Mark Twain Prize honoree Jay Leno speaks after being presented with the prize at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2014, in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)
Republished October 19, 2014 - 5:18 PM
Original Publication Date October 19, 2014 - 9:05 AM
WASHINGTON - The joke is on Jay Leno this weekend as comedians salute the former "Tonight Show" host, who will receive the nation's top humour prize.
Jimmy Fallon, Jerry Seinfeld and Wanda Sykes will celebrate and poke fun of Leno on Sunday night as he receives the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at the Kennedy Center in Washington. Garth Brooks, Kevin Eubanks and Chelsea Handler also will pay tribute.
The show will be broadcast nationally Nov. 23 on PBS.
On the red carpet before the show, Leno said "The Tonight Show" years were the best of his life. He said Fallon is bringing "a new dynamic" to the show, and "it's fun to see it change."
Leno said the Mark Twain award was set apart from other honours.
"Some awards shows are so phoney ... you campaign for them, you make a donation," Leno said. "This one you have no idea it's coming."
Leno said the nation's capital seems more partisan than it used to be, but he's not any more drawn to politics.
"Every time I think I'm a Democrat, they do something stupid, and every time I think I'm a Republican, they do something greedy," he said.
The Mark Twain award honours people who have had an impact on American society in the tradition of Samuel Clemens, the writer, satirist and social commentator better known as Mark Twain. Past honorees include Carol Burnett, Ellen DeGeneres, Will Ferrell and Bill Cosby.
Leno built his career in standup comedy and still makes more than 100 live performances each year. He inherited the "Tonight Show" from Johnny Carson in 1992, beating out David Letterman, and for years was the top-rated late-night host.
Leno, 64, stepped down from the show for the second time this year, passing the mantle to Fallon.
Before the show, Fallon said Leno's work ethic sets him apart among comedians.
"He's just one of the hardest working comedians ever," Fallon said. "I have nothing but respect for the guy."
Now Leno is developing a new TV show from his Los Angeles garage about his other great passion: cars. "Jay Leno's Garage" will premiere on CNBC in 2015.
Leno also plans to continue his live performances and will help start a new comedy series next year at the Kennedy Center.
Show producer Cappy McGarr said the Kennedy Center wanted to celebrate Leno for long contributing humour to the national conversation.
"You know, we receive bad news every day, and it's important for us to keep our humour intact, as difficult as that might be," McGarr said. "And thank goodness Jay has contributed to our American humour for a generation and made us keep things in perspective."
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News from © The Associated Press, 2014