WASHINGTON, Oct 22 (Reuters) - David Letterman, a pioneering entertainer who was the longest-running host of late-night TV in U.S. history, was honored on Sunday for his contributions to American culture. After-hours television was built around the set-piece interview and guest appearance when Letterman’s “Late Night” broke the mold in 1982 with absurd pranks and send-ups. Joshua Roberts / Reuters David Letterman received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. on Sunday. Receiving the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at the Kennedy Center, the national showcase for arts, Letterman, 70, was praised for his imagination, comic daring and heart. And he said ‘It’s just plain big.’ That was it.”Letterman hosted more than 6,000 episodes of his original “Late Night with David Letterman” on NBC and its successor on CBS, “Late Show with David Letterman,” which ended its run in May 2015.

Source: Huffington Post October 23, 2017 04:41 UTC