Plot Synopsis

Each year since 1998 -- except in 2020 & 2021, because of the COVID-19 pandemic -- the Kennedy Center has conferred the Mark Twain Prize to recognize a person who used comedy to impact American society in ways similar to the distinguished 19th century novelist and essayist best known as Mark Twain. Each honoree is presented a copy of an 1884 bronze portrait bust of Mark Twain, sculpted by Karl Gerhardt (1853-1940). The first annual Kennedy Center Celebration of American Humor took place at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Sunday, October 18 through October 20, 1998. The celebration included lectures, symposia, and master classes, and culminated in the Concert Hall on Tuesday, October 20, 1998 when Richard Pryor was presented with the inaugural Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize. That first ceremony premiered three months later on Comedy Central. The second ceremony, which honored Jonathan Winters, was the last program to air on Comedy Central, and the Mark Twain Prize then switched to PBS for the 2000 awards program, where it aired annually through 2022. In 2023, the event moved to CNN.
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The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts presents the 24th annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor to Adam Sandler at event held on Sunday, March 19, 2023 at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and first broadcast by CNN one week later on Sunday, March 26 from 8-10pm ET/PT. The two-hour special, with music direction by Michael Bearden, pays tribute to Sandler's humor and accomplishments, featuring a host of his admirers, friends, and collaborators, including Jennifer Aniston, Judd Apatow, Drew Barrymore, Steve Buscemi, Dana Carvey, Luis Guzman, Tim Herlihy, Tim Meadows, Idina Menzel, Conan O'Brien, Chris Rock, Rob Schneider, David Spade, and Ben Stiller.

Over the past 30 years Adam Sandler has enjoyed phenomenal success as a comedian, actor, writer, producer, and musician. His films have grossed over $3 billion worldwide. Sandler's work has been recognized over the years with several awards including nine People's Choice Awards, five MTV Movie Awards, and ten Kids Choice Awards. He has also been nominated for a Golden Globe Award, four Emmy Awards, and three Grammy Awards for his multiple comedy albums which have gone multi-platinum and collectively sold more than six million copies.