Jonathan Winters Acceptance Speech | 1999 Mark Twain Prize

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  • Опубликовано: 6 сен 2024
  • The Mark Twain Prize recognizes people who have had an impact on American society in ways similar to the distinguished 19th century novelist and essayist best known as Mark Twain. As a social commentator, satirist and creator of memorable characters, Samuel Clemens was a fearless observer of society, who startled and outraged many while delighting and informing many more with his uncompromising perspective of social injustice and personal folly. He revealed the great truth of humor when he said "against the assault of laughter nothing can stand."
    For more information on the Mark Twain Prize, please visit: www.kennedy-ce...
    The inaugural Mark Twain Prize was presented to Richard Pryor during the first annual Kennedy Center Celebration of American Humor, October 20, 1998. The event was created by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Bob Kaminsky, Peter Kaminsky, Mark Krantz, and John Schreiber and is televised annually. The Kennedy Center is grateful to Cappy McGarr for his steadfast support of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor since its inception. Previous recipients of the Mark Twain include Richard Pryor (1998), Jonathan Winters (1999), Carl Reiner (2000), Whoopi Goldberg (2001), Bob Newhart (2002), Lily Tomlin (2003), Lorne Michaels (2004), Steve Martin (2005), Neil Simon (2006), Billy Crystal (2007), George Carlin (2008), Bill Cosby (2009, rescinded in 2018) Tina Fey (2010), Will Ferrell (2011), Ellen DeGeneres (2012), Carol Burnett (2013) Jay Leno (2014), Eddie Murphy (2015), Bill Murray (2016), David Letterman (2017), and Julia Louis-Dreyfus (2018).
    #TwainPrize #PBSTwain
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Комментарии • 78

  • @user-um9yh3ws6o
    @user-um9yh3ws6o 6 месяцев назад +13

    Jonathan Winters was a comedy legend, Robin Williams looked up to him and Jonathan co starred with Robin on Mork and Mindy where he played their son. This man was so funny. Miss him so much ❤

  • @allencarlson6128
    @allencarlson6128 4 года назад +21

    Arguably the greatest comic of the 20th century!!

    • @DrJohn493
      @DrJohn493 Месяц назад +2

      No, not really arguable, his humor was undeniable. 👍

  • @nickprohoroff3720
    @nickprohoroff3720 4 года назад +36

    And young people, if you spend a minute, you shall have the joy of seeing the humanity and the heights of the human soul.

    • @daler.steffy1047
      @daler.steffy1047 Месяц назад

      What you have written here is an absolutely beautiful tribute to this comedy legend, as well as serving to honor all the others who have been recognized by the Kennedy Center's tribute/honor. Thank you for such astute observations, and like you, I hope young people can see and appreciate these Comedy Greats!

  • @titaniumgreen5367
    @titaniumgreen5367 4 года назад +12

    In this lifetime we had the pleasure and joy of Jonathan Winters and Robin Williams..the likes of which we will never see again..and never forgotten..

  • @btstae4139
    @btstae4139 4 года назад +40

    Comic genius
    RIP Jonathan
    Always loved you ❤️

  • @markallen3293
    @markallen3293 4 года назад +49

    Jonathan a National Treasure, I grew up watching him, so many years ago...

    • @keithjaeger1
      @keithjaeger1 4 года назад +1

      I grew up with him too

    • @Papa-o33963
      @Papa-o33963 4 года назад

      Me 3.

    • @tonym994
      @tonym994 2 года назад

      I watched him, but never "grew up".

  • @salchaos
    @salchaos 4 года назад +35

    Just a brilliant man. Suffered so much. A genius. Bless him.

    • @dabneyoffermein595
      @dabneyoffermein595 3 года назад +1

      what was he suffering from here?

    • @jerryrichardson2799
      @jerryrichardson2799 3 года назад +5

      @@dabneyoffermein595 Winters was an alcoholic and struggled with depression.

