Stop me if you’ve heard this one: a middle-aged white comedian sits down for an interview and starts complaining about the things he can’t say onstage. This isn’t exactly a new complaint in the stand-up industry. For years, the old guard of legendary comedians have argued that modern audiences are too sensitive these days to the detriment of comedy; and sure, while there are certainly those who look for offense in any commentary — no matter how benign — it’s more than a little frustrating to hear some comedians claim that their decades-old material isn’t funny anymore.
Mel Brooks is arguably the king of cult classics, having made a ton of movies in his heyday that are still just as funny now as they were in the ’70s and ’80s. And since the current climate in Hollywood is a combination of sequels, reboots, and nostalgia, it’s no wonder that at least one Brooks comedy is looking to get a sequel. Brooks recently revealed that he’s been chatting with MGM about the possibility of a sequel to his immortal Star Wars send-up Spaceballs.
Whatever holiday you celebrate in December, it comes with a lot of pressure. If you get that special someone the wrong gift, watch out. Things can get pretty ugly. That’s particularly true for pop-culture fans. They know what they want, and they probably have most of it already. Perhaps you know someone like this. Perhaps you are someone like this. (Perhaps I am someone like this.)