Well, the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor...

...has just become another award which means less than nothing.  Okay, Tina Fey's winning last year was a simple case of a prize being awarded much too soon, but, given her creative clout (quite remarkable for a woman in Hollywood), I understood.  But Will Ferrell in 2011?

Think of the comic icons (and even not-quite-icons) who have not been so honored, despite a life of work in comedy: Alan King, Phyllis Diller, Carol Burnett, Dick Van Dyke, Sid Caesar, Robert Klein, Mel Brooks, Albert Brooks, Tom Lehrer, Martin Mull, yes, even Joan Rivers (for her earlier, funnier life), or Woody Allen (despite the personal issues) or Blake Edwards (even though I hate most of his films after, say, 1975).  Hell, how about Jerry Seinfeld or Larry David?  They at least changed the face of television comedy.  I could go on, but QED.

ANY ONE of these people is more worthy of this recognition than Will Ferrell. 

Man, you're killing Sam Clemens!  Shame on you, Kennedy Center.