September 10, 2009

Mel Brooks: Kennedy Center Honoree!


Mel Brooks, king of lowbrow comedy, now has a very high profile award coming as he is honored this year at the Kennedy Center!

The year the Kennedy Center will take five (get it? "Take Five"? I'll be here all week) more people in as honorees including jazz legend Dave Brubeck, Robert Deniro, Bruce Springsteen, opera singer Grace Bumbry and comedy master Mel Brooks.

Mel Brooks is a huge influence on American humor, and made some of my favorite movies including cinema's best commentary ever on race relations, Blazing Saddles. So I supposed it's only right that this administration, that represents a hgue historical landmark in race relations, would honor Mel Brooks's career. Let's just hope they don't act out the Blazing Saddles campfire scene at the Kennedy Center ceremony!

Mel Brooks: Kennedy Center Honoree!
ny times

The Kennedy Center announced on Wednesday that Bruce Springsteen and Robert De Niro, who won his first Oscar for playing Don Vito Corleone in 1974 for "The Godfather Part II," would receive Kennedy Center Honors for lifetime achievement in the arts. The writer and director Mel Brooks, the jazz pianist Dave Brubeck and the opera singer Grace Bumbry will also be recognized at a Dec. 6 gala at the Kennedy Center in Washington. The honorees are chosen by the center's board.

Mel Brooks: Kennedy Center Honoree!

Posted at September 10, 2009 2:18 PM
Comments

I would have no knowledge of world history if not for Mr. Brook's way of explaining it. I always wondered about the commandments and now I know. Thank You Mr. Brooks for all the laughter you've given me.

Posted by: Brian Perkins at September 10, 2009 3:59 PM

I would have no knowledge of world history if not for Mr. Brook's way of explaining it. I always wondered about the commandments and now I know. Thank You Mr. Brooks for all the laughter you've given me.

Posted by: Brian Perkins at September 10, 2009 4:00 PM

Ah..it's good to be the King!

Posted by: Barbara at September 10, 2009 4:12 PM

Things were not taken so seriously back in the days of Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein,
History of the World Part I&I...Mr. Brooks is a genius at making us laugh at our ethnic background with slapstick humor... It is about time the Kennedy Center honors Mel...

Posted by: Sam at September 10, 2009 5:06 PM

Mel Brooks is a genius and he deserves any honors that are available.
Calling Dave Brubeck a "jazz pianist" is like saying Dizzie Gillespie "played trumpet". Brubeck is an esteemed composer,innovator and creator of some of the most well known jazz in the world. One can't be effusive enough when talking about him, his works and the fact that, not only is he still performing, he leaves a legacy with his family of musicians.

Posted by: Howard Henze at September 10, 2009 5:23 PM

Mel Brooks has a great gift finding the greatest
comedy actors and actresses in the business. His
constant use of "very" talented people like Madelyn
Kahn, Gene Hackman, Teri Garr, Peter Boyle, Cloris
Leachman, Marty Feldman and of course Gene Wilder
has shown his wonderful talent in the entertainment field.
It is about time he is reconized. Thank You to those who have chosen him.

Posted by: Jim V. at September 10, 2009 6:28 PM

Mel Brooks deserves any and all honors coming his way. Young Frankenstein and Blazing Saddles are two of my all time favorite movies and are well loved by my two college-age daughters as well. We quote lines from these movies on a regular basis. Put the candle back and shine on Mel!

Posted by: Debbie H. at September 10, 2009 7:31 PM

Mr. Brooks = Pure Genius - Thank you, Thank you!

Posted by: MrMiller at September 10, 2009 7:46 PM

It's good to be the king.

Posted by: Phat Stevie at September 10, 2009 7:48 PM

Dr. "Little Old Man!!!) Thats Littl'olmen!!!
You Go MEL!!!!!

Posted by: Brian B at September 10, 2009 9:05 PM

I watched History of the World and, Young Frankenstein with my teenagers many years ago, we still laugh when we watch those movies again and again. I hope Mr. Brooks can still Count de Money!

Posted by: Ann R at September 10, 2009 9:24 PM

years from now when people live in a world free of hate and prejedos, MR. Brooks would be one of its profits. thanks for the laughter

Posted by: ali aman at September 10, 2009 9:33 PM

Mel Brooks is a comedy "GOD." He truly has the Schwartz!"It's good to be the king" till this day anytime I am down I pop History of the World in and it always cheers me up. I have to tell you Mel, the queen has been really, really good to me too!...lol… I can't stop laughing at that movie!

Mel will we ever get to see The History of the World II?

Posted by: Frank M at September 11, 2009 1:08 AM

Don't forget Mel Brooks was the creator and writer of the original TV version of "Get Smart". Only MB could do the perfect satire of James Bond!

Posted by: Bob B. at September 11, 2009 2:41 AM

So finally my friend Mel Brooks is recieving the accolades he so well deserves.I have been wondering when the Kennedy Center would be honoring his lifelong achievements. What he has achieved in his career will not be duplicated.

Posted by: Diane Anderson at September 11, 2009 7:54 AM

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