Kennedy Center's Mark Twain Prize goes to Michaels

WASHINGTON -- Lorne Michaels, who launched "Saturday Night Live" and generations of stars who brought their irreverent talent to his stage, picked up one of the nation's top comedy honors Monday, the 2004 Mark Twain Prize at the Kennedy Center.

Cast members old and new joined in feting the Canadian-born Michaels, 59, a nine-time Emmy winner whose show transformed Saturday night television 30 years ago.

"It is the primary satirical voice of the country," said 1970s veteran Dan Aykroyd, one of many who went on to successful film careers after stints on "Saturday Night Live." Shuffling on the stage and doing a "Blues Brothers" dance, Aykroyd told the audience that the test of success was always trying to make Michaels break out laughing. "We seek approval of this man."

A variety of the show's hosts came to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, too. Recalling his Saturday night as host in the 2000 campaign, Arizona Sen. John McCain said: "It's the only time I ever impressed my teenage children."

Michaels moved to Los Angeles from Toronto in 1968 to work as a writer for NBC's "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In." Seven years later he shifted to New York to begin "Saturday Night Live." Among those featured in the cast in its three decades are John Belushi, Bill Murray, Gilda Radner, Eddie Murphy, Dana Carvey, Chris Rock and Will Ferrell. Al Franken was a performer and writer for the show.

As executive producer, Michaels continues to dominate the NBC show he created, where he's remained except for a 1980s hiatus.

He's often talked about how show has soldiered on through countless cast changes and has been funnier some seasons than others:

"When a cast is at its peak and the writing staff is solid, you get an evenness," Michaels said recently. "It never goes below a certain level. You never worry that when people are up there they're going to sort of forget why they're funny."

The show, which debuted on Oct. 11, 1975, has won 18 Emmy Awards and been nominated for more than 80. It continues to get the highest ratings of any late-night television program.

Michaels is also executive producer of "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" and has produced specials with Lily Tomlin, Steve Martin, Flip Wilson and the Rolling Stones.

Previous winners of the Mark Twain Prize include Richard Pryor, Bob Newhart and Tomlin. The prize comes with a bronze reproduction of an 1884 bust of satirist Mark Twain.