I think this year's award is very much consistent with the winners from
past years. These are all people who have made me laugh. I'm sure I'll
feel the same way next year when Robin Williams or Bill Cosby win it.
However, this is unintentionally ironic when you add Twain's name to it.
Twain felt that the deep moral foundation of his writings set him apart
from writers who were only humorous. An award for stand-up comics is a
good idea. Aside from Woody Allen, they're usually left out of the
Oscars. I'd just call it the Groucho Marx awards instead of the Mark
Twain Award.

Terry Ballard
Quinnipiac University