Bob Newhart Names Maeleine Begune Kane (Mad Kane) Winner of 2008 Robert Benchley Society Award for Humor

Bob Newhart Names Mad Kane Winner 2008 Robert Benchley Society Award for Humor

Bob Newhart and Horace J. digby, Backstage at Tacoma, Washington's historic Pantages Theater, discuss the Robert Benchley Society Award for Humor. Copyright 2007 Lexington Film, LLC, used here with permission.

LOS ANGELES, CA. -- Bob Newhart, perhaps the most celebrated comedian-humorist-actor-author-former accountant in show-business history, author of the new show business autobiography "I Shouldn't Even Be Doing This," taking time out from his busy schedule to serve as finals judge, named past NSNC honoree Madeleine Begun Kane, winner of the 2008 Robert Benchley Society Award for Humor.

In a hand-written note Newhart told Kane, "I don't know if Robert Benchley ever commented on operas in his writings, but it is certainly a subject I suspect he would have handled exactly as you did."

Madeleine Begune "Mad" Kane, Winner of the 2008 Robert Benchley Society Award for Humor. Copyright Mad Kane, used here with permission.

Newhart, in an earlier interview for A3Radio out of Ann Arbor, Michigan, past Benchley Society award winner Horace J. Digby that he had always considered Benchley a major influence for his own humor. "Really good writing is timeless," Newhart said. "Benchley created—like the persona Jack Benny created—a man who was very much full of himself, but in a self-deprecating way." The interview is online at: lexingtonfilm.com/bobnewhartinterview.htm.

Mike Tuck, Medalist 2008 Robert benchley Society Humor Competition. Copyright Mike Tuck. Used with permission.

"There is no question in my mind," Newhart said in a follow-up note to Digby, "that Benchley helped construct the comedic lens through which I view the world. I think his [Benchley's] influence is certainly discernable in 'Abe Lincoln' and 'King Kong.'"

On learning Newhart had ranked her essay first, Kane was uncharacteristically at a loss for words, saying only, "Yikes! I can't believe it! Thanks! . . . I'm still in shock . . ." Then, composing herself, Kane said, "Now that I've actually won I'm thrilled and honored, but being Jewish, I'm still anxious," eluding to the limerick she had written to celebrate being named a finalist:

         "I can barely maintain my sobriety
          Cuz the great Robert Benchley Society
          Held a contest and wow,
         I'm a finalist now.
          Will I win the top prize? High anxiety!"

Jesse Levy, 2008 Robert Benchley society Award for Humor Medalist. Copyright Jesse Levy, used with permission

Kane's essays have appeared in Family Circle, America Online, Newsday, The Chicago Tribune, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Miami Herald,, The Houston Chronicle, The New York Times, The L. A. Times Syndicate, Knight-Rider/Tribune News Service, and on National Public Radio. She bills herself, as "Mad" Kane, political satirist, parodist and recovering lawyer. In 1995 Kane's humor was honored by the National Society of Newspaper Columnists. Her website, madkane.com, has received accolades from USA Today, Shift Magazine, Maxim Magazine, The Guardian and other media.

For 2008 Newhart also named 3 Benchley Society Medalists: Mike Tuck of Hopkins, MN, Jesse Levy of North Hollywood, CA, and Denise G. Weeks (aka Shalanna Collins) of Richardson, TX, who were Kane's first, second Shalanna Collins, Medalist in 2008 Robert Benchley Society Award for Humor competition. Copyright Denise G. Weeks. Used with permission.

Shalanna Collins, Medalist in 2008 Robert Benchley Society Award for Humor competition. Copyright Denise G. Weeks. Used with permission.

and third runners-up. All winning essays can be viewed at robertbenchley.org/competition.

First runner-up, Mike Tuck captured the tone of this year's competition. "Knowing Bob Newhart actually read something I wrote (even if he barely got through the first paragraph before crumpling and tossing it) is intimidating. I have grown up with Newhart's albums, stand-up, movies and television to understand and appreciate what a brilliant humorist he is. This would be the highlight of my career if I had one," Tuck said.

The Robert Benchley Society Award for Humor competition is open to amateurs and professionals alike.

"All entries are read blind, so, in 2008, neither Bob Newhart, nor any of the preliminary judges knew who wrote any of the essays. This makes the competition entirely merit based," said Horace J. Digby, 2005 Robert W. Bruce Cameron, Horace J. Digby, Grrl Genius Cathryn Michon, at 2006 Robert Benchley Soceity Awards dinner, Hollywood, CA, Copyright Cara Mia Buck, used here with permission.

W. Bruce Cameron, Horace J. Digby, Grrl Genius Cathryn Michon, at 2006 Robert Benchley Soceity Awards dinner, Hollywood, CA, Copyright Cara Mia Buck, used here with permission.

Benchley Society Award for Humor first-place winner. Digby enjoyed the competition so much, he has returned for the past three years to help with judging and to work with celebrity judges like Dave Barry and Bob Newhart.

Past competitors and winners have included amature and fledgling writers right along side of some of our nation's top humor writers, like 2006 first-place winner W. Bruce Cameron, internationally-syndicated best-selling author of Eight Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter, inspiration for the John Ritter, ABC/Disney Emmy Award winning television series by the same name. Cameron's newest book, Eight Simple Rules for Marrying My Daughter, has already become a motion picture project, when rights for Cameron's sequel were acquired by 26 Films production company (principals are Michelle Chydzik Sowa and Nathalie Marciano), as a new project for producer Wendy Finerman (The Devil Wears Prada).

For an expanded version of this release, visit Benchley.blogspot.com.

Visit Lexington Film, LLC!