It’s only a few days until the Spaceballs Animated Blitz on G4tV. There are rumors of the show popping up online already, but in case you’re like me and willing to wait a few days, point your browsers to this new trailer here….

http://www.cartoonbrew.com/tv/spaceballs-trailer

After you watch the trailer come back and post your thoughts. I was expecting a smart cartoon for kids a la tiny toons or simpsons. This really looks like it belongs on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim. This is a new direction for Mel, maybe there is hope for a Leisure Suit Larry style video game after all!

Hi All,

Wow, move over Lehman Brothers, we’re all in for quite a treat! Jim Benson has posted a new episode of his TV Time Machine Radio Show with Mel Brooks… and it clocks in at over an hour! It’s full of great clips that most fans have not heard for as far back as 60 years!!! Not only is Jim an accomplished television historian, he’s a great radio host who does not disappoint as he navigates through Mel’s life and television career like you’ve never heard before. Despite owning all the books and written interviews available about Mel, hearing the stories told with Mel’s voice kept me on the edge of my seat (when I wasn’t laughing). Make sure to listen to the end for a very inventive musical tribute to Mel. It’s so good to hear Mel sound so full of energy… and swearing on the radio!!!

Here is the official press release:

September 16, 2008 -Mel Brooks talks about his TV career in a one-hour interview
on the Internet radio show “TV Time Machine” http://www.tvtimemachine.com
, hosted by TV historian Jim Benson.

On “TV Time Machine“, Mel Brooks gives his most comprehensive interview ever
about his fifty-year contribution to television. Among other topics, Mr. Brooks
talks about working with comedy legends Sid Caesar, Neil Simon and Woody Allen
on the classic 1950’s TV series, “Your Show of Shows,” and how he created the
classic TV spy spoof “Get Smart“ with Buck Henry, the basis for the 2008 film
starring Steve Carrell and Anne Hathaway 

While his films such as “The Producers“ and “Young Frankenstein“ have made him
famous, few are aware of the extraordinary contribution Mel Brooks has made to
the small screen. “In 1948, I was approached to do a television show called The
Admiral Broadway Revue,” says Brooks. “At the time I said, ‘what’s television?
I’m not sure this is smart. Beware of graven images. Television might take your
soul, it might make you empty!’”   

Mel Brooks also discusses his personal life and experiences on “TV Time
Machine“, including his service in World War II as a Combat Engineer (where his
job consisted of de-activating German land mines). Brooks reminisces about
growing up in Brooklyn, New York, and watching musicals on Broadway as a young
boy, which ultimately inspired him to bring “The Producers“ and “Young
Frankenstein“ to the stage, nearly seventy-years later.

A true comedy legend, Mel Brooks has won all the gold in the entertainment
industry: multiple Emmys, Tony’s, Grammies, and Academy Awards. In his 60-year
career, he’s been the producer, actor, writer and director of such films as “The
Producers, Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, Silent Movie, High Anxiety,“ and
“Spaceballs“. His stage musicals based on his movies “The Producers“ and “Young
Frankenstein“ have taken Broadway by storm, winning multiple accolades and
awards.     

“TV Time Machine“ is a unique Internet radio show that explores classic TV and
its influence over the past five decades. “TV Time Machine“ is more than a
nostalgia trip. It also spotlights TV’s impact on our culture and society, and
explores how present day television and its movers and shakers are still
influenced by the stories, programs, and characters of television’s past.

Host Jim Benson has interviewed a multitude of legendary TV celebrities, authors
and experts on his radio show, covering topics ranging from “Mr. Ed“ to “Meet
the Press“. Mr. Benson has been a TV historian for over twenty-five years,
contributing his expertise to dozens of TV productions-most recently an
appearance on “Penn & Teller’s Bullshit!,“ and as Historical Consultant on
Universal Studios DVD release of “Rod Serling’s Night Gallery: Season Two“.

Jim Benson
TV Time Machine
619-251-8502
www.tvtimemachine.com
jim@tvtimemachine.com

If you’re still reading… Thanks Mel! Keep Laughing!

Fan N. Frost points out that G4TV is listing Spaceballs The Animated series premiering 9.21.08 at 5pm, make sure to check your local listing for any time zone differences. You can check out the link for more info…

http://www.g4tv.com/schedule/index.html?datetime=09/21/2008%2005:00%20PM

 5:00 PM

Spaceballs
“Spaceballs” continues to spoof the “Star Wars” franchise with this parody of the three latest movies.

5:30 PM

Spaceballs
When Barf accidentally unearths the mighty, evil Onion Ring, Skroob sends Dark Helmet and his minions after it. 

