Conan O’Brien To Receive Mark Twain Prize For American Humor.

The Mark Twain Prize for American Humor will go to a podcaster this year. The Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend host has been selected for the award, which will be presented during a comedic star-studded ceremony at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall on March 23.

 “I am honored to be the first winner of the Mark Twain Prize recognized not for humor, but for my work as a riverboat pilot,” O’Brien said in response.

The Mark Twain Prize for American Humor recognizes individuals who have had an impact on American society in ways similar to the distinguished 19th-century novelist and essayist Samuel Clemens, colloquially known as Mark Twain. As a social commentator, satirist, and creator of characters, Clemens was a fearless observer of society, and the Kennedy Center sees the same in O’Brien for his work on TV and in podcasting. Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend has amassed more than 660 million downloads since it launched in 2018.

“For four decades, Conan O’Brien, has brought his unique blend of the smart, silly, insightful, and hilarious into our homes,” said Deborah F. Rutter, President of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. “From Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons — including the unbelievably funny monorail episode — to late night, podcasts, and all things Team Coco, Conan is a master of invention and reinvention, consistently pushing the envelope in search of new comedic heights.”

O’Brien worked on TV shows including “Saturday Night Live” and “The Simpsons,” until 1993, when NBC tapped him to take over as host of “Late Night.” He hosted the series until 2021. Since then, he has created a travel series for Max and focused on his podcasting work. Three years ago, his podcast studio Team Coco signed a multi-year distribution deal with SiriusXM worth a reported $150 million.

The inaugural Mark Twain Prize was presented to Richard Pryor in 1998. Previous recipients include several who have also become podcasters, including Will Ferrell (2011), Julia Louis-Dreyfus (2018) and Kevin Hart (2024).

This year’s event will stream on Netflix, the exclusive televised home of the Mark Twain Prize since 2024. It has not yet said when the show will be released.