The 2009 Thurber Prize for American Humor

The deadline for the 2009 Thurber Prize for American Humor has passed. Check back when we announce this year's winner! For questions, please contact Susanne Jaffe at 614-464-1032 ext. 12 or sjaffe@thurberhouse.org.

The Thurber Prize for American Humor was first presented in 1997 to Ian Frazier for his book Coyote vs. Acme. In 1999, the prize went to the editorial staff of the satirical magazine The Onion for Our Dumb Century; in 2001, to David Sedaris, best-selling author of Me Talk Pretty One Day. In 2004, the Prize was made an annual award and was given to Christopher Buckley for his comic novel, No Way to Treat a First Lady. In 2005, it was presented to Jon Stewart, Ben Karlin and David Javerbaum for America (The Book): A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction. Five-time Emmy winner Alan Zweibel won in 2006 for his novel, The Other Shulman, and the 2007 winner was former Frasier Executive Producer Joe Keenan for his novel, My Lucky Star. For the full release on the 2008 winner Larry Doyle, scroll down.

Larry Doyle wins the 2008 Thurber Prize for American Humor

Thurber House presented Larry Doyle, former writer and producer for The Simpsons, the 2008 Thurber Prize for American Humor for his book I Love You, Beth Cooper, at the Algonquin Hotel on October 6. Robert Kaplow, a judge for this year’s Prize, served as the evening’s emcee.

Doyle is a regular contributor to The New Yorker and has a monthly column in Esquire magazine. I Love You, Beth Cooper is his first novel, and will soon be adapted for a big-screen film starring Hayden Panettiere.  The novel is loosely based on Doyle's teen years in suburban Chicago.

In a review on his Web site, satirist Tom Perrotta says I Love You "feels like an instant classic, right up there with end-of-school landmarks like American Graffiti and Dazed and Confused."

The two runners-up for the award were former Saturday Night Live writer, Patricia Marx for her book Him Her Him Again The End of Him, and former president of The Harvard Lampoon, Simon Rich for his book of essays titled Ant Farm. The three esteemed judges who selected this year’s Thurber Prize were Christopher Buckley, who won the Thurber Prize in 2004 for his novel, No Way to Treat a First Lady; Firoozeh Dumas, who was a finalist for the Thurber Prize in 2005 for her memoir, Funny in Farsi; and Robert Kaplow, who was a finalist for the Thurber Prize in 2004 for Me and Orson Welles. 

The Thurber Prize for American Humor was first presented in 1997 to Ian Frazier for his book Coyote vs. Acme. In 1999, the prize went to the editorial staff of the satirical magazine The Onion for Our Dumb Century; in 2001, to David Sedaris, best-selling author of Me Talk Pretty One Day. In 2004, the Prize was made an annual award and was given to Christopher Buckley for his comic novel, No Way to Treat a First Lady. In 2005, it was presented to Jon Stewart, Ben Karlin and David Javerbaum for America (The Book): A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction. Five-time Emmy winner Alan Zweibel won in 2006 for his novel, The Other Shulman, and last year's prize went to former Frasier Executive Producer Joe Keenan for his novel, My Lucky Star.

The 2008 Thurber Prize for American Humor is conferred upon the author and publisher of the outstanding book of humor writing published in the United States between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2007. Initiated in 1996, thirty-five years after the death of this key figure in the development of American humor, it is the nation’s highest recognition of the art of humor writing. The award includes a $5,000 prize and a commemorative crystal plaque for the winning author.  

 
2008 Thurber Prize finalists: Simon Rich, Larry Doyle, Patricia Marx ©Jules Angel


2008 Thurber Prize winner Larry Doyle ©Jules Angel