# Happy 100th Mel Brooks. Funny, I thought he was already over 2000 when I was a kid **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 28, 2026, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-100th-mel-brooks-funny-i-thought-he-was-already-over-2000-when-i-was-a-kid/1031242 "2026-06-28T08:29:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-100th-mel-brooks-funny-i-thought-he-was-already-over-2000-when-i-was-a-kid/1031242/1 "2026-06-28T08:29:14Z")
Mel Brooks is 100. He’s been entertaining professionally since just after WWII. > **[Still blazing after all these years: Mel Brooks at 100](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/jun/28/mel-brooks-at-100)** > > The director of The Producers hits his century as a uniquely beloved entertainer who embodies his conviction that ‘comedy is the opposite of death’ A few days ago AFI announced changes to the top comedy list and Blazing Saddles is now #1. > **[AFI Names Mel Brooks' BLAZING SADDLES as the Funniest Film of All Time](https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/AFI-Names-Mel-Brooks-BLAZING-SADDLES-as-the-Funniest-Film-of-All-Time-20260626)** > > In honor of Mel Brooks’ 100th birthday, the American Film Institute (AFI) has proclaimed Blazing Saddles, his 1974 Western comedy, the funniest film of all time on Sunday, June 28, 2026. He is one of the rare EGOT winners. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-100th-mel-brooks-funny-i-thought-he-was-already-over-2000-when-i-was-a-kid/1031242/2 "2026-06-28T10:02:30Z")
Wow, how time moves on! I hope he’s doing well as he’s contributed so much joy to the world. He may be indelibly associated with _Blazing Saddles_, but there’s so much else! _Young Frankenstein_ has such a completely different vibe that I keep forgetting that this is Mel Brooks, too. And so much else – _History of the World Part 1_, _High Anxiety_, _Robin Hood: Men in Tights_, and on and on! Happy Birthday, Mel! 🎉 ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-100th-mel-brooks-funny-i-thought-he-was-already-over-2000-when-i-was-a-kid/1031242/3 "2026-06-28T12:51:52Z")
Not to mention co-creating _Get Smart_ and of course _Spaceballs_. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-100th-mel-brooks-funny-i-thought-he-was-already-over-2000-when-i-was-a-kid/1031242/4 "2026-06-28T13:12:27Z")
And [_Free to Be You and Me._ “Squeak, squeak, squeak!”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54e8F6pw2Lc) ---
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-100th-mel-brooks-funny-i-thought-he-was-already-over-2000-when-i-was-a-kid/1031242/5 "2026-06-28T13:31:30Z")
Can’t forget _The Producers_ (the original movie from 1967). The first 25 minutes are as funny as anything Brooks did. It’s mostly Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder coming up with the plan to produce an intentional flop. Mostel romancing the elderly ladies is pretty good too. “I’m hysterical and I’m wet!” ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-100th-mel-brooks-funny-i-thought-he-was-already-over-2000-when-i-was-a-kid/1031242/6 "2026-06-28T13:49:31Z")
> [@Bumbershoot](#): > > Can’t forget _The Producers_ (the original movie from 1967). I think The Producers has one of the best comic premises of any film or story. Lesser writing would have the characters simply be slapstick morons. But Bialystock and Bloom had a plausible _reason_ to find the world’s worst play, which drives the story organically. It’s a beautiful piece of comedy. Mel Brooks has been a part of my life since… well, I can’t remember when he wasn’t. I grew up on him and Monty Python. Happy birthday, Mr. Brooks! And thank you! I haven’t read this article, but I like the title: > **[Thank God for Mel Brooks](https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/2026/06/long-live-mel-brooks/687730/)** > > Happy 100th birthday to the funniest man who ever lived. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-100th-mel-brooks-funny-i-thought-he-was-already-over-2000-when-i-was-a-kid/1031242/7 "2026-06-28T14:55:13Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > He is one of the rare EGOT winners. It’s a good thing [The Rory](https://hitchhikers.fandom.com/wiki/Rory_Award) isn’t real. That would make a very awkward acronym. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-100th-mel-brooks-funny-i-thought-he-was-already-over-2000-when-i-was-a-kid/1031242/8 "2026-06-28T17:07:10Z")
Brooks’ career has one of the oddest in the business. He was over 40 when he made _The Producers_, which, as everybody today forgets, was a complete and utter flop commercially, though he won the Oscar for best screenplay. His second movie was _The Twelve Chairs_, an interesting redo of a Russian novel that nobody saw. _Blazing Saddles_ was released a full seven years after _The Producers_. He became not just an overnight success but an overnight genius. He has remained a genius even though he hasn’t had any flashes of true genius in decades. Wishing you 1900 more years, Mel. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-100th-mel-brooks-funny-i-thought-he-was-already-over-2000-when-i-was-a-kid/1031242/9 "2026-06-28T17:19:17Z")
> [@Bumbershoot](#): > > Can’t forget _The Producers_ (the original movie from 1967). … Which is on TCM this afternoon (June 28). Happy Birthday, Mel! ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-100th-mel-brooks-funny-i-thought-he-was-already-over-2000-when-i-was-a-kid/1031242/10 "2026-06-28T17:30:22Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > I hope he’s doing well as he’s contributed so much joy to the world. In fact, he’s still working: the [Spaceballs sequel](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32659463/) is in post-production; Mel appears in it as Yogurt and President Skroob, and is one of the producers. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-100th-mel-brooks-funny-i-thought-he-was-already-over-2000-when-i-was-a-kid/1031242/11 "2026-06-28T17:34:31Z")
