Mel Brooks entered even more prestigious awards territory on Sunday, upgrading his EGOT to PEGOT as he was honored with the Career Achievement Award at the 84th Annual Peabody Awards.
Brooks became only the fourth person to win a Peabody, Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony, behind Barbra Streisand, Rita Moreno and Mike Nichols. Billy Crystal presented the comedy icon with the honor at the organization’s ceremony in Los Angeles. (A PEGOT can also refer to a Pulitzer instead of a Peabody, something only Richard Rodgers and Marvin Hamlisch have achieved.)
“Mel is a genius who believes that comedy should push boundaries, challenge societal taboos and, yes, be a little vulgar when the mood demands it – and with Mel, the mood often demands it,” said Crystal to the crowd at the Beverly Wilshire. hotel. “Mel is one of the main reasons I live in comedy. His fearless genius and boundary-pushing humor have been my guide since day one,” adding that Brooks guided him through some of the most pivotal moments of his career.
“For over 70 years, Mel has entertained us. I just want to ask you, where would we be without him? Crystal reflected, noting that Brooks had become “only the fourth PEGOT winner in the process – that’s a big deal, I’m just an ET.”
In his speech, Brooks admitted he wasn’t entirely sure what a Peabody was for, teasing, “When they said, ‘You won a Peabody Award,’ I said, ‘Oh, not shit.’ I thought maybe it was for being the best looking guy in show business I had no idea what this award meant: it’s mainly for electronics. If you’re good at electronics, you can. win one.
He joked that he would like to say he humbly accepted the award “but I’m not humble… Humility is not in my vocabulary.” And referring to stars who have received the Career Achievement Award in the past, Brooks added: “It was won by a distinguished group of esteemed and valuable individuals. [people] win this award and I feel a little bit — do you really want me to be a part of this? These are people who go to good restaurants,” to great laughter from the crowd. In closing, the star said, “I promised the people at George Foster Peabody I wouldn’t sell this one.”
Sunday night’s Peabody Awards ceremony marked the first time the ceremony was held in Los Angeles, versus its usual home in New York; the move was originally planned for 2020, but the in-person show has been constantly derailed in recent years by the pandemic and then last year’s writers’ strike.
Kumail Nanjiani hosted the show, which awarded 34 awards across television, radio/podcasts and digital media; The bear, The last of us, Legal Department, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Reservation dogs, Travel companions, Blue, Dead ringtones And someone somewhere were among the previously announced TV winners.
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