The Passing of Bernie Brillstein

[Nizzles]

This made me really sad this morning. This was the man who did the dirty work to make successes of both the Muppet Show and Mr. Show. I had the chance to meet/be around him several times and I have never felt more star struck, or satisfied that this iconic figure was before me and had exceeded every expectation. The video "Bob Pitches a Movie" that I made with Bob Odenkirk was shot in Bernie's office at Brillstein Grey, and it was like being in the Museum of Awesome. He had leather-bound scripts of his client's projects, like Gary Shandling's Show, The Blues Brothers, Ghostbusters, The Cable Guy and the Run Ronnie Run script that I had been tasked to make for him as a production assistant nine years ago. He also still used this giant 1960s style phone box on his desk, that had a tiny LED scroll that would display messages from his assistant about who was calling, and below that were four giant buttons labeled "take a message" "i will return the call" and things like that. Why fuck with something that works? He took that philosophy into the developing of comedy, and for that, all the Mr. Show/Tenacious D fans should be grateful.

[Jouster]

Very sad. He was a legend. I never met him, but looking at his resume and hearing stories about him was kinda awe-inspiring.

[Hated Milk Machine]

What a bummer.

[KevinLee]

A friend of mine's uncle used to be a Muppeter. I'll have to ask if he knew him.
It always seemed like an awesome job. How does one get into something like that, I wonder?

[pollymaepry]

He obviously loved Bob and David and Mr. Show and great comedy in general. It always made me really happy and hopeful that someone out there who was older and had power used it to progress comedy. So this sucks.

[uncomfortable]

I did know his Goddaughter, and I asked to arrange a meeting to meet him, mostly out of curiosity, but there was a touch of sucking up that can't really be denied.

That worked out about as good as my movie pitch to the woman who wrote for Disney's direct to DVD line of live-action films.

[Simmeon]

He also still used this giant 1960s style phone box on his desk, that had a tiny LED scroll that would display messages from his assistant about who was calling, and below that were four giant buttons labeled "take a message" "i will return the call" and things like that. Why fuck with something that works?

They had those crazy machines when I interned on the Sony lot 12 years ago. I'm so annoyed that I can't think of that they were called. I loved it since it was so much better sending phone messages that way instead of having to talk to the woman that I worked for (and was terrified of).

[Jack]

This guy was a legend and a great example of what one person could do. Truly the Robert Evans of comedy. Who even comes close to him nowadays?
[YOUTUBE]MLbl0y24zzs[/YOUTUBE]