WASHINGTON, D.C. — Bill Maher was awarded the Kennedy Center’s Mark Train Prize for American Humor on Sunday in a casual and candid affair that blended accolades, insights and light-hearted roasting from an assemblage of colleagues and entertainers.
The event, now in its 27th year and held at the Kennedy Center, toasted Maher’s intellect, his broad range of interests, interviewing finesse and loyalty to his audience among other features. As usual, the recipient and guests observed the proceedings from a side box near the stage of the Kennedy Center’s Concert Hall, in view of the audience.
The evening’s participants included Louis C.K., Whitney Cummings, Woody Harrelson, Arianna Huffington, Jay Leno, John Mellencamp, Matt Friend and Stephen A. Smith. Katie Couric narrated one of the many videos featuring highlights of Maher’s long career, spanning Comedy Central’s “Politically Incorrect” to HBO’s enduring talk series “Real Time With Bill Maher.” The evening’s music director was producer and composer Cheche Alara. The event will be turned into a TV special for Netflix that is set to bow on July 21.
To be sure, Maher’s ready wit and spontaneous repartee as a talk show host were central themes for the parade of chums who praised the honoree. With few exceptions, they avoided mentioning the present politics of Donald Trump, even though the Twain Award was the sole event at the otherwise empty arts facility thanks to him.
