Tina Fey Receives Mark Twain Award for Comedy

At 40, she is the youngest person, and only the third woman, to win the prestigious award.

Although she’s nowhere near the end of her career, Fey has already changed the face of American comedy. That face of course looks a lot like Sarah Palin’s. Her hilarious and influential portrayal of the 2008 vice presidential candidate was just one of the roles that she was honoured for at Washington’s Kennedy Centre last night as she accepted the 13th annual Mark Twain Award. A host of her comedy friends were on hand to roast her, including Jimmy Fallon, Lorne Michaels, Steven Martin, and her 30 Rock co-star Alec Baldwin, who showed up dressed as Mark Twain. Past winners of the award, which honours “significant contributions to American comedy” include Bill Cosby, Richard Pryor, and Whoopi Goldberg.