Clearpost.online It's your post, so post it!

Many artists have canceled their appearances at the Kennedy Center after President Donald Trump’s hostile partisan takeover, but not Mark Twain Prize for American Humor recipient Conan O’Brien. “Thanks to the people who invited me here a few months ago, Deborah Rutter and David Rubenstein,” he said at the ceremony (via The Guardian), referencing ousted Kennedy Center personnel. “Honestly, I don’t know why they’re not here tonight. I lost wifi in January. I guess they’re stuck in traffic.” In the Mark Twain Prize first look photos, you can catch a glimpse of the part-celebration, part-roast ahead of its premiere May 4 on Netflix.

Trump, who did not attend, surely would’ve preferred his own plan for the ceremony (he’s pitched himself as the host for the Kennedy Center Honors), but instead the evening was full of O’Brien’s friends and peers taking jabs at the president. “I just really miss the days when you were America’s only orange asshole,” Sarah Silverman told the late night host. Previous recipient Will Ferrell joked that he was “supposed to be shutting down the Department of Education.” David Letterman called the event a gathering of “the resistance” and Stephen Colbert joked that the new Kennedy Center board included Bashar al-Assad and Skeletor. “It’s an honor to be here at the Kennedy Center or, as it will be known next week, the Roy Cohn Pavilion for Big, Strong Men Who Love Cats,” John Mulaney said during his bit. “Congratulations to my friend Conan O’Brien on receiving the 26th and final Mark Twain prize.”

Accepting the award, O’Brien thanked longtime Kennedy Center employees “for their selfless devotion to the arts.” He went on to reflect on the namesake of the Mark Twain Prize: “Twain hated bullies … He punched up, not down, and he deeply, deeply empathised with the weak. Twain was allergic to hypocrisy and he loathed racism,” he said. “Twain was suspicious of populism, jingoism, imperialism, the money-obsessed mania of the Gilded Age and any expression of mindless American might or self-importance.” He added, “Above all, Twain was a patriot in the best sense of the world. He loved America but knew it was deeply flawed. Twain wrote, ‘Patriotism is supporting your country all of the time and your government when it deserves it.'”

In addition to the above, the evening included appearances from Nikki Glaser, Kumail Nanjiani, Tracy Morgan, Adam Sandler, Andy Richter, Reggie Watts, Bill Burr, Sean Evans, and Robert Smigel. The program also featured music direction from O’Brien’s longtime bandleader, Max Weinberg. You can check out the Mark Twain Prize first look photos below and see the full ceremony for yourself on Netflix in May. 

Conan O’Brien at the Kennedy Center for the Mark Twain Prize first look; Photo: Clifton Prescod/Netflix

John Mulaney honoring Conan O’Brien; Photo: Clifton Prescod/Netflix

Conan O’Brien performing with Adam Sandler at the Kennedy Center; Photo: Clifton Prescod/Netflix

David Letterman at the Kennedy Center honoring Conan O’Brien; Photo: Clifton Prescod/Netflix

Andy Richter honors Conan O’Brien at the Kennedy Center; Photo: Clifton Prescod/Netflix

Will Ferrell honors Conan O’Brien; Photo: Clifton Prescod/Netflix

Conan O’Brien at the Kennedy Center; Photo: Clifton Prescod/Netflix

Sarah Silverman at the Kennedy Center; Photo: Clifton Prescod/Netflix

Conan O’Brien with family watches Mark Twain Prize ceremony; Photo: Clifton Prescod/Netflix

Tracy Morgan at the Kennedy Center; Photo: Clifton Prescod/Netflix

Sean Evans and Stephen Colbert eating hot wings at the Kennedy Center; Photo: Clifton Prescod/Netflix

Adam Sandler performs at the Kennedy Center; Photo: Clifton Prescod/Netflix