Friday morning at 11:30, Mel Brooks will receive a star in the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It'll be right outside the Egyptian Theater and the guest speakers will include Carl Reiner, Robert Osborne and Mr. Brooks, himself. Yeah, I'm amazed too to learn that Mel didn't have one before this…and apparently, this one is only being installed as some sort of promotion with the TCM (as in, "Turner Classic Movies") Film Festival, where Brooks will appear this Friday afternoon at a screening of The Producers.
Of course, it would make more sense to put Mel's star outside the Chinese Theater a few blocks away since that's where they're running The Producers (the festival is using both theaters) and it would really make sense to show Blazing Saddles there instead, since its climax takes place at the Chinese Theater. But I guess the sidewalk outside the Chinese is too full and someone must realize that The Producers is a better movie than Blazing Saddles.
Anyway, it's nice that they're giving Mel a star. It would have been even nicer if they'd given it to him before he was 84 years old. Part of the ceremony involves the honoree having to get down on his or her knees to pose for pix unveiling the star…and they may even make Carl (who's 88) get down there with him. It would also have been nice for Mel to get his when Anne was still around to see it.