On Sunday evening, actor and comedian Adam Sandler became the 24th laureate of the Kennedy Center's Mark Twain Award for American Humor during a celebration of his comedy and career attended by Jennifer Aniston, Chris Rock, and Conan O'Brien.
Sandler, whose filmography includes 'Spanglish,' 'The Wedding Singer,' and 'The Waterboy,' was lauded for his comedic abilities, which, despite not consistently winning over critics, have won over fans and produced billions of dollars.
Sandler, 56, dressed in business clothes instead of his usual shorts and T-shirt, felt that his suit was too large.
He told reporters on the red carpet before the show, "I don't know if this suit fits me; I simply threw it on... for the second time."
"But, about everything else, including the honour itself, I have never considered or anticipated anything much in my life."
Dana Carvey, a comedian, acknowledged Sandler's longevity. Carvey told reporters before the show, "No one has had a career like this." Who has survived this long? He is cherished."
Sandler's friends, performing colleagues, and his mother and wife took the Kennedy Center stage to gently ridicule the actor and emphasize his development as a stand-up comedian, film actor, and singer.
At the beginning of the event, the comedian O'Brien joked that the Kennedy Center was making a "bad, horrible mistake" by selecting Sandler, a former "Saturday Night Live" star.
Judy, Sandler's mother, made light of his clothing preferences. While praising her kid, she remarked, "I say he's a slob," in a quasi-comedic manner. We are incredibly proud of him.
David Spade, the comedian, mocked Sandler's box office triumph. "Four billion bucks in the film industry with such skill!" With a hand gesture that suggested a small amount, Spade stated.
Aniston, who co-starred with Sandler in such flicks as "Just Go with It" and "Murder Mystery" on Netflix, commended her co-star. She stated, "Adam Sandler, you have no equal."
Due to the proximity of the White House to the Kennedy Center, some presenters touched on politics.
Carvey impersonated President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, as comic Chris Rock mentions the possibility of criminal charges against the GOP leader.
"Are you going to arrest Trump truly?" Rock asked. This will only increase his popularity!"
Rock, slapped on stage at the Oscars in 2022 by actor Will Smith, also referenced Paul Pelosi, the husband of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who was assaulted in their San Francisco home last year.
Rock stated as the Pelosis sat in the audience, "Paul Pelosi is the only person who knows how I felt."
Sandler joins the likes of Jon Stewart, Dave Chappelle, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, David Letterman, Carol Burnett, Eddie Murphy, and Ellen DeGeneres as recipients of the Mark Twain Prize.
The award is named after Samuel Clemens, known by his literary name Mark Twain, a novelist and essayist. CNN will run the program on March 26.
