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
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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>
>