Opinion: Comedy’s Biggest Prize Has Shrinking Ambitions

The Kennedy Center Honors, with the sitting president of the United States in attendance, ends each year by celebrating lifetime achievements of our nation’s greatest performing artists. Since 1998, the center has also hosted a step-sibling event in the spring specifically for comedians: the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.

Citing Twain for “his uncompromising perspective on social injustice and personal folly,” a select committee has bestowed this award in his name...