Steve Martin, Martin Short and Tina Fey at the 2015 Life Achievement Award Gala  By Andrea Park and Scott Huver  06/05/2015 AT 02:15 PM EDT  are eternally devoted to comedy legend  , who was honored with the American Film Institute's 43rd Life Achievement Award Thursday – but that doesn't mean they could resist a few jabs in his direction.  The pair were among an array of comedy stars who took the stage at the Audi-presented AFI event at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles to pay their respects to the 69-year-old actor, and opted for a teasing approach to their tributes.  "Tonight, we are honoring the movies of Steve Martin," Short began. "Why? Because no one spoke up when the idea was first floated, and now it's too late."  He and Martin are currently on a joint comedy tour and have worked on five films together, including the  Short continued, "There are very few people that I truly admire. Steve Martin is very close to being one of them ... There's so many different ways to describe Steve Martin: comedian, actor, writer, musician, recluse, hermit, needy, vindictive, overrated. Steve has won – it's amazing – five Grammys, the Kennedy Center Honors, an Oscar, a Mark Twain prize and an Emmy. But tonight, the trophy is different. Because tonight's trophy, he really, really doesn't deserve it."  Fey, who worked with Martin in 2008's  , shared some "showbiz advice" the legendary comedian gave her on set.  "He said to me, '  [sic], to be early is to be on time. To be on time is a sign of weakness. Never shake hands when an open-mouth kiss would suffice. There are no small parts, only small actors.' And then he just listed a bunch of actors under 5'2"," she revealed.  "He told me to always find a way to give back," she continued. "For example, Steve donates all his old white suits to lesbian commitment ceremonies. He told me, 'Always be nice to the little people because then at night they'll sneak in and fix your shoes. You know what? Don't bring a gun to a knife fight, just enjoy it from the stands,' " Fey continued.  However, both Short and Fey ended their speeches on a more sentimental note.  "Here's the point and, by the way, here's the truth: Steve is an unmitigated genius, pure and simple. What makes him utterly irresistible is that he doesn't believe it," Short said. "He's the definition of a good guy and a deeply, deeply loyal one. And such a breathtakingly great individual. My family and I have been so lucky that he came in our lives all these years."  star expressed similar sentiments: "I learned so much from you, Steve, and I can't tell you how grateful I am to know you. And you have helped me so many times and in so many ways – show up for  monologues, being a guest star on our dumb TV show â¦ It's an honor to be a part of this evening and to have one of my childhood dreams come true."  "You're a genius. You mean a tremendously great deal to me," she finished.  The American Film Institute's 43rd Life Achievement Award honoring Steve Martin will premiere on Saturday, June 13, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on TBS.
The comedians poked fun at the Parenthood actor in a funny and ultimately sweet tribute to his career