  • @steved7197
    @steved7197 4 года назад +34

    Mr. Winters showing exactly how he got us to laugh those many years. Truly and well deserved.

  • @parsnipmcgee329
    @parsnipmcgee329 4 года назад +29

    There was something about this guy that hits me just right. The silliness of the regular man...who knows. My parents had his records, and maybe that's it--growing up with the humor of a simpler time. Maudie Frickert made me keel over.

  • @harryhope5492
    @harryhope5492 3 года назад +8

    The great Jonathan Winters. God love him!

  • @Ledfists
    @Ledfists 4 года назад +17

    My all-time favorite comic. Loved his show as a boy, he made me laugh so much I was crying with joy. My Mother would enter the TV room and tell me to “keep it down”, I never could. Miss your very unique sense of humor, Jonathan. I know you’re making God laugh.

    • @daler.steffy1047
      @daler.steffy1047 Месяц назад

      Certainly one of life's greatest joys is to be able to do what you shared in your comments, to laugh so loud that you were crying with joy. Thank you for sharing that.

  • @cybrarian9
    @cybrarian9 4 года назад +30

    Jonathan Winters had a complex and challenging life at times. But clearly his dry wit, impressions, ability to tell a story, and physical comedy, not to forget his appearance in "Mork & Mindy," made him a great success. But to me, he'll always be that lovable truck driver "Lennie Pike" in "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World."

    • @ownpetard8379
      @ownpetard8379 4 года назад +3

      He had just got out of a mental health facility right before he appeared in that film. Success wasn't a straight line for him. Probably uses his eyes for comedic effect better than anyone else to date.

    • @kentamitchell
      @kentamitchell 4 года назад +6

      @@ownpetard8379 He was institutionalized twice. He managed to battle his demons to a standstill over half a century. RIP Jonathon.

    • @dabneyoffermein595
      @dabneyoffermein595 3 года назад

      what was challenging about it?

    • @cybrarian9
      @cybrarian9 3 года назад +1

      @@dabneyoffermein595 see above comments and do some research, then you’ll know.

  • @DaSauceful
    @DaSauceful 4 года назад +45

    Without Jonathan Winters we would not have seen Robin Williams be who he is. For that alone, he deserves this award.

    • @kentamitchell
      @kentamitchell 4 года назад +3

      Jonathon Williams was Robin Williams before Robin Williams was Robin Williams!

    • @FrankIsAlwaysRight
      @FrankIsAlwaysRight 4 года назад

      No we do not

    • @peach495
      @peach495 4 года назад +1

      I'd have to disagree. Winters & Williams had similar style comedy in that they were both capable of instant wit in response to pretty much anything. But that type of wit can't be learned, copied nor, conversely inspired in someone else. You either have it or you don't. You can learn technique, but having an instant, genuinely funny retort every time, is a part of you. With out Winters, Williams would simply have been the first we'd seen.

    • @notaliberalfromcali6245
      @notaliberalfromcali6245 4 года назад +5

      Robin Williams was over rated... Tried way too hard to be funny. Not a natural talent like Winters.

  • @damohanson5393
    @damohanson5393 4 года назад +10

    They( comedians) call it riffing or having no script to follow. Jonathan was the Jedi knight of riffing and his influence is obvious( see Robin Williams). Americana at it’s finest !

  • @oldandletdown7464
    @oldandletdown7464 2 года назад +4

    Robin Williams is the love Child of Johnathan Winters …..his brain just amazing.

  • @sanekabc
    @sanekabc 4 года назад +21

    He may have been the first comedian to make me cry from laughter.

    • @PhilTeoli
      @PhilTeoli 3 года назад

      He was the main inspiration for Robin Williams

  • @steveatiyeh343
    @steveatiyeh343 4 года назад +26

    When we were younger the NY Yankees and Jonathan Winters were about all my dad and I agreed upon...we boo-ed the former and loved the latter. I think the Yanks are still around but I miss the other two dearly.

