That's no knock against DeGeneres. At 54, Ellen dances smoothly past all of her daytime talk-show competitors.

Her body of work -- which began in the early 1980s with stand-up comedy in New Orleans, and saw her become the first female comedian summoned by Johnny Carson to the couch after her Tonight Show performance -- has included 35 Daytime Emmy Awards, 12 People's Choice Awards, three straight Teen Choice Awards for "Choice Comedian," hosting duties at the Academy Awards, Emmy Awards and Grammy Awards, two HBO stand-up specials, best-selling books and a Grammy nomination. Oh, and she came out as a lesbian while starring in a prime-time ABC sitcom to 46 million viewers.

As the Kennedy Center Chairman, David M. Rubenstein, said in announcing the prize this week: "The Kennedy Center is happy to recognize Ellen DeGeneres' unique contributions to the world of comedy. Through her television programs, stand-up appearances, movies, and even commercials, her special brand of humor has allowed us to find hilarity in the mundane and has kept us laughing for years."

For her money quote, DeGeneres quipped: "It's such an honor to receive the Mark Twain Prize. To get the same award that has been given to people like Bill Cosby, Tina Fey and Will Ferrell, it really makes me wonder… why didn't I get this sooner?"

Sooner?!?

If anything, the perception for the first dozen years of the Mark Twain Prize had been that it was The Kennedy Center's -- and by extension, America's -- way of celebrating a lifetime of achievement by a legendary comedian. The first three winners: Richard Pryor (1998), Jonathan Winters (1999) and Carl Reiner (2000). Other past winners have included Bob Newhart, Lily Tomlin, Steve Martin, Neil Simon, Billy Crystal, George Carlin and Bill Cosby.

We've still got plenty of living legends of comedy yet to recognize in this way, too. Mel Brooks. Woody Allen. Joan Rivers. Just to name a few.

But in the past few years, The Kennedy Center has fast-forwarded past that generation of comedians to honor performers who are still in their prime form. Tina Fey in 2010 at the tender age of 40; Will Ferrell, 44, last year.

And now DeGeneres this coming fall, when she'll be feted on Oct. 22, 2012 -- taped for broadcast later on PBS.

All of the Mark Twain Prize winners certainly have earned their plaudits and kudos.

Could we receive a little more clarity from The Kennedy Center, though, about what we're saying when we honor someone with the Mark Twain Prize? Because this recent trend suggests it's not a lifetime achievement award (unlike the annual Kennedy Center Honors, which specifically cites a receipient's "lifetime contributions to American culture"). And there's no evidence that it's a best or extraordinary comedic effort of the year award. So. What is the comedy prize meant to symbolize?

Before you watch it, though, treat yourself to some outtakes.

Drew Carey and Ray Romano remember their debuts on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.

In this clip, Jerry Seinfeld and Garry Shandling talk about when they went to dinner with Johnny Carson in 2000 and learned about the future of show biz from a legend who could even predict where TV would go.

Steve Martin discusses his relationship with Johnny, and his perceived reputation vs. his real persona.

Here, Joan Rivers recalls pranking Johnny when she became a mother.

And here is Johnny's bandleader, Doc Severinsen, revealing why he made his name with his fashion choices.

The last time I saw Pat Dixon onstage, he was videotaping a nearly naked lady who was writhing across a stage while a live audience watched, drank and ate bacon from the back of the theater. Oh. Don't worry. Nothing criminal took place. He was wearing a suit, for crying out loud! In fact, when Dixon isn't hosting his monthly (Nearly) Naked Hour: Now With Bacon Bar show at The Creek and the Cave in Long Island City, or touring the country as a stand-up comedian, he's keeping his eye on the law with his weekly podcast, The New York City Crime Report with Pat Dixon.

He has his own Comedy Central Presents, appearances on late-night TV here and in the U.K., and popped up on your VH1 screens as a talking head or your radios talking with Bob & Tom. But how did Dixon wind up in the big city?

Name: Pat Dixon
Arrival date: April 2006
Arrived from: My car. I mean, I was living in my car.
When and where did you start performing comedy? Chattanooga, Tenn., March 7, 1996
What was your best credit before moving here? Comedy Central Presents
Why did you pick NYC over LA or anywhere else? I wanted to perform a LOT of stand up comedy.

How long did it take to get your first paid gig in NYC after moving here? 3 weeks.

How is this scene better/same/worse than the scene you moved from? I'm really not sure. I'm sorry to give such an anemic answer, but I really just don't know.

