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O’BRIEN CALLS SANDLER A COMEDY HEAVYWEIGHT AND A TOTAL ORIGINAL Noting that the Prize honors “giants of American humor ... each distinctive in their own way,” O’Brien said, “in that regard,
no one is more deserving of this honor. ... He is beloved around the world more than anyone I can think of.” But he deserves to be in the pantheon, O’Brien added, “not for his legendary
kindness and generosity of spirit, but because he is the funniest man I know.” “THE CHANUKAH SONG” LIVES ON Schneider praised the pride expressed in Sandler’s celebrated tune “The Chanukah
Song,” which hails Jewish people in entertainment (“David Lee Roth lights the menorah / So do James Caan, Kirk Douglas and the late Dinah Shore-ah / Paul Newman’s half Jewish, Goldie Hawn’s
half too / Put them together, what a fine lookin’ Jew!”). Said Schneider, “Adam not only embraced his Jewish heritage, he had the audacity to celebrate it.” Chris Rock, Dana Carvey and Pete
Davidson, share a laugh at the presentation of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor to Adam Sandler. Amanda Andrade-Rhoades/For The Washington Post via Getty Images CHRIS ROCK SAYS
SANDLER’S STANDUP ‘HOOKED’ HIM Rock recalled being one of just three Black students in grade school through high school. During that time, he said he was only invited over to the house of a
white student once. When he first saw Sandler, who he’s now known for 30 years, perform standup, he was hooked – especially when Sandler casually asked if he wanted to hang out after the
show. “He’s been lettin’ me hang ever since.” PETE DAVIDSON: SANDLER IS MY ‘HERO’ Davidson, who was a cast member on SNL for eight seasons before leaving last year, called Sandler his
“hero.” Davidson “grew up watching Adam, idolizing him,” and when he finally was able to meet him in person, found him “exactly the person I thought him to be.” SANDLER’S PALS: HE WAS
DESTINED FOR THIS HONOR Star after star recalled Sandler’s early promise. Apatow, who roomed with him when they started out in showbiz, said, “the moment you met him, you knew Adam was going
to be a big star — and so did Adam,” and called him “the most fun person to be around.” Ben Stiller, who appeared in Sandler’s 1996 hit _Happy_ _Gilmore_ and says he’s often mistaken for
him by fans, recalled, “The mold was set. ... I always needed to work harder than Sandler,” who seemed “effortless. … I don’t want to say ‘lazy’... but I don’t have a better word.”
