Movie director John Landis (“The Blues Brothers” 1980) put together a fun documentary project on one of America’s most beloved comedians in “Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project.” He interviewed scores of celebrities and featured clips of Rickles’ numerous appearances, especially from “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.”
It was Johnny who gave Rickles the moniker “Mr. Warmth” during one of the many guest shots on the Carson show, no doubt helping his career tremendously. Some scenes showed the 81-year-old working a room with sometimes racist remarks. Only Rickles could get away with this type of material. He would frequently aim his sharp tongue at very famous and powerful people, like the time he asked President Ronald Reagan from the stage if “I’m going too fast for you.”
Among the celebrities interviewed are Ed McMahon, Jay Leno, Regis Philbin, Larry King, Bob Newhart, Steve Lawrence, Jimmy Kimmel, Clint Eastwood, Ernest Borgnine, Billy Crystal, Debbie Reynolds, Joan Rivers, Dick Smothers, Tom Smothers, Rosanne Barr, and Sidney Poitier, his final film appearance in a career that began in 1947.
“Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project” from producers John Landis and Larry Rickles (Don’s son) was first aired on HBO in October, 2007. The program won two Emmy Awards: Outstanding Variety, Music, or Comedy Special and Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program (for Don Rickles himself).
Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project (2007)
cinema
My Review
Movie director John Landis (“The Blues Brothers” 1980) put together a fun documentary project on one of America’s most beloved comedians in “Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project.” He interviewed scores of celebrities and featured clips of Rickles’ numerous appearances, especially from “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.”
It was Johnny who gave Rickles the moniker “Mr. Warmth” during one of the many guest shots on the Carson show, no doubt helping his career tremendously. Some scenes showed the 81-year-old working a room with sometimes racist remarks. Only Rickles could get away with this type of material. He would frequently aim his sharp tongue at very famous and powerful people, like the time he asked President Ronald Reagan from the stage if “I’m going too fast for you.”
Among the celebrities interviewed are Ed McMahon, Jay Leno, Regis Philbin, Larry King, Bob Newhart, Steve Lawrence, Jimmy Kimmel, Clint Eastwood, Ernest Borgnine, Billy Crystal, Debbie Reynolds, Joan Rivers, Dick Smothers, Tom Smothers, Rosanne Barr, and Sidney Poitier, his final film appearance in a career that began in 1947.
“Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project” from producers John Landis and Larry Rickles (Don’s son) was first aired on HBO in October, 2007. The program won two Emmy Awards: Outstanding Variety, Music, or Comedy Special and Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program (for Don Rickles himself).