Carl Reiner News

Talk Show Listings For Wednesday, December 19

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 TONIGHT, DEC. 10 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO.

The Crawley family's fate hangs in the balance when MASTERPIECE CLASSIC "Downton Abbey, Season 3" returns in January.

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, DEC. 10 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO. Check out a preview of the special below!

Below, get a first look at Alan Yentob and Mel Brooks as they take a retrospective look at Mel Brooks illustrious career in the HBO special MEL BROOKS STRIKES BACK! premiering 12/10 at 9pm ET.

Today, we're featuring Carl Reiner and his wife Estelle Reiner in 1984. Reiner performed in several Broadway musicals, including Inside U.S.A., and Alive and Kicking, and had the lead role in Call Me Mister. In 1950, he was cast by producer Max Leibman in Sid Caesar's Your Show of Shows, appearing on air in skits while also working alongside writers such as Mel Brooks and Neil Simon. Reiner began his directing career on the Van Dyke show. After that show ended its run, Reiner's first film feature was an adaptation of Joseph Stein's play Enter Laughing (1967), which in turn was based on Reiner's semi-autobiographical 1958 novel of the same name. Probably the best-known films of his early directing career were the cult comedy Where's Poppa? (1970), starring George Segal and Ruth Gordon, Oh, God! (1977) with George Burns and The Jerk (1979) with Steve Martin.

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, DEC. 10 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively onHBO. OtherHBO playdates: Dec. 13 (noon, 8:00 p.m.), 15 (3:00 p.m.), 18 (2:00 p.m., 11:00 p.m.), 21 (5:00 p.m.), 23 (noon) and 25 (5:30 a.m.) HBO2 playdate: Dec. 27 (noon, 8:00 p.m.) 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 onHBO in recent years, following 2011's Emmy(R)-nominated special 'Mel Brooks and Dick Cavett Together Again.'

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, DEC. 10 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO.

Brooks has agreed to throw himself into a new documentary about his storied career, giving American Masters exclusive interviews and complete access to his film archives. Slated to premiere May 2013 on PBS (check local listings), American Masters Mel Brooks (w.t.) features new interviews with Brooks and his actor friends, including Matthew Broderick, Nathan Lane, Cloris Leachman, Carl Reiner, and Joan Rivers.

Sirius XM Radio announced that legendary entertainer Carol Burnett-joined by her longtime co-stars Tim Conway and Vicki Lawrence-will sit down for a rare Q&A session with an audience of SiriusXM listeners to celebrate the DVD release of THE Carol Burnett SHOW, the 25-time Emmy® Award-winning series considered by many to be the greatest comedy-variety show ever produced.

From: True Love: The Princess Bride Phenomenon, Pt. 2 - Billy Crystal and Mandy Patinkin on the meaning of 'True Love'

From: True Love: The Princess Bride Phenomenon, Pt. 1 - Rob Reiner, Cary Elwes, and Robin Wright on the first day of shooting

From: True Love: The Princess Bride Phenomenon, Pt. 1 - Rob Reiner, Cary Elwes, and Robin Wright on people´s reaction to the film

From: True Love: The Princess Bride Phenomenon, Pt. 2 - Christopher Guest, Mandy Patinkin and Billy Crystal on Andre The Giant

Sirius XM Radio (NASDAQ: SIRI) announced today that legendary entertainer Carol Burnett-joined by her longtime co-stars Tim Conway and Vicki Lawrence-will sit down for a rare Q&A session with an audience of SiriusXM listeners to celebrate the DVD release of THE CAROL BURNETT SHOW, the 25-time Emmy® Award-winning series considered by many to be the greatest comedy-variety show ever produced.

The West Coast Premiere of THE BOOK OF MORMON, winner of nine Tony Awards including Best Musical, officially opened September 12 at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood. Broadway World TV's Los Angeles Correspondent and Co-Producer Michael Sterling and Co-Producer Jerry Evans of JLE Media, Inc. were on hand for the red carpet festivities which included such celebrities as Jason Alexander, Rosanna Arquette, Simon Baker, Eric Balfour, Justin Bartha, Beth Behrs, Juie Bowen, Cher, Don Cheadle, Viola Davis, Heather Graham, Laura Dern, Jonathan Groff, Daryl Hannah, Kathy Griffin, Marica Gay Harden, John Hawkes, Lisa Kudrow, Diane Ladd, Tobey Maquire, Bill Maher, Garry Marshall, Julia Ormand, Dermot Mulroney, Carl Reiner, Parker Posey, Jane Seymour, and Alicia Silverstone. Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone were also in attendance. The much anticipated run of THE BOOK OF MORMON will continue through November 25, 2012.

Dick Van Dyke, beloved actor, singer, dancer, writer and comedian, will receive SAG-AFTRA's highest honor - the SAG Life Achievement Award for career achievement and humanitarian accomplishment.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis (The Rep) presents Brighton Beach Memoirs by Neil Simon and directed by Steven Woolf. This intriguing and semi-autobiographical play will be performed on the Browning Mainstage of the Loretto-Hilton Center for the Performing Arts, 130 Edgar Road (on the campus of Webster University), Webster Groves, September 5-30, 2012.

The Glendale Centre Theatre continues its 2012 season with the heartwarming and poignant Tony Award-nominated On Golden Pond starring stage and screen veterans Andrew Prine and Salome Jens, tonight, July 12 through August 11, 2012 at the Glendale Centre Theatre in Glendale, Calif.