'Carol Burnett Show' Wins Actress Mark Twain Prize for American Humor

By Clare Morris, Christian Post Contributor Monday, October 21, 2013

Carol Burnett was honored with comedy's top prize The Mark Twain Prize for American Humor Sunday. Burnett was most famous for her successful late night variey show "The Carol Burnett Show," which aired from 1967 to 1978.

At the awards ceremony, many comedians honored Burnett with touching speeches tinged with humor.

Fellow Mark Twain Prize winner Tina Fey lauded Burnett in a jovial way.

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"I love you in a way that is just shy of creepy," Fey said. "A lot of female comediennes are going to come out and say that 'I love you so much,' but I'm saying it first!"

Fey went on to discuss how much of an influence Burnett was as a female comedian.

"I fell in love with sketch comedy watching your show, and you proved sketch comedy is a good place for women," Fey said. "Only in sketch comedy does a woman get to play Cher, Scarlett O'Hara, the Queen of England, a Girl Scout, Mrs. Wiggins -- all in one night."

Martin Short also praised the Mark Twain Prize winner and spoke of her influence.

"Everyone copied from her. There wouldn't be 'Saturday Night Live' without Carol," Short said.

Burnett's acceptance speech was also filled with humor. The ceremony was in Washington D.C. and Burnett used that as an opportunity to show just why she deserved the humor award.

"This is very encouraging. It was a long time in coming, but I understand -- because there are so many people funnier than I am, especially here in Washington," she said to a laughing audience.