From the groundbreaking TV series “Your Show of Shows” to landmark films like ‘Blazing Saddles’ and ‘Young Frankenstein’, Mel Brooks has been one of the most influential voices in comedy. Now, this entertainment legend looks back on his remarkable career in “Mel Brooks Strikes Back!,” debuting Monday, December 10 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO.

Appearing onstage with Alan Yentob, creative director for the BBC, at the Geffen Theater in Westwood, Cal. before a live audience, Brooks reviews his career as a writer, director, actor, producer, composer, failed ballet dancer and comedian. The special looks at the Brooklyn native’s early life, show-business influences, early career and ascension as one of Hollywood’s most successful writers and directors.

“Mel Brooks Strikes Back!” also features clips from some of his classic movies and TV work, including “Your Show of Shows,” featuring Sid Caesar and Carl Reiner, one of Brooks and Reiner’s “2000 Year Old Man” routines and the movies ‘The Producers’, ‘Blazing Saddles’ and ‘High Anxiety’. Brooks also takes questions from the audience, discussing his experiences in World War II and the origins of the song “Retreat,” which he performs in a clip with longtime collaborator Ronny Graham.

“Mel Brooks Strikes Back!” marks his second appearance on HBO in recent years, following 2011’s Emmy-nominated special “Mel Brooks and Dick Cavett Together Again.”

Among Brooks’ other classic comedy films as director, writer, producer and/or actor are ‘History of the World Part 1’, ‘Silent Movie’, ‘Spaceballs’ and ‘Robin Hood: Men in Tights’. ‘Blazing Saddles’, ‘The Producers’ and ‘Young Frankenstein’ all appear on the AFI’s list of Funniest American Films. He also produced the Oscar-nominated drama ‘The Elephant Man’, as well as ‘My Favorite Year’ and ‘The Fly’, among other Brooksfilms movies, and co-created, with Buck Henry, the hit TV series “Get Smart.”

Mel Brooks is one of the few artists who have received an Oscar, a Grammy, an Emmy and a Tony. He won an Oscar for writing the 1968 film ‘The Producers’, a Grammy for Best Spoken Comedy Album in 1999 for “The 2000 Year Old Man in the Year 2000” and two other Grammys in 2002, for Best Musical Show Album for the Soundtrack of ‘The Producers’ and Best Long Form Music Video for the DVD “Recording the Producers – A Musical Romp with Mel Brooks.” Brooks has won four Emmys, one for Outstanding Writing Achievement for a Sid Caesar special and three consecutive awards for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for “Mad About You.” He won three Tony Awards for the 2001 musical “The Producers,” for Best Musical, Best Original Musical Score and Best Book of a Musical. Overall, the show received 12 Tony Awards, a record for a musical.

On November 13, the DVD/CD box set ‘The Incredible Mel Brooks: An Irresistible Collection of Unhinged Comedy’ will be released by Shout! Factory. The set is a veritable treasure trove of all things Brooksian, a laugh-filled celebration of his illustrious career that includes special tributes, memorable performances and rare archival TV footage.

“Mel Brooks Strikes Back!” is a Brooksfilms Production; produced by Steve Haberman and Rudy DeLuca.

Image Courtesy : Featureflash / Shutterstock.com

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Leading online betting firm, Sky Bet, has unveiled its full list of Oscars betting markets following the announcement of the 84th Academy Awards nominations on Tuesday, January 24.

Black and white silent movie, ‘The Artist’, which last week picked up the Producers Guild Award and also won the Golden Globe for Best Comedy/Musical, is Sky Bet’s clear favorite to win Best Picture at 2/7, with the odds having been cut from a pre-Christmas 2/1.

The French tribute to the silent movie has ten Oscar bids, although it was beaten by Scorsese’s 3D charmer ‘Hugo’, which received 11 nods. This augurs well for its Best Picture hopes as the most nominated film has taken the top prize 15 times in the last 20 years, and Sky Bet makes ‘Hugo’ a 10/1 shot behind Golden Globe Best Drama champion, ‘The Descendants’ (4/1).

‘The Artist’ dominates several other categories with its helmsman, Michel Hazanavicius, as an odds-on favorite (8/13) to win Best Director and its leading man, Jean Dujardin, second in the Best Actor betting at 2/1. George Clooney is a hot favorite at 2/5 to take home the lead actor gong for his performance in the comedy-drama, ‘The Descendants’. Gary Oldman picked up his first ever Oscar nomination for ‘Tinker, Taylor, Soldier, Spy’ and is quoted at 33/1.

Double Oscar winner and 17-time nominee, Meryl Streep, is the short-priced favorite at 1/2 to scoop a third gong for her portrayal of Margaret Thatcher in ‘The Iron Lady’. Viola Davis is her nearest rival for Best Actress at 9/4, with ‘My Week with Marilyn’ star, Michelle Williams, another threat at 11/4.

Sky Bet’s Oscars betting expert, Helen Jacob, said, “The Artist seems way ahead of its rivals in the race to win the top Oscar. ”Other categories, however, are not so clean-cut, with the battle for best actress between Meryl Streep and Viola Davis looking particularly close.”

For Best Supporting Actor, Christopher Plummer (‘Beginners’) is at 1/12, and Octavia Spencer is at 1/8 (‘The Help’) and looks to have the Best Supporting Actress category sewn up.

Sky Bet is also offering a host of novelty special bets on the Oscars ceremony itself, which takes place at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood on Sunday, February 26.

Veteran actress, Meryl Streep, accidentally swore onstage at the Globes and Sky Bet goes 7/2 that the Oscars best actress winner turns the air blue again in her acceptance speech. It is even money that the best actress cries during her speech, and 10/1 that any recipient’s address consists of a single ‘Thank you!’

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