By April MacIntyre Nov 3, 2009, 3:43 GMT
The Twelth Annual Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize will air on PBS stations nationwide on Wednesday, November 4 at 8 p.m. ET. (check local listings)
04/25/2009 - Bill Cosby -The program, Bill Cosby: The Mark Twain Prize, will air on PBS stations nationwide November 4, 2009. © Image of Sport / PR Photos
A variety of American entertainers including Len Chandler, James De Priest, Dick Gregory Jimmy Heath, Wynton Marsalis, Rita Moreno, Willie Nelson, Phylicia Rashad, Carl Reiner, Chris Rock, Jerry Seinfeld, Sinbad and Malcom Jamal-Warner saluted Bill Cosby in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall at the Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize For American Humor on Monday, October 26.
The evening recognized the life and achievements of the beloved comedian.
The program, Bill Cosby: The Mark Twain Prize, will air on PBS stations nationwide November 4, 2009.
Background:
Dr. William Henry "Bill" Cosby, Jr. is an American comedian, actor, author, television producer and activist. He began his career performing in various comedy clubs, before landing a role in the 1960s action show “I Spy.”
This was followed by his own series, “The Bill Cosby Show,” in 1969. He created the animated educational series “Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids,” about a group of young friends growing up in the city and based on the famous routines.
Cosby produced and starred in “The Cosby Show,” which which is considered one of the landmark sitcoms of all time, airing from 1984 to 1992. “The Huxtable Effect” describes the notion that the show helped pave the way for the first black president. He produced the hit sitcom “A Different World,” which is credited with encouraging young people to obtain a college education.
Cosby produced “Little Bill,” a Nick, Jr. Emmy® award winning animated series that now airs on Noggin. Throughout his career, he has released a number of popular comedy albums. Nine of Cosby's albums have been certified Gold and six have been certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). In addition to performing,
Cosby earned a Masters Degree in Education, followed by a Doctorate in Education in 1978, from the University of Massachusetts. His contributions to American culture were recognized with a Kennedy Center Honors in 1998 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in July 2002, America’s highest civilian honor.
Along with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the creators and executive producers of The Mark Twain Prize are Bob Kaminsky, Peter Kaminsky, Mark Krantz and Cappy McGarr. WETA Washington, D.C. executive producers for Bill Cosby: The Mark Twain Prize are Dalton Delan and David S. Thompson.
The Kennedy Center’s Mark Twain Prize focuses on those who create humor from their uniquely American experiences. The proceeds of the evening are used for the Kennedy Center Education Department’s programs.
As recipient of the 2009 Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, Dr. Cosby will receive a copy of an 1884 bronze portrait bust of Mark Twain* sculpted by Karl Gerhardt (1853-1940). The bust and images of it are courtesy of the Mark Twain House and Museum, Hartford, Connecticut.
As a social commentator, satirist and creator of characters, Samuel Clemens—the distinguished 19th century novelist and essayist also known as Mark Twain—was a fearless observer of society who startled many while delighting and informing many more with his uncompromising perspective of social injustice and personal folly. He revealed the great truth of humor when he said, “against the assault of laughter nothing can stand.”
The Kennedy Center Celebration of American Humor was instituted as an annual event in October 1998. Recipients of the Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize have been Richard Pryor (1998), Jonathan Winters (1999), Carl Reiner (2000), Whoopi Goldberg (2001), Bob Newhart (2002), Lily Tomlin (2003), Lorne Michaels (2004), Steve Martin (2005) Neil Simon (2006) Billy Crystal (2007) and George Carlin (2008).
For more information about the Kennedy Center please visit: www.kennedy-center.org
Taped at The John F. Kennedy Center - the program, which recognizes the life and achievements of the beloved comedian, includes an assortment of classic film clips from Cosby's career.
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