MEL BROOKS

Preview: Reiner's family tells "CBS Sunday Morning" that, for a year after the comedy legend died, his best friend Mel Brooks continued visiting Reiner's home for dinner.

A snapshot of popular books.

Movie critics and comedians defend the humor in old, beloved films now considered controversial and could likely never be made in today's cancel culture climate.

Comedian Freddie Roman, the former dean of The Friars Club and a staple of the Catskills comedy scene, has died.

Peter O’Toole was famed for his commanding, Oscar-nominated turns. Mark Linn-Baker was a fledgling stage actor. Richard Benjamin, who’d made a leading-man splash in “Portnoy’s Complaint” and “Westworld,” had a few TV directing credits.

A snapshot of popular books.

Here’s a collection curated by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists of what’s arriving on TV, streaming services and music platforms this week. In her review, AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr called the film "part 'Bridget Jones's Diary,' part Mel Brooks and all joy." — Mila Kunis stars in the Netflix thriller "Luckiest Girl Alive," based on Jessica Knoll's 2015 best-selling debut novel. The film, streaming Friday, takes some of the mystery stylings of "Gone Girl" and "The Girl on the Train." — AP Film Writer Jake CoyleMUSIC— For his third album, pop singer-songwriter Charlie Puth is going with a very simple title — "Charlie," due out Friday.

This week’s new entertainment releases include albums from Charlie Puth and The Cult, Mila Kunis starring in the Netflix thriller “Luckiest Girl Alive,” and “30 Rock” star Jack McBrayer leading the second season of “Hello, Jack.

Super duper!

“Norman has so much to give us, I don’t think 100 is nearly enough," says Lear's close friend Mel Brooks.

The Marvel sequel “Thor: Love & Thunder” dropped a hefty 68% in its second weekend of release but still held the top spot at the box office.

Michael Cera and Samuel L. Jackson star in an animated version of "Blazing Saddles" with cats and dogs.

In the documentary "The Automat," filmmaker Lisa Hurwitz examines the history of the defunct Horn & Hardart cafeteria chain.

Lisa Hurwitz’s ode to the Horn & Hardart restaurants—featuring Mel Brooks, Elliott Gould, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg—depicts cheap dining as a theatrical experience.

Betty White died from a stroke she had six days before her Dec. 31 death at age 99, according to her death certificate.

Leave it to Mel Brooks to blurb his own memoir.

Mel Brooks-History of the World FILE - In this May 17, 2017 file photo, Mel Brooks attends the premiere of "If You're Not In The Obit, Eat Breakfast" in Beverly Hills, Calif. Forty years after the release of his beloved “History of the World, Part I,” Mel Brook has a sequel in the works. The 95-year-old show business giant has a deal with Hulu for an eight-part sequel, titled, of course, “History of the World, Part II.” (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File) (Richard Shotwell)NEW YORK — (AP) — It is still good to be the king. Forty years after the release of his beloved “History of the World, Part I,” Mel Brooks has a sequel in the works. The 95-year-old show business giant has a deal with Hulu for an 8-part sequel, titled, of course, “History of the World, Part II." Brooks is among the executive producers and writers, along with Nick Kroll, Wanda Sykes, Ike Barinholtz, David Stassen and Kevin Salter.

It is still good to be the king.

Books-Mel Brooks FILE - In this May 17, 2017 file photo, Mel Brooks attends the LA Premiere of "If You're Not In The Obit, Eat Breakfast" in Beverly Hills, Calif. Brooks has a memoir coming in November. My Remarkable Life in Show Business.” (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File) (Richard Shotwell)NEW YORK — (AP) — At 95, Mel Brooks is more than ready to flaunt his many achievements. Ballantine Books announced Wednesday that Brooks' memoir “All About Me! My Remarkable Life in Show Business” will come out Nov. 30. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

If anyone has a right to tell his story, it's Mel Brooks.

FILE - Actress Cloris Leachman gestures to honoree Mel Brooks in the audience during the American Film Institute's 41st Lifetime Achievement Award Gala on June 6, 2013, in Los Angeles. Leachman died in her sleep of natural causes at her home in Encinitas, California, publicist Monique Moss said Wednesday. “Nothing I could say would top the enormity of my love for you,” posted Ed Asner of “The Mary Tyler Moore Show." Phyllis was so unexpectedly engaging that Leachman starred in a spinoff series of her own, “Phyllis,” which ran on CBS from 1975 to 1977. Cloris Leachman grew up on the outskirts of Des Moines, Iowa, where she was born in 1926.

The world also said goodbye to U.S. Rep. John Lewis, a lion of the civil rights movement who died in July. Other former political figures who died this year include Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak, New York Mayor David Dinkins, Arizona Gov. Here is a roll call of some influential figures who died in 2020 (cause of death cited for younger people, if available):___JANUARY___David Stern, 77. The guitarist who supplied the scratching, seething sound that fueled the highly influential British punk band Gang of Four. He fused African rhythms with funk to become one of the most influential musicians in world dance music.

FILE - In this May 26, 1963 file photo, Carl Reiner shows holds two Emmy statuettes presented to him as best comedy writer for the "Dick Van Dyke Show," during the annual Emmy Awards presentation in Los Angeles. Reiner, the ingenious and versatile writer, actor and director who broke through as a second banana to Sid Caesar and rose to comedys front ranks as creator of The Dick Van Dyke Show and straight man to Mel Brooks 2000 Year Old Man, has died, according to reports. It starred Van Dyke as a television comedy writer working for a demanding, eccentric boss (Reiner) and living with his wife (Mary Tyler Moore in her first major TV role) and young son in suburban New Rochelle, New York. The Van Dyke show is probably the most thrilling of my accomplishments because that was very, very personal, Reiner once said. Reiner is the father of actor-director Rob Reiner.

(AP Photo/Harold Filan, File)NEW YORK Carl Reiner, who died Monday at 98, was the rare untortured genius of comedy, his career a story of laughter and camaraderie, of innovation and triumph and affection. Reiner died of natural causes at his Beverly Hills, California home, assistant Judy Nagy said. But CBS executives worried that Reiner would make Petrie seem too Jewish, so Van Dyke was cast instead. First lady Michelle Obama once joked that she preferred watching Dick Van Dyke to viewing her husbands debates. Reiner was the father of actor-director Rob Reiner, who starred as Archie Bunkers son-in-law on All in the Family and directed When Harry Met Sally... Rob Reiner said in a tweet Tuesday that his heart is hurting.

AdvertisementA Deeply Felt ConnectionEl Paso is a beacon for Mexican Americans, and the massacre there has resonated especially in Southern California. Back in El Paso, all the streets echo our names, says Gabriel Tenorio, a 46-year-old transplant who now lives in Boyle Heights. The result: listings for accessories for high-capacity magazines (banned in California) and vintage AK-47 bayonets (officially banned on the site). (The Cut)ONLY IN L.A.Meet the former diplomat and veteran soap opera producer who plans to serve as Californias film ambassador. One of her top goals: getting more money allocated each year to the states film and TV tax credit program.