The 25th edition of the Mark Twain Prize will pay homage to the legendary Kevin Hart, celebrating his remarkable contributions to the world of comedy.
Honouring Kevin Hart
Kevin Hart is set to receive one of, if not the most prestigious comedy award in the U.S, the Mark Twain Prize for American Humour. The award is given to those who have made as quoted,
An impact on American society in ways similar to the distinguished 19th-century novelist and essayist Samuel Clemens, best known as Mark Twain.
Hart being one of the most recognizable faces in comedy he has certainly made a lasting impact. From movies, tv shows, and even business ventures, he has rightfully earned the award.
He is following in the footsteps of previous legendary comedians who have won the Mark Twain award such as Richard Pryor, Dave Chapelle, George Carlin, Steve Martin, Ellen DeGeneres, Adam Sandler, and so much more.
The Life of Hart
Before stand-up Hart already was someone who dreamed big. Even from his humble beginnings as a shoe salesman all he could ever think about was that he’ll be the best shoe salesman and eventually work with Nike.
Life has a funny thing of working itself out as he did eventually work with Nike but not as a salesman but as a collaborator with the company designing a shoe around him that Nike simply named as ‘Hart’.
Another example of this is when Hart was just starting out in stand-up comedy, he performed a lot in Philadelphia under the name of “Lil Kev” and it didn’t go so well. He was booed several times offstage and even had food thrown at him.
Flash forward to a few years later in 2022, Hart performed in Philly again but this time as the first comedian to have a sold-out NFL stadium performance. The stadium was the Crypto.com Arena during the Netflix is a Joke Festival.
Kennedy Center Partners with Netflix
In a groundbreaking move, the Kennedy Center has forged a partnership with Netflix to broadcast the esteemed Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. This collaboration signals a significant departure from traditional broadcasting methods when it was previously aired on Comedy Central, PBS and CNN.
Describing it as a “multiyear partnership,” the Kennedy Center and Netflix have joined forces to bring this iconic event to audiences worldwide. While the exact duration of the collaboration remains undisclosed, both entities express excitement about the potential of this deal.
Deborah F. Rutter, President of the Kennedy Center, hailed the partnership with Netflix as a significant milestone in the history of the Mark Twain Prize. She emphasised the award’s role in celebrating comedic brilliance and expressed confidence in Netflix’s ability to uphold its legacy.
We are delighted to announce our partnership with Netflix and continue the Center’s 25-year tradition of celebrating exceptional comedians like Kevin… The Mark Twain Prize, which annually brings the comedy community together to recognize comedic excellence and impact, aligns with Netflix’s standing as the eminent home for comedy programming.
Netflix’s Investment in Comedy
Netflix’s substantial investment in stand-up comedy has positioned it as a premier destination for comedy enthusiasts. Boasting an extensive library of stand-up specials and original comedy content, Netflix has become synonymous with quality comedy entertainment.
From comics like Tom Segura, Mike Epps, Jimmy Carr, Bo Burnham, Ali Wong, Seth Myers, Dave Chapelle, and so much more. They also launched their own Netflix is a Joke Festival in 2022 with hundreds of events at dozens of venues across Los Angeles.
The streaming giant is also known to offer millions in compensation to its comedians and offer great production value with each comedy special which means that comedians are certainly looking to strike a deal with them.
Guest Stars
Several of the honoree’s friends and occasionally family members enter the stage during the ceremony to applaud or, more likely, subtly make fun of the comedian of the hour.
Comedians Chris Rock, Jimmy Fallon, Seinfeld, and Chappelle, as well as actresses Tiffany Haddish and Regina Hall, will be among this year’s attendees.
Kevin Hart sees the award as something that will open new doors for his career going forward,
It was great fun. I kept going, didn’t I? It’s the beginning of a new career
Kevin Hart is undoubtedly an amazing comedian and we’re actually excited at the star-studded lineup of guest-stars ready to give a message (or a roast) towards Kevin! For more hilarious comedians and great comedy shows, join the fun here at Big Belly Comedy Club!
