On Friday evening, I went to see Bonnie Hunt interview Billy Crystal at the Boch Center Wang Theater here in Boston.
Crystal, who turned 69 earlier this month, spent two and a half hour reminiscing about his four decade plus career. He spoke at length about his relationship with Muhammad Ali (who referred to him as his little brother), Sammy Davis, Jr., Robin Williams, Jack Nicholson, Jack Palance, opening for Blood, Sweat & Tears and having to cover for them when David Clayton-Thomas told a Scranton, Pennsylvania audience to fuck off not once, but twice, Billie Holiday taking him to see Shane and did a bit of Howard Cosell covering the Trump White House ("The Secret Service tackled the President for our protection.") Apart from his career, Crystal also spoke of his 47-year marriage and
his four grandchildren including teaching 7-year old Hudson all of Hyman
Roth's lines from The Godfather, Part II.
The length of the program was too much for some audience members who walked out in the latter stages of the show. Well, the show was called Spend The Night with Billy Crystal and I guess there were those who fell like they had been there all night. But the loss is theirs. In many ways, Crystal only scratched the surface. He didn't once mention baseball. Given his status as a Yankees fan it might be just as well.
As for Hunt, the Chicago native endeared herself to the Boston crowd when she said the two cities share the same culture. "We get each other," said Hunt. Crystal and Hunt have worked together previously, but decided to collaborate when they attended the dedication of the Robin Williams Center in New York City last fall.
Billy Crystal has lived funny and rich life and it was well worth the two and a half hours.
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