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Mel Brooks Turns 100, Donates Archives, Announces Spaceballs Sequel

6/28/2026

50 8 Full Breakdown

Summary

Mel Brooks Centennial

Mel Brooks turned 100 on June 28, 2026.
He became executive producer of Very Young Frankenstein in 2026.
In May 2026 Brooks donated thousands of documents and photos to the National Comedy Center.
The American Film Institute named Blazing Saddles the funniest film ever on June 28, 2026.
Brooks announced Spaceballs: The New One, a 2027 sequel.

Summary

Brooks: War Comedy

Brooks wrote for Sid Caesar’s Your Show of Shows, which introduced him to Carl Reiner and resulted in the 2,000 Year Old Man sketches.
Brooks served in the 78th Infantry Division and fought in the Battle of the Bulge.
After World War II Brooks performed at Catskills Borscht Belt resorts, filling in for sick comics.
Brooks once delivered an entire speech to a taxi-driver fan in London, illustrating his devotion to joy.

Summary

Brooks Honored

Barack Obama honored Mel Brooks, prompting Brooks to theatrically pretend to pull down his trousers.
Brooks added his handprint to the Hollywood Walk of Fame using a prosthetic eleventh finger.
Brooks produced The Elephant Man, selected David Lynch as director, and omitted his name from the credits.
Larry David called The Producers “possibly the greatest comedic premise,” and its “Springtime for Hitler” segment sparked viewer outrage.

History

Historical Context

In February 1974 Warner Bros. released Mel Brooks’s satirical Western Blazing Saddles, which earned $119.6 million on a $2.6 million budget and later secured AFI’s sixth spot on its 100 Laughs list. The film’s 2006 induction into the National Film Registry cemented its classic status, spurring studios to revive Brooks’s satire with a planned 2027 Spaceballs sequel.

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Mel Brooks Centennial

Mel Brooks turned 100 on June 28, 2026.
He became executive producer of Very Young Frankenstein in 2026.
In May 2026 Brooks donated thousands of documents and photos to the National Comedy Center.
The American Film Institute named Blazing Saddles the funniest film ever on June 28, 2026.
Brooks announced Spaceballs: The New One, a 2027 sequel.

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