I remember when this special came out. The first part of the special was very much done in the spirit of This Is Spinal Tap with Reiner of course reprising his role as Marty Di Bergi as he and his film crew followed Crystal around as he got ready for his concert, the second half of the special, which was the actual concert, was okay but the first half is more memorable and is definitely worth having in one's collection to go along with Spinal Tap, A Mighty Wind, First in Show etc.
@0:28 Billy / Sammy says " Dick Clark " perfect !! with his mouth all to the side too !! LMFAO !! ..*.I am now 55 and remember this so well , CLASSIC CAST!!
justin, i love you (not THAT way) i have been waiting to see this for years! i am cereal, you made my day, watching it over and over, the show is airing on wednesday on showtime 1:40 , now i got just what i need . u rock thank you!!
Eddie Murphy said all those years he never figured out until later Sammy was on cocaine the lip to the side the slur not moving his teeth when he talks..that was coke..lol
Crystal did it b/c his parents knew Sammy and he came to their house while Billy was growing up.. listen to the real story sometime, he was a family friend
YES! He did it out of LOVE and RESPECT for the man! a comedic impression!! After Sammy passed he stopped doing it out of respect! ....then 15 years or so they have the Wayon bros. do a movie called " white chicks" WTF??!! in the name of entertainment! Relax people! This piece /show that was on HBO in 86' is classic! Christoper Guest plays a great part and Eugene Levy as " Morty Arnold" great! LMAO!!
and it will ALWAYS go on because racism is bred. So I I understande those who are offended. I personally wasn't offended but that's me. People need to walk in other peoples shoes to understand thier issues.. I think our country would be a better place if that were possible.....
I used to love it when Sammy said "My people", and he wasn't talking about black people, but Jews! that used to crack me up.. I often wondered if they claimed Sammy as "one of our people", lol..
Lawrence Jose Sinclair "one of our people"? Sammy looked a lot like the sort of people who get locked away in the Saharonim Prison for asylum seekers (aka "infiltrators") from Africa. On the other hand, he was a terrific entertainer and a Republican, so they might have let him perform in the settlements.
@THYCHANIE It's not a stereotype. But that has nothing to do w/religion. Yes, Sammy became a Jew, but he didn't have stereotypical Jewish mannerisms or personality traits. This is an impersonation of Sammy, that's all. Billy Crystal does other impressions that are Jewish stereotypes, like impressions of his family. Eugene Levy, too.
@vana2950 It isn't really blackface, it's simply makeup to change his appearance, just like the glasses and the wig so the impersonation is more convincing. Blackface makeup portrayed a caricature.
couldn't agree more - I'm here because of the recent Megyn Kelly scandal and I think THIS is the kind of stuff she was referring to. THIS is NOT racist and NOT 'blackfacing'.
I agree with you BUT since it it Mr. Liberal "Meatheat" as part of this skit it gets a pass. You and I both know had it been a conservative doing this exact same skit as comendy and not a racist bit it still would be labled racist. It's the hypocrisy that chaps me.
@@fretbuzz59 I'm not being ridiculous. It's true. For example, look at the public officals who liberals went back years into their past to find things that are polictially incorrect today to use against them. Let me cite examples. The left went after Gov. Northam over a yearbook picture from over 35 years ago. So is that ridiculous? Did Gov. Northam get a pass? Want more? How about the left going after Justin Trudeau for appearing with dark skin in "Arabian Nights" from over 20 years ago. Don't tell me I'm being ridiculous when I can back what I say. Don't tell me the left does not do that when they clearly do. My statement still stands.
@@ednakelley814 You're doing the same thing the lefties you disdain do: you're not differentiating. Northam's photo was totally inexcusable, even in '84. He's dressed as a racist caricature, posing with guy in a Klan outfit. Horrid. The Trudeau thing, perhaps a bit cringey, was not remotely comparable to Northam's photo. And he wasn't posing next to someone in the garb of a racist organization. I can't tell if you're saying the left did or didn't go after him for that, because they sure as hell did. They went after Julianne Hough for darkening her skin to resemble Crazy Eyes from OITNB. They were all over Matt Damon for use of the word "faggot." To claim they don't go after their own would be ridiculous.
