Screen Queen TV Reviews: Mel Brooks doco, Shrinking S3, Bridgerton S4 Pt 1, and Doc

Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man!

Streaming now on HBO Max

I’ve had the pleasure of chatting to thousands of big-name stars over the years. They’ve been properly, globally, astronomically famous: think Beyonce, Jack Black, Harry Styles, Joan Rivers. All lovely, all gracious enough to share their time.

But it was a tiny 78-year-old Mel Brooks, whom I met backstage at the 2004 TV Week Logie awards, who has had the biggest impact on me.

In town to promote The Producers, he’d been inexplicably roped into presenting an award alongside The Bold And The Beautiful’s Ronn Moss, an absurd proposition, and one Mel seemed to delight in.

I’d not been asked to interview him (that honour went to my colleague), but he was only too happy to chat to the starry-eyed 20-something journalist who sidled up and quizzed him about why he was there, and what he thought of it all. He answered all my questions with a raised eyebrow and a lovely half-smile, ripping out one-liners and making me laugh.

Fast forward and I’m reliving it all watching this incredible two-part documentary, made by a more recent comedy legend, Judd Apatow. I now realise Brooks’ openness, kindness and his love of the absurd (I mean, he was sitting backstage at an Australian casino waiting to present an award with a B-list soap star to a bunch of nobody Aussies) was entirely on-brand. He clearly found the whole thing hilarious, and equally he delights in looking back over his own fascinating life.

How lucky I was to meet him that night. How lucky we all are to learn more about him via Apatow’s well-crafted doco.

Comedy fans: don’t miss this one. And Mel, if you’re reading (which, honestly, given your love of the absurd, wouldn’t surprise me), thanks for being nice to me that night. And sorry if I came on a bit strong.

Bridgerton S4 Pt 1

Thursday, streaming on Netflix

I’ve always had a soft spot for Benedict Bridgerton, the rakish second son of The Ton’s most eligible family. He’s been something of a cad these past few seasons, swinging both ways in his determined efforts to remain a bachelor — we respect his ability to pivot.

But Mummy Dearest is determined to put a stop to all that, and this season sees the black sheep of the family thrust (ahem) into the marriage market.

If you’ve read the Bridgerton books, you’ll know what’s afoot. But if you’re new to the world, get ready for another fabulously watchable season as Luke Thompson brings his character’s story to life, alongside Aussie actor Yerin Ha, who plays his delightful love interest. Can’t wait for you to see this.

Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere

Streaming now on Disney Plus

Jeremy Allen White playing Bruce Springsteen is the perfect intersection of two of my favourite special interests — of COURSE I’ll be watching this biopic. One for fans and creeps like me.

Doc

Tuesday, streaming on 7Plus

Desperate Housewife Felicity Huffman joins the cast of this better-than-expected medical drama, which stars Molly Parker as Dr Amy Larsen, the brilliant chief of internal medicine at a Minneapolis hospital. This has been rating its socks off stateside — see what all the fuss is about.

Shrinking

Wednesday, streaming on Apple TV Plus

Co-creator Bill Lawrence said season one was about grief, season two was about forgiveness, and season three will be about “moving forward” — can’t wait to see where he takes us this time. This show is consistently great.