I think if "we" are going to do a poll, it should be in  or on a place that will get more than 20 ish votes ;)
Just my .02 cents

Jules

-----Original Message-----
From: Mark Twain Forum [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Tracy Wuster
Sent: Thursday, November 01, 2012 12:06 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: The 15th Annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor is . . . . .

Hello all,

As Harold mentioned, we had a poll last year at "Humor in America" about who should win the prize.  The nominations were taken from the conversation on this list about who should have won (I agree that Carol Burnett and others would be good additions, but I went with those who had been "nominated" by the conversation).  You can see the poll (and vote) here:

http://humorinamerica.wordpress.com/2011/11/02/the-mark-twain-prize/

It seems like the award given by the Boyhood Home to Hal Holbrook is more in line with what people imagine a "Mark Twain Award" to be--a lifetime achievement award rather than an award for cultural impact, however that might be defined.  Here is that information:

http://humorinamerica.wordpress.com/2012/05/17/humor-awards-season-continues-hal-holbrook-wins-mark-twain-lifetime-achievement-award/

Does anyone know if there is a plan to make this award a regular thing?

As for other awards, there is also the "Charlie Award," given by the AHSA:

http://americanhumorstudiesassociation.wordpress.com/conference/charlie-award/

The award has been given to Hamlin Hill, Henry Nash Smith, Lou Budd (the first three winners).  While it has been awhile since the award was given out, we at the AHSA hope to revive it.  Stay tuned.

Best,

Tracy Wuster

P.s. did you see Sharon McCoy's essay on satire this week in response to Jeffrey Melton's earlier piece?  Of interest to Twain scholars:

http://humorinamerica.wordpress.com/2012/10/30/embracing-the-ambiguity-of-satire/

http://humorinamerica.wordpress.com/2012/02/07/teaching-the-irony-of-satire-ironically/


On Thu, Nov 1, 2012 at 10:12 AM, Harold Bush <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> Tracy Wuster had a poll on his "humor in America" site last year, to 
> vote for this year's recipient.  DeGeneres was not even listed as a 
> contender (nor were any women, by the way).  Here is how he listed the 
> "top
> contenders":
>
> Who should win the next "Mark Twain Prize for American Humor"?
> Norman Lear
> Garrison Keillor
> Jon Stewart
> Bill Maher
> Woody Allen
> Hal Holbrook
>
>
> I'd wait on Colbert, Stewart and Maher (and DeGeneres) till the 
> old-timers are recognized.  Woody Allen never honored?? (probably 
> would refuse to appear, though, which is I'm sure a deal breaker).  
> And I'd throw in some of the legendary TV women like Carol Burnett or 
> even Mary Tyler Moore, whose work revolutionized our way of seeing 
> funny women.  Deceased folks are also unable to appear -- Vonnegut, 
> Will Rogers, Lucy -- and I just dislike going for the pop appeal in 
> lieu of these older veterans.  Again, all due respect -- but where 
> would the likes of DeGeneres be without those other comediennes?
>
>
> -hb
>
> --
> 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>
>