    • @joeysalt8974
      @joeysalt8974 4 года назад

      Steve Atiyeh. Not a Yankee fan. Nobodys perfect.

    • @jamespfitz
      @jamespfitz 3 года назад

      Damn Yankees

    • @tonym994
      @tonym994 2 года назад

      @@jamespfitz eliminated by Boston, only to be eliminated by Houston. good luck, Houston, and congratulations to your fans.

    • @daler.steffy1047
      @daler.steffy1047 Месяц назад

      I really like your comments here as they show the wonderful insights and creative way that you have chosen to share your perceptions; and I love the pacing of your writing. I sense that those who replied to your comments here missed the intent of your focus/es, probably because they lacked an appreciation for the "creative force" behind what you were saying.

  • @user-gb1pj5ns2x
    @user-gb1pj5ns2x Месяц назад

    Jonathan Winters was a gifted, talented comedian; My oh my, he usually always was very funny and in a quiet moment, going relentlessly, as he did, if there was a still few seconds I found him to never have any awkward moments or loss of some face to make or ad lib a couple words...what an entertainer he was.
    I watch the many times he was on his good friend Johnny Carson's show. Often it was a two person gig they ended up doing; they had to be true friends, the chemistry and genuine joy they both got from getting together made the times even funnier. Carson was such a great host, comedian himself and was THE genius of that type show. Thanks for putting this on.

  • @kevinperry9719
    @kevinperry9719 4 года назад +7

    Jonathan was very deserving of the prize. I hated seeing so many SNL alums winning in more recent years.

  • @rand007
    @rand007 4 года назад +9

    This guy, Carlin, Pryor, Wilson..unique one of a kind.

    • @sanekabc
      @sanekabc 4 года назад

      Who the heck is Wilson?

    • @Papa-o33963
      @Papa-o33963 4 года назад +1

      Flip Wilson.

  • @thorpestanford5359
    @thorpestanford5359 4 года назад +18

    Someone that can make you laugh without vulgarity.

    • @loungelizard7000
      @loungelizard7000 4 года назад +3

      Or.....someone who can make you laugh. It doesn't have to be with or without vulgarity, or with or without props, or with or without politics, or with or without a thousand other things. It's either funny or it isn't. Its that simple. Some vulgar comedians are hilarious. Some are not. Same for clean comedians. This is the nature of comedy.

  • @Steve-wr6fg
    @Steve-wr6fg 13 дней назад

    The brilliant mind of Jonathan Winters. Nobody better.

  • @DrJohn493
    @DrJohn493 Месяц назад

    God I miss him and the humor my parents never really could get!

  • @peace-yv4qd
    @peace-yv4qd 4 года назад +3

    Walked by Mr Winters at a football game, but was too shy to say hello. Wish I had.

  • @daler.steffy1047
    @daler.steffy1047 Месяц назад

    I haven't seen Jack Benny's name show up in the number of comments I've read here or in responses attached to other Kennedy Center honoree video clips (although I haven't read all of the comments that were posted). It's too bad he wasn't alive in our "present time" to be honored in this way, because he was certainly deserving of it (he passed away in 1974 at the age of 82, I believe). I loved his self-deprecating humor and his arm and facial expressions, which illustrated how wonderfully effective he was at more subtle physical comedy. Also, when bringing his guests onto the stage (often in skits), he wanted them to be in the spotlight more than himself, this being one important example of his humility. And Jack was, in fact, a very generous man in all respects, certainly the antithesis of the image that he crafted for the many decades he was on radio and television. Lastly, he was a faithful man who loved his wife and daughter in the deepest way is possible.

  • @jamessimmons3645
    @jamessimmons3645 6 месяцев назад +1

    The master of the incongruous statement

  • @careyleroux3784
    @careyleroux3784 3 года назад +3

    He was entertaining at a time when entertainment was great. Now it's not so good anymore and Hollywood has gone down the toilet.

