Thanks so much for the description of the award. It confirms my feeling 
that such as Will Farrell and Tina Fey are not good choices for the 
prize. Steven Colbert and Jon Stewart, as "fearless observers of 
society" fit the bill.
Pity this is an American reward only - Steven Fry and Rowan Atkinson are 
very funny men with a subversive side!
Tina Fey is great as Sarah Palin; Will Farrell is a funny man for 
children; Garrison Keillor is stuck with a one-track humor.
  Mark Twain was so very much more.
Heather.




On Sat, Sep 24, 2011 at 9:12 AM, Harold Bush wrote:

> 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>