6:00 PM

Spaceballs

Lone Starr is addicted to a new video game, Grand Theft Starship, and Vespa is jealous. Things only get worse when they find themselves trapped in…

6:30 PM

Spaceballs
In this parody of the Jurassic Park, Skroob uses advanced pseudoscience to “enhance” his favorite athletes with dinosaur DNA, so his teams can…

Hi All,

Dan from La La Land Records (lalalandrecords.com) informed me that the they have released an archival quality limited edition CD for Blazing Saddles. The CD was produced with John Morris and Warner Brothers and is the first-ever official, studio-licensed release, in any format, of the full music soundtrack to the classic 1974 Warner Bros. western/comedy BLAZING SADDLES. The pressing is limited to 3000 CDs, with the autographed copies already sold out.

http://www.lalalandrecords.com/BlazingSaddles.html

While you’re there don’t forget to pick up your Spaceballs Limited edition soundtrack too (also limited to 3000 pieces). It is presented in its entirety for the first time, with a slew of bonus tracks featuring alternate takes and tracks composed for, but not used in the film. Very cool!

http://www.lalalandrecords.com/SpaceBalls.html

As an aside, I was driving home tonight listening to the local radio station and the guys on love line were talking about Madeline Kahn’s performance in Blazing Saddles…which then turned into a discussion about Harvey Korman, Mel Brooks & Cloris Leachman. Apparently Stryker (a DJ from KROQ in southern california) got picked up by Cloris while he was hitchiking at the age of 14. Always good to hear about the impact that Mel & friends have had on others.

I can’t believe Comic-Con is here already! I haven’t had any time to transfer the 2007 panel, let alone updating anything else related to this site, and now Max is a special guest! Not sure if I’ll make it to this panel but he’ll be on Friday July 25th from 10:30-11:30am (Room 5AB). If I go I’ll be sure to grab video of the event.

Anyone else going to comic-con?

Lots of “Mel related” news since my last post. Quint of Ain’t It Cool News recently interviewed Mel as a promo for Get Smart (opening Friday). Here is a link.

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/37135

Thanks to fan Nick for the heads up.. To Be Or Not To Be is Broadway bound, though it appears it will follow the original quite closely. Casey Nicholaw is to direct Nick Whitby’s dark comedy To Be Or Not To Be based on the 1942 motion picture of the same name. See the original article here

http://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/news/apr08/not15apr08.htm

Hi Fans,

I received this interesting link to an artist who has rendered Mel’s likeness in wood! There are currently two pieces for sale. Check them out at the following links…

http://www.wallacewoodart.com/Comedians/BrooksMel.html

and

http://www.wallacewoodart.com/Comedians/BrooksMelport.html

Both seem reasonably priced, especially if they are hand made one of a kind items.

-F

Thanks to super fan Nick for sending in this news post. No, it’s not a joke… I got this e-mail yesterday and just didn’t get around to posting it until the wee hours of the days. It’s about time! If the cartoon is successful, how long will it be before we see toys and a video game? I’m still hoping we see Spaceballs the Musical on broadway… or at least a segment in some sort of Mel Brooks Musical Revue.

Spaceballs: The Animated Series HAS A RELEASE DATE!
SPACEBALLS: THE ANIMATED SERIES (G4) - The cable channel quietly confirmed to USA Today’s Tuesday edition the long-in-the-works animated series will finally roll out on Sunday, June 1. No time period however was given. Said night nevertheless coincides with the network’s premiere of “The King of Kong,” the cult documentary feature about the quest for high-scoring stardom in Donkey Kong.

http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?date=03/25/08&id=7590

Hey all. Life Stinks! I finally met Mel Brooks tonight at the American Cinematheque Mel Brooks Retrospective screening of Life Stinks at the Aero Theatre in chilly Santa Monica, CA. Phew, what a sentence.

The night started off well with a special screening of a 35mm print of the Critic followed by the feature Life Stinks and a Q&A session with Rudy DeLuca and Mel Brooks. The Q&A was hosted by Mike Schelsinger, a member of the Board of Trustees for the American Cinematheque. Unlike the Friday discussion, crammed between Blazing Saddles and History of the World Part 1, this Q&A lasted for about an hour and Rudy and Mel stayed to take pictures and sign memorabilia (for everyone!). Rudy and Mel were really in tip top form reminiscing about the past and answering all the fan questions.  I actually got to ask Mel a question too and got an interesting response that leaves me with some hope for the future. At the end of the night I got to meet Mel and he signed my sample GMAT exam (For some reason I didn’t think of bringing anything to get signed). There are still some questions I didn’t get answered… like… what happened to Spaceballs the Animated Series?

Why does life stink then? I accidentally erased my digital audio recording of the entire Q&A session when I tried to transfer it to my computer after the show. If anyone can help me out here please send me a message. It would be great to get it online for all the fans. For some pics and more details please read on. I apologize for the formatting of the page, it will get fixed in the future.