Aziz Ansari Is This Year’s Variety Power Of Comedy Award Recipient
Aziz Ansari was named the Variety Magazine Power of Comedy Award winner at a ceremony last week to benefit cancer research.
Kurt Braunohler emceed the evening while names like Jerrod Carmichael, Tig Notaro, Nick Kroll, Rory Scovel, Moshe Kasher and Joe Mande paid tribute to the guest of honor with jokes and made up stories about Aziz.
He was presented the award by his “Parks and Rec” co-stars Adam Scott and Chris Pratt. Scott said, “I know what you’re thinking, ugh, another award for a foodie, hip hop obsessed Indian man from South Carolina, but he sold out not one, but two Madison Square Garden shows. That’s 10,000 people, twice”. Pratt added, “That’s like a million people”.
The evening benefited the Noreen Fraser Foundation which is dedicated to cancer research. During his acceptance speech, Aziz talked about the work Noreen Fraser has accomplished. “It’s so crazy to hear you talk about all the stuff you’ve done. It makes no sense for me to be getting this award. ‘I helped develop this new drug,’” he imitated her, “‘but Aziz has 5 million twitter followers!’ I just doesn’t seem quite fair.”
