Billy Crystal as Muhammad Ali on the Tonight Show July 11 1977

[@diannegazzola1957]

Billy Crystal and Ali were the best of friends and Ali called Crystal , "his little brother", beautiful story about true friendship.

[@samsignorelli]

Crystal's eulogy of Ali was a thing of beauty.

[@robertwilsonjr7378]

Billy Crystal absolutely loved Muhammad Ali!!!. Period!!!!!! Best impression of Ali evva!!!!

[@RobertNielsen1970]

And vice-versa. Ali LOVED Billy!

[@romanramirez7847]

Billy Crystal and Harry Shearer are timeless. Still as hilarious today as back then.

[@Stargate555]

Always brings a smile to my face, God bless Billy Crystal!

[@richardbruce-comedian9350]

How can you not like Billy Crystal he is amazing.

[@feinman2]

This is the essence of good humor as given by two pros! We need more like them.

[@The22on]

yep - two pros. each trying to outdo the other! and they both win!

[@nancykelley9541]

I bet Ali was watching this and laughing so hard!

[@artfernandez7127]

I agree, this was top shelf professional skit acting from two top notch mimics and comedians! Both never breaking character, great timing, smoothly bouncing off eachother perfectly in sync as a comedic team!

[@Roadstar1602]

Both of these guys absolutely nailed it. They had me totally believing.

[@kentleytaggart4051]

Billy and Ali were best of friends ,which is just so cool.👍

[@lookerseeker79]

even better...Ali used to call Billy "Little brother"...

[@maddymud]

The ability to do an impression so seamless you can imitate someone else within your construct (when he does Ali mimicing Cossell).

[@JMPulido55]

Billy Crystal's performance was "MARVELOUS!"

[@jermaineonealnumber7]

Didn't know Billy Crystal was such a good impressionist, just brilliant!

[@donmcneill4708]

kragseven n

[@justafanintexas7913]

Do you live in a cave with no TV?

[@bellsca1917]

OMG they both did perfect impersonation's of Tom and Ali!!

[@smanslam1]

Billy Crystal does the best Muhammad Ali impression.

[@RayNDeere]

Ali loved it. He called Billy "Little Brother"

[@jamesbrown5600]

He does the best Howard Cossell too.

[@mrmusic248]

He probably had a monopoly on this impression.

[@AarHan3]

@@mrmusic248 Izzy "L'Chaim" Yiskowitz! ("L'Chaim" The Greatest!)

[@bill2953]

I met Jerry Quarry RIP he did theee best Ali of anyone ever.

[@TomHagedoorn]

Billy Crystal will always be the best Muhammad Ali impersonator of all time. And even more beautiful, I think he really loves Muhammad with all his heart. Sad feeling that this is all coming to an end.

[@Tre404]

You nailed all that. Crystal really did. And you are so right; true comedy is almost dead due to the "hurt feelings" of the pathologically offended.

[@keithtaylor9836]

Not to deny that Frank Gorshin and Rich Little were great impressionists, but Billy Crystal is incredible!

[@lsmart]

This is just stupendously good. Two super impressions (man, did that Snyder cackle drive me nuts), a torrent of brilliantly hilarious lines by Crystal (esp. if you're Jewish and got all those jokes), and pitch perfect timing and delivery. And all this without a single curse word or filthy and perverse joke, which is about all today's comedy has to offer.

[@markwoldin162]

This is just sheer beauty. Poetry. How did we miss it? Thank you. You don't know what a mitzvah you've done!

[@suryaprakashvedurumudi357]

Happy birthday to GOAT. Love from India. 17th January 2019, Respect.

[@mrmusic248]

I never knew this existed. I had seen Billy do Ali on a "Dean Martin Roast", when they all were picking on Howard Cosell. He did part of this bit during his eulogy at Ali's memorial service. Thanks, Rainfellow for passing this one around, which is something that Harry & Billy might have done before performing this.

[@Brownliciouss]

Its kinda freaky not only does he sound like Ali but even the way hes sitting in that chair the way he moves, his hands ..damn

[@teddybearakamastere.1776]

Ali you were the greatest! RIP.

[@Theriverflows]

This is most underrated comedy video of all time.

[@magicpen6666]

"yeah that stands for Chayim the greatest" one of the best lines I've ever heard

[@Tre404]

Chaim

[@LenHummelChannel]

This is a truly great, CLASSIC routine. thanks for sharing it.

