Zucker

Zucker, Abrahams and Zucker

Zucker, Abrahams and Zucker (also known as "The Zucker Brothers" or ZAZ) is an Emmy Award-nominated and BAFTA Award-nominated comedy filmmaking trio consisting of Jim Abrahams and brothers David Zucker and Jerry Zucker that specializes in slapstick comedy. The three knew one another during childhood - growing up in Shorewood, Wisconsin, and attending Shorewood High School (which is sometimes referenced in their work). While attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison the trio formed a theater group called "Kentucky Fried Theater". This led to a sketch film, The Kentucky Fried Movie (1977), which was written by the group and directed by John Landis.

This was followed in 1980 by their breakout hit, Airplane!, which remains a revered comedic milestone. Other ZAZ collaborations included the television series Police Squad! (1982), the features Top Secret! and Ruthless People and the feature film spinoffs of Police Squad!, the three Naked Gun films. All of these projects relied heavily on parodies, visual gags and breaking of the Fourth Wall, and established a strong cult following. The notable stylistic exception is Ruthless People, a more traditional farce that was directed by ZAZ, but unlike their other productions, not written by them.

Prominent ZAZ players include Leslie Nielsen, Lloyd Bridges, Robert Stack, Rowan Atkinson, Charlie Sheen, and Anna Faris.

ZAZ's status as a three-person team of co-directors is highly unusual, although some of their later projects were directed by David Zucker working solo, and with Jerry Zucker and Jim Abrahams credited only as producers and/or writers. Each member of the group has also had individual success:

Jerry Zucker with the comedy Rat Race. Of the three, Jerry has found the most mainstream non-comedic success, directing the films First Knight and Ghost, which grossed over $500 million.
David Zucker with the hits Scary Movie 3, and Scary Movie 4 as well as BASEketball.
Jim Abrahams with hits Hot Shots! and Hot Shots! Part Deux, as well as Jane Austen's Mafia!.

It is possible that arranging their names "Zucker, Abrahams, and Zucker" is an homage to "Howard, Fine, and Howard". A sound clip of the end of the "Three Stooges" theme music plays at the end of each of the Naked Gun films.

The team's most obvious influences include Mel Brooks and The Marx Brothers.

Trivia

The parody musician "Weird Al" Yankovic is a noted fan of ZAZ, especially Top Secret! for which he based some microphone gags off of in his music video "One More Minute", according to his website. Also he had a cameo appearance in all three Naked Gun movies.