JAMESTOWN
– The National Comedy Center, the nation’s official museum and cultural institution dedicated to comedy, and its Advisory Board Chair Lewis Black will be celebrating the late comedian and political satirist Mark Russell with a reception and dedication on Thursday, August 17, 2023, in association with Chautauqua Institution and Buffalo Toronto Public Media. Russell’s Western New York friends and fans are invited to this special event, open to the public from 5-7pm at the National Comedy Center in Jamestown, NY, with a dedication and brief remarks taking place at 6pm.
During the event, the National Comedy Center will have materials and artifacts from Russell’s career on display and will be accessioning one of his musical parodies as a permanent component of its Lyrical Laughter exhibit. Mark Russell’s America, a 2012 retrospective on Russell’s more than 100 PBS specials produced by WNED, will be presented in the Comedy Center’s theater.
“Mark Russell transformed the landscape of political humor in America and, in doing so, influenced a generation of comedic artists. His musical satires, beloved for decades by those inside and outside of Washington, made him comedy’s greatest lyricist. His comedy legacy is unique and incomparable,” stated National Comedy Center Executive Director Journey Gunderson. “We’re pleased to honor and celebrate Mark with this special event, along with the two other Western New York cultural institutions that meant so much to him – Chautauqua Institution and Buffalo Toronto Public Media.”
Russell, who was a founding Advisory Board Member of the National Comedy Center and a longtime Chautauqua Institution resident, passed away this past March at the age of 90. He was born in Buffalo and became one of the nation’s foremost political satirists, skewering Democrats, Republicans and Independents for over 50 years with stand-up monologues and song parodies beloved by audiences nationwide. Perhaps best known for his acclaimed comedy specials on PBS, which were broadcast six times a year for nearly 30 years (1975 – 2004), many of which were broadcast live from Buffalo Toronto Public Media’s WNED PBS studios in Buffalo, Russell’s routines covered the latest news and political leaders of the day with song parodies based on musical standards with new lyrics customized for current events, while accompanying himself on the piano.
“Mark Russell was an extraordinarily talented satirist with a unique comic voice. He had a rapier wit, which are words I rarely use to describe a comedian. I first saw him at the Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C. With a mischievous grin, his signature bowtie and a happy-go-lucky piano style, Mark would skewer politicians and their politics through song. It made the savagery of his humor seem lighthearted as he took apart his targets through a thousand paper cuts. And as I got to know him and his work, my admiration grew. I was lucky to have spent time with him in recent years. As he grew older, his comedy never lost a beat. He lit up any room he was in, with a heart full of love and a lightning sense of humor. Those of us who knew him are deeply saddened by his loss, which can’t be filled. Hopefully people will now realize how important he was in the pantheon of Comedy,” stated comedian and National Comedy Center Advisory Board Chair Lewis Black.
Advance reservations for this special event are recommended at ComedyCenter.org/MarkRussell. A $33 contribution in Mark Russell’s memory to support the non-profit National Comedy Center is suggested, and is inclusive of museum admission for the entire day. Hors d’oevres and refreshments will be served at the reception, hosted by Lewis Black and Ali Russell.
“Mark Russell was a DC institution who did the hardest thing a comic can do…relentlessly and righteously mock his neighbors.” – Jon Stewart, comedian, actor and director
About the National Comedy Center
The National Comedy Center is the United States’ official cultural institution and museum dedicated to presenting the vital story of comedy and preserving its heritage for future generations, as formally designated by the U.S. Congress. Opened in 2018 in Jamestown, New York, the museum complex offers an unprecedented, immersive visitor experience
Caption: Russell, who was a founding Advisory Board Member of the National Comedy Center and a longtime Chautauqua Institution resident, passed away this past March at the age of 90. He was born in Buffalo and became one of the nation’s foremost political satirists, skewering Democrats, Republicans and Independents for over 50 years with stand-up monologues and song parodies beloved by audiences nationwide.
Continuation Caption: Advance reservations for this special event are recommended at ComedyCenter.org/MarkRussell. A $33 contribution in Mark Russell’s memory to support the non-profit National Comedy Center is suggested, and is inclusive of museum admission for the entire day. Hors d’oevres and refreshments will be served at the reception, hosted by Lewis Black and Ali Russell.