David Letterman, ‘SNL’ Vets Fete Bill Murray at Mark Twain Prize Ceremony
WASHINGTON — Comedian Bill Murray accepted the 19th annual Mark Twain prize Sunday night with a mixture of gratitude and relief before a packed house at the Kennedy Center. He was grateful for the honor but more relieved that it didn’t conflict with the National League Pennant win by his beloved Chicago Cubs.
“I’m glad they won last night so I could be here this evening,” said Murray after being presented with his prize, a bust of humorist Mark Twain. “I would have come anyway but honestly I do not trust the media to fairly report the story!”
Murray’s jab at Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s tirades against the news media was the only topical joke all night in an occasion curiously stripped of political humor from the assemblage of comics and others on hand to salute the honoree.
Murray confessed that he had been dreading the occasion, but was humbled by his whirlwind weekend in D.C. that included an impromptu appearance before the White House press secretary’s microphone, quality time at the executive mansion and dinner with Supreme Court justice Sonia Sotomayor. “Everything’s a blur,” he confessed to the Kennedy Center Concert Hall audience.
After passing the bust to the audience for inspection – a first for the Twain awards – Murray spoke of growing up in Illinois as a rambunctious middle child of nine children where he as known as “the little Murray.” He said it was his older brother Brian who paved his way into showbiz with a connection at Chicago’s Second City, where Bill first met the likes of John Belushi, Gilda Radner and Dan Aykroyd.
“The only reason I’m here is because of my brother Brian. He had more guts than anybody, and he’s waited a long time to hear that,” Murray said.
The rambling remarks included a shout-out to Ethel Kennedy, widow of Robert F. Kennedy who was seated in the audience. He conceded that he was droning on, “but it’s public television and who cares? As soon as I stop speaking, the pledge drive will begin!” (The ceremony will air Oct. 28 on PBS stations.)
Another rare moments of spontaneity came from a bearded David Letterman, who reminisced about Murray’s impact on his own career. Letterman told of his first TV gig, an ill-fated daytime show on NBC that received a needed boost when a young Murray made 44 appearances. “He didn’t save the show, but he saved me,” Letterman said, gesturing to the honoree seated in a box with family members.
Others on hand included fellow “Saturday Night Live” chums Aykroyd, Jane Curtin and Bill Hader to help introduce film and TV clips of the honoree. Steve Martin delivered an irreverent greeting on tape. Others included Jimmy Kimmel, Aziz Ansari, Roy Blount, Jr., Emma Stone and Sigourney Weaver.
Long-time chum Paul Shaffer introduced memorable TV clips of Murray’s “SNL” lounge singer shtick before accompanying Miley Cyrus on a lively version of “My Way.” It was backed up by the Late Night Allstar Band, which provided the night’s musical entertainment. Singer Rhiannon Giddons, vintage banjo in hand, wowed the audience with a fast-paced number from Mark Twain’s era.
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