Associated Press
Tuesday, October 7, 2008

NEW YORK, Oct. 6 -- Larry Doyle, a former television writer-producer for "The Simpsons," was named Monday the winner of this year's Thurber Prize for American Humor. He was cited for the novel "I Love You, Beth Cooper."

"Clearly Larry Doyle was not the BMOC" Big Man on Campus -- Thurber judge Firoozeh Dumas said in a statement. "Had Larry been cool, he could have never written 'I Love You, Beth Cooper,' a hilarious yet painfully accurate account of high school in all its pimply glory."

Doyle will receive $5,000. The two other finalists were Patricia Marx for the novel "Him Her Him Again The End of Him," and Simon Rich for "Ant Farm," an essay collection.

The prize, named for author-illustrator James Thurber, was founded in 1996 by Thurber House, a Columbus, Ohio, literary center for writers and readers. Previous winners include Jon Stewart, David Sedaris and Christopher Buckley.