How Billy Crystal learned to imitate Sammy Davis, Jr. | American Masters | PBS

[@bossfan49]

One of the kings of comedy.

[@12345682900]

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.

[@Rick_Hoppe]

Billy Crystal’s reminiscences of Sammy are a treasure!

[@NellieKAdaba]

I agree.

[@bg7606]

What an awesome set of stories. Esp the soul food

[@johntiger5]

Billy Crystal is a gem.

[@BlueBaron3339]

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 😃❤

[@artheriford]

Truth. The didn’t call him Mr. Show Business for nothing. Sam was the man!

[@trishlangford5773]

So good to hear Billy talking about Sammy. I've loved Sammy all my life. Always will. ❤❤❤❤

[@Blackjesus3]

He was great

[@IamHzwyfee]

*When he used to do those specials with Robin Williams and Whoopi Goldberg it was amazing. They were all fantastic together*

[@LMays-cu2hp]

Thank you for sharing thos beautiful history.

[@jeffreylockhart8292]

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 !!

[@artheriford]

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.

[@trishlangford5773]

Couldn't get away with it these days. The grim, sour faced, humourless WOKE mob would be "Outraged". They really are the biggest miseries on the planet and aim to make Everybody as miserable as they are. Reality was Sammy loved it. He was so cool. I so wish we hadn't lost him so soon. 😢

[@artheriford]

No. Sammy . Dean Martin. Frank Sinatra. Peter Lawford. Joey Bishop . I will never be that cool. @@trishlangford5773

[@touchofdumb]

Billy doing Sammy doing Bogey! Woah cats. Im in Heaven and I mean that.

[@lauriethomasmd3760]

I met Billy Crystal in the late 70s. So, of course, now I tell people “He’s my close personal friend!”

[@lynnturman8157]

The two most talented guys in show biz ever were probably Micky Rooney & Sammy Davis, Jr. They could do anything & everything. And do it better than 95% of the people who could just do one thing.

[@georgialerangis2123]

❤🎉

[@HiVizCamo]

Funny the difference.

[@jeff1867]

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

[@trishlangford5773]

Not so strange. Sammy and Billy were friends and both Jewish. Also tthere were three big differences. 1) Billy did it with Sammy' s blessing . 2) Back then people still had a sense of humour 3) Things were not so tediously Woke. People weren't so easily "triggered" to take offence. They had a backbone not a jelly belly.

[@juanareas5317]

We loved Billy's impressions of Sammy. Black people weren't sensitive about it back then. We had a sense of humor.

[@waldolydecker8118]

There's nothing "odd" about it, Simpleton...if you are a "member of the group" you are allowed; if you ain't a member of the group then you ain't allow - its that simple. Billy and Sammy were both CLOSE PERSONAL FRIENDS AND BOTH JEWISH. You and your white buddies are neither. Another example is - YOU in anger can call one of your relatives "stupid" or a "slut" because you are their family member; but if a non-family member called your sister "stupid" or a "slut" it would be a fighting insult because that person IS NOT A MEMBER OF YOUR GROUP. Listen to Jewish standup comics...they make fun of Jewish mothers and Jewish home life all the time...Black comics do the same about Black people - but if a non-Jewish person started making jokes about Jewish mothers and Jewish home life, the comments would be perceived as Anti-Semitic and not be funny to Jews because that person is not a member of their group. Shit ain't got nothing to do with whether you are "liberal" or "conservative" like they taught you on FOX News. IT HAS TO DO WITH BEING A MEMBER OF THE GROUP. If you know you ain't a member of a group, then you should have no reason wanting to engage in behavior in which only group members are entitled. Its that simple. Something is wrong with you if you think you are entitled to engage in behavior reserved for other groups.