Jon Stewart Saluted as ‘Godfather of Righteous Outrage’ at Mark Twain Prize Event
variety.comPaul Harris WASHINGTON, D.C. — Comedian Jon Stewart was awarded the Kennedy Center’s Mark Twain Prize on Sunday in a raucous affair that celebrated his genius at exposing hypocrisy and injustice wherever they occur.“This is incredible,” said an emotional Stewart upon receiving the miniature bust of Twain that followed two hours of roasting and tender testimonials by former co-stars from “The Daily Show” and others.
Stewart, who last year began hosting an Apple TV+ talk show “The Problem With Jon Stewart,” was presented the award by a 9/11 first responder and a wounded Air Force veteran — representing two causes he has famously championed.
The pair had been part of the audience alongside other responders and veterans invited for the occasion. Emerging from a one-year COVID hiatus, the Twain event featured Jimmy Kimmel, Steve Carell, 2020 awardee Dave Chappelle, Pete Davidson, Samantha Bee, Ed Helms, Olivia Munn and on video, John Oliver and Stephen Colbert, the latter who had tested positive for COVID.
Also on hand was Bassem Youssef, the Egyptian heart surgeon-turned comedian known as “The Jon Stewart of the Arab world,” who praised the honoree for helping him introduce political satire in the Middle East.Bruce Springsteen, Stewart’s fellow New Jersey chum, opened the show with guitarist Gary Clark Jr.
Read more on variety.com