How about in England when it was forbidden for women to be on stage, so guys in drag played all the female parts in things like Shakespearean plays! this was covered very well by Clare Danes in Stage Beauty (when female impersonator Billy Crudup's character was so enraged he wanted to kill Danes) and Gwyneth Paltrow in Shakespeare in Love..
@@kevinchappell3694 Because white "meathead" liberal Rob was part of the skit so it gets a pass as a tribute. Had it been a conservative, he would have been condemded from the mountain top and back. We all know that IS the truth.
I think Billy captures the essence of Sammy Davis jr. If he didn't do the whole of make up, you wouldn't of gotten the feel of being in front pf Sammy. For what he is doing, he needs the dark make-up, he to channel what he is doing. This is called Art, Not racist! Plus, Jammy was a family friend, so he knew Sammy well, and was able to capture his mannerism..
@vana2950 I was just told that blackface is black not brown makeup.... like when back in the day when black people were not allowed to play a role so in order to have a black person, they would use the white person but paint them with black shoe polish! What a country we live in, but that was what I was told. To me this is not a blackface as I have seen before and ... he. Crystal, did a fine job!
couldn't agree more - I'm here because of the recent Megyn Kelly scandal and I think THIS is the kind of stuff she was referring to. THIS is NOT racist and NOT 'blackfacing'.
So what you're saying is it is only black face when a conservative does it. When a hollywood person like Mr. liberal Rob "Meathead" does it then it's not blackface.
Why is this black face but Eddie Murphy going white to play a character like Richard Simmons isn’t white face. I think people are overly sensitive these days.
Well this gets a pass because Mr. Liberal "Meathead" Rob is involved with the skit. Had it been a conservative doing this exact same skit, the snowflakes would be on attack. We all know that's true.
It was funny then and it is funny now. Nothing malicious in this. Billy loved Sammy. we have. If you think he would have gotten savagely attacked 3 years ago, imagine now!!??
Cancel Billy Crystal for blackface, and Rob Reiner for contributing to the racial mockery of blackface. Have they kissed Sharpton's ring yet? Can they cancel themselves?
Here we see a modern conservative genius in his own habitat. Look how he spits out tropes learned on FNC. See how he uses “cancel” as if it were a thing. See how he doesn’t notice that this special was, in fact, a single HBO show, and not a series that could be canceled, or ended in any way. Watch carefully as he next tries to use the word “woke” unironically, despite not being able to define it.
@@disneydollars That doesn’t change it being inherently the same action, black people can actually do it in the actual context of mocking and demeaning white people, where now even something like this is barred, which was a respectful impressing that wasn’t taking shots at the race. Or even something like Community, where you can’t even wear pure black make up in a context separate from black people.
I remember when this special came out. The first part of the special was very much done in the spirit of This Is Spinal Tap with Reiner of course reprising his role as Marty Di Bergi as he and his film crew followed Crystal around as he got ready for his concert, the second half of the special, which was the actual concert, was okay but the first half is more memorable and is definitely worth having in one's collection to go along with Spinal Tap, A Mighty Wind, First in Show etc.
Everyone's so focused on Billy Crystal nobody mentions that's Rob Reiner playing his director character from This Is Spinal Tap!
Billy Cystall does Sammy Davis so perfectly ,,,, that I actually thought it was Sammy !!!!!
OMG this really is Sammy !
Sammy Davis saw him do it on SNL and enjoyed it.
@0:28 Billy / Sammy says " Dick Clark " perfect !! with his mouth all to the side too !! LMFAO !! ..*.I am now 55 and remember this so well , CLASSIC CAST!!
As Joey Diaz would say “He was Coked to the gills!”
things you hock up in the morning... lmao
Billy Crystal is a genius
I am now 55 and remember this HBO Special so very well !!!!
LMFAO !!! " Buddy Young, Jr " also !! CLASSIC 4 SURE ..*
justin, i love you (not THAT way) i have been waiting to see this for years!
i am cereal, you made my day, watching it over and over, the show is airing on wednesday on showtime 1:40 , now i got just what i need . u rock thank you!!
A dog, a cat, cmon let's play.
wow billy is goood
Geez I miss the 80s.