Do you already have an "only in New York City" moment yet? For New York City Crime Report I scheduled an interview with a performance artist named Holly Van Voast. She showed up to our little studio at Cave Comedy Radio and immediately took off her shirt and did the whole interview topless. She has this platinum blond hair, nice tits and she's drawn a mustache on her lip, like a little twirly one. It could've happened somewhere else, but it didn't.

What tip would you give to any comedian who moves here? Take your time, make friends, watch a lot of comedy. But it depends on if you're new or whatever.

Where do you see yourself five years from now? NYC!

Dixon's next (Nearly) Naked Hour: Now with Bacon Bar show at The Creek happens on May 26, 2012. And here is a NSFW video to whet your appetite for that show. Roll it if you've got it!

Which NYC comedian would you like to see me style and profile next for Meet Me In New York? Send your nominations to: thecomicscomic AT gmail DOT com

Kimmel announced the decision -- which will involve tapings the week of Oct. 29 through Nov. 2, 2012 -- this morning when he guest-hosted LIVE! with Kelly.

The weeklong jaunt will tape from BAM, the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

It'll be Kimmel's first trip with his show to the East Coast. He previously broadcast a week of episodes from Detroit in 2006.

The November 2012 trip to Brooklyn coincides with the inaugural season of the NBA's Brooklyn Nets -- who'll play in the new Barclays Arena a few blocks away from BAM -- and also comes just a few weeks shy of Kimmel's 45th birthday. Kimmel's family lived in Brooklyn's Mill Basin neighborhood before moving to Las Vegas when he was nine.

"I moved to Las Vegas when I was nine, but New York is my spot," Kimmel said.

Here is a link to the video of Kimmel making the announcement on Monday's show.

Highlights include Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy and the rest of the Muppets, Kevin Hart, Aziz Ansari, Bill Hader, Bob Saget, John Pinette, Lewis Black, Jim Gaffigan, Patton Oswalt, Wayne Brady, Mario Cantone, Epic Meal Time, JB Smoove as Leon Black, Jeff Garlin, Jim Jefferies, Jimmy Carr, Mike Birbiglia, Tommy Tiernan and more. Chelsea Handler will receive the fest's 2012 Comedy Person of the Year award, Key & Peele (stars Keegan Michael Key and Jordan Peele) will be recognized as this year’s “Breakout Comedy Stars,” while Hannibal Buress will be named this year’s “Rising Comedy Star.”

And just look at all of the names listed on that JFL Montreal anniversary poster! Of course, they're not done filling out the lineup -- what with a new crop of New Faces to "introduce" to the industry, and several more slots on the galas and showcases that will populate live venues around the French-Canadian city from July 12-29 (note: The Comedy Conference with panels, parties, award ceremonies and more for the business of show will run July 26-28, 2012, with Patton Oswalt delivering this year's keynote address).

Want more details?

GALAS
Themes continue in 2012 for the biggest showcases, called Galas. 2012 will toast the talents of:

• John Pinette, with special guest Tommy Tiernan (hosting early July 24)
• Bill Hader (hosting late July 24)
• The Muppets All-Star Comedy Gala (July 26)
• Lewis Black presents "The American Dream? Election Year Gala" (early July 27)
• Bob Saget and friends get raw and hardcore with JFL XXX Gala (late July 27)

CONCERT SERIES

Mark your calendars for Jim Gaffigan (July 23), Patton Oswalt (July 25), Aziz Ansari (July 25-27), Epic Meal Time (July 27) and Kevin Hart (July 28).

Wayne Brady presents his one-man show, "I See White People," (July 23-28) while Mario Cantone runs previews of his follow-up to his Broadway show, "Laugh Whore" (July 24-28)

Podfathers Adam Carolla (July 27) and Marc Maron (July 28) will host live studio audience editions of their popular podcasts, with Maron also will be performing a solo stand-up show in addition to his live WTF.

Jimmy Carr hosts Britcom, Bobby Slayton hosts The Nasty Show, and who knows who will take center stage for The Ethnic Show. Other solo headlining shows include new hours from Jim Jefferies and Hannibal Buress, a late-night talk show hosted by JB Smoove as Leon Black, his Curb Your Enthusiasm character who'll bring "the Ruckus" to Montreal. Key & Peele will perform their sketches live. Mike Birbiglia screens Sleepwalk With Me.

And that's just the start!

