Search - Inside the Comedy Mind - Gold and Platinum Collection 2-Pack on DVD

K. K. (GAMER)
Reviewed on 1/3/2025...

A great insight into some of the wellknown comedians if you have the patience of the slow paced interviews. George Carlin gave quite the interview and his special history from birth until his current age.

Go deep inside the lives and minds of comedy giants

T. Davis | Seattle, WA | 12/29/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Back in the early 90s, the late comedian Alan King performed a great public service by engaging some of the finest comics, actors, writers, directors, and producers of the 20th century in wide-ranging personal interviews that are a pleasure to watch and quite revealing to boot. A few of the comedy legends on his show were his foreruners, and some were his contemporaries, but many were rising stars whose generation brought a new sensibility to comedy. King displays exemplary warmth, wit, and wisdom as host.



The two volumes in this collection, which are also available separately, include 20 half-hour programs (since commercials have been excised, the total length of each DVD is four hours). The "Gold Collection" contains extended interviews with Neil Simon, George Burns, George Carlin, Mel Brooks, Buddy Hackett, Rob Reiner, Carl Reiner, Dennis Miller, Garry Marshall, and Jerry Seinfeld. The "Platinum Collection" features Billy Crystal, Bob Hope, Jack Lemmon, Carol Burnett, Steven Wright, Howie Mandel, Charles Grodin, Norman Lear, Whoopi Goldberg, and Robin Williams.



The interviews, while often funny, are not simply an opportunity for stars to crack wise, as they might on the Tonight Show. They are instead thoughtful, timeless explorations of the craft of comedy. I found them fascinating viewing, and I recommended them highly.



As generous as this sampling is, there were at least 57 people who guested on this series. I'd be interested in watching even more episodes, and I look forward to a DVD release of the full series. Here's a more-or-less complete listing of the guests that appeared during the show's three-season run:



1) Carl Reiner

2) Jerry Seinfeld

3) George Carlin

4) The Smothers Brothers

5) Milton Berle

6) Steven Wright

7) Carol Burnett

8) Gary Marshall

9) Don Rickles

10) Richard Lewis

11) Billy Crystal

12) Roseanne Barr

13) Robert Townsend

14) Martin Short

15) Norman Lear

16) Catherine O'Hara

17) Dennis Miller

18) Harvey Korman and Tim Conway

19) Whoopi Goldberg

20) Keenan Ivory Wayans

21) Joan Rivers

22) Rob Reiner

23) Robert Klein

24) Buddy Hackett

25) Louie Anderson

26) Dudley Moore

27) Martin Mull

28) Chevy Chase

29) Michael J. Fox

30) Tony Randall

31) Bob Hope

32) Howie Mandel

33) Jack Lemmon

34) Elayne Boosler

35) Paul Mazursky

36) Andrew Dice Clay

37) David Brenner

38) Andrea Martin

39) Robin Williams

40) Dennis Leary

41) George Burns

42) Robert Wuhl

43) Larry Gelbart

44) Henny Youngman

45) Rita Rudner

46) Charles Grodin

47) Kevin Nealon

48) Mel Brooks

49) Gary David Goldberg

50) Paul Reiser

51) Jerry Lewis

52) Blake Edwards

53) Henry Winkler

54) Chuck Jones

55) Neil Simon"