Eddie Murphy said all those years he never figured out until later Sammy was on cocaine the lip to the side the slur not moving his teeth when he talks..that was coke..lol
Comedians in cars?
Haha this is so fuckn hiliarious
It is! Rob Riener is really laughing his ass off here!!
That's Billy Crystal? 😳 That's like some Colin Ferrell/Penguin shit right there.
Great Sammy impression!
Anybody here in 2020 ?
Mike Wasoski as Sammy Davis Jr.
Brilliant!
Crystal did it b/c his parents knew Sammy and he came to their house while Billy was growing up.. listen to the real story sometime, he was a family friend
YES! He did it out of LOVE and RESPECT for the man! a comedic impression!! After Sammy passed he stopped doing it out of respect! ....then 15 years or so they have the Wayon bros. do a movie called " white chicks" WTF??!! in the name of entertainment! Relax people! This piece /show that was on HBO in 86' is classic! Christoper Guest plays a great part and Eugene Levy as " Morty Arnold" great! LMAO!!
😎👍
@vana2950 Yes, it is. Your point?
and it will ALWAYS go on because racism is bred. So I I understande those who are offended. I personally wasn't offended but that's me. People need to walk in other peoples shoes to understand thier issues.. I think our country would be a better place if that were possible.....
People need to let there guard down and understand the humor in things and not look at everything as racist.
Our country is falling apart
I used to love it when Sammy said "My people", and he wasn't talking about black people, but Jews! that used to crack me up.. I often wondered if they claimed Sammy as "one of our people", lol..
Lawrence Jose Sinclair he never played out though
Lawrence Jose Sinclair "one of our people"?
Sammy looked a lot like the sort of people who get locked away in the Saharonim Prison for asylum seekers (aka "infiltrators") from Africa. On the other hand, he was a terrific entertainer and a Republican, so they might have let him perform in the settlements.
Sammy did love it, hell you would have to be a drag not to think it was funny
wow he really does make me think he's Sammy Davis Jr. OMG thats weird..
People keep bringing up Billy Crystal and I have no idea why. Hes not in this video.
The only man that can do black face and get away with it Billy has so much respect for the culture unlike Downey Jr
Whoa! Marty DiBergi?!
Director of Kramer vs Kramer vs Godzilla and spinal tap Fame
@@krisscanlon4051 Excellent reply.
@THYCHANIE It's not a stereotype. But that has nothing to do w/religion. Yes, Sammy became a Jew, but he didn't have stereotypical Jewish mannerisms or personality traits. This is an impersonation of Sammy, that's all. Billy Crystal does other impressions that are Jewish stereotypes, like impressions of his family. Eugene Levy, too.
The subtitles were completely off.
Hey was that groovy or what?
Me
@vana2950 It isn't really blackface, it's simply makeup to change his appearance, just like the glasses and the wig so the impersonation is more convincing. Blackface makeup portrayed a caricature.
couldn't agree more - I'm here because of the recent Megyn Kelly scandal and I think THIS is the kind of stuff she was referring to. THIS is NOT racist and NOT 'blackfacing'.
I agree with you BUT since it it Mr. Liberal "Meatheat" as part of this skit it gets a pass. You and I both know had it been a conservative doing this exact same skit as comendy and not a racist bit it still would be labled racist. It's the hypocrisy that chaps me.
@@ednakelley814 Don't be ridiculous. There's no hypocrisy. It "got a pass" because it was 35 years ago. No way it could be done today.
@@fretbuzz59 I'm not being ridiculous. It's true. For example, look at the public officals who liberals went back years into their past to find things that are polictially incorrect today to use against them. Let me cite examples. The left went after Gov. Northam over a yearbook picture from over 35 years ago. So is that ridiculous? Did Gov. Northam get a pass? Want more? How about the left going after Justin Trudeau for appearing with dark skin in "Arabian Nights" from over 20 years ago. Don't tell me I'm being ridiculous when I can back what I say. Don't tell me the left does not do that when they clearly do. My statement still stands.
@@ednakelley814 You're doing the same thing the lefties you disdain do: you're not differentiating. Northam's photo was totally inexcusable, even in '84. He's dressed as a racist caricature, posing with guy in a Klan outfit. Horrid.