[@zaracapzara_cap9619]

r.i.p. Muhammad Ali 💜

[@nuniobinez4066]

Hysterical, a big fan of both these guys. Got to see Billy in concert in 1986, on point the whole time!

[@timothyantoine914]

Billy Crystal and Muhammad Ali loved each other like Brother's .

[@mzm1011]

That was awesome. Not only did he sound like him...also used the same type of humor. This was great!

[@truckereleven]

nothing cruel about this skit at all. just plain outstanding comedy.

[@TheSands83]

Ok? Why would anyone think it is

[@teddybearakamastere.1776]

Billy you look marvelous, I am the greatest, I just love his impersonation of Ali.

[@dnsmithnc]

A brilliant performance by both gentlemen.

[@evelyncleibowitz4533]

Love Billy Crystal!!! 👏👏👏😄😄😄👍👍👍

[@gordonbrown4391]

Two geniuses. Crystal's roast of Ali drew special praise from Ali. Crystal did a perfect impression of Cosell ordering Ali over to the mike in the locker room. This Snyder impression is scary good.

[@angelicazambrano]

Where did this come from? Amazing, you have to admit America is full of talent, I sometimes think America is not real it is just made to entertain the world,

[@throwball2248]

So funny I laughed so hard Tom and Ali we’re always my favorite. Good stuff

[@MrYellowlabs]

Billy is simply amazing!

[@davidtaylor2098]

Great Tom Snyder impersonation. Liked Dan Ackroyd's too.

[@waynej2608]

Agree. I can't decide which guy does the better Snyder. I like them both, equally. Hilarious!

[@geoffreymuller4858]

He’s just fantastic

[@captjon615]

OMG -- I remember actually seeing this sketch!!

[@kennethfrawley]

Simply brilliant!

[@bossfan49]

2 legends.

[@robertphillips6296]

That reminds me of an Opening Skit from Saturday Night Love Live. In fact I expect one of them to actually say "Live from New York, it's Saturday Night Live!"

[@carolecarr5210]

Hilarious & both right on the money. Fantastic entertainment.

[@boltonpete6093]

Brilliant, never seen a better Ali impression.

[@luigiaiden2501]

I love billy crystal!!!

[@rem2267]

R.I.P. Muhammad Ali, the Greatest!

[@doncollins5295]

BULLSHIT , GREATEST MY ASS , MARCIANO HAD 49 FIGHTS AND NEVER LOST A FIGHT . HE WAS DRAFTED INTO THE ARMY AND SERVED HIS TIME PROUDLY SO YOU CAN TAKE YOUR OPINION OF CLAY AND SHOVE IT !!!!!!!

[@chrisbennett6260]

bullshit marciano was crap and fought in a garbage era against old washed up fighters ,Walcott was 42 going on 60 and dont get me started on Joe Louis who was washed up and only came back because of racist Uncle Sam badgering him ,charles made his name as a light heavyweight and was washed up ,Archie Moore was a danm old man .marciano could never put down ted lowery whhen they fought no matter how hard he tried and he was an ex middleweight with double digit losses on his record ,in fact tiger ted lowery was robbed on both occasions and was nev er going to get a fair shake in the klu klux klan era of amerikkka when the mafia controlled boxing ,gtfoh

[@PrivateSmiles]

Mr. Billy Crystal is so talented.

[@dennispearson871]

These gentlemen Literally Channeled Synder and Ali !! They became These Individuals !! I Have known for years that Billy Chrystal had the very best Ali impression , but I'm only discovering today that Shearer had the greatest Snyder impression !!! .....It's one thing to sound like someone , but another thing to take on all the Mannerisms , and idiosyncrasies of an individual like these 2 guys !!....This Was Next Level Impersonating !!!....

[@Tre404]

Billy even worked "Portnoy's Complaint" into this bit! What a talent...

[@rigsby1454]

This is an insanely underrated Tom Snyder impression

[@nanuka711]

this is awesome!!!!

[@sporkfindus4777]

Crystal's Ali is fantastic, but my attention was on Harry Shearer's Tom Snyder - really funny

[@tonyrodriguez5317]

What a treat Thank U Billy

[@albundy6008]

Best Tom Snyder impression since Dan Aykroyd

[@mk181818]

Oh...my... It was different and beautiful America. Only 33 years ago...

[@Tre404]

Indeed. There was so much more freedom and love. You see it all over this sketch.

[@ozgurkuzu2202]

i think the world was beatiful 33 years ago

[@jgpenate]

Amazing! BC was in his prime here!

