Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Comedian finds great fulfillment with solo show
Tue, Nov. 29, 2005
Billy Crystal, Mr. Saturday Night, the Harry who met Sally and the curbstone cowboy in both "City Slickers" movies, plays himself in "700 Sundays," the Broadway smash that opens Wednesday at San Francisco's Golden Gate Theatre.
His solo show is an autobiography (also available in book form under the same title) that touches on his years growing up, his family -- including an uncle who was one of the most influential producers of jazz records in the United States during the '50s -- and the New York Yankees, Crystal's favorite team.
Crystal didn't want to do live or phone interviews prior to his show opening here, but he did agree to answer e-mail questions.
So, what follows are a few bytes with Billy Crystal:
Q: You mention in your book how you decided to be a comedian at a very early age, and it seems that your family put great stock in the ability to entertain. How much do you suppose, did that enter into your decision to be a comedian?
A It always felt like the natural thing to do. Entertaining them was a great thrill for me. I don't think it was a decision that I made, it just was what I should be doing.
Q: I also get the impression you like the notion of being a kind of old-fashioned comic -- if you could have a time machine, would you go back to the old vaudeville days? Or radio? Or early TV?
A I don't think of myself like that at all. I respect and admire those funny people because they inspired me. Is there anyone on television today that is funnier than Sid Caesar? If I could go back, it would be to those days with Sid and Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner and (Larry) Gelbart and Woody and Neil Simon in that writers' room for "Show of Shows." To do something like that when television was just getting off it's feet must have been amazing.
Q: What impression did you score your first big laughs with?
A Yul Brynner in "The King and I." I got a bald wig, took my shirt off and did 5,000 performances in the living room.
Q: Since you grew up with some of the greatest performers in jazz, have you continued your interest in the musical form? Who would you include in an all-star quartet?
A I love jazz and have eclectic taste. I still listen to Dixieland as well as the greats. Bill Evans piano, Miles (Davis) on trumpet, (John) Coltrane on soprano sax and Ed Thigpen on drums.
Q: How important to you was it to open your solo show on Broadway, as opposed to touring the country with it?
A The Broadway experience was amazing to me. The stories that I was telling took place just a few blocks from the theater. The audiences were extraordinary. I only stopped the run because I was missing my granddaughter, who is 2 years old. The tour has also been sensational. Performing across the country to the different moods of the crowds has re-connected me with America, in a way.
Q: You mention Ed Sullivan, Sid Caesar, Steve Allen and Ernie Kovacs as television favorites. If you were able to design your own television variety show, how would it look?
A It's the toughest kind of show to do. It either has to be a topical weekly kind of thing, or blow past all of that and just be funny and musical at the same time; it's all about the star, I think. That's why Dean Martin's show was a huge hit, and Carol Burnett and Flip Wilson. I have no idea if that would work now.
Q: What would you give up to play one season as the designated hitter for the New York Yankees?
A Nothing. I'm not a DH. I can play the field.
Q: What would Harry and Sally be doing right about now? And, for those who have read your book, do you have a recent report on "The Girl" (a crush from his youth who's talked about in "700 Sundays") and your 20th high school reunion?
A Harry and Sally would be taking their kids to college, I guess, and falling in love all over again. At least that is what I would do with the sequel. "The Girl" came to the show in New York, and it was nice to see her and her husband. It's always interesting to see someone you've known and then see them again after many years. You look to see if that face from your youth was still there.
Q: Do you have any thoughts on hosting the Oscars a lot more?
A A lot more? No. They asked me to do it this year, but I am too busy with the tour to consider it. "700 Sundays" is the most rewarding and satisfying thing I have done in my career. I find it hard to do things that aren't as much fun. That's my priority now. Do things I really want to do, and have as much of a good time as I can doing them. I had a great time doing all of those (Oscar) shows, but it started to wear at me. The pressure of topping myself every year just seemed like a struggle sometimes. It is the most frequently asked question of me, and I really love and respect the fact that people want me to do it every year. But right now, I don't see that happening.
