Nichols and May: Take Two

If you are unfamiliar with the comedy team of Nichols and May, this is a nice introduction. It's not perfect...but is probably the best way to learn about their style...which, in many ways, plays like a two person Bob Newhart style stand-up act. At the time and even today, Nichols and May's humor and style is unique...and the show celebrates this by showing various clips of their work as well as having interviews with the team.

So is this perfect? No. I saw two problems, though they were minor. Mike Nichols was alive when this show was made, and May still is alive...yet neither were interviewed. Hearing from them sure would have been nice. Also, oddly, little is said about their careers post-comedy team. Both (especially Nichols) were very prolific in films following the dissolution of the team--writing and directing various movies...and some of their work (especially Nichols' "The Graduate") is very famous.

By the way, this was first shown on PBS's "American Masters" and was recently re-shown on Turner Classic Movies.

I wasn't familiar with the brilliant comedy duo of Mike Nichols and Elaine May, until I saw this program (originally broadcast in 1996 on PBS). Their combination of great comic timing and natural improvisational ability is showcased, here, in rare clips of their comedy sketchs. Whether they take on contemporary political issues, teenage dating rituals or the divisions of social class, this couple was simply amazing! They came up with funnier material on their feet, than some of the so-called "comedy" developed for the sit-coms of today, written weeks in advance! Check it out, if you can find this video. You will love it.

Nichols and may take II, an episode of the american masters series, shown on may 22 1996. Nichols and may highlights, from their radio, television, and film bits. They really were genius! Starting with an outline, they added improv; sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't. Nichols directed some HUGE films... the graduate, virginia woolf, birdcage, silkwood. I personally LOVE elaine may as actress and director. "A new leaf" (elaine may, walter matthau) is incredible. Although ishtar clearly had issues... but I blame those on warren beatty, who owned the rights. And cast himself. But he should have cast someone else in his role. Jack parr, steve allen, steve martin, and even robin williams talk about the ups and downs of their type of comedy. One problem was that the sponsors didn't always get it. Or the explicit talk of sex. Or cheating on a spouse sometimes caused problems. But when they worked together, it was magic; they really had a great sense of timing and comedy.

The whole time I watched this, I thought they were a married couple!

Somehow or another, it sort of takes away from their appeal to find out that they were just friends who worked together, because all the best relationships should have the kind of camaraderie that these two had, to understand each other's minds so well, which is what it takes to be able to do this kind of comedy.

Comedy is a mental exercise. So these two really had a meeting of the minds. In the meeting of the minds is a great basis for a romantic relationship. But alas!

They were good. I just wish they would have been a married couple, that's all. I just somehow find that more appealing and genuine.

Oh, well! There's always Burns and Allen, thank God!

Good documentary of the greatest standup team of all time with, thankfully, ample footage of the two of them taking precedence over the talking heads. And speaking of talking heads, what, in the name of all that is funny, is TOM BROKAW doing within a thousand feet of comedy?