Reiner, at 87, Keeps the Humor Flowing - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 10-15-2009, 07:49 PM

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With as many credits and accomplishments as Carl Reiner has, one might think his 87-year-old brain would be ready for an extended sabbatical on some beach in Florida.

No way. Not for the guy who interviewed 2,000-year-old Mel Brooks. Or helped launch Steve Martin in "The Jerk." Or stockpiled 12 Emmys.

Nope. It's hard to keep a man down. Especially one very funny man.

"There's always something in my head," Reiner said. "And I always say, 'It's got to get out or it's going to give me a headache.'"

It's 11:30 a.m. Tuesday. Reiner's at home in Beverly Hills, chowing on waffles. Between bites, he's on the phone promoting his latest book, "Just Desserts," a 136-page "novellelah" endorsed on the back page by -- no surprise -- Steve Martin and Larry Gelbart, the latter a co-writer with Reiner on Sid Caesar's "The Show of Shows" 50 years ago and writer behind the TV series, "M*A*S*H."

"Yet another of Carl Reiner's home runs, his untamable imagination his only steroid," wrote Gelbart, a lifetime friend of Reiner's who died Sept. 11.

His death was -- and is -- tough to take for Reiner, who saw his bride of 65 years, Estelle, die last October, leaving "a big hole," Reiner said.

Now his buddy goes.

"I saw him three weeks before he passed," Reiner said. "We went to lunch. I picked him up and in the car I asked how he was and he says, 'You don't want to know.' I didn't find out until later he had cancer. That was that. It was one of the saddest

and most crazy moments."

Despite the losses -- one of life's punishments for living so long -- Reiner continues to produce, continues to work, continues to garner honors that include The Television Academy Hall of Fame, Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for Humor and, Oct. 26, he speaks at the Library of Congress followed by a book signing of "Just Desserts."

Writing and winning the Emmys, he said, are what thrills him the most because all his talents were honored.

"I'm proud of the fact they were in different categories -- supporting actor, producer, writer -- I loved that fact," Reiner said.

Reiner won three writing Emmys for "The Dick Van Dyke Show" and a Grammy for "The 2000 Year Old Man."

"I do like writing," Reiner said. "It gives me pleasure, putting lines down on paper or in the computer. I enjoy the process."

Reiner still gets a kick out of any contemporary "Dick Van Dyke" reference.

"Residual things happen all the time," he said. "I was reading (Barack Obama's) 'Audacity of Hope' and got great pleasure when Obama says 'My wife is watching Dick Van Dyke re-runs.'"

Then there are the inspirational moments when strangers come up to Reiner and say, "I'm a writer because of you."

"Some say they were 13, 14 watching Dick Van Dyke, how we kept talking about these guys writing with a sense of humor. So many kids became writers, seeing that you can get paid for being funny," Reiner said.

Then there's his relationship with directing Martin, going back to the hit, "The Jerk" in 1979, followed by "Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid" in 1982, "The Man with Two Brains" in 1983, and "All of Me" in 1984.

"I appreciate him so much," Reiner said of Martin. "He tickles me. He's one of these sly guys that never says funny things with big crowds around him. But his autobiography was one of the best I've ever read."

One of Reiner's most notable acting jobs was in "The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming," a 1966 film shot mostly in Mendocino that also starred Alan Arkin, Jonathan Winters and Theodore Bikel.

"I hadn't done acting in a long time and wanted to do this. It was an absolutely fun thing," Reiner said, remembering a day's shooting postponed filming because of rain, "so we were stuck in this little motel. I remember everyone came to my room and I said, 'Fellows, what's the last time you played a serious game of 'Ring around the rosy?' So we did it deadly serious, fell on the floor and then we all laughed."

More recently, Reiner was Sid Bloom in "Ocean's 11," "Ocean's 12" and "Ocean's 13" with George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts.

And if there's an "Ocean's 14," "I hope they ask me back," said Reiner, who can handle the script better than handling the title "comic legend" or "icon."

