Mel Brooks Presented with Peabody Award by Billy Crystal: 'My Guiding Light Since Day One'

The 'Spaceballs' and 'Young Frankenstein' director is now one of four “PEGOT” winners

Longtime EGOT honoree Mel Brooks just earned “PEGOT” status!

On Sunday, June 9, the writer and director, 97, received the Career Achievement Award at the 84th annual Peabody Awards — and he was presented with the honor by a fellow comedy legend, Billy Crystal.

While introducing Brooks at the Beverly Hills ceremony, Crystal, 76, said that the iconic entertainer’s “fearless genius and boundary-pushing humor have been my guiding light since day one.”

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“Mel is a genius who believes that comedy should push boundaries, challenge societal taboos and yes, be a little vulgar when the mood calls for it,” Crystal told the crowd. “And with Mel, the mood often calls for it.”

The When Harry Met Sally star went on to say that “Mel is one of the big reasons that I have a life in comedy,” and congratulated him on becoming the fourth-ever “PEGOT” winner. “It’s a big deal, I’m just an ET,” the comedian joked.

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While accepting the Peabody — which has previously gone to stars like Carol Burnett, Lily Tomlin and Rita Moreno — Brooks acknowledged Crystal’s own contributions to comedy, telling the star he “should get one of these just for Soap.”

“You deserve so much, and I have so many things to say, but I do want to say thank you,” he added, before joking, “Who is this Mel Brooks? Who is this guy?”

Later in his speech, the filmmaker joked he wasn’t exactly sure what the award was for. ‘I want to tell you, I wasn't sure when they said, ‘You've won a Peabody.’ I said, ‘No s---?’ I thought, ‘Well, maybe it was for being the best looking guy in show business.’ ”

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The Spaceballs and Young Frankenstein director also joked that he is “not humble.” “Humility is not a part of my vocabulary,” he told the crowd. “I don't even know how to spell. I think humility probably starts with a ‘U.’ No idea.”

“This is a great honor and it has been won by a distinguished group of esteemed, well-worth winning this award and I feel a little, I don't know,” he continued. “You really want me to be part of this? These are people that go to good restaurants.”

“Anyway, but seriously, I thank you for this prestigious and fabulous award,” he said, before continuing one of his ongoing bits — that he has sold all of his previous awards.

“I promised the George Foster Peabody people, I will not sell this one,” he added.

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After the June 9 ceremony, Brooks is now the fourth "PEGOT" winner, joining Moreno, Mike Nichols and Barbra Streisand.

He previously won the Best Original Screenplay Oscar for The Producers in 1969, and then completed his EGOT in 2001 when the stage version of the musical comedy won three Tonys. He has also won three Grammys and four Emmys throughout his career.

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