American TV's great comedian of the 1950s
Early on in their careers, Woody Allen, Carl Reiner, Larry Gelbart, Neil Simon and Mel Brooks all produced gags for the American comedian Sid Caesar, who has died aged 91. "Writing for Caesar was the highest thing you could aspire to," said Allen, adding: "at least as a TV comedy writer. The presidency was above that." Simon later based the play Laughter on the 23rd Floor on his experiences of working for Caesar's popular variety programme Your Show of Shows (1950-54), and Reiner's time with Caesar inspired him to create The Dick Van Dyke Show.
At the height of his fame in the 1950s, Caesar was making more than $1m a year and Your Show of Shows was drawing audiences of up to 25 million. Broadway theatre owners complained that as a result of his popularity, they always had empty seats on Saturday nights – the...
Early on in their careers, Woody Allen, Carl Reiner, Larry Gelbart, Neil Simon and Mel Brooks all produced gags for the American comedian Sid Caesar, who has died aged 91. "Writing for Caesar was the highest thing you could aspire to," said Allen, adding: "at least as a TV comedy writer. The presidency was above that." Simon later based the play Laughter on the 23rd Floor on his experiences of working for Caesar's popular variety programme Your Show of Shows (1950-54), and Reiner's time with Caesar inspired him to create The Dick Van Dyke Show.
At the height of his fame in the 1950s, Caesar was making more than $1m a year and Your Show of Shows was drawing audiences of up to 25 million. Broadway theatre owners complained that as a result of his popularity, they always had empty seats on Saturday nights – the...
- 2/13/2014
- by Christopher Hawtree
- The Guardian - Film News
Emmy-winning comedy legend Sid Caesar, best known for his weekly live TV broadcast Your Show of Shows in the '50s and such films as Grease and It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, has died. He was 91.
Emmy-winning comedy legend Sid Caesar, best known for his weekly live TV broadcast Your Show of Shows in the '50s and such films as Grease and It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, has died. He was 91.
Pics: Actors Who Almost Got the Part
Born September 8, 1922 in Yonkers, NY, Caesar pioneered sketch comedy with partner Imogene Coca on the 90-minute Your Show of Shows (with the help of comedy writers that eventually made names for themselves, including Mel Brooks, Neil Simon and Woody Allen), later renamed Caesar's Hour, and then with his own special, The Sid Caesar Show. The next 20 years of his career were unfortunately marred by alcoholism and pills, a "20-year...
Emmy-winning comedy legend Sid Caesar, best known for his weekly live TV broadcast Your Show of Shows in the '50s and such films as Grease and It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, has died. He was 91.
Pics: Actors Who Almost Got the Part
Born September 8, 1922 in Yonkers, NY, Caesar pioneered sketch comedy with partner Imogene Coca on the 90-minute Your Show of Shows (with the help of comedy writers that eventually made names for themselves, including Mel Brooks, Neil Simon and Woody Allen), later renamed Caesar's Hour, and then with his own special, The Sid Caesar Show. The next 20 years of his career were unfortunately marred by alcoholism and pills, a "20-year...
- 2/12/2014
- Entertainment Tonight
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.