The Palm Springs International Comedy Festival – which, like you, I had not heard about until just now – has announced that Kathy Griffin will be honored with the Comedian of the Year award prize on November 10, the date of the black-tie awards gala – because there’s nothing that says standup comedy like like a fancy black-tie gala.
“We didn’t think long about who should be named Comedian of the Year for the festival’s inaugural year. It was a no brainer to honor Kathy Griffin. After all that she’s been through, Kathy has pulled off the biggest comeback in entertainment history since Marlon Brando was blacklisted and then went on to win an Oscar in 1972,” fest director Paul Cruz said Thursday in a statement (via Hollywood Reporter). “Kathy speaks for all Americans in defense of our First Amendment rights. Kathy is the one comedian that is literally on the minds and mouths of the world. She boldly and bravely spoke Truth to Power, was blacklisted, harassed and shunned for it, but has now emerged like a fiery phoenix from the ashes. What other comedian can say that?”
No other honorees have been announced. The event, which is seriously a thing with a website and everything, will be held at Hotel Zoso and Spa.