It's "Between Two Ferns" as you love it, but as you've never seen it before. Imagine one of those silly Barbara Walters pre-Oscars interview specials, because that's exactly what host Zach Galifianakis channeled as he and producer Scott Aukerman put this half-hour together, complete with "interview" sessions with Tina Fey, Jon Stewart, and Sir Richard Branson.

Watch the whole thing whenever you'd like via Comedy Central.

Click on Between Two Ferns: A Fairytale of New York.

Either way, you can catch up with the latest, greatest, hidden-camera comedy show as host Jeff Dye takes us behind the scenes of the premiere and gives you insight before the next episodes air!

Dye (above, pictured with Kurt Braunohler -- a writer on the show in addition to participating on camera for two episodes, two-episode contributor Grace Helbig, and executive producer Rob Anderson) finds unsuspecting civilians in and around New York City, then tasks them to several challenges in which they can win up to $1,000. He is aided by a pair of comedians for each contestant. The pairs on episode one included

Let's go behind the scenes! Hi, Jeff Dye!

First, though, how would you compare "Money From Strangers" to previous shows such as MTV's "Boiling Point" (which offered unsuspecting people cash if they didn't get angry while pranked), or similar TV pranks-via-transmitter (such as when David Letterman sent Rupert Gee around and gave him instructions, or when Ellen DeGeneres sends celebrities into coffeeshops to wreak havoc)?

This show is very different then Boiling Points and Punk'd in the fashion that we are a lot more ornery and we don't ever do the corny reveal we just want to do our pranks and leave. We like the idea of nobody ever being able to know its us too, since I'm in a van the show can have a long life because it's always strangers prancing strangers, on other shows Chelsea Handler, or Dax or Sacha Baron Cohen are recognized and the prank falls short. And although we don't pretend that we have reinvented the wheel, this is a thing that has been on tv a lot of times but it's a fun thing that hasn't ever been its own show. Like Rupert or on Ellen, or The Man Show boy did this but they were just segments and on our show we let regular people earn money & be on TV simply for trusting some stranger off the street of NY.

Your first contestant, Devin, the young woman from NYC who went into a falafel shop. You had James Adomian and Eric Andre with you for this. How did you pick the right shop? We have all the locations pre-chosen. NO ONE knows we will be coming in or when but months prior the Owner has given us permission to use their business. The only rule is he CAN NOT tell any of his employees or managers and if we feel like he has or that they might be on to us we abort and never show the footage.

She seemed like quite the trooper, right? How do you know when you're on the sidewalk people-watching who will be up for the game? I don't. I ask EVERYONE and get rejected about 100 times for every person that is willing. That part is hidden-camera also so most people think I'm full of shit.

How much is planned out beforehand, and how much are you and the other two comedians simply winging it and playing it by ear? We have some BRILLIANT writers (Kurt Braunohler, Scotty Landis, Albertino Rizzo) but once you get in the location it's a lot of what ever happens we gotta roll with it.

The next segment is a montage of quick what-if questions, but they're mostly women. Did you find you had better luck getting women to stop on the sidewalk for quick chats, than with men? I think you know the answer to this. Men in NY looked at me like I was an idiot when I wanted to talk to them, young women were nicer to me because they are young women.

Then two women take off their panties on the corner and glue them to the pedestrian sign for $40 each??? Do you think the "kids these days" are more adventurous and/or impulsive than Generation X or the Boomers before them? I think so and support that 100%

Justin, from Staten Island, went into a grocery store and said "I mess with people all the time." (You had Moshe Kasher and Ali Wong on this one) Do you think that made him better for the gig? His challenges seemed a little more hard-core than Devin's. How much of that was the situation, how much of it is because of the guy, and how much of that is based on the comedians sitting beside you? The more adventurous the better, so when I hear them say that I don't have to ease into it as much. It's almost like a challenge. But those usually are the best games when you get a cool stranger who doesn't feel like you are trying to make them feel dumb, we are ultimately just trying to have fun. So the better they understand that the better the game.

Tracey, a Staten Island dancer, got sent into a Hilton Garden Inn (Johnny Pemberton and Kurt Braunohler helped on this one). They called the cops when she was still in the first round! What did you and the crew learn from that experience that helped in future missions -- either avoiding the cops or putting people in situations that might end up with police involvement? We don't mind the police being called and the more we did the show the more we realized that it was gonna be a common theme in our show.