Source: http://www.contracostatimes.com/
Billy Crystal, Mr. Saturday Night, the Harry who met Sally and the curbstone cowboy in both "City Slickers" movies, plays himself in "700 Sundays," the Broadway smash that opens Wednesday at San Francisco's Golden Gate Theatre.
His solo show is an autobiography (also available in book form under the same title) that touches on his years growing up, his family -- including an uncle who was one of the most influential producers of jazz records in the United States during the '50s -- and the New York Yankees, Crystal's favorite team.
Crystal didn't want to do live or phone interviews prior to his show opening here, but he did agree to answer e-mail questions.
So, what follows are a few bytes with Billy Crystal:
Q: You mention in your book how you decided to be a comedian at a very early age, and it seems that your family put great stock in the ability to entertain. How much do you suppose, did that enter into your decision to be a comedian?
A It always felt like the natural thing to do. Entertaining them was a great thrill for me. I don't think it was a decision that I made, it just was what I should be doing.
Q: I also get the impression you like the notion of being a kind of old-fashioned comic -- if you could have a time machine, would you go back to the old vaudeville days? Or radio? Or early TV?
A I don't think of myself like that at all. I respect and admire those funny people because they inspired me. Is there anyone on television today that is funnier than Sid Caesar? If I could go back, it would be to those days with Sid and Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner and (Larry) Gelbart and Woody and Neil Simon in that writers' room for "Show of Shows." To do something like that when television was just getting off it's feet must have been amazing.
Q: What impression did you score your first big laughs with?
A Yul Brynner in "The King and I." I got a bald wig, took my shirt off and did 5,000 performances in the living room.
Q: Since you grew up with some of the greatest performers in jazz, have you continued your interest in the musical form? Who would you include in an all-star quartet?
A I love jazz and have eclectic taste. I still listen to Dixieland as well as the greats. Bill Evans piano, Miles (Davis) on trumpet, (John) Coltrane on soprano sax and Ed Thigpen on drums.
Q: How important to you was it to open your solo show on Broadway, as opposed to touring the country with it?
A The Broadway experience was amazing to me. The stories that I was telling took place just a few blocks from the theater. The audiences were extraordinary. I only stopped the run because I was missing my granddaughter, who is 2 years old. The tour has also been sensational. Performing across the country to the different moods of the crowds has re-connected me with America, in a way.
Q: You mention Ed Sullivan, Sid Caesar, Steve Allen and Ernie Kovacs as television favorites. If you were able to design your own television variety show, how would it look?
A It's the toughest kind of show to do. It either has to be a topical weekly kind of thing, or blow past all of that and just be funny and musical at the same time; it's all about the star, I think. That's why Dean Martin's show was a huge hit, and Carol Burnett and Flip Wilson. I have no idea if that would work now.
Q: What would you give up to play one season as the designated hitter for the New York Yankees?
A Nothing. I'm not a DH. I can play the field.
Q: What would Harry and Sally be doing right about now? And, for those who have read your book, do you have a recent report on "The Girl" (a crush from his youth who's talked about in "700 Sundays") and your 20th high school reunion?
A Harry and Sally would be taking their kids to college, I guess, and falling in love all over again. At least that is what I would do with the sequel. "The Girl" came to the show in New York, and it was nice to see her and her husband. It's always interesting to see someone you've known and then see them again after many years. You look to see if that face from your youth was still there.
Q: Do you have any thoughts on hosting the Oscars a lot more?
A A lot more? No. They asked me to do it this year, but I am too busy with the tour to consider it. "700 Sundays" is the most rewarding and satisfying thing I have done in my career. I find it hard to do things that aren't as much fun. That's my priority now. Do things I really want to do, and have as much of a good time as I can doing them. I had a great time doing all of those (Oscar) shows, but it started to wear at me. The pressure of topping myself every year just seemed like a struggle sometimes. It is the most frequently asked question of me, and I really love and respect the fact that people want me to do it every year. But right now, I don't see that happening.
Source: http://www.contracostatimes.com/
