The American Film Institute has been known to take itself and its rituals just a tad seriously, but that was impossible Thursday night as it presented its 43rd Life Achievement Award to Steve Martin. There was plenty of praise offered for Martin’s many talents as a comedian, actor, screenwriter, playwright, banjo player and art collector, husband and father. But as if taking its cue from the recipient himself, the evening was mostly devoted to pure silliness: One-liners, non sequiturs and throwaway jokes ruled as performers from Tina Fey to Martin Short stepped forward to gently roast Martin before then testifying how much they both admired him and treasured him as a friend.
