As a TV writer working for the great Sid Caesar, Mel Brooks contributed to perhaps the funniest TV show of all time. He then, along with Buck Henry, created “Get Smart,” one of the most popular TV comedies ever!

With Carl Reiner, he made some of the funniest recordings of all time.

And, as if that wasn’t enough, Mel Brooks wrote
one of the funniest and most Tony Awards-winning Broadway musicals of all time!

So Mel Brooks has had a massive impact on TV, movies, recordings, and Broadway. he is serving as a performer, writer, lyricist, composer, director, and producer; Mel Brooks has created a comic legacy that will stand the test of time. And, at age 94, he is not even contemplating retirement!

Get ready to laugh as we take a fascinating multimedia presentation on the laughs, life, and legacy of one of the funniest men ever—the one and only Mel Brooks!

The post Mel Brooks appeared first on Speaking For A Change.

What was television like during the 1970s?

It was the decade of Roots and The Love Boat.  Silly television comedies were everywhere!  The 1970s was the decade of Laverne & Shirley, The Fonz, Mork and Mindy, WKRP in Cincinnati, Three’s Company, The Brady Bunch, and the Partridge Family.

Dramas became very formulaic and, for the most part, somewhat bland.  But Norman Lear created All in the Family, a groundbreaking comedy that led to a national debate about racism, conservatism, homophobia, abortion, mental illness, and almost every important social issue of the time.  And they did so in a way that was so funny that the show was the top-ranked show on television for a record five consecutive years.  As Archie Bunker became the voice of  Richard Nixon’s “Silent Majority,” other topical comedies such as Chico and the Man, The Jeffersons, Sanford and Son, Maude, and Good Times began to change the face of what television situation comedies would look like.

Perhaps no one changed the role of women on television more than Mary Tyler Moore.  Her program broke ground with a monumentally popular view of a single working woman in a professional career.

Finally, M*A*S*H   captivated America with his unique and unforgettable combination of drama, comedy, politics, and personality set against the backdrop of the Korean War, opening a discussion about what had happened in Vietnam.

This fast-moving multimedia presentation is more than nostalgic.  It’s also an insightful look at what we were watching and why we were watching it at that moment.  The 1970s were a unique decade, and television reflected and shaped how we lived.

The post TV In The 1970s appeared first on Speaking For A Change.

Carol Burnett is one of the funniest women ever to star on television.  And on Broadway.  And in films.  She is also, by reputation, one of the nicest, most thoughtful, and highly respected women in the entire history of show business!  In this fast, fun, and funny multimedia presentation, we will watch hilarious, rare, and wonderful clips from the many fabulous projects Carol Burnett has undertaken throughout her fantastic career.  Be ready to laugh!

However, there is another entirely unexpected side of Carol Burnett that we will exploit.  Her story reveals a dysfunctional and often unhappy personal background.  Carol Burnett’s autobiography clarifies how difficult it was for our favorite comedienne to emerge from her chaotic childhood.  Carol Burnett was neglected and abandoned by alcoholic parents, endured losing a child, and had to cope with complex personal issues.

Despite all that, she has a reputation as one of the kindest and most compassionate people in show business.  She has consciously and purposefully made herself a positive influence in others’ lives and a terrific role model for younger women entering show business.

This unique presentation is a “don’t miss its treasure trove of laughs and a fascinating, unexpected biography on a terrific talent and a wonderful woman.

The post Carol Burnett – Queen Of Comedy appeared first on Speaking For A Change.

Robin Williams was one of the funniest comedians of all time.  His improvisational skills were almost other-worldly!  Yet behind the comic persona lay a complex man- intensely charitable and compassionate but plagued by insecurity, battling addictions, and vulnerable to depression. In this multimedia presentation, we will examine the fascinating life and tragic death of Robin Williams – and watch as his remarkable career took shape!

While early audiences remember him as Mork, others remember his free-form, intense improvisational riffs.  We will also celebrate his long, accomplished and acclaimed career as a film actor.

Like fellow comedian Steve Martin, Robin Williams became a superb movie actor. Over time, he took on acting roles in almost every genre. Robin Williams excelled in drama, comedy, animation, and thrillers, making an indelible impression in all genres. He could play a research neurologist in one film and a cross-dressing nanny in the next. Williams was nominated several times for Oscars, including a win playing a compassionate and serious psychotherapist in “Good Will Hunting.”

We will examine clips from a diverse selection of his movie work, including “Mrs. Doubtfire,” “Aladdin,” “Awakenings,” “One Hour Photo,” “Good Morning, Vietnam,” “A Night At The Museum,” “Good Will Hunting,” and many more.

Although we will undoubtedly discuss Robin Williams’ tragic death, most of this fascinating presentation will focus on the extraordinary life and truly unparalleled talent of one of the most unique and funniest men of all time—the great Robin Williams.

The post The Life Of Robin Williams appeared first on Speaking For A Change.

For thirty years, America went to bed with Johnny Carson.  He was a constant presence in American popular culture from JFK until Bill Clinton.

But as much as America loved him, they didn’t know him.  Carson has been called the most private man ever to be a public figure. In this fast-paced multimedia presentation, the life of the private man will come to life – interspersed, of course, with clips from his many wonderful TV shows – especially The Tonight Show.

The post Johnny Carson The King Of Late Night appeared first on Speaking For A Change.