TV Quote of the Day (Reiner and Brooks, With the 2,000-Year-Old Man on Ancient Matrimony)

Carl Reiner: “We know that many, many hundreds of years ago, most men had more than one wife.”

The 2,000-Year-Old Man [played by Mel Brooks]: “Yeah!”

Reiner: “Did you practice polygamy in those days?”

The 2,000-Year-Old Man: “I never practiced it. I was perfect at it!”—Reiner and Brooks with their “2,000-Year-Old Man” routine, The Hollywood Palace, Season 4, Episode 2, original air date Sept. 24, 1966

I had heard bits of the classic Carl Reiner-Mel Brooks routine (captured on five albums released between 1960 and 1997) but was reminded of this short section when I was recently visiting the National Comedy Center in Jamestown, NY.

Though I have gone through this wonderful museum a couple of times before, this was the first occasion I had to see their section on Reiner.  It was a great reminder of just how influential he was, on TV and film, over several decades.

Influenced by the example of his longtime friend Reiner, Brooks is also turning over many of his artifacts to the comedy museum. Once its curators have had a choice to sample these wares, the resulting display should be something to see.