Ellen DeGeneres spent Monday night among other top comedians as she was honored with the nation’s highest humor prize. DeGeneres, 54, received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.
PBS stations will broadcast the event on Oct. 30.
“Thanks to everyone at PBS. I am so happy to be part of your farewell season,” Ellen joked in accepting the prize and taking a jab at Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s plans to stop funding public broadcasting.
While on the red carpet prior to the presentation, DeGeneres claimed that she doesn’t see herself as political with her comedy.
“I just want to make people happy and make people laugh,” she said.
PBS reports The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humor was created in 1998 by The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Mark Krantz, Peter Kaminsky and Bob Kaminsky and Cappy McGarr to recognize the art of humorists who have had an impact on American society in ways similar to the distinguished 19th century novelist and essayist best known as Mark Twain.
Recipients of The Mark Twain Prize include: Richard Pryor, Jonathan Winters, Carl Reiner, Whoopi Goldberg, Bob Newhart, Lily Tomlin, Lorne Michaels, Steve Martin, Neil Simon, Billy Crystal, George Carlin, Bill Cosby, Tina Fey, Will Ferrell, and Ellen DeGeneres.