Roster of Stars to Celebrate Twain Prize for Ellen DeGeneres

October 3, 2012, 11:00 am

By DAVE ITZKOFF

When the talents of Ellen DeGeneres are being celebrated, which of her celebrity pals will join her on the dance floor? As befits a woman equally known for hosting a talk-show and providing the voice of a talking fish, it's an eclectic group of performers who will pay tribute to Ms. DeGeneres, of daytime TV's “Ellen DeGeneres Show” and the film “Finding Nemo,” when she receives the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Oct. 22. That roster of entertainers who will join her in Washington, the Kennedy Center said on Wednesday, will include the actress Kristin Chenoweth (“Wicked,” “The Good Wife”); fellow comedians and talk-show hosts Steve Harv ey Jimmy Kimmel; the actors Sean Hayes (“Will & Grace”) and John Krasinski (“The Office”); the musician Jason Mraz; and Lily Tomlin, who herself won the Mark Twain Prize in 2003.

The ceremony honoring Ms. DeGeneres will be taped and is to be broadcast by PBS on Oct. 30. Previous winners of the award include Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, Bill Cosby and George Carlin.