Bill Maher Wins the Mark Twain Prize: A Simple Breakdown

What Happened This Summer

This summer, a comedian named Bill Maher got a very special award: the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.

• He accepted the prize on a stage at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
• Fun fact: President Trump tried to rename the building the "Trump-Kennedy Center," but a judge said no.
  • The judge made Trump’s team remove his name from the building by June 12.

Who Is Bill Maher?

Bill Maher is a comedian who has been on late-night TV for 33 years.

• His current show is on HBO and is called Real Time with Bill Maher.
• On NPR’s video podcast Newsmakers, he said: "Thirty-three years… if it ended tomorrow, I think we can say it did not come out to be a failure."
• He joked that he lasted so long because of "the best pot" (marijuana) and "the best tequila" (a strong drink).
• Later, he clarified: he limits his drinking and tries to eat healthy, but the part about pot was true.

Important Point: Maher says when he hosts his TV show, he is not acting. "Ask anybody who knows me. I’m exactly the same person," he said.

What Is the Mark Twain Prize?

The Kennedy Center gives this award every year.

• It goes to people who changed American society in a way similar to writer Samuel Clemens.
• Samuel Clemens used the pen name Mark Twain and was a "fearless observer of society" in his books and on stage.
• The award ceremony will come out as a Netflix special on July 21.

Why Some People Disagree with Maher

Maher has made some critics (people who judge him) very angry over the years.

• He upset many on the political left by having dinner with President Trump at the White House early in Trump’s second term.
• Maher said talking with people from different sides is valuable.
• He said Trump is not a "crazy person," but only plays one on TV.

In the Newsmakers interview (filmed in a media room in his Los Angeles home), Maher said Trump is "more self-aware than he lets on in public."

When asked why Trump acts crazy on TV if he isn’t, Maher said:

• Trump "definitely has a form of Tourette syndrome" (a condition where a person blurts out things without meaning to).
• Maher said Trump "just blurts out whatever is on his mind."

Maher’s Beliefs and Background

It can be hard to know exactly what Maher believes.

• He has criticized the political right, the political left, and people of every faith.
• He is an atheist (someone who doesn’t believe in God) but was raised Roman Catholic.
• Leaving religion helps explain his comedy style.

When asked if his Catholic upbringing still affects him, he said:

• "Fear. I mean if I walk into a church, I’ll still get clammy from how they [priests and nuns] traumatized me."

Still Learning at 70

Maher is now 70 years old.

• In the interview, he talked about writing funny things.
• He cares about every single word he writes.
• He says he is still learning how to do it better.

Note: If you can’t see the interview video, you can click here to watch it.

Summary

Bill Maher won the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor this summer at the Kennedy Center. He has been on late-night TV for 33 years and says he is the same person on and off screen. The prize honors people like Mark Twain who observe society fearlessly. Maher has shocked some fans by meeting Trump, whom he says acts crazy on TV but has a real condition that makes him blurt things out. Raised Catholic but now atheist, Maher says fear from his upbringing stays with him. At 70, he is still writing comedy and learning.

FAQ

1. What is the Mark Twain Prize?
It is an annual award from the Kennedy Center given to people who impact American society like the writer Mark Twain did.

2. Why did President Trump’s name get removed from the Kennedy Center?
A judge ordered Trump’s team to remove his added name from the building by June 12 after he tried to rebrand it as the Trump-Kennedy Center.

3. Does Bill Maher really use marijuana?
Yes, he said the joke about "the best pot" was true, but he clarified he limits drinking and eats well.

4. Why was Maher criticized by the political left?
Because he had dinner with President Trump and said it was good to talk across political lines.

5. What did Maher say about Trump’s behavior on TV?
He said Trump is not truly crazy but plays one on TV, and that he has a form of Tourette syndrome that makes him blurt things out.