Jon Stewart Acceptance Speech | 2022 Mark Twain Prize
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Published 2022-06-21
Commenting on the prize, Stewart said, “I am truly honored to receive this award. I have long admired and been influenced by the work of Mark Twain, or, as he was known by his given name, Samuel Leibowitz.”
“For more than three decades, Jon Stewart has brightened our lives and challenged our minds as he delivers current events and social satire with his trademark wit and wisdom. For me, tuning into his television programs over the years has always been equal parts entertainment and truth”
— Deborah F. Rutter, Kennedy Center President
The Mark Twain Prize for American Humor recognizes individuals who have had an impact on American society in ways similar to the distinguished 19th-century novelist and essayist Samuel Clemens, best known as Mark Twain. As a social commentator, satirist, and creator of characters, Clemens was a fearless observer of society, who startled many while delighting and informing many more with his uncompromising perspective on social injustice and personal folly.
As a recipient of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, Stewart received a copy of an 1884 bronze portrait bust of Mark Twain sculpted by Karl Gerhardt (1853–1940). Previous recipients can be seen by scrolling down this page.
Capital One® is the Presenting Sponsor of this year’s Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humor as part of the bank’s three-year, $3 million gift to fund Comedy at the Kennedy Center, a signature program at the Center focused on elevating comedy as an art form and uniting the community through laughter.
The 23rd Mark Twain Prize for American Humor is under the direction of the creative team from Done + Dusted, the Kennedy Center’s producing partner for the Mark Twain Prize since 2018. This year’s ceremony marks the 23rd year that the Kennedy Center’s marquee comedy award will be broadcast nationally.
The event was created by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Bob Kaminsky, Peter Kaminsky, Mark Krantz, and John Schreiber. The Kennedy Center is grateful to Cappy McGarr for his steadfast support of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor since its inception in 1998.
#TwainPrizePBS #JonStewart #KennedyCenter
All Comments (21)
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"It's not the fragility of the audience, it's the fragility of leaders." That's a quote worthy of Twain
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Jon Stewart is the reason i payed attention to politics and learned to think and question the world from my room in Afghanistan. I grew up watching him and am better for it. This man has been a mentor, made us more thoughtful and aware of the world around us. Thank you for everything, Jon! Congratulations!
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I grew up in a hardcore Fox News watching household and watching Jon on the daily show not only helped me see my family’s bullshit, but helped me keep my sanity in those times. He would highlight almost exactly what I was going through while trying to talk reason into them. How they wouldn’t believe me or hang on a single point while ignoring everything else. Without him I would have absolutely believed I was in the wrong and fell right back into the bubble. I know this sounds lame, but between Picard on TNG and Jon Stewart on TDS, I had two solid TV father figures to emulate while growing up and that, again lame I know, made all the difference for me. So, thanks Jon. You deserve this.
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Jon made me a lib and gave me politically-focused empathy in my early 20s. I’m now 40, with nearly 2 decades of activism and speaking up for what matters. I adore him, and am so grateful for him.
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Jon Stewart was never where I got my news. He was where I looked to make sense of the news. And he did it again with his words at the end of this speech. Well said.
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The last 2 minutes of this speech was utterly brilliant, thought provoking and put a lot of things in perspective for a lot of people.... good on you Jon, may your tribe increase!!
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my man
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The way Jon talks about each of his family members... his wife... his children... just melts my heart. I don't think any person is perfect, but Jon Stewart comes pretty darn close.
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The nod to the Arab Spring was so touching, I truly respect this man, he (American, Jew) speaks for me (Syrian, Muslim), because he calls for Freedom of Speech and Human Rights.
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That first ten minutes was for himself and his family. The remaining ones are a sober reminder why we all still dearly need him. With the most well-honed blade he cuts right to the heart of the issues. I hope every generation has at least one like him.
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“All that shit is a red herring, It’s not the pronoun police [that’s an existential threat to comedy], it’s the secret police. It always has been, and it always will be.” Pure gold.
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I'd never heard of Jon Stewart before today. I'm a West Aussie and haven't seen the US shows he has worked in and on. I stumbled across Dave Chappelles speech just prior to this and thought it was one of the best speeches I'd ever heard, honouring his long time friend and colleague. Then it auto started on Jon Stewart's acceptance speech and although I already knew he was a good man from DC, this speech blew me away. Needless to say his name is going to be in my YouTube and Google searches for some time as I attempt to catch up on all I missed. What a remarkable human being. Thanks for the comedy and the reminder of the precious times spent with good friends and that continuing with art of any kind is what matters on a daily basis. So glad I finally found you.
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It’s hard to overstate how hugely important this man is in shaping our lives and minds, making us more thoughtful and inspired, and aware of the world around us. Thank you for everything, Jon!
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Nuance. Jon has been hosting a masterclass in this seemingly ever-shrinking discipline for so long that his students have students. The man truly gives FAR more than he's received. What an enormous empathetic heart, & a brain capable of conveying a meaningful interpretation we all benefit from. Thx Jon.
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Jon Stewart's mother is amazing. The darkest jokes being made and she's having a great belly laugh.
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I could listen to him talk for hours. He's brilliant and kind and ridiculously smart and the love from all his former colleagues is so palpable in that room. 'it's not the woke police, it's the secret police' is a killer line.
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This mans intellect should be intimidating, but his heart and vision makes things just seem better in some intangible way. Just knowing people like Jon Stewart live amongst us makes the world a better place to be.
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It's no irony that when he say's "Democracy is under threat, authoritarians are the threat to comedy, to art, to music, to thought, to poetry, to progress" and President V Zelensky, an ex- tv actor and an ex-comedian is fighting that threat, with people dying. Slava Ukraini
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The most deserved person for this award, in my humble opinion. Congrats Jon.
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He has dedicated his life to something greater than mere entertainment. He'll make you laugh, he might make you angry, he'll sometimes make you cry, but he will always encourage you to reflect and think. I never watched the Daily Show growing up (American politics wasn't really an interesting subject for a Canadian middle schooler), but his later work and investment in generating change for thousands of lives by influencing policy has been inspiring. He's pointing out to the people in power who have forgotten that there is a social contract they are obliged to uphold, that doing something merely for the optics or tax benefits isn't enough. He understands that America is run on the commodification of goods and services, but that there needs to be a recognition of morality and humanity in any decision, especially when those policies impact millions of lives. He is a voice of reason in unreasonable times, and he is not just someone I admire, but someone I aim to emulate. We should all conduct ourselves with such a moral compass as the one Jon has.
