Question 1

Mel Brooks has won an EGOT (an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony combined).  What other prestigious lifetime-achievement award has been bestowed on him?

Accepted Answer

Kennedy Center Honor - Brooks has also received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Oscars in addition to his Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for the 1967 movie The Producers.

Question 2

Get Smart was a Mel Brooks television show that ran from 1965 to 1970.  What kind of show did this parody?

Accepted Answer

Spy show - This show gave us the shoe-phone, bazooka broom, and the notorious Cone of Silence, among others.

Question 3

The Producers was Brooks' first major movie success.  Which actor began his long association with Brooks in this movie?

Accepted Answer

Gene Wilder - Wilder went on to act in Young Frankenstein and Blazing Saddles, two of Brooks biggest comedy hits.

Question 4

What is the big musical number intended to offend audiences in The Producers?

Accepted Answer

Springtime for Hitler - Springtime for Hitler is still a punchline for comedy writers to this day.

Question 5

Almost 40 years after its original cinematic release, The Producers became both a Broadway musical hit and then movie starring Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick.  Who played Ulla in the 2005 movie?

Accepted Answer

Uma Thurman - Yes, The Bride from Kill Bill played the Swedish bombshell who delivered such lines as "Why Bloom go so far camera right?"

Question 6

Blazing Saddles may be the ultimate parody of the Western.  Cleavon Little played Sheriff Bart, but who did Brooks originally intend the part for?

Accepted Answer

Richard Pryor - Pryor actually has a writing credit for the movie, but the studio wouldn't approve financing the production with Pryor in the lead due to his drug use.

Question 7

Which comedic actress played the role of Lili Von Shtüpp in Blazing Saddles?

Accepted Answer

Madeline Kahn - This was the first major collaboration between Kahn and Brooks, one of the great comedy team-ups of the '70s & '80s.

Question 8

Football-player-turned-comedy-actor Alex Karras played which character in Blazing Saddles?

Accepted Answer

Mongo - This character had huge impact on American history, being indirectly responsible for the invention of the Candy-gram.  (Not really... just a line from the movie.)

Question 9

Brooks often has roles in movies he directs, Blazing Saddles being no exception with 2 roles: Governor Lepetomane and a Native American chief.  What makes his chief portrayal different?

Accepted Answer

He speaks Yiddish - Brooks has never shied away from his Jewish roots, playing rabbis, Moses, Comicus (a stand-up philosopher), and Yoghurt.

Question 10

Young Frankenstein was Brooks' next cinematic success.  Who played the Monster in the movie?

Accepted Answer

Peter Boyle - Not many people know that Boyle was not just the Monster, but a close friend of John Lennon (who was Boyle's best man at his wedding.)

Question 11

What musical number does Frankenstein perform with the Monster to demonstrate the success of his operation?

Accepted Answer

Puttin' On The Ritz - If you have never seen this routine, you have missed one of the great moments in comedy.

Question 12

At one point in the story, Elizabeth (Madeline Kahn) is abducted by the Monster.  What song does she break into when they (*ahem*) grow intimate?

Accepted Answer

Sweet Mystery of Life - There were so many... MANY inappropriate jokes I could have made here.

Question 13

There is a running joke in Young Frankenstein is whenever a certain name is spoken, the horses whinny and react in fear.  What name?

Accepted Answer

Blücher - It's said that the horses react because "Blücher" means "glue" in German.

Question 14

Silent Movie has only one spoken line.  Who had that line?

Accepted Answer

Marcel Marceau - For those who miss the joke, Marcel Marceau is probably the only famous mime... probably with good reason.

Question 15

Mel Brooks was married for 40 years to an Oscar-winning actress who had a brief role in Silent Movie.  Who was she?

Accepted Answer

Anne Bancroft - Bancroft won an Oscar for her role in The Miracle Worker in 1962, the first of her five Oscar nominations.

Question 16

Brooks' next success was History of the World, Part 1, poking fun at such times as the Old Testament, Roman Empire and French Revolution.  Which famous actor narrated the movie?

Accepted Answer

Orson Wells - Yes, Citizen Kane provided the gravitas to carry the faux epic documentary feel of the movie.

Question 17

Brooks plays a role in each section of History of the World.  As Moses, what does he do that wasn't part of the original Old Testament?

Accepted Answer

He broke the tablet with 5 more commandments - "The Lord, the Lord Jehovah has given unto you these Fifteen..." (drops tablet which breaks) "Oy!  Ten!  Ten Commandments for all to obey!"

Question 18

In History of the World Part 1, the Roman Empire section features which comedic actor/dancer played Josephus?

Accepted Answer

Gregory Hines - Hines dances, jokes, battles Brooks as a gladiator to entertain the emperor, and ultimately helps our heroes escape Rome by introducing the Roman legions to cannabis.

Question 19

After escaping Rome and arriving in Judea, Comicus gets a job as what?

Accepted Answer

Waiter at the Last Supper - John Hurt (Oscar-nominated actor for his playing The Elephant Man) plays Jesus while Brooks tries to push the mulled wine on his customers.

Question 20

In the French Revolution section of History of the World, Part 1, Harvey Korman plays a nobleman that everyone calls...

Accepted Answer

Count de Money - It's a running gag where he constantly corrects everyone, saying "It's 'dee mo-nay'," (actually spelled de Monet).

Question 21

Brooks' next hit lampooned the Star Wars franchise with the help of John Candy and Rick Moranis.  What character did Moranis play?

Accepted Answer

Dark Helmet - Okay, this wasn't Brooks' cleverest send-up of a character name, but they can't all be gems.

Question 22

One of Brooks' brilliant choices was casting this female comedienne as the voice of Dot Matrix (the C-3PO parody).  Who was she?