"I don't take that seriously," he said. "I've had a couple of successes along the way. If you don't foul the air and stay above the fray and don't make too many terrible waves, you're an 'icon.' More importantly, know who you are."

And, apparently, marry the right woman. Reiner did for 65 years.

"I miss everything about her," he said. "I miss her carping about things I'm not doing right. She was a perfectionist. She was an amazing woman."

Estelle knew the secret from the start, Reiner said.

"She said 'Marry someone who can stand you.' That broke me up," Reiner said. "And it's true."

tv star collector · 10-16-2009, 08:54 AM

He is one of the last living legends in television who is still around (and,
incredibly, still working). A brilliant comedy genius. While they're both still
with us, I would love to see Carl Reiner and Sid Caesar reunite for another
comedy skit. They were always so funny together.

MickeyMac · 10-16-2009, 03:47 PM

Awesome, so glad Carl Riener is still with us.

Marvo301 · 01-08-2010, 01:58 AM

I love Carl Reiner. And I love that he continues to work and entertain.

catlover79 · 01-08-2010, 04:10 AM

God bless Carl Reiner!!

Marvo301 · 01-27-2010, 10:36 PM

Carl Reiner was on "The Bonnie Hunt Show" again today. He is still going strong. Still writing books. And he and Mel Brooks have a new CD of 2000 year old man routines out. This man is a true treasure who has been entertaining us and making us laugh for a good 60 years now and is continuing to do so.

comedyfreak · 01-28-2010, 09:19 AM

That was a good read I'm glad he's so active.

jehobden · 02-04-2010, 08:33 PM

Carl also made a funny appearance on Two and a Half Men's Christmas episode this season, "Warning, It's Dirty". He played an old comedy writer whom Evelyn Harper was trying to butter up so she could sell his house for him and get a huge commission. His character said the title that week also. (Following the pilot, each episode's title has been an out-of-context quote from the episode.)