Alex said he was "in a hurry" until you told him $1,000 for 15 minutes! Sent into a diner (Joe Mande and Noah). He barely snuck in the final jumping jack, too! How much were you guys sweating that? I am always rooting for the stranger so I was trying to make him as much money as possible, but it's for selfish reasons, I just want to see more stuff to entertain myself, and in turn, they make more money.

Do you think it's easier or a whole lot easier to have strangers act strangely in New York City, where New Yorkers are used to crazy people? Haha a whole lot, BUT people in this town do get mad faster and violent. So that's a factor.

The small print at the end says some portions not affecting the outcome were edited. What does this mean for us as viewers, exactly? It means we wish we could show you the whole 30-50 minutes these strangers were in the location but we can but rest assured nothing you missed affected the fairness of these people winning or not winning money.

Is there anything else you want viewers to know about future episodes to keep an eye out for? All they gotta know is that we didn't save all the good stuff for the first episode. It does get better! So start or keep watching!

We open cold with Fox and Friends -- Taran Killam as Steve Doocy, Vanessa Bayer as Gretchen Carlson and Bobby Moynihan as Brian Kilmeade -- more like Kill Me, right? Ladies? Anyhow. They're still fighting the War on Christmas over there, and celebrating the one-year anniversary of the death of Osama bin Laden by saying anybody would have done what Obama did, except for Obama (whoops?). Also, conspiracy theories. Is bin Laden dead? Is Mount Rushmore real? Tupac is alive because he was at Coachella, right? And somehow they snag overlord Rupert Murdoch (Fred Armisen) as a guest. Even he realizes how dumb these three act on live TV. Also, more corrections. It's one of those things that's a joke just because how many of them scroll past so quickly, but also forces a real comedy fan to record, pause and check out each of the fleeting funnies.

Turns out we almost saw a different view of this, as longtime SNL writer Jim Downey had portrayed Obama in the reverse role reversal role earlier in the week. Didn't work.

So Eli Manning. Super Bowl jokes already? Ugh. Shout-out to his O-line sitting up in the balcony, segue to him joking about how they accompany him everywhere, even his wife's childbirth. Awkward? Audience members ask him for NYC advice, because he's a real New Yorker now. Good Italian food? Olive Garden. Fun Broadway show? Cats! Walking tour? Try BeBo. Wha? Fugghedaboutit. Also, try walking slowly through Times Square, or standing outside the Today show windows. I already forgot about this monologue.

Here is an Amazon.com ad to surprise mom on Mother's Day, complete with Fifty Shades of Grey masturbation jokes. Try it on Kindle, for your protection.

Oooh, two chicken strips for $1. Be back in a flash-fry!

We've gone green screen mo-cap for the new Madden NFL video game. EA Sports. It's in the game! Did I get that right. with Tim Tebow (Killam), Eli Manning as himself, showing his range of emotions. Victor Cruz (Jay Pharoah) does his TD dance. Ray Lewis (Kenan Thompson) shows up in full uniform. "I'm not wearing funky-ass pajamas." He does have the dance down, though. And Troy Polamalu (Andy Samberg), for a quick hairdo joke.

Eli is on trial for being a bro-dude who supposedly murdered someone, although he sexted a woman in a car accident and searched for elderly butts online. Well, you do get to see what ;p looks like in real life. For what that's worth. What up? You out? Emoticons seem a lot different now that you know what they look like, don't they?

Wow. This "Little Brothers" fake ad is so reminiscent of Peyton's fake ad from years gone by. Somebody has brother issues. I suppose this was intentional. And yet. If you remember the first one, this one just feels like a retread.

Herb Welch (Hader) reports from Occupy Wall Street for WXPD New York. He's still got it after 70 years in the biz.

Rihanna is a black widow for her first song? You do know she sings live, at least. No hiding behind pre-recorded vocals, even though you do hear some of her own voice serving as her own backup singer, allowing her to ad-lib in the chorus. But let's focus on the fact that it was Chris Brown's birthday, and Rihanna opened with a "Birthday" medley whilst slapping her crotch. Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. What, now?

And now we've reached the Weekend Update with Seth Meyers portion of the program.

Tanning Mom, of course. Played by Kristen Wiig. Who, if you can believe this, isn't caked in skin dark enough to match the actual New Jersey woman. Only in New Jersey! Which, since she isn't as outrageous as the real thing, means the jokes don't hit as well as they should.

Side note: Wiig has been cracking a lot in the past few episodes, when she never seemed to before. Another sign she is mos def leaving.

