The comedians solution was one of subtlety.
Above all, Twain was a patriot in the best sense of the word.
He loved America but knew it was deeply flawed.
Conan O‘Brien speaking at South by Southwest 2024. (Photo: Jay Dixit, viaWikimedia Commons, Public domain)
He made us passionately hate those characters, OBrien noted.
He punched up, not down, and he deeply, deeply empathized with the weak.
Twain was allergic to hypocrisy, and he loathed racism.
I dont know why theyre not here, he said.
I lost Wi-Fi in January.
Im guessing theyre in traffic.
My eternal thanks for their selfless devotion to the arts, OBrien commented, receiving a 25-second standing ovation.
He then joked: That was plenty.
The entire Mark Twain Prize ceremony will be available to stream on Netflix starting on May 4.
Conan OBrien speaking at South by Southwest 2024.
