Speaking For A Change

Carl Reiner
2026-06-12 10:00 - 11:00 (America/Chicago) | Lake Forest/Lake Bluff Senior Center, 100 E. Old Mill Road, Lake Forest, IL, 60045, United States
Carl Reiner was one of the funniest men ever to appear, write for, or direct a TV episode!
At 97, he was the oldest celebrity active on Twitter – and never contemplating retiring from show business! Join me for a fast, funny, and fascinating look at one of America’s classic comic treasures, Mr. Carl Reiner
Carl Reiner first exploded into the American consciousness as the straight man on the immortal Sid Caesar’s great TV shows.
Working alongside writing legends including Mel Brooks, Woody Allen, Neil Simon, Selma Diamond, and Larry Gelbart, Carl Reiner became one of the volatile Caesar’s favorite co-stars and most trusted writers.
Their classic “Professor” sketches are still hilarious sixty-five years after they first aired. And his lifelong friendship and collaboration with Mel Brooks began as a result!
After the Sid Caesar shows ended, Carl Reiner created The DIck Van Dyke Show. This program would prove to be one of the most influential, funniest, and most transformative situation comedies of all time.
After Reiner and Van Dyke ended the show at the height of its popularity, the brilliant writer/producer/director began working on feature films.
Carl Reiner created the cult classics “Where’s Poppa” and “Oh, God” before embarking on a brilliant partnership with Steve Martin. The Reiner/Martin films include some of the best comedies of Steve Martin’s career, including “The Jerk,” “All Of Me,” and “Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid.
We’ll enjoy clips and stories from all of this – and, of course – the brilliant “2,000-Year-Old Man” routines with Mel Brooks. Don’t miss this excellent presentation!
