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The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast · Mark Linsenmayer, Wes Alwan, Seth Paskin, Dylan Casey

PEL Presents PMP#217: Mel Brooks' Old Comedy

·57 min·1 clip
Panelists debate which Mel Brooks film is truly his masterpiece—The Producers, Young Frankenstein, or Blazing Saddles.
In-depth film criticism panel examines Mel Brooks' entire filmography in light of Apatow's 99-Year-Old Man documentary. The four hosts—Mark Linton-Meyer, Al Baker, Sarah Lynn Breck, and Lawrence Ware—debate which films represent Brooks at his peak (with strong consensus around The Producers and Young Frankenstein), analyze how his comedy ages differently across decades, and explore the tension between Brooks as original auteur versus brilliant collaboration facilitator. Key discussion points include the meta-humor of Blazing Saddles, the aging out of edgy comedy post-60, the influence of Hitchcock on High Anxiety, and surprising connections to Monty Python's creative output. The panel appreciates Brooks' eye for talent and his role in launching David Lynch's career, while critiquing his later work for relying too heavily on audience self-awareness and script-breaking.

As heard by us

A sharp look at Mel Brooks, collaboration, and the stories comedy legends tell about themselves.

Mel Brooks' career is treated less as a nostalgia piece than as a useful look at how comedy is actually built: by teams, recurring bits, and a willingness to leave space for other people's jokes.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You want a sharp, funny take on Mel Brooks, filtered through a skeptical look at The 99-Year-Old Man.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →
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