Accepted Answer

Joan Rivers - Joan Rivers is probably the only actress that could successfully play a combination protocol droid/chastity belt.

Question 23

Instead of the Millennium Falcon, Spaceballs has the Eagle 5.  What is unique in it's design?

Accepted Answer

It's a Winnebago - Maybe it was a budget thing.

Question 24

The next Brooks parody sent up the Robin Hood genre, and Costner's version specifically.  Brooks capitalized on the success of The Princess Bride by casting which actor as Robin?

Accepted Answer

Carey Elwes - Yes, Wesley from Princess Bride was Robin Hood, partly "Because, unlike some other Robin Hoods, I can speak with an English accent."

Question 25

Men in Tights had a bit of fun re-casting Robin's sidekick (Azim/Morgan Freeman in the original).  Who played Ahchoo in Men in Tights?

Accepted Answer

Dave Chappelle - It was a very young Chappelle who played Ahchoo, son of Asneeze (played by Isaac Hayes).

Question 26

Brooks played the Friar Tuck replacement.  When he encounters the Merry Men, what does he assume?

Accepted Answer

That they're gay - Robin's answer to Tuchman's question: "No, no. We're straight. Just... merry."

Question 27

The vampire genre was Brooks next target with Dracula: Dead and Loving It.  Leslie Nielsen played Dracula, but what does Brooks play?

Accepted Answer

Van Helsing - Playing Van Helsing, Brooks joined the ranks of Peter Cushing, Lawrence Olivier, Anthony Hopkins, and Hugh Jackman.  Not bad company, huh?

Question 28

With a bit of irony, Brooks played the vampire in an an animated horror spoof.  What movie was this?

Accepted Answer

Hotel Transylvania 2  - Brooks played Vlad, Mavis's grandfather and Dracula's (Adam Sandler) dad in the movie.

Question 29

Mel Brooks had a long-running friendship with another comedy legend who had also been a writer on Your Show of Shows.  Who was this comedic icon?

Accepted Answer

Carl Reiner - Carl Reiner and Brooks also collaborated on the "2000 Year Old Man" comedy album which sold over a million copies.

Question 30

Brooks time as a comedy writer for live television was the basis for a 1982 movie recounting his experience with Errol Flynn.  What was the movie titled?

Accepted Answer

My Favorite Year - Peter O'Toole played the Errol Flynn role while Mark Linn-Baker played the Mel Brooks role.  O'Toole received an Oscar nomination for the movie.

Mel Brooks Trivia: The Face of Comedy

2) Get Smart was a Mel Brooks television show that ran from 1965 to 1970. What kind of show did this parody?

3) The Producers was Brooks' first major movie success. Which actor began his long association with Brooks in this movie?

4) What is the big musical number intended to offend audiences in The Producers?

5) Almost 40 years after its original cinematic release, The Producers became both a Broadway musical hit and then movie starring Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick. Who played Ulla in the 2005 movie?

6) Blazing Saddles may be the ultimate parody of the Western. Cleavon Little played Sheriff Bart, but who did Brooks originally intend the part for?

7) Which comedic actress played the role of Lili Von Shtüpp in Blazing Saddles?

8) Football-player-turned-comedy-actor Alex Karras played which character in Blazing Saddles?

9) Brooks often has roles in movies he directs, Blazing Saddles being no exception with 2 roles: Governor Lepetomane and a Native American chief. What makes his chief portrayal different?

10) Young Frankenstein was Brooks' next cinematic success. Who played the Monster in the movie?

11) What musical number does Frankenstein perform with the Monster to demonstrate the success of his operation?

12) At one point in the story, Elizabeth (Madeline Kahn) is abducted by the Monster. What song does she break into when they (*ahem*) grow intimate?

13) There is a running joke in Young Frankenstein is whenever a certain name is spoken, the horses whinny and react in fear. What name?

14) Silent Movie has only one spoken line. Who had that line?

15) Mel Brooks was married for 40 years to an Oscar-winning actress who had a brief role in Silent Movie. Who was she?

16) Brooks' next success was History of the World, Part 1, poking fun at such times as the Old Testament, Roman Empire and French Revolution. Which famous actor narrated the movie?

17) Brooks plays a role in each section of History of the World. As Moses, what does he do that wasn't part of the original Old Testament?

18) In History of the World Part 1, the Roman Empire section features which comedic actor/dancer played Josephus?

19) After escaping Rome and arriving in Judea, Comicus gets a job as what?

20) In the French Revolution section of History of the World, Part 1, Harvey Korman plays a nobleman that everyone calls...

21) Brooks' next hit lampooned the Star Wars franchise with the help of John Candy and Rick Moranis. What character did Moranis play?

22) One of Brooks' brilliant choices was casting this female comedienne as the voice of Dot Matrix (the C-3PO parody). Who was she?

23) Instead of the Millennium Falcon, Spaceballs has the Eagle 5. What is unique in it's design?

24) The next Brooks parody sent up the Robin Hood genre, and Costner's version specifically. Brooks capitalized on the success of The Princess Bride by casting which actor as Robin?

25) Men in Tights had a bit of fun re-casting Robin's sidekick (Azim/Morgan Freeman in the original). Who played Ahchoo in Men in Tights?

26) Brooks played the Friar Tuck replacement. When he encounters the Merry Men, what does he assume?

27) The vampire genre was Brooks next target with Dracula: Dead and Loving It. Leslie Nielsen played Dracula, but what does Brooks play?

28) With a bit of irony, Brooks played the vampire in an an animated horror spoof. What movie was this?

29) Mel Brooks had a long-running friendship with another comedy legend who had also been a writer on Your Show of Shows. Who was this comedic icon?

30) Brooks time as a comedy writer for live television was the basis for a 1982 movie recounting his experience with Errol Flynn. What was the movie titled?