Comedian and TV host Conan O'Brien was announced on Thursday as the latest recipient of the Mark Twain Prize for lifetime achievement in comedy, reports AP.
At 61, O'Brien has built an unexpected and impressive career, transitioning from a quirky television newcomer to a respected figure in comedy. His journey included overcoming one of the most public failures in television history with “The Tonight Show,” only to recover and establish a long-lasting, successful career.
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His travel series, “Conan O'Brien Must Go,” earned both critical and popular praise, with a second season set to air. In March, O'Brien will host the Academy Awards, followed by the Mark Twain ceremony in Washington just three weeks later.
Deborah Rutter, president of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, described O'Brien as “a master of invention and reinvention, consistently pushing the envelope in search of new comedic heights.”
O'Brien humorously reflected on the honour, joking in a statement that he would be the first Mark Twain Prize recipient known not for his humour, but for his work as a riverboat pilot. He will be celebrated on March 23, during a ceremony where he will receive a bronze bust of Samuel Clemens, the real name of the legendary American writer and satirist.
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The Mark Twain ceremony is a night of tributes, including testimonials and video tributes from previous awardees. The event will later be streamed on Netflix, though the release date is yet to be confirmed.
O'Brien's rise to fame began in 1993, when he replaced the legendary David Letterman as host of “Late Night,” despite having little on-camera experience. Prior to this, the former Harvard Lampoon editor had been a writer for “Saturday Night Live” and “The Simpsons,” occasionally appearing as a background extra on SNL skits.
O'Brien’s unique, awkward energy contrasted sharply with Letterman's deadpan style. He often poked fun at his own gangly appearance and felt out of place for the role. O'Brien went on to host “Late Night” for 16 years, longer than any other host.
In 2009, O'Brien's career took a dramatic turn when he was chosen to replace Jay Leno as the host of “The Tonight Show,” despite warnings that Leno was reluctant to give up the position. After seven months of poor ratings, NBC brought Leno back with a new show that pushed “The Tonight Show” back. O'Brien refused to accept the change, resulting in a public feud that led to a multimillion-dollar payout for O'Brien and his team to leave NBC in early 2010.
The fallout divided the comedy world, with Leno seen as the antagonist and O'Brien as the victim set up for failure.
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During his emotional farewell on the last episode of “The Tonight Show,” O'Brien expressed gratitude and refused to harbour resentment.
“Every comedian dreams of hosting 'The Tonight Show,' and for seven months I got to do it," he said. "I did it my way with people I love, and I don't regret one second.”
He ended with a poignant message for young people: “All I ask is this one thing, particularly of young people that watch: Please do not be cynical. Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get, but if you work really hard and you're kind, amazing things will happen.”
O'Brien returned later in 2010 with a new talk show on TBS. Despite the channel's smaller profile, the show ran for 11 years, during which O'Brien also launched ventures like the podcast “Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend” and the travel series “Conan Without Borders,” a precursor to his current programme.
Other past recipients of the lifetime achievement award include Letterman, Leno, George Carlin, Whoopi Goldberg, Bob Newhart, Carol Burnett, and Dave Chappelle. Bill Cosby, the 2009 honoree, had his Mark Twain Prize revoked in 2019 following multiple sexual assault allegations.