. Very disappointing.
Who is MOST popular? Who is MOST recognized? Who is NOT in drug rehab this
week? Who is busy making his next blockbuster file and CAN'T make it to the
award Ceremony this year? 

It has nothing to do with Mark Twain or the preservation and propagation of
what his work still means. It's a prize given out to funny people. And maybe
that's a good thing.

As an elected official I tell you with all sad sincerity that the old maxim
is unfortunately true: "Sausage and Politics. You really don't want to know
what goes into either one of them." And so it is for THE MARK TWAIN "PRIZE."

Haven't we all wondered how Yasser Arafat could receive the Nobel Peace
Prize?

And since you asked what is Will Ferrell's impact on American society? I ask
you, Didn't you see that hilarious 5-minute video he made where his landlady
was a drunken five-year-old toddler? Must you REALLY ask how he and Mark
Twain should not stand as equals or at least one in the other's shadow? 

And who is this Vonnegut guy you mentioned? Has he been in anything I might
have seen? The Big Bang Theory maybe? 

Signed, A well-Informed American

Richard Talbot
1531 West Idaho Avenue
Falcon Heights, MN 55108-2118
(651) 646-6624
(651) 280 8734
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-----Original Message-----
From: Mark Twain Forum [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Kent Rasmussen
Sent: Tuesday, October 22, 2013 4:03 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: This year's Mark Twain Prize for Humor

According to the Kennedy Center's Mark Twain Prize web page, the "Prize
recognizes people who have had an impact on American society in ways simi=
lar
to the distinguished 19th century novelist and essayist best known as Mar=
k
Twain." If that is the case, why is it that the prize has never been awar=
ded
to anyone known primarily for writing?=20

So long as the prize helps keep Mark Twain's name before the public, I
suppose it is for the good However, I'd feel a lot better about it if it =
had
at least been offered to Kurt Vonnegut. (Does anyone know if it was?)

Kent Rasmussen

P.S. While Googling to see if I could find an answer to my question about=

Vonnegut, I found a page hypothesizing that he is the reincarnation of Ma=
rk
Twain! I don't believe in reincarnation, but if it really happens, that
hypothesis is certainly intriguing.

http://www.iisis.net/index.php?page=3Dmark-twain-kurt-vonnegut-reincarnat=
ion-past-life-lives-kevin-ryerson-walter-semkiw&hl=3Den_US

P.P.S. Can someone explain to me in what ways Will Ferrell's impact on
American society has been similar to that of Mark Twain?