The leading comedian rejected Donald Trump’s acquisition of the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts on a show that he described as “the most entertaining gathering of resistance.”
Trump did not attend Sunday’s American Humor Awards honoring Conan O’Brien for his lifetime achievement in comedy. But his ears may have been burning as cartoons and celebrities joked at his expense in what became the cry of a rally for freedom of artistic expression.
There was nothing more straightforward than Sarah Silverman. Sarah Silverman spoke about how she appeared on O’Brien’s late-night television show. “They wrote a bit about Conan interviewing Hitler because he is embarrassed to be compared to Donald Trump,” she recalled.
Silverman, a Jewish woman, was not an obvious choice for some of them. “They chose me, and that’s this way of thinking that makes Conan great again.” Looking at O’Brien, who has inger hair, she added: The audience erupted in laughter.
Silverman also referenced an episode of O’Brien’s show. There, I took a photo next to my mouth, similar to my vagina. She urged the audience to look at a photo of O’Brien’s lips under her seat, then hinted at Trump’s infamous boast in Access Hollywood about touching a woman’s genitals.
“You move on and leave those photos in your seat when you go. The guy who took over loves to grab a cat.”
Trump’s seizure at the Kennedy Center in Washington is shaking the world of art. The change came to the flagship venue. It was clear from the moment celebrities walked the red carpet on the other side of the wall where golden photos of Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President and Second Lady, J.D. Vance and Usha Vance were mounted.
This was the first signing event here since last month when Trump appointed his own chair that pushed billionaire philanthropist David Rubenstein. He also fired board members appointed by Joe Biden and set up officials loyal to him.
Trump handed the reins of Kennedy Center’s leadership to Richard Grenell, a close German ally and former ambassador, who serves as envoys for the current administration’s special mission.
The new board, including White House Chiefs of Staff Susie Wills and Usha Vance, has fired Center President Deborah Lutter. Trump posted on social media that he “doesn’t share our vision for the golden age of art and culture.”
Several artists, including musical Hamilton producer and actor and writer Issaray, announced they had cancelled their appearances at the venue. Ticket sales have also fallen.
On Sunday night, the series of comedians paying tribute to O’Brien never pulled a punch. Many target the institution’s uncertain future, implying that the award itself rarely survives the Trump era.
John Mulany said: “It’s an honor to be here at the Kennedy Center. As will be known next week, the Roy Corn Pavilion for a big, strong man who loves cats.” Corn, a hard-boiled lawyer, was Trump’s leader. Trump praised Andrew Lloyd Webber’s music cat during his visit to the arts complex last week.
Mulaney added:
Will Ferrell described the event as a distraction as “I am supposed to close the Department of Education.”
In a segment that includes increasingly spicy chicken wings, late-night host Stephen Colbert said:
In praise of O’Brien, Colbert continued. “He never retreats. This was a very different place when he accepted the Mark Twain Award. Today they announced two board members, Bashar al-Assad and Skeltau.
Another late-night giant, David Letterman said, “I am not a historian, but I believe this was the most entertaining collection of resistance when I believe history is always shown to history.”
O’Brien was chosen to replace David Letterman as the host of the 1993 NBC Late Night Show, despite having no experience on camera. He spent the past few years as a writer for Saturday Night Live and the Simpsons, but he hosted the late night for 16 years. He hosted another Talkshow at Cable Station TBS, launched a successful podcast and travel show, and hosted this year’s Oscars.
Unknown as a political satirist, O’Brien used his acceptance speech on Sunday to make a comment pointed out about the current climate. “Thanks to the people who invited me here a few months ago, Deborah Rutter and David Rubenstein,” he said. “To be honest, I don’t know why they’re not here tonight. I lost WiFi in January.
“And I would like to thank all the beautiful people who have worked at the Kennedy Center for years and are worried about what the future will bring. My eternal gratitude for my selfless dedication to the art.” The audience stood, applauded, and pertussised.
Standing next to the award, O’Brien, a bust of 19th-century writer and humorist Twain, said:
“Twain doubted the power and self-importance of populism, zingoism, imperialism, money-obsessed mania of the golden age, and the heartless America.”
He added: “Twain was a patriot in the world’s finest sense. He loved America, but he knew it was deeply flawed.
But while O’Brien and Adam Sandler played Neil Young’s Rockin in the Free World, the night ended with a suitably light and charming note of the performer dancing on stage by Twain.
Previous winners of the Mark Twain Awards include Kevin Hart, Sandler, Jon Stewart, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Carol Burnett. The Sunday show will be streamed on Netflix on May 4th.
