City of Angels 25: “Mark Twain hated bullies, he was suspicious of populism, jingoism, imperialism, the money-obsessed mania of the Gilded Age,” Conan O’Brien accepting the final Twain Prize

Tuesday, March 25, 2025

“Mark Twain hated bullies, he was suspicious of populism, jingoism, imperialism, the money-obsessed mania of the Gilded Age,” Conan O’Brien accepting the final Twain Prize

During his acceptance of the Mark Twain Prize, Conan O’Brien invoked the honor’s namesake. “First and foremost, Twain hated bullies,” he began, according to The Hill. “He punched up, not down, and he deeply, deeply empathized with the weak. Twain was suspicious of populism, jingoism, imperialism, the money-obsessed mania of the Gilded Age, and any expression of mindless American might or self-importance,” O’Brien continued, “Above all, Twain was a patriot in the best sense of the word. He loved America, but knew it was deeply flawed. Twain wrote, ‘Patriotism is supporting your country all of the time, and your government when it deserves it.’” After his remarks, O’Brien was joined by a band of dancing Twain impersonators, where he picked up the guitar to play a song alongside Adam Sandler: Neil Young’s 1989 hit,The ceremony will premiere on Sunday, May 4, exclusively on Netflix.