Conan O’Brien is set to receive the prestigious Mark Twain Prize for lifetime achievement in comedy this Sunday night at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. However, the ceremony may be influenced by recent backstage changes at the institution.
O’Brien, 61, was named as this year’s honoree in mid-January, just weeks before President Donald Trump made significant changes at the Kennedy Center. Trump removed the longtime president and chairman of the board, replacing them with loyalists, one of whom he appointed as chairman.
In his announcement, Trump explained the changes, stating that those who were dismissed “do not share our Vision for a Golden Age in Arts and Culture.”
While the specifics of this new vision remain unclear, Trump has expressed an interest in bringing more Broadway shows to the Kennedy Center and has even suggested granting Kennedy Center Honors to figures such as actor Sylvester Stallone and singer-songwriter Paul Anka.
Amidst this turmoil, Conan O’Brien enters, a comedian whose style has rarely been overtly political. Known for his humor centered around silliness and self-deprecation, O’Brien has occasionally engaged with important social issues. Notably, in 2011, he officiated a gay wedding live on his show, marrying his longtime costume designer Scott Cronick and his partner David Gorshein.
Conan O’Brien shot to fame in 1993 when he was chosen to replace David Letterman as host of Late Night, despite having little on-camera experience. A former editor of Harvard Lampoon, O’Brien had previously worked as a writer for Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons, only appearing occasionally as a background extra in SNL skits.
He went on to host Late Night for 16 years, longer than any other host in the show’s history. O’Brien was later selected to take over The Tonight Show from Jay Leno, but his tenure was short-lived. After seven months of falling ratings, NBC executives brought Leno back with a new show, pushing The Tonight Show to a later time. O’Brien refused the move, which led to a public feud and ultimately resulted in a multimillion-dollar payout for him and his staff to leave the network in early 2010.
Afterward, O’Brien hosted another talk show on TBS and found success with podcasts and travel series. He’s now experiencing a late-career resurgence, earning praise as a seasoned figure in comedy. His travel series, Conan O’Brien Must Go, received both critical and popular acclaim, with a second season in the works. His recent stint hosting the Academy Awards was so well received that the producers announced he’ll return next year.
Following Trump’s changes at the Kennedy Center, several artists, including the producers of Hamilton and actress/writer Issa Rae, announced they would cancel their appearances at the venue.
Other performers have chosen to continue but made their views clear from the stage. Left-wing comedian W. Kamau Bell addressed the controversy directly in his performance just days after the shake-up. Earlier this month, cellist Erin Murphy ended her set by playing All You Fascists Bound to Lose, a protest anthem by Woody Guthrie.
Recipients of the Mark Twain Prize typically enjoy tributes and testimonials from a star-studded group of comedians and celebrities. Given the current situation, it’s likely that some of them will address the uncertain future of the institution during Sunday’s ceremony.
Other past recipients of the lifetime achievement award include David Letterman, Jay Leno, George Carlin, Whoopi Goldberg, Bob Newhart, Carol Burnett, Bill Murray, and Dave Chappelle.
The ceremony will be available for streaming on Netflix later this year, though the exact release date has not yet been announced.
