This is the Forward’s coverage of Jewish comedian Mel Brooks.
Mel Brooks
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The Schmooze Mel Brooks Shares Sweetest Memories of Gene Wilder
(JTA) — Mel Brooks and the late Gene Wilder — who collaborated in films such as “Blazing Saddles” and “Young Frankenstein” — had a famously decades-long friendship. When Wilder passed away on Monday, Brooks was one of the first celebrities to offer a Twitter eulogy, “one of the truly great talents of our time.” Brooks got…
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Fast Forward Mel Brooks ‘Still Reeling’ From Death of Gene Wilder
Mel Brooks got emotional while sharing stories about the late Gene Wilder — his longtime friend and frequent collaborator — with Jimmy Fallon Tuesday on “The Tonight Show.” “He was sick, and I knew it. He was such a dear friend,” Brooks said. “I expected it; I expected he would go. But I don’t know….
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Fast Forward Mel Brooks Leads Parade of Stars Mourning Loss of Gene Wilder
It was a sad day in Hollywood on Monday as the world learned that Gene Wilder, one of the most beloved comic actors of the ’70s and ’80s, had . The Jewish star, born Jerome Silberman and known for his roles in an array of classic films — from “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory”…
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News It’s Hitler in Yiddish as Mel Brooks Gem ‘The Producers’ Returns to Stage
True story. About a decade ago, a Jewish businessman — Siberian born, but Brooklyn raised — ran into Mel Brooks at the Joe Allen restaurant in Manhattan’s Theater District. “Vos macht a yid?” the man asked Brooks in Yiddish. “How’s it going?” Taking on a Yiddish intonation, Brooks replied. “Shhh …” he said. “I’m not…
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The Schmooze How 100 Years of Jewish Jokes Shaped Modern Humor
Not that it should come as any surprise, but Vulture’s recent list of merely affirms the widespread assumption that much if not most of what passes for contemporary humor was and remains directly or indirectly forged out of the tragicomedy of Jewish culture. With roots going back to the Old World badkhns through Yiddish vaudeville…
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Film & TV How an Orthodox 6-Year-Old Became the Star of ‘Hotel Transylvania 2’
When five-year-old Asher Blinkoff strode off into the audition room, his father, Saul, was a little nervous. An old pro of the movie industry, Saul has directed several films himself and worked for Walt Disney Animation Studios before that. He knew what to expect, but to leave his son in a room full of strangers…
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The Schmooze Is That a Mel Brooks Joke in the New Frankenstein Trailer?
Among the many iconic lines from Mel Brooks’ “Young Frankenstein,” (“Walk this way;” “Would you like to roll in the hay;” “Frau Blucher”) one always stands out for me. It’s the one spoken by Dr. Frederick Frankenstein when, upon meeting his assistant Igor for the first time, he corrects his pronunciation. The exchange goes as…
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The Schmooze Let’s Make ‘Spaceballs: The LEGO Set’ Happen!
“Who knows? God willing, we’ll all meet again in Spaceballs 2: The Search for More Money.” Sadly for Yoghurt, the Yoda-spoof of Mel Brooks’ “Spaceballs” (1986), there was no Spaceballs 2, but the quest for money lives on! Well, maybe. Introducing the submitted to Lego’s “Ideas” crowd sourced suggestion platform. User NvdK offered the concept…
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Fast Forward Why some Satmar Hasidic leaders endorsed Zohran Mamdani as mayor, stunning many Jewish voters
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News How Mamdani became New York’s next mayor, with Jews divided between fierce opposition and fiery support
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Opinion I’m an Israeli who lives in New York. Here’s why I’m voting for Mamdani
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News How Mamdani built bridges to Jewish New Yorkers, from Williamsburg to Park Slope
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Fast Forward They rallied rabbis against Mamdani’s anti-Zionism. What does The Jewish Majority do next?
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Fast Forward Mamdani condemns swastika graffiti at Brooklyn yeshiva as ‘disgusting and heartbreaking’
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Fast Forward Heritage Foundation staff confront president over antisemitism, defense of Tucker Carlson
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Fast Forward ADL launches ‘Mamdani monitor’ as Jewish groups retool for post-election advocacy
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