He said: “He was the pro and I was the rookie”.
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Mel Brooks is “still reeling” from the loss of fellow comedy veteran Gene Wilder, even though he was fully aware of his old friend’s ailing health.
Brooks, who has been responsible for creating some of the greatest comedy movies and TV shows of the past century, stopped by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Tuesday night. Watch to the end for some delightful tidbits about their process for casting Young Frankenstein and Madeline Kahn ad-libbing on the set. AMC theaters will show the two films to pay tribute to their late star, Gene Wilder.
Next up on Saturday is Young Frankenstein, for which Wilder and Brooks co-wrote the screenplay and bagged an Oscar nomination for their trouble. Brooks replied, “Look in the mirror, blame it on God”. “He cried, and I hugged him”.
Wilder appeared a handful of times on the small screen after 1991, in the short-lived sitcom “Something Wilder” for NBC, and other occasional cameo appearances including two episodes of “Will & Grace”, the last in 2003.
“We became very good friends”, Brooks said.
The New York native recalled his long struggle to get funding for his 1967 hit, The Producers, saying that Wilder never believed he’d be able to make the dream a reality.
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Wilder passed away on Monday (August 29) aged 83 as a result of complications from Alzheimer’s Disease. According to Brooks, Wilder said, “when you get the money. And the big number in it is ‘Springtime for Hitler.’ Yeah, you’re gonna get the money!”. Burton made a name for himself with original and visually creative work so it is disappointing for some to see him spend so much time with big budget remakes of classic movies. You are Leo Bloom, ‘ and I threw it on his makeup table, and he burst into tears. Brooks called it a “wonderful moment”.
