President Barack Obama awarded 24 American giants of the arts and humanities with medals on Thursday, lauding their accomplishments — and sharing some laughs.

Comedian Mel Brooks, who Obama has said he admires for his over-the-top Western satire "Blazing Saddles," dropped to one knee as if receiving a knighthood after he was given his official citation for "a lifetime of making the world laugh."

Obama warned Brooks that he would catch him if he tried to sell his National Medal of Arts on eBay.