Tag: Your Show of Shows

Tune Tuesday

Today’s Tune Tuesday feature some silliness.

It was on this day in 1950 that the face of television changed forever and a blueprint for shows like Saturday Night Live was born. The first broadcast of Your Show of Shows happened 75 years ago.

The show starred Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca. It featured Carl Reiner and the talented Howard Morris. It was a 90 minute show that was broadcast live every week. The show’s writers included Mel Brooks, Selma Diamond, Neil Simon, and Mel Tolkin (just to name a few).

The show has been featured in several lists of the greatest television series. Carl Reiner has stated that the time he spent on Your Show of Shows was the inspiration for The Dick Van Dyke Show. Most of the series has been preserved to some extent, but only some sketches have been released on home video.

The show featured several regular musical sketches. In 1955, Rock and Roll was hitting the radio. One of the musical sketches was the mock rock group The Three Haircuts (Caesar, Reiner, and Morris). They were a vocal trio who always sang in unison and usually bellowed the lyrics. After this bit aired on TV, RCA rushed the guys into the studio to record a studio version of You Are So Rare To Me and released it.

This clip is the first time You Are So Rare to Me aired. They follow it with an even crazier song called Flippin’ Over You. Sit back and enjoy the lunacy that was Your Show of Shows with The Three Haircuts.

Storytime With Melvin

I’m not sure there is anyone my age that didn’t grow up with Mel Brooks’ movies. I was first introduced to him with his film History of the World Part 1. Blazing Saddles, Spaceballs, Young Frankenstein, High Anxiety, To Be or Not To Be, and so many others soon followed. While some of his films were … well, not so good … many made me laugh (and still do).

I soon learned that Mel wrote for Sid Caesar on Your Show of Shows. Then I learned he co-created the TV show Get Smart. Then I heard his 2000 Year Old Man stuff with Carl Reiner. I was gifted a Mel Brooks movie collection for Christmas one year with all of the movies mentioned above and a few others. I really came to appreciate this comedy genius.

Recently there was a book that came out about Mel that I saw at the book store. I was going to buy it, but it was like $45. I had heard Mel was writing his autobiography and I thought the book I had was it. It wasn’t. Not that I won’t ever buy that book at some point, but I wanted to read the stories from Mel himself.

I finally received Mel’s book in the mail today. I used a gift card I was given for Christmas to get it.

I read the reviews and they are favorable. Some say the title says it all and say “Mel is all about praising himself.” So what?! LOL Another guy said he literally read the whole book in one sitting because it flowed so naturally from story to story. I barely was able to get into the first chapter, but so far i am enjoying it. Maybe I am weird, but I can hear Mel talking as I read it.

My reading time is limited, so I am not sure how long it will take me to read it, but when I finish, I will be sure to post a review.