It’s not 1960 anymore. This was exactly the selfcentered, tone deaf way to play „old Hollywood“ that cost them a lot of viewers. He even pretends to „sing black“ in those last seconds there.
@@JJ-ze6vb FYI, he was doing a Louie Armstrong impression. Before that, in the "Ol' Man River" segment, he pronounced "along" with a very soft "l", the way a Southern black person would, but none of the well-known black singers pronounced it that way when doing that song - strange. Do you resent Billy's doing Mohammad Ali impressions, for which he became famous and which Ali and his wife liked a lot? Nobody in their right mind can accuse Billy of racial insensitivity. His father was a jazz impresario in the 40's and 50's, and famous black musicians were always visiting his house while Billy was a kid. Billie Holiday would occasionally take him to the movies. He's been best friends with Karim Abdul Jabar since high school, he could call Ali a very good friend, and I'm sure very few blacks would resent him for occasional impressions of black celebrities. Should we reproach Eddie Murphy for doing some savage send-ups of James Brown or Stevie Wonder?
I love that he said most men Clint Eastwood's age are either dead or dying TWENTY years ago and Clint is STILL HERE! Long may Mr Eastwood live. So glad he's still with us.
I've watched this video many many times. It's some of the best live television I've ever seen. I'm struck by several things. The lyrics are brilliant, clever, funny and timely. Billy Crystal is at his absolute BEST. Not only did he have to SING and remember all those song lyrics, he looks ABSOLUTELY relaxed. That's amazing. A global audience of one billion people and pretty much every Hollywood celebrity and power player in the room and he just cruises through the whole things like it's nothing. Very few performers could pull this off. Kudos to Billy!
I agree with everything except the audience of 1 billion. I lived overseas for 15 years and can assure you, no one else in the world watches the Oscars. No one. It's a purely American thing. No one else gives a sh*t about the Academy Awards. It's like the World Series of baseball. No one in the world is concerned with it. Every year I hear them talk about the audience of billions overseas. It's all horse manure. No one outside of American has even the slightest concern about the Oscars, or watches them, or talks about them. It's all PR BS. Sorry, Hollywood, you're just a bunch of pretentious a-holes.
@@reubenism62 The Oscars are of no more interest to the Indians that the Bollywood awards are to Americans. Nor do they matter to the Chinese! Trust me, the people of China could not give a rats buttocks how American's win an American award. It's pure arrogance and marketing to believe the world watches this pathetic American vanity parade.
@@gilltim5711 There have been many non-American nominees from non-American films and wins in various categories. Just off the top of my head...Sophia Loren in "Two Women" won. Roberto Benigni won for "Life Is Beautiful". Marion Cotillard won for "La Vie en Rose". Besides acting, there have been many other foreign films that have won Oscars besides the Best Foreign Film award. Just search on Wikipedia for "List of Academy Award-winning foreign-language films".
I doubt the audience of a billion. How could they possibly measure that? But I do agree that Billy Crystal was one of the greatest hosts alongside Bob Hope and Johnny Carson.
Wow. They don’t make ‘em like this anymore!!! What really strikes me besides Crystal’s immense talent is how this presentation he provides just truly CELEBRATES the night and those being honored. You can just feel how everyone is thoroughly enjoying this!! Class act to say the least.
Damn, Depp was nominated for Pirates? I totally forgot about that. Deserved, its an iconic performance, but man, to be nominated for a Disney summer blockbuster...quite the feat.
Actually, I think it was a sign that movies are becoming trash. If you can win for an idiotic summer film with no real point (except a huge budget, explosions, nudity, and billion dollar box office). This was the beginning of the downhill slide that the Oscars were doing. It's basically trash now. Trash winners are all that win.
@@katherynemero9355 What a shit take lol. If anything it is going the complete opposite direction. Most nominations are for movies even film fans don’t watch. Micro budget gender benders.
He has got everything a presenter should have...funny, witt, smart and he is not afraid to do his sing and dance routine on his own. He does all this without sarcasm, or any danger of insulting someone , just poke a joke! In my book these are the best openimgs for the Oscars. Billy Christal a pure talent!!
Best EVER!!!! Have been a Billy Crystal fan since I was in grade school and watched him in the sitcom “Soap”, then SNL. Wow, what a career and what talent! ♥️
Billy Crystals hosting is out of this world. Imagine doing a confident flawless one man performance in front of the biggest celebrities in the world all dressed to kill in one location
Watched Billy since I was kid hosting the Oscars...the best ever...the greatest host of every award show...love him hosting...he makes it feel like a wonderland. Couldn't give a shit about all the others. Billy you rock!
Not gonna lie this was probably one of the best Oscar ceremonies. A) Because Billy Crystal hosted and B) The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (My favourite movie) won all 11 awards :D
absolutely the best Oscar host ever and second isn't even close. so great at having an appreciation for the tradition and the movies overall but meshes it perfectly with his humor. he was the only reason frankly that I watched as long as I did. haven't watched or cared since
Unbelievable skill at the most important Hollywood event of the year...A master Oscar host! Super talented and, ought to receive an honorary award for emceeing in front of all the critics, actors, directors, producers, etc. He knows his lines, comedic anecdotes and jabs at the nominees...that's entertainment and worthy of international broadcast!
Billy Cristal's monologue's classy, funny and most importantly have no use of those pejorative jokes, making everybody uncomfortable. This one reminds me of Hollywood of the Golden Times. Good job.
What a great opening to the show along with the preceding parodies of all the years movies with Billy Crystal inserted (see separate upload). He should be hosting every Oscar show. Funny, imaginative and talented, he's just perfect!
At least it was necessary for him to do so to Julie Andrews. But she wasn't the first to sing those soaring and timeless songs. The first Maria in the Sound of Music on Broadway was Mary Martin. 6 years later of course was when Ms. Andrews herself had that pleasure of being Maria. Just after she won her Oscar for Mary Poppins.
Billy isn't ever gonna be a great singer but he's one hell of an entertainer!!! His intonation tends to wander all over the scale but no one cares, he's funny, he can cram more lyrics into 2 minutes than anyone else in the house, and he is just enjoyable without fail!! He is one excellent entertainer... that's all!
Arguably the best Oscar host-expert delivery, no wandering off into controversy and dwelling on politics-stick to the material, and delight the audience.
The best Oscar host ever....I could watch this again and again. Will never get tired of it. Where is he , by the way? Is he going to host the next Oscar again? Hopefully?!
this is the very first Oscar night I had seen, and I have been so amazed by this one, that all the others have never entertained me as much as this did. He is awesome! Sorry for my English, I'm Italian!
“Theirs no better way to celebrate a recession that to have a bunch of millionaires celebrate giving themselves an award for being ‘best pretender’” Bill Crystal
to me the best host ever..a treat to hear him sing in that tradition of variety musical song&dance routine as a way to present the films and actors nominated. pure talent and comical physical pressence..the best!!
This is brilliance, genuine entertainment brilliance. The amount of thought, memory and entertainment savvy that it required to deliver this with class and enjoyment can only be delivered by a entertainment genius like Billy Crystal. What a golden era performance. Zero profanity. Zero insults that were the cause for discomfort ... positive energy all the way. I'm rarely impressed by Hollywood!!
Just saw him last night on Broadway in Mr. Saturday Night!!! A true top notch comedic master class experience to never forget. Billy is my comedic idol!!!
In addition to all the other well-deserved praise, Billy’s singing range and timbre are terrific! “Old Man River” and “Maria” and “Goldfinger” are multi-octave testers that demand a strong voice. “My Favorite Things” and “Come Fly With Me” have their moments too. Way to go Billy!
