isaid, ok. i said tojoseph e levine, he's out. you didn't say that? i said, he's out. he's gone. and that was a lesson, a great lesson for me, lying to the studio. mel met anne bancroft in 1961, during rehearsals for the perry como show. his life changed forever. there she was, on stage, singing beautifully. i saw her backstage and we talked and i never stopped seeing her and talking to her for the next 45 years. one of his most cherished awards is the medal of arts he received from barack obama at the white house. the president was a big fan of blazing saddles. he loved the film. he loved the film, and he cheated? well, he was 12 years old, it was listed for 16 and above, and i think he cheated.