  • @bizquikboy
    @bizquikboy Месяц назад

    This should have a million views and one million likes. Old school, but, at the same time, well ahead of his time.

  • @copee2960
    @copee2960 3 года назад +1

    One very funny man...living in the UK the first time i saw this man was on Mork and Mindy..fell in love with him from that very moment.

  • @thezzach
    @thezzach 4 года назад +4

    2:50 a dog doesn’t like that. 😂

  • @Jcrpdx
    @Jcrpdx 4 года назад +7

    Brilliant.

  • @suziemoreno6529
    @suziemoreno6529 Месяц назад

    Loves these comedians

  • @gkubrick
    @gkubrick 2 года назад +1

    would love to see the entire special

  • @MrRogerSherman
    @MrRogerSherman 4 года назад +4

    Jonhnathan was considered too unstable to hire because of a nervous breakdown and hospital stay. He truly was Robin Williams mentor. Less than a year after his death Robin killed himself. If he could have called his wise teacher of life, I WONDER IF HE 'D STILL BE ALIVE

    • @libertyresearch-iu4fy
      @libertyresearch-iu4fy 4 года назад +1

      I hate to dwell on the morbid, but Robin Williams's condition, Lewy-Body dementia would have probably killed him by now if he hadn't taken his own life.

  • @dianarockwell6256
    @dianarockwell6256 6 дней назад

    The Washington Monument never did get finished. It was supposed to have a deck all the way around it with space for people to walk.

  • @donfarlan214
    @donfarlan214 4 года назад +1

    All these wonderful inventions ,they couldnt do enough

  • @raycatlin3554
    @raycatlin3554 6 месяцев назад

    * THIS Wonder of a human being was also a WW 2 Vet. !
    Mr. Winters served w/Marines . Thank - you , Sir .
    * Because of all of the horrific drama that he had been
    exposed to HAD major influence on his psyche ,
    and Rightly So .🏆

  • @ownpetard8379
    @ownpetard8379 4 года назад +8

    I wonder if he was the first to use the expression "he's something else" or variations, for comedic effect? At 3:45 he says, "see (gee?) that's something else." He would say, "You're (or He's) something else", which is actually funny (to me) if I think about it. But I don't think about it anymore having heard it so many times. Perhaps it goes back further than him or is a common Ohio expression. Super guy.

  • @waradi.alkhalijj7081
    @waradi.alkhalijj7081 2 года назад +2

    العملاق جوناثان افضل من قدم الكوميديا.💙في امريكا والعالم.

  • @stevenj9970
    @stevenj9970 6 месяцев назад

    A true American treasure

  • @tiberiuskirk739
    @tiberiuskirk739 4 года назад +2

    ❤️

  • @craigcappelluti4158
    @craigcappelluti4158 6 месяцев назад

    Absolute genius

  • @eddiebrown687
    @eddiebrown687 3 года назад +3

    Guy was brilliant, but troubled. I think making people laugh was really important to him. It was really awful for him when he was alone.

  • @bryandavis001
    @bryandavis001 Месяц назад

    I wanted him to be my Grandad so very badly.

  • @jonathangagne525
    @jonathangagne525 4 года назад +3

    1943 humor. Hahaha!

  • @TimothyJonSarris
    @TimothyJonSarris 4 года назад

    Truly worthy... here's another suggestion for a recipient ... Garison Keillor!

  • @charliemay9893
    @charliemay9893 4 года назад

    Thought he died years ago

    • @libertyresearch-iu4fy
      @libertyresearch-iu4fy 4 года назад +2

      This piece of video was recorded more than 20 years ago.

    • @daveg4236
      @daveg4236 4 года назад +3

      Ummmm this is from 99. Let that sink in

  • @Mobster-yu6jo
    @Mobster-yu6jo 2 года назад

    Lolssss Jonathan oh Jonathan u crack me every fckn time thank you thank you what a man and a blessin’