Paul Harris WASHINGTON, D.C. — Kevin Hart was feted Sunday with the Kennedy Center’s Mark Twain Prize in a traditionally raucous affair that drew praise and flak in equal measure from a handful of comedic colleagues on hand for the occasion.
The ceremony will air later this year on Netflix as part of the streamer’s multiyear deal with the streaming service. Previous Twain honorees Dave Chappelle and Jerry Seinfeld were among those who were on hand to salute the multifaceted entertainer whose standup comedic talents are matched by his prowess as film actor, producer, restauranteur and beverage magnate.
That extensive resume was ample grist for colleagues who trooped onto the Center’s Concert Hall stage as Hart and his family sat in a nearby box.
The show concluded with the presentation of the award, a miniature Twain bust, by Kennedy Center chairman David Rubenstein. Seinfeld led off the tributes with faux indignation about the favor he was delivering the honoree with his presence.
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