Defend The Indefensible: Billy Crystal

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sorry, but he was just on the radio doing his "old black guy" character and my skin started crawling. so: maudlin, egotistical ham or just sick-making mug-artist who actually thinks that Muhammad Ali is his best friend. you be the judge.

sub-question: who would you rather be stuck in an elevator with: Billy Crystal & Robin Williams or Billy Crystal & Bob Costas?

And don't say "But he was good on Soap!" Because it isn't true. Only Burt and the freak with the puppet were good on Soap.

― scott seward (scott seward), Monday, 7 June 2004 10:09 (twenty-one years ago)

Robin Williams is capable of greatness.

― Sir Stewart Wallace (Enrique), Monday, 7 June 2004 10:22 (twenty-one years ago)

midnight train to moscow was pretty good. and i've got a soft spot in my heart for mr. saturday night and when harry met sally even though they're SAPPY AS HELL.

― stockholm cindy (Jody Beth Rosen), Monday, 7 June 2004 10:30 (twenty-one years ago)

Not like he necessarily had anything to do with it, but Crystal's Buddy gay character was incredibly non-progressive, even for 70's TV. Since he was gay, it necessarily followed that he was also "a woman trapped in a man's body" and wanted a sex change; IIRC later he grew out of that silly gay nonsense through the love of a woman.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Monday, 7 June 2004 11:04 (twenty-one years ago)

Okay, the first post is someone defending Robin Williams. Billy is in trouble. And When Harry Met Sally is a pretty good movie. Not because of Billy though. he just happened to be in it. It would have been a lot better with someone else. I'm too scared to watch mr. saturday night. I should someday though, just to torture myself.

Michael - did you ever see Rabbit Test? Billy has a lot to answer for.

― scott seward (scott seward), Monday, 7 June 2004 11:10 (twenty-one years ago)

The similarities between Danny Kaye and Billy Crystal are frightening.

― scott seward (scott seward), Monday, 7 June 2004 11:11 (twenty-one years ago)

i thought crystal's soap character was named jody.

― stockholm cindy (Jody Beth Rosen), Monday, 7 June 2004 11:15 (twenty-one years ago)

And if you have ever actually SEEN Bob Costas interview Billy Crystal then you have gazed into the very heart of smug.

― scott seward (scott seward), Monday, 7 June 2004 11:17 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah, it was Jody. Wasn't Buddy his mr.sat nite character?

― scott seward (scott seward), Monday, 7 June 2004 11:18 (twenty-one years ago)

I saw some 70's standup of his and remember really cringing, it was probably the gay bits you mention Michael. Hm "gay bits." Anyway yea, I think he's just really conservative at heart. Reactionary. Witness his pathetic Yankee bandwagoning when they were winning all those games a few years ago.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Monday, 7 June 2004 11:21 (twenty-one years ago)

The pit of hell is best summed up by the Friars' Roast tape circulating from the roast from 1992, done for Crystal. You want to kill everyone involved.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 7 June 2004 11:39 (twenty-one years ago)

I liked him as Max The Miracle Worker (but then he's only in The Princess Bride for about five minutes, so that's probably why…)

― carson dial (carson dial), Monday, 7 June 2004 11:54 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah, if he had been in the Princess Bride any longer it may have made him and the movie unwatchable and given me another reason to loath him.

― El Diablo Robotico (Nicole), Monday, 7 June 2004 11:56 (twenty-one years ago)

Actually, I think I can defend him. His voice-over work is tolerable. I liked Monsters Inc. He should stick to that.

― scott seward (scott seward), Monday, 7 June 2004 12:20 (twenty-one years ago)

I forgot about Monsters Inc. -- he was good in that, possibly because you don't have to see his smug gurning schtickface.

― El Diablo Robotico (Nicole), Monday, 7 June 2004 12:21 (twenty-one years ago)

"You know, I have a theory that hieroglyphics are just an ancient comic strip about a character named Sphinxy."

― Chuck Tatum (Chuck Tatum), Monday, 7 June 2004 12:24 (twenty-one years ago)

Billy Crystal, Robin Williams and Whoopi Goldberg should all be sent to a personal hell where there is no audience - only them, forever. Billy Crystal has no excuse - maybe he was kinda ok at one point, but he's entered the TRULY AWFUL phase now, as have his aforementioned buddies.
There should be a popular opinion gate - kinda like jumping the shark - wherein celebrities have to be retired - forevah!
No more bad albums or bad movies or bad television shows. NO MORE!
A revolution is at hand.
I would personally like to stop Rod Stewart right now.

