Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project is an Emmy-winning documentary about stand-up comedian Don Rickles, best known for his insults. Rickles took home the final Primetime Emmy Award for Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program awarded by the Television Academy. The documentary also won the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Variety, Music, or Comedy Special.

They don’t make comedians like they used to. Don Rickles was truly one of a kind. Nicknamed Mr. Warmth, he was able to get away with insult comedy during an era that was tolerating of such comedy. If there’s a better word than tolerating, please tell me. These days, the legendary insult comic would probably be cancelled before his career even got started. While there are many clips from his performances through the years and rightfully so, Mr. Warmth is also able to capture the non-insulting side of Rickles through his relationship with the Newharts and their many trips together.

There is one clip here that makes or breaks the documentary and that’s the before and after of Rickles appearing as a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. Bob Newhart happened to be sitting in for Carson that night. When Carson–who gave Rickles the nickname of Mr. Warmth–came back the next night, he discovered that his cigarette box was broken. As soon as he learned who did it, he visited Rickles across the hall WHILE Rickles was taping a show for NBC. The comedy material is priceless but if the clips weren’t here, the film wouldn’t be complete.

The appearances on Carson were legendary. You never knew what you would get from Rickles on a given night. He appeared in 133 episodes during 1963-1992. As The Tonight Show executive producer Peter Lassally explains, Carson would never prepare any material for when Rickles was making an appearance on the show. Talent has a way of bringing out talent. Believe me, there are days where you can’t go wrong with seeking out the older comedy material, whether its aged beautifully or terribly.

Outside of the archival clips and sit-down interviews with friends, colleagues, and comedians in Mr. Warmth, Landis captures Rickles during a 2006 performance at the Stardust Casino in Las Vegas. Naturally, it would be demolished the following year. But anyway, it’s a nice way of introducing Rickles to younger audiences. His brand of comedy isn’t for everyone but he was an equal opportunity offender if you know what I mean. You name it, he went after them. Rickles didn’t do it as a way of punching down at his audience as they were laughing along with him. It’s the polar opposite of comedians today like Dave Chappelle, who actively punches down at people who are not laughing at him.

While the 2006 show captures Rickles doing his best at age 80, there are plenty of archival clips are a way of showing the best of Mr. Warmth throughout his career. There’s a clip of Rickles roasting Clint Eastwood at the AFI Life Achievement Award Tribute in 1996. You can’t go wrong with his roasting of President Ronald Reagan during the 1985 Inaugural Gala.

The person that surprised me the most during the interviews wasn’t Newhart or the usual comedians. No, it was Oscar-winning filmmaker Martin Scorsese, who directed Rickles in Casino. I’m writing this review a few hours after rewatching the documentary but it’s one of those interviews that you have to watch to believe it. Sadly, the film marked the final appearance of Sidney Poitier during his lifetime. The actor passed away in January 2022.

Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project works well as an introduction to the insult comedian. If you’re a Rickles fan, you’ll love it. If you’re not a fan, it depends on when you first came of age. Younger generations–even though who grew up on the Toy Story films–might not necessarily be a fan unless they grew up on classic comedy. I’m not talking about 1990s comedy. I’m talking about the 1960s and 1970s when Rickles was just coming into his prime as a comedian. He’s a legend and Mr. Warmth is still missed eight years after his passing.

DIRECTOR: John Landis
FEATURING: Don Rickles, Dave Attell, Howard Blank, Ernest Borgnine, Mario Cantone, Jack Carter, Roger Corman, Billy Crystal, Robert De Niro, Clint Eastwood, Whoopi Goldberg, Leo Golembiewski, Kathy Griffin, Penn Jillette, Jimmy Kimmel, Larry King, Peter Lassally, John Lasseter, Steve Lawrence, Jay Leno, Richard Lewis, George Lopez, Peggy March, Ed McMahon, Bob Newhart, Tony O. Oppedisano, Regis Philbin, Sidney Poitier, Carl Reiner, Debbie Reynolds, Chris Rock, Jeffrey Ross, Roseanne Barr, Bob Saget, Martin Scorsese, Sarah Silverman, Bobby Slayton, Keely Smith, Dick Smothers, Tom Smothers, John Stamos, Harry Dean Stanton, George Wallace, Robin Williams

HBO aired Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project on December 4, 2007. Grade: 4/5

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