When I was a teen in the ’80′s – my weekends featured a solid television ritual. On Saturdays one of the networks would always screen a double feature of a Jerry Lewis with Dean Martin occasionally ‘tagging’ along film followed by an Elvis Presley film.

I loved them both and wanted to be like them. Jerry Lewis made me laugh so hard I’d almost wet myself, and Elvis was just so cool with the chicks and hooboy could the man sing. The big bonus of course was that both played pretty much the same roles in the same types of stories so there was assured satisfaction on my part.

On Sundays – it was a bit leaner and while i waited on the music show Countdown and sci-fi classic Doctor Who with the real Doctor – Tom Baker, I often found myself watching those strange Don Knotts starring films.

It was only later that I discovered those gems starring Gene Wilder and Mel Brooks. It fascinated me that the same guy that put together ‘Blazing Saddles’ was also behind ‘Get Smart’… the notion of medium crossover irked a lot… and who the heck was this Buck Henry that I kept seeing being credited on shows I really liked.

I guess the testimony to a good performer is how well they hold up over time. I must confess I can take or leave Jerry now and I now greatly appreciate the contributions that Dean Martin made when they appeared together… and Elvis… well I still love his music but I’m gonna have to really pass on the movies… oh….except three – ‘King Creole’, ‘Jailhouse Rock’… and strangely ‘Roustabout’.

And Don Knotts… no thanks… and Mel Brooks. Yeah. He has championed everyone with his staying power… I mean check out the classic below that still works.