It can’t be full of new material every week HBO Maxbut that’s okay. When your back catalog includes some of the best series ever to hit television, a quiet week is just an invitation to open your cash register.
So, for those looking for a deal with an HBO Max subscription in the US, we dig into nearly four hours of all things funny, with a hilarious high school-level badass power struggle, a deliciously weird Spanish-language horror comedy and a living legend in honor of the Emmy nominations. They are in ascending order from lowest Rotten Tomatoes score to highest.
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Deputy directors
Two petty tyrants, one foul alliance
Before they graced the screen together in one of HBO’s most hysterical comedy series, Righteous stonesDanny McBride and Walton Goggins joined first Deputy directorsMcBride and the dark comedy he creates East and Down partner, Jody Hill. The short and sweet series ran for just two seasons and 18 episodes on HBO from 2016 to 2017 — enough to cover one school year at North Jackson High, where one of the funniest shows you’ll ever see ended.
Introducing our Duel Vice Principals: McBride, Walton Goggins (White Lotus, Fallout) plays sweater-vest-wearing planner Lee Russell, both of whom vie for the position of director when the incumbent announces his retirement. But when they both run away in favor of the newcomer, Dr. Belinda Brown (Kimberly Hebert Gregory), Gamby and Russell go from rivals to partners to take down Brown by any means necessary. If you know McBride’s work, he’s hilarious ugly
Deputy directors McBride is the best and of course Goggins shines in everything she’s in, so expect some incredibly nasty chemistry from these two masters. The series has an 83% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
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99-year-old Mel Brooks!
The incredible career of the master of Spaceballs
Congratulations Mel Brooks: The 99-Year-Old Man! The perfect two-part HBO Max documentaries the best docs of the year so faris fresh off six Emmy nominations, including outstanding documentary or nonfiction. Congratulations also to Brooks, who is now a 100-year-old man!
The living legend EGOT winner is behind Burning Saddles, Space ballsand Young Frankenstein It gets the royal treatment it deserves from Judd Apatow and Michael Bonfiglio, who are responsible for the Emmy Award-winning Doctor Who. George Carlin’s American Dream. If you’re a Brooks fan, this is now the definitive chronicle of his life and career.
The film chronicles Brooks’ journey from World War II to the present day Your shows the writers’ room and his “2000 Year Old Man” routine with Carl Reiner, his spoof ’70s movie dynasty and Broadway triumph Manufacturers. Brooks is candid and razor-sharp, with fans including Jerry Seinfeld, Nick Kroll, Ben Stiller, Dave Chappelle and Sarah Silverman. The miniseries has a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.
QuizMel Brooks comedies and characters
Trivia challenge
From Blazing Saddles to Spaceballs – Can you name the movies and faces of Mel Brooks’ comedy world?
CharactersMoviesQuotesCastingSpoofs
In which Mel Brooks movie does a corrupt politician and a crooked producer plan to create a guaranteed flop that accidentally becomes a massive hit?
Correct! The Producers (1967) launched Mel Brooks’ film career and won him an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder played the scheming duo, and “Springtime for Hitler” within a film became one of comedy’s most legendary set pieces.
Not quite – the answer is The Producers (1967). The story of Max Bialystock and Leo Bloom’s overselling of stock in a doomed Broadway musical is the film that put Mel Brooks on the map and won him an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay.
What is the name of the hunchbacked, scene-stealing assistant played by Marty Feldman in Young Frankenstein?
Correct! The character’s name is Igor, although the catch is that Dr. Frankenstein keeps mispronouncing it as Goz-gor, and Igor keeps shifting his hunchback from shoulder to shoulder. Marty Feldman’s wild eyes and perfect comic timing made Igor one of the film’s most beloved characters.
Not quite – the character’s name is Igor. The joke is that Dr. Frankenstein insists on calling him “Eye-Eye” and Igor is constantly playing with his hump moving. Marty Feldman’s unforgettable wide eyes made the role completely unique.
Spaceballs (1987) is primarily a parody of which popular science fiction franchise?
Correct! Spaceballs lovingly illuminates the Star Wars universe with characters like Lone Starr (Han Solo), Princess Vespa (Princess Leia) and Dark Helmet (Darth Vader). Mel Brooks himself played both President Scroob and Yogurt, the latter being a direct spoof of Yoda.
Not quite – Spaceballs is a parody of Star Wars. From Dark Helmet’s comically oversized helmet to the trademark joke (“Space cannons: Flamethrower!”), nearly every gag takes aim at George Lucas’ galaxy far, far away. Interestingly, Lucas gave Brooke his blessing to make the film.
Which actor played the lead role of Sheriff Bart in Mel Brooks’ Burning Saddles (1974)?
