Media Alert! Bill Cosby 2009 Mark Twain Prize Recipient

Posted by Shanti_arch on November 04th, 2009

Bill Cosby 2009 Prize Recipient

The Kennedy Center will award the twelfth annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor to 1998 Kennedy Center Honoree Bill Cosby, one of America’s–and the world’s–foremost humorists, in a star-studded show filled with fun and laughter on Monday, October 26, 2009. Entertainers include Len Chandler, James DePreist, Dick Gregory, Jimmy Heath, Wynton Marsalis, Rita Moreno, Willie Nelson, Phylicia Rashad, Carl Reiner, Chris Rock, Jerry Seinfeld, Sinbad, and Malcolm-Jamal Warner.

The program, to be taped by WETA Washington, D.C. as Bill Cosby: The Mark Twain Prize, will air on PBS stations nationwide November 4, 2009 (check local listings).

The Kennedy Center, as the nation’s center for the performing arts, recognizes and presents all of the performing arts including opera, musical theater, drama, ballet and dance, as well as symphony and all kinds of smaller musical ensembles performing every imaginable kind of music. The Kennedy Center organized this “Celebration of Humor” and established the Mark Twain Prize to recognize those who create humor from their uniquely American experiences.

The History of the Mark Twain Prize

The first annual Kennedy Center Celebration of American Humor took place at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Sunday, October 18 through October 20, 1998. The celebration included lectures, symposia, and master classes, and culminated in the Concert Hall on Tuesday, October 20, 1998 when Richard Pryor was presented with the inaugural Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize, named after one of the world’s greatest exponents of humor. The program featured a gathering of leading American artists including Chevy Chase, Morgan Freeman, Danny Glover, Whoopi Goldberg, Damon Wayans, and Robin Williams.

As a social commentator, satirist and creator of memorable characters, Samuel Clemens – the distinguished 19th century novelist and essayist also known as Mark Twain – was a fearless observer of society, who outraged many while delighting and informing many more with his uncompromising perspective of social injustice and personal folly.

Read more here.

Categories: Books, Entertainment, Films, Media, Popular Culture, TV

Tags: Bill Cosby, Camille, Fat Albert, Hey, Humor, I Spy, Philanthropist, Spelman College

Shanti2

Did Russell Simmons really write this?

Bill Cosby, The Face Of Intolerance?
There are a lot of great entertainers who do great things. Bill Cosby is one of them. He has always used his voice to right what he thought was wrong. However, I believe that too often Mr. Cosby has wrongly placed the blame.

Bill Cosby is an example of someone from the older generation who has consistently blamed the poets and asked suffering community members to bare the full burden of guilt for the struggles that they endure. It is certainly not that he and the rest of the elders don't care, because they do. In fact, their intentions are pure and good. All the things they say are actually true. What they don’t understand is that the young people who they criticize did not create their own realities. They did not create the crumbling education system that we school them in. They did not create the drug epidemic and drug wars that have resulted in a dysfunctional family structure. They did not create the health care crisis that does not treat them. They did not create the culture of violence that they fall victim to.

While it is true that each one of us can make a change at any moment, it is equally true that at every minute we are all doing the best we can. If you knew better, you would do better. Therefore, those who care and have resources could/should work to create the kind of support systems that could inspire change. From the preacher who lifts our consciousness and asks us to reach for strength to the politicians and philanthropists who put programs in place to support our growth. When the President brought the Cosby attitude to his NAACP speech a few months ago, I was disappointed. It is nice to tell black people to stand up, but isn’t that really Min. Farrakhan's job? The President's job is to tell them to walk to the program that he placed on their corner. It is our job to instill the inspiration that gets a young person to walk into the program and not stand on the corner.

We love Cosby and all the older types who judge and blame the poets or culture for the sadness that the poets point to from their realities. From a place of love, I am letting the older generation know that they must admit that young people are less racist, less sexist, less homophobic, less prejudice than their parents and far less than their grandparents. Mr. Cosby, you know that your generation is carrying a lot more dirt, you are all just smart enough to cover it up. Old people are quicker to destroy the planet, abuse the animals and promote wars and then act like young people are violent. Young people are more compassionate, giving, promote gay rights, animal rights, human rights, protect the environment and want to end the wars.

When they point out the contradictions that come up and say it on a record and say it LOUD, you can’t believe it! The culture and the poetry is a mirror of the realities that they expressing. Instead of criticizing, let us recognize the faults of adults, because until that happens you all will continue to turn off young people from your message and further alienate them from your generation.

http://globalgrind.com/content/1114451/Bill-Cos...
Sepia

So much bullshit to dissect. So little time.
Webb

Why do you think that Simmons wouldn't have written this piece?

The truth is that Simmons is more plugged into the so-called "youth" culture than Cosby due to his connections through music, fashion and tv programming (def jam comedy/poetry).

This line right here has Simmons written all over it...
From a place of love, I am letting the older generation know that they must admit that young people are less racist, less sexist, less homophobic, less prejudice than their parents and far less than their grandparents.
Shanti2

I knew I'd get a response from you, Webb. I'm from the school of Cosby in some respects, and really haven't followed Simmons' career as much. But I hear what he's saying about adults and blaming.

I don't think I'd be as plugged in to the younger generation, if it weren't for my daughters and travel.

So, I had to ask if he wrote this and why? I do know Bill Cosby has been very vocal about our youth and how they should conduct themselves. I don't agree with everything he esposes, but I certainly do understand.

Bill Cosby is near 80 years of age. He is who is, and I doubt if he's ever going to change who he is.
Webb

I didn't read Russ's angle as an "attack" or "beef" per se. It just came across as another perspective on how to relate to our youth.

I don't think that Bill Cosby should change...
Bill Cosby is going to do what he wants to do.
Russell Simmons is going to do what he wants to do.
And it's all good!
Shanti2

Yep. They're both gonna make it do what it do, Boo. The title of his piece leaves alot to be desired....
Shanti2

I love Bill Cosby for his storytelling.
Webb

I'm gonna be sure to tape this...I heard that they offered Cosby the award years ago, but he wouldn't accept it b/c he feared the coarse, "Roast-like" language that might be used to present him with the award...sounds like some bullshyt to me.

Apparently, all of the presenters agreed to tame down their language...I'm reminded of Eddie Murphy's take on Bill Cosby's purity from back in the day...

The YouTube Clip - Eddie on Bill
Shanti2

***********DEAD************** That tight blue leather pants and jacket, uh, uh....

Tell bill to have a Coke and a smile and STFU and that Jello-puddding-eating muthfucka, PIRCELESS!

I'm a fan of Bill Cosby, Richard pryor, and Eddie Murphy.

Glad I got to get a jolt of laughter before watching the honors show. Thanks Webb! LMBAo!!!!
Webb

Hey Shanti, you'd never seen that clip before? It's classic! I'm a fan of Richard, Eddie and Bill (in that order).
Shanti2

LOL! It been years. I was raised on Pryor, Bill, and Eddie in that order.

Chris Rock and Jerry Seinfeld are co-hosting first.