TCM Party spotlights Madeline Kahn in Young Frankenstein and High Anxiety

moviesJun 29, 2026551,425

Turner Classic Movies built a watch party around Madeline Kahn by running Young Frankenstein and High Anxiety, and viewers used the lineup to celebrate Kahn’s comic turns. Fans called out specific moments in Young Frankenstein, praising Kahn’s operatic Puttin' on the Ritz number, the “I was going to make espresso” gag, and Peter Boyle and Gene Hackman’s contributions to the film’s comic beats. Posts noted Kahn’s wider 1970s run, including Blazing Saddles and What’s Up, Doc?, and one admirer recalled Kahn teaching herself to sing opera so she could work at a singing-waitstaff restaurant. Several commenters urged TCM to honor Kahn and Cloris Leachman on a Summer Under the Stars spotlight. Others singled out supporting players, Marty Feldman, Teri Garr, Harvey Korman, and repeated favorite one-liners and production anecdotes shared during the screening.

AB Normal ✌🏻 🐾 ♥️

@katwoman13.bsky.social

And Gene Hackman with the greatest cameo in movie history. #TCMParty #YoungFrankenstein

2822h ago

Red Pill Junkie4

Greatest? He never even got to make espresso!

Adam Joseph Angotto3

You can thank Gene Wilder. According to Mel Brooks book and the Gene Wilder documentary, Wilder and Hackman became friends on the set of Bonnie and Clyde and he convinced him to take the cameo. It was also Gene Hackman's first comedy

Ms B Moran1

His was last in the cast credits. Said simply: Blind man Gene Hackman Word has it, he totally improvised his last line “I was going to make espresso.”

teamrickandilsa.bsky.social

@teamrickandilsa.bsky.social

Easily one of my favorite stories about the production of #YoungFrankenstein. #TCMParty

1772h ago

Rd bacon

@doublechinner.bsky.social

Madeline Kahn taught herself to sing opera so she could work as a waitress at a singing waitstaff restaurant. A singular talent. #YoungFrankenstein #tcmparty

822h ago

Stephanie Morrison

@stephaniemorrison.bsky.social

God I miss Madeleine Kahn. Think of the comedy she could do today with all the material laying around. #TCMParty #YoungFrankenstein

892h ago

billtbns.bsky.social1

Madeline Kahn and Catherine O'Hara were amazing talents and their brilliance was absolutely magnetic. Two of my all-time favorites.

Beejieweejie she/her1

I miss her too. She was a genius. I also miss Catherine O'Hara. 😭😭

Duke City Smoke1

youtu.be/Pdk72Ns6sBE I watch this every once in a while and fall in love with her all over again.

Quoting this

The RAD Seed2

Truly the star of the film

meh

@mharvey816.bsky.social

"Abby Normal" is just genius level comedy writing. #YoungFrankenstein #TCMParty

662h ago

Charlie Largent

@charlielargent.bsky.social

Happy birthday to Mel Brooks! - Blazing Saddles - 1974 - German release poster

Cleavon Little and Gene Wilder draw their six-shooters while Madeline Kahn hangs on to Little's leg

4712h ago

Melinda Kinnaird

@melindakinnaird.bsky.social

I hereby request that TCM honor Cloris Leechman and Madeline Kahn one of these days on Summer Under The Stars. #YoungFrankenstein #TCMParty

542h ago

Kevin Daly

@kevinddaly.bsky.social

A favorite awards lineup: Liza (winner) WAS The Act Madeline had already left 20th Century (Hal Prince lobbied hard to get replacement Judy Kaye nominated instead) Eartha made her big US comeback in Timbuktu! And Frannie Sternhagen along for the ride for the 5-performance flop Angel

Best Actress in a Musical Tony, Class of 1978: Liza Minnelli, Madeline Kahn, Eartha Kitt, Frances Sternhagen.

5713h ago

BookHoarder

@bookhoarder53.bsky.social

Omg. I love this part! Peter Boyle was hilarious! #YoungFrankenstein #TCMParty

522h ago

Naschy's Toupée

@naschystoupee.bsky.social

High Anxiety (1977) "A Bloody Mary! Well Misses. I don't like the Bloody Mary they serve on the plane. No sir! It's too burning! They don't even put tomato juice. They put in snappy peppy."

Dr. Richard Harpo Thorndyke (Mel Brooks) and Victoria Brisbane (Madeline Kahn) pose as an old crazy married couple arguing about insane things in the airport so they can be pushed through TSA faster.

34Yesterday

samguy60.bsky.social

@samguy60.bsky.social

Even 14 year old me knew that Marty Feldman should’ve been nominated for an Oscar. I mean DeNiro was great in Godfather 2 bhut c’mon Actually John Huston should’ve been nominated as well for Chinatown #YoungFrankenstein #TCMParty

342h ago

Douglas Hardy 🏳️‍🌈

@douglashardy.bsky.social

“I was going to make espresso” That line got a big laugh in 1974 because espresso was a new thing in the country at the time and was considered rather hoity-toity and elitist #YoungFrankenstein #TCMParty

322h ago

ilikeplaidalot.bsky.social

@ilikeplaidalot.bsky.social

I don’t know how people could even control themselves in the theatre back when this first came out 😂 🎩 #TCMParty #YoungFrankenstein

302h ago

Graeme Swanson

@swansonian.bsky.social

Mel Brooks love (I know it's not his birthday until tomorrow, shut up) has made me think about his rep company. Thanks Donna for sending me this. I've somehow never seen it. Madeline Kahn was incredibly talented. I got a little damp eyed watching this because it's so good damn perfect.

19Yesterday

ghost

@johndeweysghost.bsky.social

#tcmparty #youngfrankenstein Garr was a background dancer in THE T.A.M.I. SHOW, along with her friend, fellow dancer (and later choreographer and singer) Toni Basil

272h ago

Rd bacon6

Yes, that’s how I know! I was watching TAMI on @tcmtv.bsky.social when my Teri Garr sense tingled, and there she was. I always had a huge crush on her, because of Roberta Lincoln on Star Trek, so I could spot her anywhere. #tcmparty

BarbAfter9091

She also danced in Viva Las Vegas.

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TCM Party spotlights Madeline Kahn in Young Frankenstein and High Anxietymovies

TCM Party spotlights Madeline Kahn in Young Frankenstein and High Anxiety

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