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Mel Brooks Isn't Done Punching Up the History of the World - The New York Times

  

Category:  News & Politics

Via:  jbb  •  7 months ago  •  29 comments

By:   Maureen Dowd (nytimes)

Mel Brooks Isn't Done Punching Up the History of the World - The New York Times
The comedian, at 96, is happy to inspire a new generation to make their own Hitler jokes.

S E E D E D   C O N T E N T


The comedian, at 96, is happy to inspire a new generation to make their own Hitler jokes.

Mel Brooks at home in Santa Monica, Calif.Credit...Chantal Anderson for The New York Times

maureen-dowd-thumbLarge.png

By Maureen Dowd

  • Published March 11, 2023 Updated March 15, 2023

Mel Brooks is a sophisticated guy. He collected fancy French wines and did a tasting on Johnny Carson's show. He drops references to Nikolai Gogol's "Dead Souls." He was married for 40 years to that epitome of elegance, Anne Bancroft. He was a favorite lunch companion of Cary Grant, the suavest man who ever lived.

But in the new Hulu show "History of the World, Part II," you can still find all the Mel Brooks signature comedy stylings: penis jokes, puke jokes and fart jokes.

"I like fart jokes," he said, Zooming from his home in Santa Monica, Calif. "It adds some je ne sais quoi to the comedy. A touch of sophistication for the smarter people helps move the show along."

After all, with the percussive campfire scene in his 1974 comedy classic, "Blazing Saddles," where the cowhands sit around eating beans and passing wind, he elevated flatulence to cinematic history.

The comedy legend, 96, preferred to meet on Zoom because he's wary of Covid. Strangers love to hug him and say, "Mel, I love you!" he said, adding, "I'm a target."

The man behind outlandish, hilarious movies like "The Producers," "Young Frankenstein," "Spaceballs," "High Anxiety," "Robin Hood: Men in Tights" and "History of the World, Part I," along with the hit TV spy comedy "Get Smart," no longer lives in a time where he can have "absolutely no restrictions on any and all subjects," as he said about writing "Blazing Saddles" (which was slapped with its own content warning in 2020 when it was on HBO Max). And he lost the two loves of his life, Ms. Bancroft and Carl Reiner. But Mel Brooks is still a ball of fire.


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JBB
Professor Principal
1  seeder  JBB    7 months ago

Mel Brooks, who will be 98 in June, is still a ball of fire...

 
 
 
devangelical
Professor Principal
1.1  devangelical  replied to  JBB @1    7 months ago

an iconic comedy genius that conquered the small and large screen. I saw all of his movies in theaters when they came out and always watch them again on cable. both he and carl reiner turned 60's TV sitcom actors into movie stars. I seem to recall that mel was also a WWII vet.

 
 
 
Krishna
Professor Expert
1.1.1  Krishna  replied to  devangelical @1.1    7 months ago
an iconic comedy genius

I totally agree-- one of the best comedians of all time! 

 
 
 
Trout Giggles
Professor Principal
1.1.2  Trout Giggles  replied to  devangelical @1.1    7 months ago

I love the guy

 
 
 
Drinker of the Wry
Senior Guide
2  Drinker of the Wry    7 months ago

Ball of fire?

 
 
 
Igknorantzruls
Sophomore Quiet
2.1  Igknorantzruls  replied to  Drinker of the Wry @2    7 months ago
Ball of fire?

when compared to a bag of ice

 
 
 
devangelical
Professor Principal
2.1.1  devangelical  replied to  Igknorantzruls @2.1    7 months ago

you spelled ass wrong ...

 
 
 
Igknorantzruls
Sophomore Quiet
2.1.2  Igknorantzruls  replied to  devangelical @2.1.1    7 months ago

just need peace

 
 
 
JBB
Professor Principal
2.2  seeder  JBB  replied to  Drinker of the Wry @2    7 months ago

Contrarianism extended to a comic genius and national treasure is taking it too too far. What is your problem with Brook's good health and creative mental productivity now well into his tenth decade?

 
 
 
Drinker of the Wry
Senior Guide
2.2.1  Drinker of the Wry  replied to  JBB @2.2    7 months ago
What is your problem with Brook's good health and creative mental productivity now well into his tenth decade

I have no problem with Mel Brooks and have enjoyed his work.

 
 
 
Kavika
Professor Principal
3  Kavika     7 months ago

Keep on keeping on, Mel

 
 
 
Right Down the Center
Masters Guide
4  Right Down the Center    7 months ago

Can you imagine what a redo of Blazing Saddles would look like today?

 
 
 
JBB
Professor Principal
4.1  seeder  JBB  replied to  Right Down the Center @4    7 months ago

I shudder to imagine it's Springtime For Donald And MAGA Land...

 
 
 
devangelical
Professor Principal
4.2  devangelical  replied to  Right Down the Center @4    7 months ago

going to a trump rally is pretty close...

 
 
 
Right Down the Center
Masters Guide
4.2.1  Right Down the Center  replied to  devangelical @4.2    7 months ago

Nope

 
 
 
devangelical
Professor Principal
4.2.2  devangelical  replied to  Right Down the Center @4.2.1    7 months ago

oh yes ...

 
 
 
Right Down the Center
Masters Guide
4.2.3  Right Down the Center  replied to  devangelical @4.2.2    7 months ago

au contraire

 
 
 
Tessylo
Professor Principal
4.2.4  Tessylo  replied to  devangelical @4.2    7 months ago

some sit in the front row with their white sheets at the ready

 
 
 
Igknorantzruls
Sophomore Quiet
4.2.5  Igknorantzruls  replied to  Tessylo @4.2.4    7 months ago

cause they're yellow

 
 
 
Gsquared
Professor Principal
5  Gsquared    7 months ago

original

 
 
 
devangelical
Professor Principal
5.1  devangelical  replied to  Gsquared @5    7 months ago

 
 
 
devangelical
Professor Principal
6  devangelical    7 months ago

 
 
 
devangelical
Professor Principal
7  devangelical    7 months ago

 
 
 
Gordy327
Professor Guide
8  Gordy327    7 months ago

Only Mel Brook could take something like the Spanish Inquisition and turn it into a musical. The man is a comedy genius. 

 
 
 
devangelical
Professor Principal
8.1  devangelical  replied to  Gordy327 @8    7 months ago

undoubtedly.

 
 
 
devangelical
Professor Principal
8.2  devangelical  replied to  Gordy327 @8    7 months ago

 
 
 
Gordy327
Professor Guide
8.2.1  Gordy327  replied to  devangelical @8.2    7 months ago

Such a classic.

 
 
 
devangelical
Professor Principal
8.2.2  devangelical  replied to  Gordy327 @8.2.1    7 months ago

all's fair in love, war, and comedy...

 
 
 
devangelical
Professor Principal
9  devangelical    7 months ago

 
 

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