― aimurchie, Monday, 7 June 2004 12:34 (twenty-one years ago)

See, the funny thing about Billy Crystal is that when people say- "oh, he was good once"- they don't actually remember that this isn't true. They just figure that he HAD to be less annoying at some point in the past.

― scott seward (scott seward), Monday, 7 June 2004 12:40 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm still amazed, after two stellar Steve Martin performances, that people still refer to Crystal as the greatest Oscar host since Bob Hope.

― Eric H. (Eric H.), Monday, 7 June 2004 12:50 (twenty-one years ago)

See, now Bob Hope, there is a good example of someone once-upon-a-time being funny and brilliant and then letting it all go to hell.

― scott seward (scott seward), Monday, 7 June 2004 12:53 (twenty-one years ago)

But Bob Hope had age as an excuse.

― scott seward (scott seward), Monday, 7 June 2004 12:54 (twenty-one years ago)

He's really awesome in Spinal Tap

― TOMBOT, Monday, 7 June 2004 12:55 (twenty-one years ago)

Whoopi Goldberg is hilarious. Anyone who will deliver a "I haven't seen that many poles abused since World War II" joke about "Showgirls" during the Oscars automatically gets a free pass from me.

I don't remember Jody being a woman trapped in a man's body. Actually, all I really remember is that Jody was the most normal member of the family (which might have been part of the point of the character).

― VengaDan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 7 June 2004 13:11 (twenty-one years ago)

He's really awesome in Spinal Tap

This is true -- one of the best five second cameos ever.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 7 June 2004 13:20 (twenty-one years ago)

I said "almost kinda" sorta good in others opinions - not mine re: Billy Crystal.
The Oscars should always be hosted by Letterman - am I the only one who thought the "Uma - Oprah - Keanu " thing was funny?

― aimurchie, Monday, 7 June 2004 13:25 (twenty-one years ago)

Witness his pathetic Yankee bandwagoning when they were winning all those games a few years ago.

His bandwagoning probably had more to do with him promoting that "61*" HBO film than anything else.

― hstencil (hstencil), Monday, 7 June 2004 13:28 (twenty-one years ago)

Firstly you have Running Scared, classic 80's buddy cop action mit Uzis the sign of a great 80's movie.

Then you have the totally imaginary City Slickers 3: The Slickening.

― Jarlr'mai (jarlrmai), Monday, 7 June 2004 13:29 (twenty-one years ago)

Lets not forget the Princess Bride.

― Chris 'The Velvet Bingo' V (Chris V), Monday, 7 June 2004 13:29 (twenty-one years ago)

But sir, it's been invoked a few times now!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 7 June 2004 14:08 (twenty-one years ago)

urgh, thats what happens when you don't read the entire thread I guess....

― Chris 'The Velvet Bingo' V (Chris V), Monday, 7 June 2004 14:09 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh I don't blame you, it IS Billy Crystal.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 7 June 2004 14:12 (twenty-one years ago)

he's maaaarvelouss.

― Chris 'The Velvet Bingo' V (Chris V), Monday, 7 June 2004 14:13 (twenty-one years ago)

Uh, he's reportedly a good dad? Oh, fuck this, all he has is those 5 Spinal Tap seconds.

― Crickets Dance On Tequila Booty (Barima), Monday, 7 June 2004 14:14 (twenty-one years ago)

His Mantle-Maris movie (61*) was decent, even good at points. It was helped along by him not being in it.

― miloauckerman (miloauckerman), Monday, 7 June 2004 15:18 (twenty-one years ago)

"Uh, he's reportedly a good dad?"

Can't you see him screaming at his maid staff though?

― scott seward (scott seward), Monday, 7 June 2004 15:34 (twenty-one years ago)

i think Mr Saturday Night is pretty good.

― jed_ (jed), Monday, 7 June 2004 15:37 (twenty-one years ago)

the season he was on SNL was excellent.

― kyle (akmonday), Monday, 7 June 2004 15:39 (twenty-one years ago)

FUCK ALL YO' CITY SLICKERZ HATAZ.

― Billy Crystal's Sex Slave, Monday, 7 June 2004 15:41 (twenty-one years ago)

Here's a question: Given that both are super-hammy, I-love-showbiz types given to trotting out the same celebrity impersonations at the drop of a hat, why is Martin Short MILES better than Crystal?

― jaymc (jaymc), Monday, 7 June 2004 16:02 (twenty-one years ago)

martin short is a genius

― cutty (mcutt), Monday, 7 June 2004 16:03 (twenty-one years ago)

xpost He's Canadian?

― hstencil (hstencil), Monday, 7 June 2004 16:04 (twenty-one years ago)

xpost He's Canadian?

