Pudd’nhead Festival

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PUDD’NHEAD: Pause

For 9 years, Pudd’nhead’s founder and host Michael Ian Black’s tremendous leadership on behalf of Mr. Twain has made significant funds and friends for the library. Unfortunately, he is unable to join us this September so there will not be a Pudd’nhead 2023.

Never fear, however; Sam Clemens is still very much alive around here – something tells us PUDD always will be, too.  That’s what happens when extraordinary people hatch extraordinary ideas.

The Pudd’nhead Festival was founded in 2014 through collaboration between the library and actor/comedian/best-selling author Michael Ian Black. Drawing inspiration from one of Twain’s classic tales, The Tragedy of Pudd’nhead Wilson, Pudd’nhead celebrates library founder Mark Twain’s incomparable humor while raising much-needed funds for the library’s operations.

The centerpiece of the week-long Festival is the Pudd’nhead Prize for Outstanding Humor, awarded to someone who channels Twain’s legendary wit.  The extraordinary roster of illustrious Prize winners is a Who’s Who in award-winning entertainment:   New Yorker magazine cartoonist Roz Chast, Ben Stiller, Jim Gaffigan, Seth Meyers, Paul Rudd , Jon Hamm, Laura Linney, Amy Schumer, and Samantha Bee.

Michael Ian Black

Pudd’nhead Founding Father: Michael Ian Black

Michael Ian Black
Roz Chast, 2014

Our Esteemed Spoon-winning Cast: Roz Chast, 2014

Roz Chast, 2014
Roz Chast, 2014

Our Esteemed Spoon-winning Cast: Roz Chast, 2014

Roz Chast, 2014
Ben Stiller, 2015

Our Esteemed Spoon-winning Cast: Ben Stiller, 2015

Ben Stiller, 2015
Ben Stiller, 2015

Our Esteemed Spoon-winning Cast: Ben Stiller, 2015

Ben Stiller, 2015
Jim Gaffigan, 2016

Our Esteemed Spoon-winning Cast: Jim Gaffigan, 2016

Jim Gaffigan, 2016
Jim Gaffigan, 2016

Our Esteemed Spoon-winning Cast: Jim Gaffigan, 2016

Jim Gaffigan, 2016
Seth Myers, 2017

Our Esteemed Spoon-winning Cast: Seth Myers, 2017

Seth Myers, 2017
Seth Myers, 2017

Our Esteemed Spoon-winning Cast: Seth Myers, 2017

Seth Myers, 2017
Paul Rudd, 2018

Our Esteemed Spoon-winning Cast: Paul Rudd, 2018

Paul Rudd, 2018
Paul Rudd, 2018

Our Esteemed Spoon-winning Cast: Paul Rudd, 2018

Paul Rudd, 2018
Jon Hamm, 2019

Our Esteemed Spoon-winning Cast: Jon Hamm, 2019

Jon Hamm, 2019
Jon Hamm, 2019

Our Esteemed Spoon-winning Cast: Jon Hamm, 2019

Jon Hamm, 2019
Laura Linney, 2020

Our Esteemed Spoon-winning Cast: Laura Linney, 2020

Laura Linney, 2020
Laura Linney, 2020

Our Esteemed Spoon-winning Cast: Laura Linney, 2020

Laura Linney, 2020
Laura Linney, 2020

Our Esteemed Spoon-winning Cast: Chris Maloni, 2021 on behalf of Amy Schumer

Laura Linney, 2020
Laura Linney, 2020

Our Esteemed Spoon-winning Cast: Samantha Bee, 2022

Laura Linney, 2020
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