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ISRAEL AT WAR - DAY 560

Mel Brooks

Illustrative: King Street in Nottingham. (Andrew Hill/Wikipedia/CC BY-SA 2.0)
April 5, 2024, 10:42 am
Jew appointed sheriff of Nottingham, office of Robin Hood fame
Nick Rubins sworn into ceremonial position, which represents monarchy, supports charity — a far cry from ancient role of hated tax-collector
By Shira Li Bartov
Comedian Richard Lewis attends an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles on December 25, 2012. (AP Photo/ Alex Gallardo, File)
February 29, 2024, 1:23 am
Comedian Richard Lewis, dark prince of Jewish neurosis, dies at 76
With memorable roles in ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ and Mel Brooks’s ‘Robin Hood: Men in Tights,’ Lewis said he viewed comedy as a deeply Jewish act
By Andrew Silow-Carroll
Cleavon Little, left, and Gene Wilder in a still from 'Blazing Saddles,' directed by Mel Brooks in 1974. (Warner Bros./Getty Images/ via JTA)
February 10, 2024, 1:35 am
‘Blazing Saddles’ marks a half-century of hilarity — and controversy
Released 50 years ago this week, the film juggles bawdiness, genre satire and political critique, and is still revered even as most admit today’s Hollywood would never let it fly
By Stephen Silver
Jeremy Dauber is the author of 'Mel Brooks: Disobedient Jew.' (Yale University Press via JTA)
March 8, 2023, 1:57 am
A history of Mel Brooks as a ‘disobedient Jew’
In new biography, Jeremy Dauber breaks down how the comedian and director just couldn’t help being a loving iconoclast skewering the establishment
By Andrew Silow-Carroll
Jesus (Jay Ellis) and Judas (Nick Kroll) in a scene from the 'Curb Your Judaism' sketch in 'History of the World Part II.' (Courtesy of Hulu via JTA)
March 6, 2023, 2:00 am
In Mel Brooks’ ‘History of the World Part II,’ Jewish jokes reign
Out March 6, the eve of Purim, the long-awaited sequel to the classic 1981 film co-produced by comedian Nick Kroll revolves around Jewish history — and skewers it
By Jackie Hajdenberg
Doja Cat performs at the Coachella Music & Arts Festival in Indio, Calif., on April 24, 2022. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP, File)
November 16, 2022, 4:10 am
From Doja Cat to Mel Brooks: This year’s Jewish Grammy nominees
Newly announced candidates for 2023 awards include Jews from every genre, including pop, rap, rock, classical music and comedy
By Gabe Friedman
A scene on Israel's satirical "Eretz Nehederet" TV show featuring an impersonation of Otzma Yehudit leader Itamar Ben Gvir, aired on Channel 12, September 21, 2022. (screenshot)
September 22, 2022, 3:38 pm
TV satirizes extremist Itamar Ben Gvir with ‘Springtime for Hitler’ takeoff
In ‘Eretz Nehederet’ homage to song from Mel Brooks’s ‘The Producers,’ Ben Gvir fills in for Nazi dictator, espousing policies against Arabs, gays and ‘lefties’
By Ash Obel
Mel Brooks drinking coffee photographed by Carl Reiner circa 1950-1954 in The Automat while the two were writers for 'Your Show of Shows'. (A Slice of Pie Productions)
March 14, 2022, 5:15 am
A taste of bygone Americana, ‘The Automat’ dishes out nostalgia with a cherry on top
Director Lisa Hurwitz’s documentary about a once-beloved restaurant chain is the comfort foodie film we’re craving
By Cathryn J. Prince
Honoree Mel Brooks speaks to the audience during the American Film Institute's 41st Lifetime Achievement Award Gala in Los Angeles on June 6, 2013. (Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File)
December 1, 2021, 5:41 am
Mel Brooks insists his humor is more ‘New York’ than ‘Jewish’
Comedy icon calls New York humor ‘tougher’ than Yiddish material, reveals his deli necessities, in interview with New Yorker ahead of memoir’s release
By Andrew Lapin
Actor, comedian and writer, Mel Brooks, holds up his 2015 National Medal of Arts awarded to him by President Barack Obama during a ceremony at the White House in Washington, DC, on September 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)
December 1, 2021, 5:17 am
At 95, and with a new book out, Mel Brooks isn’t thinking about his legacy yet
In long and lively phone interview, actor reflects on his new projects, life without longtime friend Carl Reiner, Jewish humor and modern sensitivities
By Jake Coyle
Screeen capture from video of Mel Brooks as Torquemada in 'History of the World: Part I' (1981). (20th Century Fox/screenshot via JTA)
October 19, 2021, 8:21 am
At 95, Mel Brooks to finally deliver ‘History of the World: Part II’
Film legend will executive-produce and write sequel to 1981 movie that controversially poked fun at the past, including the horrors of the Spanish Inquisition
By Ron Kampeas
Mel Brooks endorses Joe Biden for the US presidency (YouTube screenshot)
October 22, 2020, 11:27 am
Citing his will to survive pandemic, Mel Brooks, 94, backs Biden
Jewish comedian says Trump ‘not doing a damn thing’ about coronavirus, while ‘Joe likes facts. Joe likes science’
By ToI Staff
Carl Reiner performs a testimonial to honoree Mel Brooks at the American Film Institute's 41st Lifetime Achievement Award Gala at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, June 6, 2013. (Chris Pizello/Invision/AP)
July 1, 2020, 3:30 am
Carl Reiner, comedy’s rare untortured genius
Writer, director and comedic legend, born to Jewish immigrants in New York, created ‘Dick Van Dyke Show,’ pioneered sitcom and sketch TV programs
By Hillel Italie
The author of the book, Max Brooks attends the premiere of 'World War Z' in Times Square on Monday, June 17, 2013 in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
May 8, 2020, 4:16 am
‘World War Z’ author/West Point teacher: Disasters are averted in pre-production
Preparedness is no joke to comedy legend Mel Brooks’ son Max, a writer and US military advisor, who lauds Israel’s COVID response and says global pragmatism can beat crisis
By Rich Tenorio
Cleavon Little, left, and Gene Wilder in a still from 'Blazing Saddles,' directed by Mel Brooks in 1974. (Warner Bros./Getty Images/ via JTA)
April 12, 2020, 3:13 am
Locked down? Open up to… Mel Brooks’ classic ‘Blazing Saddles’
The canonical 1974 western satire is rife with Jewish humor — and, between the yucks, a few moral lessons on empathy and unity as well
By Marc Brodsky
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