Starting in 1960, Carl Reiner teamed with Mel Brooks as a comedy duo on The Steve Allen Show. Their performances on stage and television included Reiner playing the straight man to Brooks’ 2000 Year Old Man character. Here, Reiner remembers what it was like to work with Brooks.
Mel Brooks: Make a Noise premieres nationally Monday, May 20 on PBS (check local listings)
- We were offered a lot of money to go to San Francisco and do two performances, one after another.
Eight o'clock and 10 o'clock, just ad lib.
And we did, all ad lib.
And all the way up there, on the way up there, he was so mad at me.
He says, I'm what the hell?
Why did I let you talk me into this?
He was so mad that we took this gig.
I said, look at the money.
Give them their money back, fuck the money.
And I knew exactly what it was.
I have no problem asking him questions.
I know he's gonna be funny.
He has never failed me even when he's foundering.
He's funny.