Yes, this was my thought, too.

― jaymc (jaymc), Monday, 7 June 2004 16:05 (twenty-one years ago)

suuuurrre it was, Mr. Hall-and-Oates-aren't-R&B.

― hstencil (hstencil), Monday, 7 June 2004 16:05 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah, Martin Short is touched by God.

― scott seward (scott seward), Monday, 7 June 2004 16:06 (twenty-one years ago)

Billy Crystal has almost ALWAYS played it safe. Whereas, Martin Short has often, in his career, been teetering on a ledge or jumping off a ledge. People who never care how silly, stupid, dumb, or idiotic they look are ALWAYS better comedians/funnymen.

― scott seward (scott seward), Monday, 7 June 2004 16:09 (twenty-one years ago)

can we change this to a martin short love-fest?

CLIFFORD IS BRILLIANCE, UTTER BRILLIANCE

― cutty (mcutt), Monday, 7 June 2004 16:10 (twenty-one years ago)

rick moranis c/d

― s1ocki (slutsky), Monday, 7 June 2004 16:12 (twenty-one years ago)

I always wanted to go into comedy so they could refer to me in the newspaper as "funnyman J0hn Cunn1ngham."

― jaymc (jaymc), Monday, 7 June 2004 16:12 (twenty-one years ago)

poor rick moranis, he seems to have shrunken away into nothingness

― s1ocki (slutsky), Monday, 7 June 2004 16:13 (twenty-one years ago)

probably because of all of those honey i shrunk my cockring movies

― s1ocki (slutsky), Monday, 7 June 2004 16:13 (twenty-one years ago)

They need to put that special Martin Short did on NBC with Jan Hooks on DVD. One of the greatest things I've ever seen.

― scott seward (scott seward), Monday, 7 June 2004 16:14 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah, Moranis went for the steady Hollywood paycheck. Who can blame him. We will always have SCTV. (which i need to get on DVD)

― scott seward (scott seward), Monday, 7 June 2004 16:15 (twenty-one years ago)

rick moranis's greatest moment = ghostbusters

― cutty (mcutt), Monday, 7 June 2004 16:15 (twenty-one years ago)

Or Spaceballs maybe!

― scott seward (scott seward), Monday, 7 June 2004 16:16 (twenty-one years ago)

touche!

― cutty (mcutt), Monday, 7 June 2004 16:19 (twenty-one years ago)

i thought crystal's soap character was named jody.

Yeah, you're right...what was I thinking?

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Monday, 7 June 2004 16:25 (twenty-one years ago)

in my home town "Billy Crystal Must Die" accompained by a swastika, is a exceedingly common graffiti.

― don (don), Monday, 7 June 2004 16:33 (twenty-one years ago)

Why does the US government wage these useless wars on concepts like drugs and terrorism when it is so obvious our resources should be used to hunt down, and contain, useless (washed up) celebrities like Mr. Crystal. he should be detained for a long time - until he says something really funny.
The celebrity police should be a part of our new democracy - if you aren't entertaining me - you go to jail!
And we could, with our new police force, finally remove Rod Stewart from the news.

― aimurchie, Monday, 7 June 2004 20:13 (twenty-one years ago)

"The pit of hell is best summed up by the Friars' Roast tape circulating from the roast from 1992, done for Crystal. You want to kill everyone involved. "

all those Friars roast things tend to elicit that reaction from me.

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Monday, 7 June 2004 20:22 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.cyberkino.de/entertainment/kino/102/102115b2.jpg
"Hmmm, I've got an idea!"

― jaymc (jaymc), Monday, 7 June 2004 20:37 (twenty-one years ago)

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Monday, 7 June 2004 20:38 (twenty-one years ago)

Billy Crystal as Sammy Davis Jr.'s duet with Ringo Starr on SNL was hysterical.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Monday, 7 June 2004 20:44 (twenty-one years ago)

I remember thinking he was actually decent in Kenny Branagh's Hamlet as the Gravedigger. It's been ages since I reaffirmed that, though.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Monday, 7 June 2004 20:48 (twenty-one years ago)

Is he still doing his shtick on stage? (And I'm not talking about his (used to be) yearly stints on Comic Relief)

― Nichole Graham (Nichole Graham), Monday, 7 June 2004 21:00 (twenty-one years ago)

He's preparing a new live show AS WE SPEAK! Hopefully "old black jazz dude" will be a part of it. He says he has been working up material by doing improv to a Yo Yo Ma tape. Let me make that more clear: He has been working OFF OF a yo yo ma song in preparation for his show. This is what he said on the radio anyway.

