Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Billy Crystal is "Still Foolin' 'Em"



Fans of show biz will want to check out Billy Crystal's book "Still Foolin' 'Em". It talks about his career in entertainment. He started out as a stand up who became known for his impressions. Howard Cosell and Muhammad Ali were 2 of his favorite people to impersonate. He became friends with both. He appeared on Cosell's show called Saturday Night Live. It was a short-lived variety show on ABC. The sketch comedy show on NBC we all know as Saturday Night Live was originally just called Saturday Night. When Cosell's show went off the air, the NBC show was changed to Saturday Night Live. Crystal was a cast member on Saturday Night Live, known for his character of Fernando and his catchphrase "You look marvelous". He did SNL with his good friends Martin Short and Christopher Guest. Crystal talks in the book about his days working on the TV show "Soap". Billy is a lifelong fan of the New York Yankees. He became friends with his baseball hero, Mickey Mantle. He teamed up with his friend, actor/director Rob Reiner from "All in the Family" and they did "When Harry Met Sally". Billy worked with Reiner's Castle Rock productions on the film "City Slickers". Billy resurrected his career when he hosted the Oscars many times. He did the voice of Mike in the Pixar films "Monsters Inc." and "Monsters University". Crystal's one man show on Broadway was called "700 Sundays". His father died at a young age and Billy had 700 Sundays with him. This book is an excellent account of a man who has spent his career doing what he loves.