How Billy Crystal learned to imitate Sammy Davis, Jr. | American Masters | PBS
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Published 2023-11-01
On May 10, 2016, director Sam Pollard interviewed Billy Crystal about his admiration for and working relationship with Sammy Davis, Jr., who he would later impersonate on "Saturday Night Live." Interview conducted for "Sammy Davis, Jr.: I've Gotta Be Me" (2019).
Chapters:
00:00 - Crystal’s first magical encounters with Sammy Davis, Jr.
03:56 - His first gig opening for Davis in Lake Tahoe
09:23 - Forming an impression of a storied impressionist
11:20 - Davis impersonates Humphrey Bogart, Gary Cooper, and Frank Sinatra
13:05 - Crystal and Davis pranking each other during their Tahoe run
15:22 - Debuting his Sammy Davis, Jr. impression on Saturday Night Live
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All Comments (16)
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Billy Crystal’s reminiscences of Sammy are a treasure!
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When he used to do those specials with Robin Williams and Whoopi Goldberg it was amazing. They were all fantastic together
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Billy Crystal is a gem.
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I love this, hearing this hearing his way of telling specific parts of spending time with Sammy Davis, Jr. Sammy Davis , Jr. entertainer since a kid what a dancer as a kid he was!! Started with Will Mastin Trio his old man was Sammy Davis , Sr. being on stage and entertaining from the 30's !!
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So good to hear Billy talking about Sammy. I've loved Sammy all my life. Always will. ❤❤❤❤
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Billy doing Sammy doing Bogey! Woah cats. Im in Heaven and I mean that.
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I loved Sammy too! Tyvm
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Thank you for sharing thos beautiful history.
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Billy's tribute/impersonation of Sammy was the funniest SNL skit I ever saw. "Jackie Rogers Jr's $100,000 Jackpot Wad" Some said it was racist, but that was so not racist. Sammy was one of Billy's biggest heroes and earliest influences.
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What an awesome set of stories. Esp the soul food
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It's not that folks have forgotten what an immense talent Sammy Davis, Jr. was...that voice those moves that chutzpah he had from an extremely early age on. It's because they've never encountered it. They didn't grow up with stars that could sing, dance, and act - brilliantly! But Billy Crystal remembers. Fondly, and in such rich detail 😃❤
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❤🎉
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Funny the difference.
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So if your a liberal your allowed to do blackface if your a republican doing blackface your canceled. I love when Billy does sammy but just find it odd on who's allowed to do certain things
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I was ALWAYS a fan of Sammy (for all the reasons Billy mentions). I'm so glad Sammy is remembered was such respect, love & affection.
