As I scan the landscape of entertainment stardom it occurs to me that where ever you might spot a person of true genius that person will almost invariably be a comedian. I’m serious about this. Every knockout genius I have ever observed in the entertainment industry has been a comedian. Actors, on the other hand, tend to filter down to the depths of the fishbowl.

I was fortunate, for example, to have known Paul Winchell in his later years. He was a man who could converse rationally on practically all the broader fields of science and was especially brilliant on his chosen field of medicine. He partnered with Dr Heimlich (of “The Heimlich Maneuver” fame) to design the first mechanical heart. Later the design was stolen by Dr. Jarvik and implanted in a live human being. Paul was also interested in religion and the Bible in particular. He wrote a book or two on the subject and it was that common interest that first brought us into contact. He is probably better known in the field of cardiology today than for his comedic talents. But those talents were notable enough that his puppet props; Jerry Mahoney and Knucklehead Smith, can be visited at the Smithsonian Institute.

My personal favorite genius of all time in comedy was Steve Allen. In my mind he represented the genius of the common man; what some would call a man for all seasons. He was another of those sorts of men who was certain of his own ability to rationalize and thus rise above the dismissive bias of the glitterati. He wrote many books on a range of fascinating subjects. He was another of those free intellects who probed the Bible and religious issues in greater depth than the faithful do. On the list of all things that qualified Mr. Allen as a genius his comic genius is only a middling factor.

Among today’s living comic geniuses the only one that comes immediately to mind is Dennis Miller. He would deny that he’s any kind of genius and would tell you that he only happens to have a few “monkey tricks” that he can do with word manipulation. But the way I see it those monkey tricks are just the tip of an iceberg of true genius. Also visible on that iceberg is his ability to exercise independent rationalism and stand with conservatives against a tide of radical political correctness.

So it is with sincere admiration and appreciation that I present the aforementioned Mr. Miller with the 1st annual “No Bull Piece Prize”.

This prize is awarded to conservative thinkers who have inspired me to write one or more pieces for my blog. Mr. Miller has inspired three such pieces this year: “My Doppelganger”,” A Day at the Fair” and “Back to the Fair”.

The award consists of a fine wooden presentation case containing two authentic commemorative 1892 Columbian Exposition half dollars. On the obverse of each coin is the bust of Christopher Columbus. On the reverse is a representation of his flag ship, the Santa Maria. I purchased these coins from a Chicago collector so there is a high probability that they were issued at the fair itself in 1892. One’s imagination can run wild pondering what wonders these coins may have seen and whose hands they may have passed through.

I’m quite certain that my little award will never replace the once noble, “Nobel Peace Prize”, but I do believe that it better represents the spirit of that prize in these senseless days of approaching chaos. I would be honored, then, if Dennis would agree to accept this token and contact me as to how I might ship it to him.