By Sandy Cohen, Entertainment Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) --Tina Fey called him a genius. Sarah Silverman said he was her inspiration. Carl Reiner described him as "the most versatile human being there is on our planet as far as show business and making people laugh."
Steve Martin was the object of this affection Thursday night when he received the American Film Institute's Life Achievement Award during a private ceremony at Hollywood's Dolby Theater, where almost a dozen actors appeared on stage to toast his talents.
After being feted by Silverman, Fey and Reiner, along with Amy Poehler, Dan Aykroyd, Lily Tomlin, Steve Carell and others, Martin asked, "How do I top this parade of stars who've been so, so funny?"
"Easy," he joked.
AFI honored Martin for making it look easy, with successful careers as a comedian, actor, writer and now musician. A few of his colleagues even paid tribute in song.
Jack Black opened the evening, set to air as a special June 13 on TBS, with an earnest rendition of "I'm Picking Out a Thermos for You" from Martin's 1979 breakthrough film, "The Jerk." Queen Latifah sang a few bars from "Tonight You Belong to Me," from the same movie.
Carell compared Martin to Charlie Chaplin. Poehler called him "the best of comedy." Aykroyd credited him as a founder of the Blues Brothers. "I owe you a living, man," he said.
Clips were shown from his many films, including "Father of the Bride," ''Planes, Trains and Automobiles," ''All of Me," ''Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" and "Three Amigos!"
Diane Keaton and Martin Short almost brought the guest of honor to tears when they each sweetly sang a song he recently wrote with Edie Brickell called "Friend of Mine."
As he accepted the award from Mel Brooks, Martin said, "When you called my name, it was a total surprise."
He said he loved sharing such an evening with his friends, even "darkly evil Martin Short," and was "humbled, honored and thrilled" by the recognition.
He thanked his many colleagues, including Lorne Michaels, who put him on "Saturday Night Live" in the 1970s.
"Lorne is really responsible for my being here tonight," Martin said. "Lorne, thanks for driving."
Oscar and Emmy-Winning Composer Kris Bowers Joins Barking Owl For Advertising, Branded Content
Music, audio post and sonic branding house Barking Owl has taken on exclusive representation of Oscar and Emmy-winning composer Kris Bowers for advertising and branded content.
Bowers’ recent film scores include The Wild Robot and Bob Marley: One Love, alongside acclaimed past works such as The Color Purple (2023), King Richard and Green Book. His contributions to television are equally impressive, with scores for hit series like Bridgerton, When They See Us, Dear White People, and his Daytime Emmy Award-winning score for The Snowy Day.
In addition to his work as a composer, Bowers is a visionary director. He recently took home the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Subject for his directorial work on The Last Repair Shop. The emotionally touching short film spotlights four of the people responsible for repairing the musical instruments used by students in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). The Last Repair Shop reflects the positive influence that musical instruments have on the youngsters who play them, and the adults in the LAUSD free repair service who keep them working and in tune.
Barking Owl CEO Kirkland Alexander Lynch said of Bowers, “His artistry, diversity of style and depth of storytelling bring an unparalleled edge to the work we create for global brands. His presence on our roster reflects our continued commitment to pushing the boundaries of sound and music in advertising.”
Johanna Cranitch, creative director, Barking Owl, added, “Kris first caught my attention when he released his record ‘Heroes + Misfits’ where he fused together his jazz sensibility with a deeply ingrained aptitude for melody, so beautifully.... Read More