Last week, Mel Brooks did two pretty good half-hour interviews with Tavis Smiley on PBS. Here's the first half hour…
And here's the second…
Film historians, note: I seem to recall that in interviews long ago, Mr. Brooks said that the casting of Gig Young in Blazing Saddles — in the role Gene Wilder eventually played — was forced on him by the studio over his objections. Now, he talks like it was his idea. My understanding is that it was first offered to Dan Dailey, who was in no shape to tackle it. Then on some mad whim, Brooks offered it to Johnny Carson, who not only turned it down but told Brooks he didn't think the script was at all funny. Then Mr. Young was cast by somebody and filmed for about an hour before being taken away to a hospital, which is when Mel called Gene.