Will Ferrell to Receive Mark Twain Prize for American Humor

By PopEater Staff Posted May 12th 2011 06:23PM

He's already conquered television and film, now Will Ferrell will join the ranks of comedy royalty such as George Carlin, Richard Pryor and Bill Cosby as the 14th recipient of the Mark Twain Prize. The award, which is named for the famous writer and honors the best of American comedians, will be presented to Ferrell on October 23 at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall in Washington, D.C.

In response to the news, Ferrell released a statement saying, "I am truly honored to receive this distinction. I will now begin cultivating a Mark Twain-esque moustache in anticipation of the event."

Ferrell got his big break as a cast member on 'Saturday Night Live' in 1995. He translated his popularity on the show into a lucrative film career with starring roles in 'Elf,' 'Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy' and even a successful segue into drama with 'Stranger Than Fiction.'

He succeeds fellow 'Saturday Night Live' alum Tina Fey, who won the award last year.

Tags: Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, will ferrell

Comments

(21)

Friday 13 May

By dave

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You have to be kidding me> Will Ferrell is not funny. HIs humor is inmature at best. And his acting just not there. His movies bite.

Thursday 12 May

By William

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As Mr. Twain may have quipped "Rumors of Mr. Farrell's talent are greatly exaggerated". I would put this right up there with Obama's Nobel Peace Prize.

By Mark

It's funny but I like Will Ferrell and I am a fan of the presidents BUT what you said is true. Will Ferrell is not THAT funny and Mr. Obama should not have gotten the peace prize, a wartime president does not deserve it. I think he even felt weird excepting it.

By JerryLouis

Bumbling idiot award. Its time for Will to start an annual charity marathon. He is OVER.

By WminPhoenix

Mark Twain Prize for Humor goes to Will Ferett? His predictible brand of sopomoric performing is well beyond stupid. His last few movies were Bombs, leaving some in the movie business to ask if the public has soured on Mr. Ferett. He brings his tired SNL shtick to all his movies.

By Debbie

I think giving this award to Will Ferrell is an insult to Mark Twain and the very talented previous winners. Who in the world decided this man deserved this?

By Abner Scofield

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Ferrell's selection does a great disservice to Twain. Ferrell is the anti-Twain. Where Twain was clever, thoughtful and cerebral, Ferrell is banal, sophomoric and insipid. Just as Reagan's election lowered the standard for the presidency, so has Ferrell's selection impugned the standards of this award. Ferrell is the poster child of brain death.

By The Truth Hurts

The standards for the presidency were lowered when Kennedy was elected by the tv cameras.

By Dee

This dude is not even funny.

By Jerry

Will Ferrell? Thats one hell of an insult to Mark Twain.

By Tim

This award to Will Ferrell is an insult to Mark Twain and American culture. Who has the authority to abuse Twain's legacy in such a shabby way?

By grapost

WHAT A JOKE! Will Farrell is the UNFUNNIEST person in the world, even worse than Conan O'Brien. Did these people really have to scrape the bottom of the barrel to find somebody to give their award to? God it's so easy for talentless people to succeed in the enteratinment industry these days thanks to reality TV.

By Zarathustra

The crap I flushed yesterday is funnier than Farrel ever has been. I cringe when any one of his movies is even announced for TV.

By the_fool

The only way those two should be mentioned in the same sentence would be if Will Ferrell checked out a Mark Twain book from the library. Will Ferrell is hardly ever funny in most of his attempts to be. Someone new to the field would deserve this honor more than Will does.

By montamiaz

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His George Bush imitation is one for the ages. Priceless, Bumbling, Idiotic and Authentic! Well deserved.

Will Ferrell is as funny as colon cancer.

By diplobrat

Oh, SNAP!

By joe

Why?

If this is the best we have to offer- Humanity has sunk to even greater lows than I care to admit. This fool couldn't even write a coherent sentence, let alone a FUNNY one. (sigh!)

By silverhiho

He should be getting the "Mark Pain" award. Why? Because he's "painful" to watch and "mark" my word, he's the least funniest man on the planet.

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