Mel Brooks: Live at the Geffen (HBO)

About Mel Brooks: Live at the Geffen (HBO)

"Mel Brooks: Live at the Geffen" is an HBO special which was released in 2015. The show features Mel Brooks, an iconic comedian, writer, actor, and director, providing an exclusive evening of stand-up comedy at the Geffen Theatre in California. The show lasts for about an hour, during which Brooks shares hilarious anecdotes from his colorful life and career in showbiz. The show does not follow a specific plot but is more of a one-man-show format where Brooks narrates his journey through Hollywood.

Making / Production

The HBO special was directed by Marty Callner, who is renowned for directing HBO comedy specials. The production aimed to showcase Brooks' wit, humor, and storytelling skills. With a simple stage set-up and a live audience, the focus is kept solely on Brooks and his remarkable ability to entertain. His performance consisted largely of impromptu humor and preplanned stories from his time in Hollywood.

Actors

• Mel Brooks as Himself: Brooks had the audience in splits with his spontaneous wit and humor. Sharing stories from his personal life and professional career, he captivated and entertained the audience for the entire hour.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• Though primarily known for his comedy, Mel Brooks has earned an EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony), indicating his diverse talents.
• Brooks served in World War II, a subject he sometimes touches in his comedic narratives.

Quotes

• "I was an EGOT, and then I found out I had to share it with a lot of other people." – Mel Brooks
• "Comedy is the most powerful weapon we have against tyranny." – Mel Brooks

Music, Soundtrack

• As this is a stand-up comedy special, there isn't a typical movie soundtrack. However, Brooks, famed for writing the songs in his movies, did interject the performance with snippets of songs from his comedy films.