Variety’s annual Power of Comedy event will return to SXSW on March 8 at ACL Live, celebrating honorees Samantha Bee, John Leguizamo, Nick Kroll, Lilly Singh, Andrew Rannells, Hannah Einbinder, Pamela Adlon, Jaboukie Young-White, Robbie Praw and Cazzie David.
Variety Power of Comedy is part of the official SXSW Comedy lineup.
At the event, Bee will receive the Comedy Innovator Award, presented by Brooke Shields, recognizing her accomplishments as a comedian, writer, author and trailblazing late-night TV host and producer.
Praw will receive the Comedy Champion Award for his work as VP of Standup & Comedy Formats at Netflix. In that role, he has been instrumental in helping to nurture a new generation of comedians as well as shepherding successful standup events from A-list comedians including Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle, Ellen DeGeneres, Wanda Sykes, Bill Burr, Gabriel Iglesias and many more.
Kroll and Rannells will receive the Comedy Duo Award in recognition of their work on “I Don’t Understand You,” which premieres at SXSW. Co-star Morgan Spector will present them with the award.
Leguizamo will be honored with the Comedy Actor Award for his project “Bob Trevino Likes It,” which will premiere at SXSW. Leguizamo’s storied career in comedy also includes the film “To Wong Foo: Thanks for Everything Julie Newmar” and the “Ice Age” franchise, among others. Comedian Nick Thune will present him with the award.
Einbinder will receive the Comedy Actress Award, presented by legendary actor Jean Smart, for her work on “Hacks,” which will premiere its third season at SXSW.
Adlon will be honored with the Comedy Director Award for her work on the indie comedy “Babes,” which premieres at SXSW. Adlon’s notable credits include serving as the writer, director, executive producer and star of the award-winning FX comedy series “Better Things.”
Singh will receive the inaugural Comedy Crossover Award for her evolution as a storyteller from YouTube creator to TV host, and now to actor, writer, and producer – culminating in her new comedy film “Doin’ It” premiering at SXSW.
Young-White will receive the Comedy Connoisseur Award for his broad body of work including “The Daily Show With Trevor Noah,” “Rough Night,” “Only Murders in the Building,” his standup performances and more.
David will be honored with the Breakthrough Artist Award for her work as a writer, director and actor in “I Love You Forever,” premiering at SXSW. Diablo Cody, Academy Award-winning writer and a producer on the film, will present her with the award.
