Surrounded by A**holes: The Life and Works of Mel Brooks

Surrounded By A**holes•podcasters.spotify.com

A podcast saluting the Life, Laughter, and Legacy of the one and only, MEL BROOKS. Each episode, your hosts Andrew Sanders, Tyler Maybee, and Zach Eastman will take you on a deep dive of a significant work, theme, or element of Mel's work and the history surrounding it. Laugh along as these stoways from Spaceball One relive the magic of Mel!

Last refreshed: July 15th, 2025 at 3:19 AM ⓘ

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Episodes

Ep. 5: The Man From Nowhere Special- An Analysis of 'Blazing Saddles' (1974)

The boys are back with more Mel chatter as they welcome special guest Thom Parham (Film Professor/ Podcaster, 'Screen Thom') aboard Spaceball One for a deep dive into Mel's raucous, knee slapping satire on the western genre: BLAZING SADDLES! Listen in as they unpack the history of the production, learn more of how the plot adheres to and extends beyond genre trapping, thoughtfully ponder the film's material as it pertains to audiences then and now, and settle on how the films satiric genius has ...

Dec 09, 2024•3 hr 1 min

Ep. 4: Hope For The Best, Expect The Worst- An Analysis of 'The Twelve Chairs' (1970)

In their long awaited fourth episode, Zac and Tyler welcome the newest Spaceball One recruit Matthew Merback (Actor) for his first of many Brooksian adventures as the trio take a closer look into the glory that is Mel's second feature, THE TWELVE CHAIRS (1970). Listen in as they heap praise praise upon this elegant, hysterical, intelligent, and oft over looked film in the Mel Brook's canon. PLUS: The history surrounding multiple adaptations of the novel 'The Twelve Chairs' gets crazier than one ...

Mar 09, 2024•2 hr 17 min

Ep. 3: Eat a Nectarine: A Look at the 2000 Year Old Man

In their third episode, the boys encounter a joke in the Your Show of Show's Writers Room that grew into the incredible legend known by comedy fans today as The 2000 Year Old Man. Join them as they excavate the origins of the routine, the importance and legacy of its legendary other half Carl Reiner, and rattle off the routines that stick in their minds and warm their hearts. PLUS: Edward G Robinson hijack's Mel and Carl's Idea and James Mason returns without invitation.

Aug 26, 2022•2 hr 11 min

Ep. 2: Where Did He Go Right?- An Analysis of The Producers (1967)

In their second episode, our hosts follow dutifully and thoroughly the wild schemes perpetrated by those infamous figures of Broadway history, Bialystock and Bloom, with a DEEP DIVE into Mel's feature film debut, The Producers (1967 or 1968, depending on if you count the premiere versus the wide release.. look, it came out, it's done, now let's just enjoy the motion picture). Listen in as they dig into the history of the production, learn more about the stars of the picture, have thoughtful noti...

May 20, 2022•2 hr 35 min

Ep. 1: These Men Should Be In A Straight Jacket

In our debut episode,our hosts talk about why one would start a podcast about Mel Brooks, reveal their Mel origins, and list off their favorite parts of Mel's work from film all the way to song!

Apr 06, 2022•1 hr 57 min

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