'Saturday Night Live' creator Lorne Michaels wins humour prize

Cast members and alumni of Saturday Night Live gathered at Washington's Kennedy Centre Monday night to honour the long-running sketch comedy show's creator Lorne Michaels, winner of the 2004 Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.

Through his show, which will celebrate its 30th anniversary in October 2005, the Canadian-born Michaels has helped launch the careers of many comedians, including John Belushi, Bill Murray, Gilda Radner, Eddie Murphy, Al Franken, Dana Carvey, Chris Rock, Conan O'Brien and Mike Myers.

"It is the primary satirical voice of the country," Dan Aykroyd, a 1970s-era alumni, said at the gala ceremony.

He added that for many cast members, the test of success was to make Michaels break out laughing.

"We seek approval of this man," Aykroyd told the crowd, which included O'Brien, Steve Martin, Tina Fey, Paul Simon and Candice Bergen.

In the late 1960s, Michaels moved from Toronto to Los Angeles to write for NBC's hit variety show Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In. In 1975, he moved to New York to start Saturday Night Live, which premiered on Oct. 11 that year.

Despite countless cast changes and an occasional weaker season, the show has won 18 Emmy Awards and continues to dominate the ratings in its late night timeslot.

"For the last 30 years, I've had the coolest job in New York City," Michaels, 59, said upon receiving his award.

At the end of the gala and true to the format of Saturday Night Live current and former cast members assembled onstage to hug and congratulate Michaels, who was also honoured with a star on Canada's Walk of Fame in 2003.

Past recipients of the Mark Twain Prize, established in 1998 and considered one of the country's top comedy awards, include Richard Pryor, Carl Reiner, Jonathan Winters, Whoopi Goldberg, Bob Newhart and Lily Tomlin.