Mel Brooks developing "The Producers" and "Young Frankenstein" for the musical theater, saying of an early meeting with her: "From that day, until her death…we were glued together." Regarding religion, Brooks stated, "I'm rather secular. I'm basically Jewish. But I think I'm Jewish not because of the Jewish religion at all. I think it's the relationship with the people and the pride I have. The tribe surviving so many misfortunes, and being so brave and contributing so much knowledge to the world and showing courage." Brooks' great-nephew from his brother Lenny, Todd Kaminsky, is a New York state senator for state senate
Mel Tolkin by Brooks, and the Broadway play "Laughter on the 23rd Floor" (1993), written by Neil Simon. Mel Tolkin Mel Tolkin, né Shmuel Tolchinsky (August 3, 1913 – November 26, 2007), was a television comedy writer best known as head writer of the live sketch comedy series "Your Show of Shows" (NBC, 1950–1954) during the Golden Age of Television. There he presided over a staff that at times included Mel Brooks, Neil Simon, and Danny Simon. The writers' room inspired the film "My Favorite Year" (1982), produced by Brooks, and the Broadway play "Laughter on the 23rd Floor" (1993), written by