10-15-2009, 07:49 PM	#1
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,416	Reiner, at 87, Keeps the Humor Flowing Link With as many credits and accomplishments as Carl Reiner has, one might think his 87-year-old brain would be ready for an extended sabbatical on some beach in Florida. No way. Not for the guy who interviewed 2,000-year-old Mel Brooks. Or helped launch Steve Martin in "The Jerk." Or stockpiled 12 Emmys. Nope. It's hard to keep a man down. Especially one very funny man. "There's always something in my head," Reiner said. "And I always say, 'It's got to get out or it's going to give me a headache.'" It's 11:30 a.m. Tuesday. Reiner's at home in Beverly Hills, chowing on waffles. Between bites, he's on the phone promoting his latest book, "Just Desserts," a 136-page "novellelah" endorsed on the back page by -- no surprise -- Steve Martin and Larry Gelbart, the latter a co-writer with Reiner on Sid Caesar's "The Show of Shows" 50 years ago and writer behind the TV series, "MAS*H." "Yet another of Carl Reiner's home runs, his untamable imagination his only steroid," wrote Gelbart, a lifetime friend of Reiner's who died Sept. 11. His death was -- and is -- tough to take for Reiner, who saw his bride of 65 years, Estelle, die last October, leaving "a big hole," Reiner said. Now his buddy goes. "I saw him three weeks before he passed," Reiner said. "We went to lunch. I picked him up and in the car I asked how he was and he says, 'You don't want to know.' I didn't find out until later he had cancer. That was that. It was one of the saddest and most crazy moments." Despite the losses -- one of life's punishments for living so long -- Reiner continues to produce, continues to work, continues to garner honors that include The Television Academy Hall of Fame, Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for Humor and, Oct. 26, he speaks at the Library of Congress followed by a book signing of "Just Desserts." Writing and winning the Emmys, he said, are what thrills him the most because all his talents were honored. "I'm proud of the fact they were in different categories -- supporting actor, producer, writer -- I loved that fact," Reiner said. Reiner won three writing Emmys for "The Dick Van Dyke Show" and a Grammy for "The 2000 Year Old Man." "I do like writing," Reiner said. "It gives me pleasure, putting lines down on paper or in the computer. I enjoy the process." Reiner still gets a kick out of any contemporary "Dick Van Dyke" reference. "Residual things happen all the time," he said. "I was reading (Barack Obama's) 'Audacity of Hope' and got great pleasure when Obama says 'My wife is watching Dick Van Dyke re-runs.'" Then there are the inspirational moments when strangers come up to Reiner and say, "I'm a writer because of you." "Some say they were 13, 14 watching Dick Van Dyke, how we kept talking about these guys writing with a sense of humor. So many kids became writers, seeing that you can get paid for being funny," Reiner said. Then there's his relationship with directing Martin, going back to the hit, "The Jerk" in 1979, followed by "Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid" in 1982, "The Man with Two Brains" in 1983, and "All of Me" in 1984. "I appreciate him so much," Reiner said of Martin. "He tickles me. He's one of these sly guys that never says funny things with big crowds around him. But his autobiography was one of the best I've ever read." One of Reiner's most notable acting jobs was in "The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming," a 1966 film shot mostly in Mendocino that also starred Alan Arkin, Jonathan Winters and Theodore Bikel. "I hadn't done acting in a long time and wanted to do this. It was an absolutely fun thing," Reiner said, remembering a day's shooting postponed filming because of rain, "so we were stuck in this little motel. I remember everyone came to my room and I said, 'Fellows, what's the last time you played a serious game of 'Ring around the rosy?' So we did it deadly serious, fell on the floor and then we all laughed." More recently, Reiner was Sid Bloom in "Ocean's 11," "Ocean's 12" and "Ocean's 13" with George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts. And if there's an "Ocean's 14," "I hope they ask me back," said Reiner, who can handle the script better than handling the title "comic legend" or "icon." "I don't take that seriously," he said. "I've had a couple of successes along the way. If you don't foul the air and stay above the fray and don't make too many terrible waves, you're an 'icon.' More importantly, know who you are." And, apparently, marry the right woman. Reiner did for 65 years. "I miss everything about her," he said. "I miss her carping about things I'm not doing right. She was a perfectionist. She was an amazing woman." Estelle knew the secret from the start, Reiner said. "She said 'Marry someone who can stand you.' That broke me up," Reiner said. "And it's true."
	__________________ 'Twas The Night Before Christmas And All Through The Full House Not A Creature Was Stirring, Not Even Mighty Mouse. All My Children We're Nestled All Snug In Their Beds While Visions Of Sugarbakers Danced In Their Heads.

01-08-2010, 01:58 AM	#4
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,460	I love Carl Reiner. And I love that he continues to work and entertain.
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

01-08-2010, 04:10 AM	#5
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	God bless Carl Reiner!!
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

01-28-2010, 09:19 AM	#7
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,061	That was a good read I'm glad he's so active.
	__________________ www.facebook.com/comedyfreak

10-16-2009, 08:54 AM	#2
tv star collector I Love Susie Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 18, 2005 Location: South Carolina Posts: 4,487	He is one of the last living legends in television who is still around (and, incredibly, still working). A brilliant comedy genius. While they're both still with us, I would love to see Carl Reiner and Sid Caesar reunite for another comedy skit. They were always so funny together.

10-16-2009, 03:47 PM	#3
MickeyMac Member Forum Star Join Date: Jun 18, 2008 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 19,008	Awesome, so glad Carl Riener is still with us.

01-27-2010, 10:36 PM	#6
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,460	Carl Reiner was on "The Bonnie Hunt Show" again today. He is still going strong. Still writing books. And he and Mel Brooks have a new CD of 2000 year old man routines out. This man is a true treasure who has been entertaining us and making us laugh for a good 60 years now and is continuing to do so.

02-04-2010, 08:33 PM	#8
jehobden Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 06, 2002 Location: DFW Area, TX Posts: 2,005	Carl also made a funny appearance on Two and a Half Men's Christmas episode this season, "Warning, It's Dirty". He played an old comedy writer whom Evelyn Harper was trying to butter up so she could sell his house for him and get a huge commission. His character said the title that week also. (Following the pilot, each episode's title has been an out-of-context quote from the episode.)