NEW YORK — At the first U.S. Secret Policeman’s Ball, American and British comics took turns on the Radio City Music Hall stage to showcase the foul-mouthed joy of free speech.

The benefit concert Sunday night brought an English tradition across the Atlantic for the first time in its 36-year history. It was started by Amnesty International and Monty Python’s John Cleese, who gathered comics to raise funds for the human rights organization.

The last Secret Policeman’s Ball was in London four years ago, but the tradition was renewed stateside Sunday with the same guiding ethos of celebrating free expression by ridiculing despots – whether they be dictators or just daily-life demons like – as Paul Rudd cited – high-priced sushi.

In a 2 1/2-hour show, which was streamed live by EpixHD.com, that featured dozens of performers, the only restriction on speech was the “wrap it up” sign, which hurried the loquacious Russell Brand from the stage.

Aside from the night’s two musical guests – Coldplay and Mumford & Sons – the event mainly congregated comics. From the American side, there were Jon Stewart, Ben Stiller, Sarah Silverman, David Cross and most of the cast of “Saturday Night Live.” The United Kingdom was represented by the likes of Eddie Izzard, John Oliver, Jack Whitehall and Micky Flanagan.

The culture clash was fodder for comic examination. Stiller and English comedian David Walliams analyzed the different meanings of various words between the two countries. They differed on words like “dentistry” and “obese,” but they found commonality in their dim view of CNN host Piers Morgan.

Taped videos were played from three Pythons – Eric Idol, Terry Jones and Michael Palin – who each made far-fetched excuses and claimed to be “the sixth Python.”

The protested impediments to free speech took on unlikely forms. Silverman lambasted the refusal of an old boyfriend to be told “I love you” after six weeks of dating. Fred Armisen, Jason Sudeikis and Seth Meyers traded places in an interrogation sketch where each was guilty of offending “the Supreme Leader” – who was assumed to be “SNL” producer Lorne Michaels.

Burmese comedian Zarganar Thura took the stage, he said, not to tell jokes, but to thank Amnesty. Thura was serving a 35-year sentence in a Burmese prison for “causing public alarm” after speaking to foreign media. After three years in prison, he was released last October in an amnesty that freed about 200 political detainees.

Viggo Mortensen honored for his work in films

BROOKLINE, Mass. — Oscar-nominated actor Viggo Mortensen is being honored by the Coolidge Corner Theatre in suburban Boston for his contributions to the movie business.

Mortensen was to receive the Coolidge Award at the independent movie theater in Brookline on Monday.

Following a screening of “Eastern Promises,” the movie for which he was nominated for a best actor Oscar in 2008, Mortensen is expected to take the stage for an in-depth discussion of his life and career.

Mortensen is perhaps best known for his role as Aragorn in the “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy of movies.

The theater has been screening a series of Mortensen’s movies, including “A History of Violence,” “The Road” and a marathon of “The Lord of the Rings” movies.

Deen, brother sued over work environment

SAVANNAH, Ga. — The former general manager of a restaurant co-owned by Paula Deen claims the celebrity chef and her brother created a hostile work environment that included sexual innuendo, physical intimidation and racial slurs.

Lisa Jackson says in a lawsuit filed Monday she had panic attacks because of the environment at Uncle Bubba’s Seafood and Oyster House. The restaurant in Savannah is owned by Deen and her brother Bubba Hiers.

Jackson says Hiers routinely watched pornography and that he once violently shook a black employee. She says the restaurant required black workers to enter through a back door and barred them from using a restroom that white workers used.

A Deen spokesman declined to comment on pending legal matters.

Winner to claim Powerball prize

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The winner of last month’s $336.4 million Powerball jackpot is coming forward in Rhode Island.

Officials say a news conference will be held this morning to announce the winner.

The winning ticket was sold at a Stop & Shop supermarket in Newport.

The jackpot is the sixth largest in U.S. history. The lump sum payment will be $210 million.