Sid Caesar was one of the geniuses of TV comedy in the 1950s. Starting with the 90-minute variety series Your Show of Shows, which launched in 1950 and ran for four seasons, and continuing for three more seasons on Caesar's Hour through 1957, Caesar and his comedy troupe (including Imogene Coca, who went on to headline her own series in 1954, Carl Reiner, Howard Morris, and later Nanette Fabray) created some of the funniest, most inventive moments on TV. Caesar was a wonderfully expressive performer gifted in both pantomime and dialects and a master of comic timing, and he was supported by a brilliant writing team of talents who launched incredible careers in their own right, including Mel Brooks, Neil Simon, and Larry Gelbart (with Woody Allen joining for Caesar’s 1950s TV specials). These shows were broadcast live in the days before videotape, but kinescope recordings were filmed of many, preserving landmark TV comedy skits. This five-disc collection features the 1973 anthology film Ten from Your Show of Shows and additional hours of skits from Caesar’s two signature shows—from numerous movie parodies to satires of modern life to comic operas and musical pieces—along with subsequent TV specials, the 1967 reunion "The Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, Carl Reiner, Howard Morris Special," and a 1983 talk show reunion of Caesar, Reiner, and Brooks. Extras include excerpts from a 1971 Friars Club tribute to Caesar, the 1996 documentary Caesar's Writers, a 2001 NYU "Master Class" with Caesar, archival interviews, and a 2014 Paley Center tribute to Caesar with Brooks, Reiner, and Billy Crystal. An essential slice of TV history featuring a hilarious collection of brilliant TV comedy, this is highly recommended. (S. Axmaker)
Sid Caesar: The Works
Shout! Factory, 5 discs, 840 min., not rated, DVD: $59.99
Sid Caesar: The Works
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