Come to think of it, my least favorite richard pryor routine was always his "old black dude" too. (Mudbone? is that what he was called?) Although I always thought david allen grier did a good "old black dude" on In Living Color.

― scott seward (scott seward), Monday, 7 June 2004 21:31 (twenty-one years ago)

Mudbone is the sole weak spot of Pryor's Sunset Strip live movie.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Monday, 7 June 2004 21:32 (twenty-one years ago)

'billy crystal: don't get me started' is worth seeing

it's got christopher guest doing basically a corky st. clair character. and it's' not too bad otherwise

― ron (ron), Monday, 7 June 2004 22:59 (twenty-one years ago)

apparently, all his best stuff on SNL other than his lame fernando and sammy routines were just bob odenkirk bits that bob regretted giving away to billy.

― scott seward (scott seward), Monday, 7 June 2004 23:08 (twenty-one years ago)

one year passes...

Btw, yes, yes, oh God yes, I saw Rabbit Test alright when it hit HBO back in the late '70's.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Sunday, 11 September 2005 23:44 (twenty years ago)

Oh dear.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 11 September 2005 23:53 (twenty years ago)

That said, his role in Howl's Moving Castle's English dub as Calcifer was surprisingly good -- arguably much better than Monsters Inc., in that in Howl's he was prevented from a role that built up to the conclusion that all kids wanted when they go to sleep at night was bad Billy Crystal shtick.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 11 September 2005 23:55 (twenty years ago)

Here's a question: Given that both are super-hammy, I-love-showbiz types given to trotting out the same celebrity impersonations at the drop of a hat, why is Martin Short MILES better than Crystal?

-- jaymc (jmcunnin...), June 7th, 2004.

because for one thing, he played a character whose hero was Pat Sajak...Billy Crystal can't buy that kind of genius.

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Monday, 12 September 2005 00:01 (twenty years ago)

as a HUGE martin short fan (or at least his old stuff on t.v. and in movies) i have to say, and i think i've said it on here before, i can't watch him on letterman anymore. or on most any talk show. he has sorta become the beast that he used to mock so ably and i don't like seeing it.

― scott seward (scott seward), Monday, 12 September 2005 00:07 (twenty years ago)

his greatness will live on in the truly inspired stuff that he did though. just like the young bob hope that i mentioned above.

― scott seward (scott seward), Monday, 12 September 2005 00:09 (twenty years ago)

Crystal easily gets a free pass for that year at the Oscars when Hal Roach started speaking from the audience without a mic, and he covered for the uncomfortable moment with that "this is only fitting because Mr. Roach started in silent films" line.

― MindInRewind (Barry Bruner), Monday, 12 September 2005 00:14 (twenty years ago)

seven years pass...

Crystal and Bette Midler together... that... I just...

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/parental_guidance_2012/

― saltwater incursion (Dr Morbius), Monday, 31 December 2012 13:26 (twelve years ago)

kinda shows how desperate hollywood is for ideas when they start making movies based on mpaa ratings

― fiscal cliff huxtable (latebloomer), Monday, 31 December 2012 19:38 (twelve years ago)

one year passes...

sub-question: who would you rather be stuck in an elevator with: Billy Crystal & Robin Williams or Billy Crystal & Bob Costas?

lol

― Hungry4Ass, Friday, 24 January 2014 23:06 (eleven years ago)

Robin Williams is a huge video game nerd apparently

― iFrankenstein (latebloomer), Saturday, 25 January 2014 06:21 (eleven years ago)

For whatever that's worth

― iFrankenstein (latebloomer), Saturday, 25 January 2014 06:22 (eleven years ago)

eleven months pass...

i'm sorry, caring what this dinosaur kvetcher thinks about sex on TV, gay or not, is the ultimate in concern trolling.

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/billy-crystal-clarifies-comments-gay-sex-tv-article-1.2084904

― touch of a love-starved cobra (Dr Morbius), Tuesday, 20 January 2015 18:32 (ten years ago)

http://imageserver.moviepilot.com/billy-crystal_aap_1200-billy-crystal-s-epic-scavenger-hunt-with-bette-midler.jpeg?width=1200&height=800

― scott seward, Tuesday, 20 January 2015 19:12 (ten years ago)

http://wac.450f.edgecastcdn.net/80450F/thefw.com/files/2012/02/billy-crystal-2012-oscars1.jpg

― scott seward, Tuesday, 20 January 2015 19:14 (ten years ago)

"Watch the teeth, Whoopi!"

― touch of a love-starved cobra (Dr Morbius), Tuesday, 20 January 2015 19:17 (ten years ago)

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