Bill Cosby Receives the Mark Twain Prize with a Funny Speech, Doesn't He?

Bill Cosby is the 2009 recipient of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. The ceremony took place last night at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Lots of stars assisted to the act and Chris Rock and Jerry Seinfeld made the audience laugh until the great moment: the acceptance speech.

At this stage, just the lucky people who were at the ceremony know what Bill Cosby said when he received the award. According to Associated Press, the 72 years old comedian expressed that The Mark Twain Prize is special because Twain was "the quintessential American writer —because he held his language and his love for words in perfect American form".

We'll pay attention to his words, which will be aired on PBS next November 4th, at 8 pm. This kind of events are a very good chance to listen clever and funny people who deservedly had been on the height. Eleven names have preceded Bill Cosby in receiving the Mark Twain Prize. Among the winners, Richard Pryor, Whoopi Woldberg, Lily Tomlin, Billy Cristal and Steve Martin. One of Steve Martin's best performance was, precisely, the acceptance speech of this award.



As I told, a "recognition" to a whole career is good chance for a good speech. Ununderstandingly Alfred Hitchcock never received an Oscar as a best director. Perhaps, this was the reason why when he received one honorary statuette pronounced the shortest acceptance speech in the history of the academy awards: "thank you".

For those who think that it is a pity that sir Hitchcock didn't prepare something longer there is a consolation. A really good one, in fact. In 1979, he received proudly the American Film Institute Life Achievement Award. At that time Hitch was old and his health was delicate. But, in my point of view, his speech is a masterpiece. A lesson of how to introduce humor and gratefulness at the same time:

"Among those people who have contributed to my life, I ask permission to mention by name only four people who have given me the most affection, appreciation, and encouragement, and constant collaboration.
The first of the four is a film editor.
The second is a scriptwriter.
The third is de mother of my daughter, Pat.
And the four is a fine a cook as ever performed miracles in a domestic kitchen.
And their names are Alma Reville".

We are used to listen to thousands of speeches that bore everybody thanking the family or the workmates… Obviously, is not the case of Alfred Hitchcock. His acceptance speech is a treasure. Don't miss it.