The Trudeau thing, perhaps a bit cringey, was not remotely comparable to Northam's photo. And he wasn't posing next to someone in the garb of a racist organization. I can't tell if you're saying the left did or didn't go after him for that, because they sure as hell did. They went after Julianne Hough for darkening her skin to resemble Crazy Eyes from OITNB. They were all over Matt Damon for use of the word "faggot." To claim they don't go after their own would be ridiculous.
How about in England when it was forbidden for women to be on stage, so guys in drag played all the female parts in things like Shakespearean plays! this was covered very well by Clare Danes in Stage Beauty (when female impersonator Billy Crudup's character was so enraged he wanted to kill Danes) and Gwyneth Paltrow in Shakespeare in Love..
How has Billy Crystal not been cancelled for this?
Because he wasn’t mocking Sammy. It was a parody and a tribute. And acting!
It’s decades ago
Because even the Marxists think this is hilarious.
@@zoso73 you thought you did something there, huh? 😐
@@kevinchappell3694 Because white "meathead" liberal Rob was part of the skit so it gets a pass as a tribute. Had it been a conservative, he would have been condemded from the mountain top and back. We all know that IS the truth.
He should be banned right now hurumph. 😂🤣👍
I am so offended that I need to go cry in my safe space.
Wow. No wonder SNL blew in the mid 80's.
I think Billy captures the essence of Sammy Davis jr. If he didn't do the whole of make up, you wouldn't of gotten the feel of being in front pf Sammy. For what he is doing, he needs the dark make-up, he to channel what he is doing. This is called Art, Not racist! Plus, Jammy was a family friend, so he knew Sammy well, and was able to capture his mannerism..
@vana2950 I was just told that blackface is black not brown makeup.... like when back in the day when black people were not allowed to play a role so in order to have a black person, they would use the white person but paint them with black shoe polish! What a country we live in, but that was what I was told. To me this is not a blackface as I have seen before and ... he. Crystal, did a fine job!
Uh oh can we still laugh at this??
BLACKFACE
i hate it when people confuse the definition of "blackface".
couldn't agree more - I'm here because of the recent Megyn Kelly scandal and I think THIS is the kind of stuff she was referring to. THIS is NOT racist and NOT 'blackfacing'.
So what you're saying is it is only black face when a conservative does it. When a hollywood person like Mr. liberal Rob "Meathead" does it then it's not blackface.
Why is this black face but Eddie Murphy going white to play a character like Richard Simmons isn’t white face. I think people are overly sensitive these days.
If Billy were to parody SDJr today, the SJW and Snowflakes would savagely attack him, oh what a difference a few decades can make.
Well this gets a pass because Mr. Liberal "Meathead" Rob is involved with the skit. Had it been a conservative doing this exact same skit, the snowflakes would be on attack. We all know that's true.
It was funny then and it is funny now. Nothing malicious in this. Billy loved Sammy. we have. If you think he would have gotten savagely attacked 3 years ago, imagine now!!??
He is white
Cancel Billy Crystal for blackface, and Rob Reiner for contributing to the racial mockery of blackface. Have they kissed Sharpton's ring yet?
Can they cancel themselves?
Here we see a modern conservative genius in his own habitat. Look how he spits out tropes learned on FNC.
See how he uses “cancel” as if it were a thing. See how he doesn’t notice that this special was, in fact, a single HBO show, and not a series that could be canceled, or ended in any way.
Watch carefully as he next tries to use the word “woke” unironically, despite not being able to define it.
When can Black People do skits on Jewish People?
In all fairness, black people are STILL allowed to use whiteface.
@@RagnarokMic not even in the same ballpark historically. White people were never enslaved or jim crowed while being made fun of.
@@disneydollars That doesn’t change it being inherently the same action, black people can actually do it in the actual context of mocking and demeaning white people, where now even something like this is barred, which was a respectful impressing that wasn’t taking shots at the race. Or even something like Community, where you can’t even wear pure black make up in a context separate from black people.
According to Black People they are Jewish.
funny but not the greatest impersonation.
Didn't even look like Sammy Davis Jr
Most important, sounds like Sammy Davis, Jr.
Billy stinks!!!!!!!