( 1926- )

"Who is Mel Brooks?" you ask, well, I'll tell you. Mel Brooks is probably one of Hollywood's most underrated celebrities. Mel has written and directed Eleven Hilarious Movies: the Producers, the Twelve Chairs, Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, Silent Movie, High Anxiety, History of the World: Part I, Spaceballs, Robin Hood: Men in Tights, and Dracula: Dead and Loving it. He's also famous for his "2,000 Year Old Man" routine, a totally improvised radio show with Carl Reiner as the interviewer and with Mel as, of course, the 2,000 year old man. This role won him three emmys. His company, Brooksfilms has produced many successful movies such as "the Fly" and "the Elephant Man". He was also the creator of the 1960's spyspoof TV show, "Get Smart". Mel's also made many cameos and guest appearances on various Movies and TV shows. His most memorable guest appearance was on "Mad About You" where he played "Uncle Phil" and which also won him an emmy. He also won an Oscar for his screenplay of "the Producers". All in all, he's had a very successful career and that's why we're here. To show the world the many talents and achievements of Mel Brooks.

"Humor is just another defense against the universe" -Mel Brooks-
Biography....sorta.... Mel Brooks is the screen name of Melvyn Kaminsky and this is the story of his life. Mel was born into a jewish family in Brooklyn and he said he always knew he was funny right from the start because people would walk up to his crib and just start laughing. Growing up in Brooklyn, he spent most of his time at the local movie cinema watching the movies of great silent stars like: Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin, who he idolized and later payed tribute to in his classic "Silent Movie".
"I believe you are either blessed with humor, or it escapes you. I don't think you can ever really acquire the gift of creating comedy unless you have been born with it." -Mel Brooks-
Mel later joined the army and was known for his hilarious immitation of Al Jolson doing "Toot Toot Tootsie" and the shows he often arranged for his fellow servicemen. When the war was over he became a stand-up-comedian at certain catskill resorts.If he was having a hard time getting a laugh, it's said he'd jump into the pool with all his clothes on. It was here he changed his name to Brooks to avoid confusion with Max Kaminsky, some composer person. He ended up writing jokes for Sid Caesar's "Your Show of Shows" along with greats like Woody Allen, Neil Simon, and Carl Reiner. Mel said this gave him the best education he could ask for, even though him and Caesar were reported to have gotten into fist fights over a joke. After winning an emmy for his writing he left "Your Show of Shows" and explored other areas. He wrote several plays which came to no great fame. He helped create the classic "Get Smart" TV show, that's immortalized thanks to Nick-at-Nite. He then teamed up with Carl Reiner to do a series of improv routines about an interview with a 2,000 year-old-man. This ended up winning him three emmys, going on to be a hit record, and establishing him as on the most spontaneous funnymen in America. After marrying Actress Anne Bancroft in 1964, he ventured into his newest medium, film.
"There are very few things that work as well when covered with chocolate." -Mel Brooks-
After creating an oscar-winning short poking fun at modern art, Mel made a film about a couple of scamming producers who thought they could make more money producing a flop. Although "the Producers" didn't do well at the boxoffice, it won Mel an oscar for his screenplay, and went on to be a comedy classic. It also introduced him to a young actor who would appear in his later films, Gene Wilder. His next film, "the Twelve Chairs" was about, well, twelve chairs. One of which held a once-rich Russian family's fortune. It was adapted from a russian novel Mel had read as a child. Although it was a great comedy, it also didn't gain the public's favor. After these first two films, Mel decided to make a tasteless comedy about a black sherriff in the Old West. "Blazing Saddles" was a hit, nobody had ever seen anything like it. Sure, it was tasteless, but it was funny. It did very well at the box office. Mel had found his niche, parody. He went on to make his next film "Young Frankenstein", a parody on "Frankenstein", which in ways, was even funnier than it's predecessor. It also did well at the boxoffice. By now, Mel was established as a top comedian, and the public's expectations for his next film were sky high. But none of his next films seemed to match the public's lofty expectations. "Silent Movie", mel's totally silent parody of non-talkies was a brilliant comedy, but disappointed movie goers. Then there was "High Anxiety", Mel's mock-up of Hitchcock movies, *which by the way has the best PSYCHO spoof ever* which also seemed to disappoint the audience. Then came "History of the World: Part I", Mel's spoof of History Class, and "Spaceballs" his eighties send up of Star Wars and Star Trek. None of which ever lived up to his earlier works. Neither did his latest works, "Life Stinks",a Frank Cappra spoof, "Robin Hood:Men in Tights" and "Dracula: Dead and Loving It".
"For every ten Jews beating their breasts, God designated one to be crazy and amuse the breast-beaters. " -Mel Brooks-

What went wrong? The question on most people's minds when they think of Mel's movies is "what went wrong?" "His earlier films were great, his next ones were okay, and the lastest ones are just awful" I've heard people say. My answer to that is: Comparing a person's movies really screws things up. People expect each one to be better than the last, but they're totally different movies spoofing totally different things and should not be compared. People watch "Silent Movie" and say, "Well, that wasn't nearly as funny as "Blazing Saddles" and that is wrong, wrong, wrong. Don't compare, that's stupid. That's why sequels always suck, they can never live up to the original and I think that's what happened to Mel. His biggest enemies in life were the critics who had it set in their mind what his movies should be like before they saw them. All of his Movies are Funny, All his movies are hilarious, and all his movies should be seen. Mel Brooks is the inventor and crowned king of Parody and I will belive that until I die.
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