[@The22on]

two sets of boxing gloves! hilarious!

[@Biofeedback1975]

Can we see the full episode. Especially Lindsay Wagner's interview and singing.

[@veronicabhrams710]

Billy Crystal gives a wonderfu a Muhammad Ali performance

[@LivLaRaj]

This is amazing to see considering Shearer hates Billy Crystal following their stint on SNL in '84. He talked about it on Howard Stern within this past year. Thanks for this!

[@RowanWarren78]

Harry Shearer: Ned Flanders, Reverend Lovejoy, Mr. Burns, Waylon Smithers, Otto the Bus Driver, and ...

[@Nickbaldeagle02]

and Kent Brockman.

[@romanramirez7847]

Nick Baldeagle And Lenny Leonard and Dr Hibbert.

[@waynej2608]

Derek Smalls! 👍

[@infinityinf1]

4:44 impression of an impression 🤣

[@dr.buzzvonjellar8862]

Real comedy. Great men!

[@Kondzio717]

Very good played Ali, mimic, accent.

[@zazapipe]

"jewish boxing" make em feel guilty hahahaha lmao

[@morgasmmmful]

Best Ali Impression of all time

[@JackiePhillipsTheSocialPet]

That was fabulous!

[@GeoSer-lv9eb]

Billy Crystal and Robin Williams both my favorites comedian Russell peter and Jokoy

[@patdeg7990]

That might have been the funniest thing I've ever seen!

[@steph13326ify]

Billy Crystal was so adorable back then.

[@JavaScriptJolt]

😍

[@Truth_above_everything]

Me:I want Muhammad Ali Mom:We have Muhammad Ali at home *Muhammad Ali at home:*

[@krissanders987]

Billy crystal really was a comically genius 😂

[@iwaisman]

He still is.

[@jeffnaslund]

The Tom Snyder impression is spot fucking on. Chaim the greatest

[@beaudwayful]

Billy is on fire

[@elisabethgreene2002]

Great Bill...if you close your eyes, you see Ali sitting there..

Mr. Burns was surprisingly quick. Amazing intellect. No "meathead".

[@curtisthesunisalmostdinech3162]

solar clapson

[@tyronebunyon7254]

this is awesome

[@BobMori]

Is that Albert Brooks on the couch at the end of the clip? If so can you post his segment? Thanks. (Who is the woman in the chair?)

[@VintageBoxingTM]

Superb!!!!!🤣👏

[@fastasali5498]

The VERY Best!!

[@pat1947100]

I just love the suits and ties.

[@dovermoreno]

Wow ! Good call on Albert Brooks !

[@libbyuofl98]

Billy Crystal is a cutie here!

[@JavaScriptJolt]

😍

[@mrmusic248]

I thank Rainfellow for passing this one around, which is something Billy & Harry might have done prior to this performance.

[@chrisbennett6260]

the best impersonation of ali is gerry quarry he got it down to a tee

[@ghanasoul]

The min Billy started talking like Ali, I knew he did his homework. Great stuff. Billy and Harry both did their homework. Too bad SNL can’t take notes from this.

[@harbienotherbie7890]

Joe’s startin ta smoke now 🥊

[@StephenRansom47]

“Where are your Ears...” Billy- genius.

[@rachidbenali1026]

Allah yarhamek y'a Mohamed Ali grand champion.

[@catholicpriest1]

When The Tomorrow Show emanated from Burbank it was taped in the same studio as The Tonight Show (Studio 1). The Tomorrow Show set was backstage of The Tonight Show set.

[@Tre404]

"Emanated?" lol....

[@jromasterofone]

Yes, 'they're' still funny and talented now.

[@artvandalay6299]

I'm a Billy Crystal fan now!

[@jenniferbaum8875]

Thanks so much for posting this - I'm reading Billy's autobiography and it's so amazing to be able to see what he described in his book. (BTW, he became best friends with Muhammad Ali as a result of this act, so it probably wasn't taken as cruel at the time.)

[@easterboc1]

Hilarious. Real comedy

[@JdjfnJdjdj-ik6ll]

Mohammed Ali rest in peace

[@suzieque4287]

When Ali landed on earth, God knew he would need a BF. So he sent him a little brother, Billy. The schtick just gets better with time.

[@sylviebertran8201]

He will always be

[@jaydublis]

Billy Crystal was funny asf!

[@alfonsoportugal6754]

genius!!

[@umarsyed7538]

Brilliant