Six Degrees: The Kennedy Center Honors George Carlin with the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor

Just a round-up of the news about last night’s presentation at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Out of our Six Degrees community, Jon Stewart and Lewis Black participated, as well as Denis Leary, Lily Tomlin, Joan Rivers, and numerous other comedic stars.

Jon Stewart, Lily Tomlin honor George Carlin
The Associated Press

The late comedian George Carlin – famous for those “Seven Words You Can Never Say on TV” – was honored Monday with the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, the only award he saw as a legitimate comedy prize.

On the red carpet before the show, Stewart said he was about 10 years old when Carlin’s album “Class Clown” was released. Stewart said it made him the funniest kid at school until his friends also found Carlin’s work.

“For all his antiestablishment cred, he was a working man. He punched in. He sat down and he wrote,” Stewart said. “He respected what he did.”

Getting the Last Laugh
The Washington Post

[Lewis] Black recalled that he couldn’t persuade his elderly father to travel to a ceremony at which Black was to receive a comedy award. Told that Carlin would be there, his father lit up. “Do you think I could meet him?” asked Black’s dad. Told he could, the old man eagerly agreed to the trip. “An 82-year-old groupie!” Black said last night, concluding, “Without your presence among us, George, the world is a less funny place.”

Video: Cursing for Carlin on the Red Carpet (from washingtonpost.com, and there’s a lot of bleeping in the video)

Carlin honored at Mark Twain gala
Variety Magazine

The Kennedy Center’s posthumous presentation of the Mark Twain Prize to George Carlin had the feel of an Irish wake as a who’s who of top comics paid irreverent tribute to the pioneering social satirist on Monday night. Jon Stewart, Lily Tomlin, Bill Maher and Joan Rivers were among those who took part in the raucous event at the Kennedy Center.

Comics toast Carlin at Mark Twain ceremony
The USA Today

Stewart recalled spending time in Aspen with Carlin about 10 years ago for an HBO comedy special. As both men struggled with the thin air, Stewart said to Carlin, “Can you believe they built a city with no oxygen?” Carlin’s reply: “Rich (expletive) can survive anywhere.”

And perhaps Wired.com puts it most succinctly:

Rest in peace, you cranky, brilliant bastard.

Hat tip to Ms Interpreted and shamskygirl over at TWOP.

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• Six Degress: Post Vancouverage Blue’s Edition.