For more than seven decades, Carl Reiner and Mel Brooks made America laugh—either through their remarkable solo careers or their legendary partnership. They were giants of American comedy who conquered every medium they took on: television, films, Broadway, recordings.

Brian Rose, professor emeritus at Fordham University, takes a look (and gives a listen to) their extraordinary achievements, beginning with their work together on comedian Sid Caesar’s Your Show of Shows and their creation of the 2000 Year Old Man, to their accomplishments as writers, directors, and performers.

And no one will ever pull off sporting a cocked, broad-brimmed hat and flowing cape like Brooks, even if they live to be 2,000.

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