Keillor, IMO, would be Twain-worthy.  For one 
thing, his humor is so rooted in Americana.

-Steve Hoffman
Takoma Park


On 11/23/2015 4:27 PM, Rod Rawlings wrote:
> At the 2013 Elmira conference, I asked Peter Kaminsky, a co-creator of the
> Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize, why Garrison Keillor had not yet received
> the honor. He answered that Keillor had been offered the prize, but had
> declined.
>
> Now that Keillor is retiring from his weekly radio show, perhaps he will
> reconsider. I hope so.
>
> Rod Rawlings
> [log in to unmask]
>
>
>
> On Mon, Nov 23, 2015 at 1:57 PM, Hal Bush <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
>> Folks, we tend to rehearse this debate every few years on here.
>> Personally, I have no problem with honoring a comic/ humorist, which is
>> what the prize is mostly about.  MT's name is attached to it:  our great
>> American humorist.  I used to get all in a lather when someone like Will
>> Ferrell or Ellen DeGeneres et al would win, even though far greater
>> achievements by the likes of Garrison Keillor or Carol Burnett were
>> overlooked.  (Burnett finally got it last year).  In the past, many others
>> have been named who never have won it, including Robin Williams.  And I'm
>> sure Woody Allen would also never appear, as with Vonnegut.
>>
>> By the way, Peter Kaminsky, one of the producers and main people involved
>> in the award, was at the Elmira conference last time.  He even gave a
>> lecture, in which he showed clips from George Carlin, among other stuff.
>> He was interesting to listen to, no doubt.  Clearly, $$$$ is a major
>> concern.  In case anyone would like to make plans for next year, to honor
>> very possibly Amy Schumer or some other youngster, here are some options,
>> from the website:
>>
>> Single tickets and sponsorship packages ranging from $500 to $50,000
>> feature an array of benefits, including an invitation to attend an
>> exclusive Artist Rehearsal Dinner with Mr. Murphy and other esteemed guests
>> at the $25,000 level and above. Packages begin at $5,000 and include the
>> festive pre-show dinner in a pavilion on the North Plaza, the tribute
>> performance and formal presentation of the Mark Twain Prize in the Concert
>> Hall, and a post-show reception with the cast.
>>
>> (I won't be there)
>>
>> -hb
>>
>>
>> Prof. Harold K. Bush
>> Professor of English
>> 3800 Lindell
>> Saint Louis University
>> St. Louis, MO  63108
>> 314-977-3616 (w); 314-771-6795 (h)
>> <www.slu.edu/x23809.xml>
>>
>