Monday, June 29, 2026
A friends-of-Bill cast spanning comedy and culture — including Louis C.K., Whitney Cummings, Matt Friend, Woody Harrelson, Arianna Huffington, Jay Leno, John Mellencamp and Stephen A. Smith — feted honoree Bill Maher at the 27th Annual Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humor on June 28.
The red carpet in the Hall of Nations was held in advance of the program kicked off the fun-filled evening with Huffington asking if this reporter was getting enough sleep, followed by the loquacious Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, whose wife Allison, a Ken Cen board member, bought him as her plus-one. Along the velvet rope, It was at once hilarious and startling to see Sen. Jon Fetterman (D-Penn.) chiding the New York Times writer for its anti-Israel opinions and reportage. (Was that off the record?)
Funnyman Bill Maher — famed for HBO’s “Real Time” and, before that, Politically Incorrect” walked into the hall, basically asking people to chill and remember that this too (the Trump interference) shall pass. The author of five books, most recently “What This Comedian Said Will Shock You,” was whisked away to be miked up before this fellow Jersey boy could ask a question.
On stage, Kennedy Center trustee Pamella Roland DeVos welcomed all with the theme of the performing arts center embodying beauty and creativity. (Who could disagree?)
Soon, Washington-born and bred Whitney Cummings flung a few zingers. Political comedians are like “colorectal” experts. “I actually heard Trump may come tonight but he couldn’t make it. He got caught in sex traffic.” “The unmarried, childless millionaire” is in a “toxic, committed relationship” with the U.S.A. He offers the “humor to heal left and right. Congratulations.” “Bill is a warrior of free speech.” Still … “No other country could make a Bill Maher.”
Comedian Lous C.K. touted Maher as “a good guy allergic to bullshit,” who threw him a rope during his time as an outcast in the business
Woody Harrelson of “Cheers” said he loves Maher more than those fancy, high-tech Japanese toilets and co-owns a West Hollywood cannabis dispensary with him. “Bill wants Uncle Sam off your back.” As he ended his joke about banks, Harrelson noted “Wells Fargo [presenting sponsor]” was “excepted.” “I admire you, love you brother!”
Sportscaster and commentator Stephen A. Smith said, “Bill keeps it real” and “thinks I should run for president.” Upstream from the mainstream, he noted “the lead dog gets bitten.” “He has the courage to tell truth.”
Arianna Huffington said she has know Maher since 1993 — “a long deep friendship, incredibly loyal ” She admitted she was a Greek failure at being a matchmaker for him.
“He was cancelled before being cancelled was a thing.”
Tagging him “a mystical atheist,” she turned to Maher and said, “Twain would have loved you.”
Jay Leno, formerly of “the Tonight Show,” proclaimed Maher the “big beautiful bill” in Washington, D.C., and presented him the Twain Prize.
Kissing the prize and looking to the VIP seats, Maher said, “I respect the f – – – out of these people!” He profusely thanked his fans, “my audience,” and added he “wasn’t going anywhere.”
Maher imagines himself as Toto, the dog who pulls back the curtain in “The Wizard of Oz” and asks, “What is true?”
John Mellencamp aptly finished the evening with “Pink Houses” and “Authority Song.”