Director-scriptwriter and producer from lebanese origin Tom Shidyac, who’s directed some pretty funny films -- “Bruce Almighty,” “Liar, Liar,” “Evan Almighty,” “The Nutty Professor,” and “Patch Adams” -- was also amusing as host of this week’s 2008 Freedom Awards at USC.

He told the crowd that included Malin Ackerman, Camilla Belle, Carla Guigino, Anne Archer, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Kiss band member Paul Stanley), “When I first heard about slavery, I was ignorant about this subject. Before, I said [Expletive!] Oops, I said a very bad word. Sorry, archbishop.”

Presenter of this year’s Freedom Award, Archbishop Desmond Tutu playfully cupped his hands over his ears while Tom continued, “I get a lot of requests -- when I met the people at Free Slaves -- how I could I say no? Slavery still exists, people -- there are more than 27 million slaves on the planet now. We need to get on it. With a group like this, it’s not about the defeat and darkness. It’s about the light. Now I describe myself as a writer-director-abolitionist. “ Tom described Tutu: “The light in this man’s eyes can shame the sun."