The stars were out to honor the late comedian George Carlin as he was posthumously awarded the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Sunday. The late stand-up legend was scheduled to receive the honor prior to his death and was reportedly thrilled to be winning the prize, as Mark Twain was one of his influences. Sadly, George passed away from heart failure before he could accept the award. Comics turned out in large numbers to the ceremony to pay Carlin their respects- from Joan Rivers to Margaret Cho.

George Carlin may not have been around to accept the award in bodily form, but some of the big names who were inspired by his sharp brand of funny made sure he was there in spirit.
Jon Stewart, Bill Maher, Denis Leary, Gary Shandling, Joan Rivers, Lily Tomlin and Margaret Cho were among the laughmakers who showed up Monday to honor the pioneering comic at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., where the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor was awarded posthumously for the first time.

Carlin died of heart failure June 22, barely a week after learning that he was the recipient of this year’s prize, which in the past has gone to luminaries such as Steve Martin and Billy Crystal.

“He was thrilled,” Carlin’s daughter told the Associated Press earlier today. “I think he represented a lot of what Mark Twain did for our country, not only being smart and funny but also being a sharp commentator.”

Next-generation funnyman Stewart, who was 9 years old when Class Clown, the album featuring the “Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television,” came out, called Carlin a “working man” who “respected what he did.”

“That was when I realized you could make money for saying things my dad used to say when he was fixing the car,” Leary said of Carlin’s history-making “Seven Words” routine, which later led to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling upholding the government’s right to punish broadcasters that allowed offensive language on the air during times when children might be listening.

But for the people who were allowed to listen—and for those children who eventually grew up (or sneaked their parents’ records)—there was more to mine from Carln’s words than a stream of profanity.

“His comedy wasn’t just joke, joke, joke,” Tomlin said. “His performances were often like essays.”

[From E!Online]

It’s about time Carlin received this award. It’s hard to believe that Steve Martin and Billy Crystal were honored before George - if it weren’t for trailblazers like him, Steve and Billy wouldn’t have a career. But better late than never, I guess. It’s just too bad that George didn’t live long enough to be here for the ceremony. That would have been one hell of an acceptance speech, don’t you think?
Photos of Kelly Carlin (George’s daughter), Denis Leary, Garry Shandling and Joan Rivers from the John F. Kennedy Center Awards on Sunday, Nov. 9, 2008. Photo credit: WENN. Photos of George Carlin are file PR photos.