Movie promo alert! Sacha Baron Cohen shows up to Update desk in character as The Dictator. "Hello, Zionist Seth Meyers!" With bonus cameo by hostage Martin Scorcese! "It was better than Raging Bull" < "Please, I had to sit through The Aviator."

Wait. What's this? A video remembrance of Adam Yauch, aka MCA of The Beastie Boys, from their past SNL performance, to lead us into the ad break? Nice touch.

Hold on. Abby Elliott is leading a sketch as a non-celeb game-show host, of "What Is This?" Contestants played by a teacher (Bayer), dental assistant (Hader), and grad student who's dating Elliott's character (Manning). Everything turns on the relationship between the host and her friend who isn't willing to commit as a real boyfriend. More relationship questions. A big step forward for women! Am I right, ladies?

In Sweden, they've copied Chelsea Handler to produce Helga Lately, fronted by...Kate McKinnon!!! E! Sweden. Unlike some of SNL's other foreign-based talk-show parodies, they actually seemed like they tried to make this seem like it was in Swedish? Panelists played by snarky versions of celebs played by Killam (as gay guy), (blogger) Wiig showing familiar mannerisms for Kathie Lee, and Thompson. With Armisen as her "little nugget." Funny seeing Moynihan playing the Swedish version of Snookie in Jersey Fjord. But let's talk more about the fact that this sketch is Swedish gibberish combined with actual English words and phrases. And Swedish Kardashians??!?!?!?! I mean, Khlardashians. Someone insert the umlauts for me. Manning plays the celebrity guest for the interview segment. Appreciate that they went after Handler but made it weird by putting it in another language and culture.

Rihanna, for her second song, is kicking back in a chaise lounge. What. No third part to the Shy Ronnie trilogy? Missed opportunity!

Homestretch!

Nightclub Illusions plays host to Miss Drag World 2012, with host (Thompson), Samberg on the keyboard working two years to compose the theme song, with finalists (Armisen, Moynihan and Manning). Yep. Men in drag. Always funny? Am I right, ladies? Running theme of callbacks alert. Where are the jokes here? Did this play much better during dress rehearsal? Were the other dress sketches that much worse? Or did someone just want Eli to be in drag on live TV? I'm going to go with yes across the board.

Another time machine sketch, with Turner Classic Movies and J-Suds as Robert Osborne to intro a Cheech-and-Chong flick? Oh, they had a third original member for 1978's Up in Smoke. See Eli as the third guy who watches Donny and Marie Osmond on TV and doesn't even do drugs. Armisen and Hader play the actual comedy duo well enough, though. "Goodbye, Richard." No. Seriously. Someone make this stop.

For once, the final half-hour of sketches aren't weird, nor absurd, nor too wild for not-ready-for-primetime. They're just, ugh.

Oof. This is why athletes rarely host Saturday Night Live. Or why the shows just before the finale might not match the finale or other seasonal peaks. Eli was a good sport, but still.

But know that you still can vote in a few Viewers Choice categories today until Sunday's broadcast, including Funniest Person on Twitter, Best Comedy Podcast, Best Comedy App, and Best Remix/Supercut/Mashup video.

So.

Without further ado, let's roll some teaser clips!

Paul Feig asked Will Arnett to read Feig's acceptance speech for Best Comedy Director.

Jon Stewart and the rest of The Daily Show cast and crew returned to the winner's stage for a second year in a row.

Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo, co-writers of Bridesmaids, wrestled over their award.

The cast and creators of Parks and Recreation reminisce about the very first year of The Comedy Awards. Snarkity-snark.

Key & Peele performed a special live sketch as President Barack Obama and his angry translator, Luther.

Robin Williams accepted the Comedy Icon Award after an introduction from Patton Oswalt, and had kind words to say in return.

Don Rickles accepted the Johnny Carson Award after introductions from Robert DeNiro and Jon Stewart.

But it's 2012 now, and the boys have a good sense of humor about the whole thing, as evidenced in their first single and music video from their new album, Rize of the Fenix. The first verse of the title track even shows how self-deprecating they are about this "comeback." Roll the clip!

The album comes out later in May. You can listen to the whole thing, though, for free by streaming it from the D's special site for Rize of the Fenix.

And you also can see this new Funny or Die video from Bob Odenkirk that takes you behind the scenes as rock music legends discover how Tenacious D's loud sounds in "Rize of the Fenix" has given them tinnitus. Roll it.

And pre-order or buy Tenacious D tracks from iTunes!