Roasts and Toasts

Roastee Stephen Colbert at the Spina Bifida benefit with tormentors Mark Shields, Sen. Orrin Hatch, and Rep. Rahm Emanuel. (Photo by Paul Morigi)

Remembering George Carlin, ribbing Steven Colbert, and honoring Gina Lollobrigida.

By Janet Donovan

Can we talk?

Political humor was succinct and scabrous as ever on the red carpet at the Kennedy Center’s Mark Twain Prize for American Humor event on Nov. 10 honoring the late George Carlin. Fresh after the presidential election, acid-tongued comedian Joan Rivers spared no one: Sarah Palin was an easy target: “She got some nice outfits. She can wear them in private for the next eight years. She should just go back to Alaska and look good.” (Moose reference not included).