Cavett Unbearable
I have always loved Mel Brooks. Even his misses offer something. In particular I would recommend his under-appreciated film "To Be or Not to Be" (1983). Unfortunately, the cringe-worthy Dick Cavett makes this TV special unbearable to watch. I'm sure someone must like Cavett but I can't imagine why. I wouldn't call him an entertainer because he doesn't do that andCavett Unbearable
I have always loved Mel Brooks. Even his misses offer something. In particular I would recommend his under-appreciated film "To Be or Not to Be" (1983). Unfortunately, the cringe-worthy Dick Cavett makes this TV special unbearable to watch. I'm sure someone must like Cavett but I can't imagine why. I wouldn't call him an entertainer because he doesn't do that and I wouldn't call him a comedian since he's not funny. He presents himself as the droll observer with witty comments and pithy observations except that he's not witty but he is pretty pithy. Also he wears stupid hats which suggests he's not embarrassed to look foolish, which is good. Mainly he comes across as being uncomfortable which is appropriate.
Having said all those unkind things about Cavett, the show is uncomfortable to watch probably for reasons other than the host. The format for one of these tribute shows is difficult. Just two people sitting on stage is too static. There has to be more stuff going on; movie clips, guests, something else to add energy. If they're just going to sit there and talk, they have to mesh and work well with one another. That's not the case here. The awkward Cavett was too busy telling his own "witty" stories to allow Brooks to do his shtick which is the reason I tuned in.
Maybe I'm mistaken and the point of this production was to present Brooks and Cavett on together as co-equals. That wouldn't make any sense would it, kind of like Ed Sullivan and the Beatles: Together Again.… Expand