Conan O'Brien to receive Mark Twain Prize, joining other late-night legends
Conan O'Brien will become the latest late-night comedy king to be crowned with the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor this year.
The Kennedy Center will present the honor − a distinction given in the past to comics like Julia Louis Dreyfus, Jon Stewart, and Carl Reiner − in a ceremony on March 23. Netflix will air the program at a date that has not yet been announced. The streamer has had an exclusive deal to air the program since 2024.
"I am honored to be the first winner of the Mark Twain Prize recognized not for humor, but for my work as a riverboat pilot," O'Brien quipped, in a Kennedy Center release. The prize's namesake, author Mark Twain, divined his pen name from a navigation term used by steamboat captains on a river. Many of his most famous works including the "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" revolved around the Mississippi River and the people who lived along its shores.
"For four decades, Conan O'Brien, has brought his unique blend of the smart, silly, insightful, and hilarious into our homes," Deborah F. Rutter, president of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, wrote in a release announcing O'Brien's honoring.
"From 'Saturday Night Live' and 'The Simpsons'—including the unbelievably funny monorail episode—to late night, podcasts, and all things Team Coco, Conan is a master of invention and reinvention, consistently pushing the envelope in search of new comedic heights," Rutter continued. "I look forward to honoring his immense legacy and enduring impact with an uproarious evening in the Concert Hall on March 23."
With his receipt of the prize, O'Brien joins the ranks of several leading comics. The late Richard Pryor was the first to ever receive the award, while the most recent honoree was Kevin Hart. O'Brien's ceremony is expected to feature speeches from some of the biggest names in comedy.
The honor is just one part of a blockbuster year for O'Brien, who will also host the Oscars on March 2. The latest in a rotating cast of late-night comics to take on the gig, O'Brien faces a tough-to-follow performance from Nikki Glaser, whose Golden Globes hosting performance was met with widespread acclaim.
The Oscars job the most high-profile TV appearance for O'Brien since he stepped away from his TBS show "Conan" in 2021. Since then, the "Late Night" alum has continued to host the interview podcast "Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend," and debuted a travel show, "Conan O'Brien Must Go," on Max in April.
Contributing: Brendan Morrow