Correct! Cleavon Little played Sheriff Bart with ease and sharp comic timing. Richard Pryor actually co-wrote the script and was originally slated for the role, but Warner Bros. didn’t want to cast him in the lead role. Little’s performance became iconic.
Not quite – Cleavon Little played Sheriff Bart. Richard Pryor is a common wrong answer because he co-wrote the script and was the frontrunner for the role, but the studio ultimately chose Little. Pryor’s writing was instrumental in shaping the film’s sharp racial satire.
Which character in “Blazing Saddles” is famous for “The Badges?” delivers the line. We don’t need no stinkin’ badges!’?
Correct! Taggart, played by Slim Pickens, an amoral bandit, delivers this line as a parody of a similar quote from “Treasure of the Sierra Madre.” The line has since appeared in countless movies and TV shows, becoming one of cinema’s most quoted and parodied moments.
Not quite – it’s Taggart, played by Slim Pickens, who delivers the legendary line. This is a spoof of a quote from the classic 1948 film Treasure of the Sierra Madre. Mel Brooks took this moment to poke fun at the conventions of classic Western cinema while creating a new classic of his own.
In which movie does Mel Brooks play both King Louis XVI of France and a stand-up philosopher named Comique?
Correct! World History, Part I (1981) is a sprawling comedy anthology covering the Stone Age, ancient Rome, the Spanish Inquisition, and the French Revolution. Brooks played many roles, including the stand-up philosopher Comic who performed in Caesar’s Palace – literally Caesar’s palace.
The answer is World History, Part I (1981). Mel Brooks played several roles in this episodic comedy that spans human history, including a stand-up philosopher in ancient Rome and the very distracted King Louis XVI. The film famously promised a Part II that never came — though Hulu revisited the concept at the end of the series.
In Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993), Mel Brooks plays a character named Rabbi Tuckman. What is his occupation other than being a holy man?
Correct! Rabbi Tuckman is Mel Brooks’ twist on Friar Tuck – a mohel who travels the countryside offering circumcision and selling holy wine. It’s a classic Brooks move: taking a familiar character from legend and reimagining him through a very specific Jewish comedic lens.
Not quite – Rabbi Tuckman is also a mohel who sells holy wine, a hilarious reimagining of Mel Brooks’ classic Friar Tuck character. Brooks has long infused his films with Jewish humor and personality, and Rabbi Takman is one of his most memorable unique roles.
Which Mel Brooks film is a direct parody of Alfred Hitchcock’s thriller style, with a blind man, a wheelchair, and a museum climax?
Correct! High Anxiety (1977) is Mel Brooks’ loving tribute to Alfred Hitchcock, who spoofed films like Vertigo, Psycho, The Birds and Spellbound. Brooks is also a psychiatrist with a crippling fear of heights. He played Richard Thorndyke. He dedicated the film to Hitchcock and he reportedly enjoyed it.
The answer is Mel Brooks’ High Anxiety (1977), an affectionate parody of Alfred Hitchcock’s work. Dr. Brooks is prone to anxiety. Thorndyke starred and filled the film with clever references to Vertigo, Psycho and The Birds. Hitchcock himself was said to be a fan of the film.
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Espookies
Hilarious horror in Spanish
If you like fast-paced, quirky, supernatural comedies, go for it What we do in the shadowsbut with a dash of Spanish talent, this excellent 100% Rotten Tomatoes series from 2019-2022 will absolutely scratch that itch. Espookies comes an incredible fund created by SNL great fred armisen, About the problemJulio Torres and actress/writer/producer Ana Fabrega, who starred in the show for two seasons.
In a dreamy, unnamed Latin American country, Espookies It follows a group of friends who turn their love of horror into a business, creating horror movie-style situations – fake exorcisms, fake ghosts, fake sea monsters – and convincing people they’re real. The crew includes bloodthirsty leader Renaldo (Bernardo Velasco), heir to a chocolate empire Andrés (Torres), classy Ursula (Cassandra Ciangherotti), her crazy-brained sister Tati (Fabrega) and super supportive uncle Tiko (Armisen).
The gang hilariously conjures up a fake sea monster to drive tourism to a failing town; they fake a solar eclipse to sway voters; and when someone is trapped in a cursed mirror, the real horror begins. The Spanish masterpiece is quick and fun, with dozens of 30-minute episodes that you can easily manage over a few days or a weekend.
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Funny is coming this week
A little high school revenge, fake dreams, or a legend telling stories – hopefully one of the suggestions on this week’s list fits the bill. Check us out for more options on each service streaming recommendations.
- Subscription with ads
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Yes, $10.99 per month
- Synchronous streams
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