Goldberg, Shaiman, Short and Walters Will Salute Crystal at Kennedy Center

Playbill.com - New York, NY, USA - As previously reported, Tony Award winner Billy Crystal will receive the tenth annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor Oct. 11 at 8 PM in the Kennedy Center Opera House.

The starry list of entertainers who will salute Crystal include Bob Costas, Jimmy Fallon, Whoopi Goldberg, Rob Reiner, Marc Shaiman, Martin Short, Barbara Walters and Robin Williams. The evening, which will be taped by WETA Washington, D.C., will air on PBS stations nationwide Nov. 12 at 9 PM ET.

The Mark Twain Prize, according to press notes, recognizes "people who have had an impact on American society in ways similar to the distinguished 19th century novelist and essayist best known as Mark Twain. As a social commentator, satirist and creator of characters, Samuel Clemens was a fearless observer of society, who startled many while delighting and informing many more with his uncompromising perspective of social injustice and personal folly. He revealed the great truth of humor when he said 'against the assault of laughter nothing can stand.'"

Crystal follows previous recipients Steve Martin, Richard Pryor, Jonathan Winters, Carl Reiner, Whoopi Goldberg, Bob Newhart, Lily Tomlin, Lorne Michaels and Neil Simon.