Comics are reportedly annoyed that CNN stripped the Kennedy Center’s Mark Twain Prize for American Comedy of political jokes during the 2023 ceremony.
Comedians and A-list actors came together to celebrate the lifetime achievements of comedian and writer Adam Sandler at the Kennedy Center in mid-March. Everyone from Chris Rock, David Spade, Luis Guzman, Rob Schneider and more came to present Sandler with the award, but apparently all was not well backstage, PageSix reported.
Rumors are spreading that CNN, who broadcast the 2023 awards, were “all over everyone’s” political jokes at the ceremony. The awards are typically picked up by PBS, and because literally no one watches them, it’s unclear why this rumored censoring was suddenly required by CNN.
Adam Sandler Receives Mark Twain Prize For American Humor | @DailyCaller
A huge group of A-list celebs hanging out in DC? Surely this must be the only reason they’re there.
Guys, just stop with your conspiracy theories. It’s totally innocent. https://t.co/HJOD2FkDxn
— KAY SMYTHE (@KaySmythe) March 20, 2023
Rock was rumored to have prepared a joke about how “romantic” it was that Donald Trump allegedly paid Stormy Daniels hush money to avoid his wife finding out about their affair, PageSix reported. He also, apparently, wanted to state that having the feds arrest Trump would just make him more popular.
Dana Carvey was also supposed to do a Donald Trump impersonation and make jokes about former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. PageSix was told that Spade wrote a piece about how the “woke” police would never let Mark Twain win the American Humor prize in 2023.
The official line is that the jokes were axed for time, but it would appear that only the political jokes were silenced. (RELATED: Reading ‘Lord Of The Rings’ And ‘1984’ Could Lead To Right-Wing Extremism, Gov’t Report Warns)
Reps for the Kennedy Center told PageSix that “The Kennedy Center and our own producers from [production company] Done+Dusted are the sole decision-makers for what is included in both the live show and the final broadcast — not CNN.” But the stars are apparently not sold on this line from the organizers, PageSix noted.