BY AILEEN BURKE
Staff Writer
Known for her form-breaking female characters ‘Elaine Benes’ on Seinfeld, ‘Old Christine’ on The New Adventures of Old Christine, and ‘Selina Meyer’ on Veep, comic Julia Louis-Dreyfus has had a decades long career in television that has resulted in her receiving the 2018 Mark Twain Prize for Humor.
Louis-Dreyfus is the 20th recipient of the lifetime achievement prize, and the 6th woman on the list. Her name joins the likes of Whoopi Goldberg, Carol Burnett, Lily Tomlin, Tina Fey, and Ellen DeGeneres. There have been 21 Mark Twain Prizes awarded, but Bill Cosby had his rescinded earlier this year.
Although her winning is of note alone, there has been a lot of talk about her acceptance speech and the commentary of those who showed up to honor her, although it has not yet been televised.
A central focus of the speech was her recent stage two breast cancer battle; the talk was loaded with dark and political humor.
“Cancer isn’t at all funny but a big part of dealing with it has been finding the funny moments,” said Louis-Dreyfus in her Kennedy Center speech.
“The old cliche about laughter being the best medicine turns out to be true. Which is good, because that’s what the current administration is trying to replace ObamaCare with.”
Other comedians brought up her diagnosis during the ceremony. Larry David, the creator of Seinfeld, did not hold back in a video submission speech, insinuating that she won the honor because of her openness with her cancer.
Although cancer and politics were a large part of the commentary from those at the ceremony, there was no shortage of sentiment either. Many fellow comics lauded her gifts; a speciality in physical comedy and her presentation of her most popular character, ‘Elaine Benes.’ Tina Fey was the most openly appreciative of Elaine, remarking on how she was exactly what women on television in the 90’s were not.
“She let Elaine be petty and sarcastic and a terrible dancer,” said Fey.
Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson of Broad City also gave major acclaim to Louis-Dreyfus.
“Without JLD there would be no us,” said Jacobson.
“From Elaine to Christine to Selina. Every time you created a character, you opened a door or us.”
During her time playing Elaine, Louis-Dreyfus won 12 major awards. She currently holds the record for the most Emmy Award wins and nominations. Her role on Veep has earned her six consecutive Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Emmys.
According to the webpage for the award, the Mark Twain Prize for Humor “recognizes people who have had an impact on American society in ways similar to the distinguished 19th century novelist and essayist known as Mark Twain.”
The ceremony for Louis-Dreyfus is to be televised Nov. 19 at 8 p.m. on the Public Broadcast Service channel.
