Jimmy Fallon will lead top comedians in saluting his Tonight Show predecessor Jay Leno with the US’ top humour prize in October at the Kennedy Centre in Washington.
The performing arts centre announced on Wednesday that Fallon will join Chelsea Handler, Jerry Seinfeld, Wanda Sykes, Betty White, Kevin Eubanks and others in honouring Leno with the Mark Twain Prize for American Humour.
Leno will receive the prize during a performance by his fellow comedians on October 19 in Washington. The show will be broadcast in the US on November 23 on PBS stations.
The prize recognises people who have had an impact on American society through their humour and social commentary in the tradition of Samuel Clemens, the writer and satirist better known as Twain. Past recipients include Carol Burnett, Ellen DeGeneres and Bill Cosby.