Indeed, here is our thread on this: > [@A very surprising announcement from Mel Brooks -- Spaceballs sequel](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-very-surprising-announcement-from-mel-brooks-spaceballs-sequel/1019532): > > Short video, very amusing: [[Spaceballs 2 | Announcement] ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsK-KPi_w3w) Yes, it’s Spaceballs 2. Evidently Pullman will be back, and they’ve convinced Moranis to take a break from retirement. I’m looking forward to it. His History of the World Part II TV series was solid, not as great as Part 1, but solid. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-100th-mel-brooks-funny-i-thought-he-was-already-over-2000-when-i-was-a-kid/1031242/12 "2026-06-28T17:41:50Z")
> [@Llama\_Llogophile](#): > > Mel Brooks has been a part of my life since… well, I can’t remember when he wasn’t. I grew up on him and Monty Python. Happy birthday, Mr. Brooks! And thank you! This is me, too. Perfectly said. I’m delighted Mel made a century! ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-100th-mel-brooks-funny-i-thought-he-was-already-over-2000-when-i-was-a-kid/1031242/13 "2026-06-28T17:43:10Z")
Still tickling my funny bone over all the years. Sure, some bits don’t get the yuks for me, but that’s true of all comedies, but he never fails to at least raise a smile even in some of his lesser efforts (looking at you _Men In Tights_!). ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-100th-mel-brooks-funny-i-thought-he-was-already-over-2000-when-i-was-a-kid/1031242/14 "2026-06-28T17:44:38Z")
If you ever get a chance, try to find some of the old 2000 year old man bits he did with best friend Carl Reiner. They’ve held up pretty well. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-100th-mel-brooks-funny-i-thought-he-was-already-over-2000-when-i-was-a-kid/1031242/15 "2026-06-28T18:05:52Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > He was over 40 when he made _The Producers_, which, as everybody today forgets, was a complete and utter flop commercially Success! ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-100th-mel-brooks-funny-i-thought-he-was-already-over-2000-when-i-was-a-kid/1031242/16 "2026-06-28T19:43:52Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > (looking at you _Men In Tights_!) Hey, I loved that movie as a teenager. I don’t know how I’d feel about it if I were to re-watch it as an adult. The “_tight_ tights” bit in the song and dance number still always makes me laugh when I see a clip of it, though. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-100th-mel-brooks-funny-i-thought-he-was-already-over-2000-when-i-was-a-kid/1031242/17 "2026-06-28T19:50:41Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > He was over 40 when he made _The Producers_, which, as everybody today forgets, was a complete and utter flop commercially, though he won the Oscar for best screenplay. … A late start, but he was surely acquiring life experiences that contributed to his later work. He was drafted in 1944 and his high test scores got him sent to training, where he became a combat engineer: [![](https://preview.redd.it/mel-brooks-was-a-forward-artillery-observer-and-combat-v0-0fajt29wshyb1.jpg?width=1080&crop=smart&auto=webp&s=fddc7509386550f29494c3b6df560c22241ecdd6) ](https://preview.redd.it/mel-brooks-was-a-forward-artillery-observer-and-combat-v0-0fajt29wshyb1.jpg?width=1080&crop=smart&auto=webp&s=fddc7509386550f29494c3b6df560c22241ecdd6) Lots of great photos and information here: [https://www.war.gov/News/Feature-Stories/Story/article/2882521/actor-comedian-mel-brooks-served-in-army-in-world-war-ii/](https://www.war.gov/News/Feature-Stories/Story/article/2882521/actor-comedian-mel-brooks-served-in-army-in-world-war-ii/) ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-100th-mel-brooks-funny-i-thought-he-was-already-over-2000-when-i-was-a-kid/1031242/18 "2026-06-28T19:54:21Z")
Not to mention being part of the greatest Comedy writing team of all time for Sid Caesar’s _Your Show of Shows_: Writers for the series included [Mel Brooks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mel_Brooks "Mel Brooks"), [Neil Simon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Simon "Neil Simon"), [Danny Simon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danny_Simon "Danny Simon"), [Mel Tolkin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mel_Tolkin "Mel Tolkin"), [Lucille Kallen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucille_Kallen "Lucille Kallen"), [Selma Diamond](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selma_Diamond "Selma Diamond"), [Joseph Stein](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Stein "Joseph Stein"), [Michael Stewart](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Stewart_(playwright) "Michael Stewart (playwright)"), [Tony Webster](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Webster_(screenwriter) "Tony Webster (screenwriter)") (the only [Gentile](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gentile "Gentile") among the show’s writers), and [Carl Reiner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Reiner "Carl Reiner"). This is where he became good friends with Carl Reiner. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-100th-mel-brooks-funny-i-thought-he-was-already-over-2000-when-i-was-a-kid/1031242/19 "2026-06-28T19:55:44Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Writers for the series included Yes, a seat in that writers’ room provided the best comedy training that anyone could possibly find (at least in English!) ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2026, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-100th-mel-brooks-funny-i-thought-he-was-already-over-2000-when-i-was-a-kid/1031242/20 "2026-06-28T20:04:22Z")
> [@Bumbershoot](#): > > Can’t forget _The Producers_ (the original movie from 1967). The first 25 minutes are as funny as anything Brooks did. It’s mostly Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder coming up with the plan to produce an intentional flop. Mostel romancing the elderly ladies is pretty good too. Zero Mostel could do more with facial expressions than most actors with lines. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-100th-mel-brooks-funny-i-thought-he-was-already-over-2000-when-i-was-a-kid/1031242.md?page=2)