Philosophy
This week saw the 80th birthday of Mel Brooks, possibly the greatest living contributor to the Comedist cause. Even if he had never made a movie, his writing for Sid Caesar, the 2000 year old man, and Get Smart would have been enough to leave a legacy. But he did make films... In honor of the feast day of Saint Mel -- make sure you are not tardy or no fruit cup for you -- I have been meditating on his work. What would be the funniest scene and the funniest line? My nominees:
Scenes:
- Opening dance number to Springtime for Hitler, especially including the pan over the audience
- The bean scene
- Puttin' on the Ritz* (this scene was Gene Wilder's idea and Mel originally fought against it)
- The Inquisition
- The BIG bottle
- The "everything you're seeing now is happening now" scene
Lines:
- "I see your Schwartz is as big as mine."
- "What knockers!"
- "All pay heed! The Lord, the Lord Jehovah has given unto you these fifteen (crash)...Oy! ten, ten commandments for all to obey!"
- "I got it, I got it, I got it,...I ain't got it."
- "Schwartzas? Lassen gehen!"
- "I'm not a madame, I'm a concierge!"
- "What he did to Shakespeare, we're now doing to Poland."
- "You take the blonde and I'll take the one in the turban."
- "It's good to be the King."
- "Excuse me while I whip this out"
Others?
I leave you with this one bit of wisdom: "don't be stupid, be a schmarty, come and join the Nazi party."
Happy birthday, Mel!
--Irreverend Steve
- Feast Of Saint Foster
My Comedist Brethren, This week brings us the feast of Saint Foster. This would be Foster Brooks' 99th birthday. Beginning work as an announcer and news reporter, he began doing stand-up. Steve Allen and Perry Como launched his career, but it was...
- Rip Dom Deluise
Friends, We've lost another great one. This week Dom DeLuise passed away from cancer. There are some folks who are clever, others who are witty, and then there are those who are just plain funny. Dom DeLuise was a funnyman in the deepest sense of...
- Mash And The Marx Brothers
A pair of favorite questions. Gwydion asks, "Which is your favorite episode of M*A*S*H and why?"Dear Sigmund. I loved the character of Sydney Freedman, the psychiatrist who was an occasional character. On the one hand, it was introspective and thoughtful,...
- Feast Of Saint Zeppo
This week we commemorate the passing of Herbert Manfred Marx, best known as Zeppo. He is the Comedist version of Saint Jude. Often called the funniest of the Marx Brothers off-stage, in the act he was the straight man, always setting up the jokes, but...
- Rip Peter Boyle
Fellow comedists, I speak to you in mourning today for we have lost a giant...a big, green giant and I'm not talking Hans Delbruck. Peter Boyle was a fantastic actor. His work in Joe and The Candidate were magnificent. But today he sits with Saint...
Philosophy
The Gospel According to Saint Mel
This week saw the 80th birthday of Mel Brooks, possibly the greatest living contributor to the Comedist cause. Even if he had never made a movie, his writing for Sid Caesar, the 2000 year old man, and Get Smart would have been enough to leave a legacy. But he did make films... In honor of the feast day of Saint Mel -- make sure you are not tardy or no fruit cup for you -- I have been meditating on his work. What would be the funniest scene and the funniest line? My nominees:
Scenes:
- Opening dance number to Springtime for Hitler, especially including the pan over the audience
- The bean scene
- Puttin' on the Ritz* (this scene was Gene Wilder's idea and Mel originally fought against it)
- The Inquisition
- The BIG bottle
- The "everything you're seeing now is happening now" scene
Lines:
- "I see your Schwartz is as big as mine."
- "What knockers!"
- "All pay heed! The Lord, the Lord Jehovah has given unto you these fifteen (crash)...Oy! ten, ten commandments for all to obey!"
- "I got it, I got it, I got it,...I ain't got it."
- "Schwartzas? Lassen gehen!"
- "I'm not a madame, I'm a concierge!"
- "What he did to Shakespeare, we're now doing to Poland."
- "You take the blonde and I'll take the one in the turban."
- "It's good to be the King."
- "Excuse me while I whip this out"
Others?
I leave you with this one bit of wisdom: "don't be stupid, be a schmarty, come and join the Nazi party."
Happy birthday, Mel!
--Irreverend Steve
- Feast Of Saint Foster
My Comedist Brethren, This week brings us the feast of Saint Foster. This would be Foster Brooks' 99th birthday. Beginning work as an announcer and news reporter, he began doing stand-up. Steve Allen and Perry Como launched his career, but it was...
- Rip Dom Deluise
Friends, We've lost another great one. This week Dom DeLuise passed away from cancer. There are some folks who are clever, others who are witty, and then there are those who are just plain funny. Dom DeLuise was a funnyman in the deepest sense of...
- Mash And The Marx Brothers
A pair of favorite questions. Gwydion asks, "Which is your favorite episode of M*A*S*H and why?"Dear Sigmund. I loved the character of Sydney Freedman, the psychiatrist who was an occasional character. On the one hand, it was introspective and thoughtful,...
- Feast Of Saint Zeppo
This week we commemorate the passing of Herbert Manfred Marx, best known as Zeppo. He is the Comedist version of Saint Jude. Often called the funniest of the Marx Brothers off-stage, in the act he was the straight man, always setting up the jokes, but...
- Rip Peter Boyle
Fellow comedists, I speak to you in mourning today for we have lost a giant...a big, green giant and I'm not talking Hans Delbruck. Peter Boyle was a fantastic actor. His work in Joe and The Candidate were magnificent. But today he sits with Saint...