DON'T GET ME STARTED: THE BILLY CRYSTAL SPECIAL (TV)

Summary

This special is a mockumentary featuring stand-up comedian Billy Crystal in multiple roles. As the program opens, Marty Di Bergi reflects on directing “This Is Spinal Tap,” then tells how he approached Crystal to direct his new comedy special, “Don’t Get Me Started.” Arriving at a mansion in a remote locale for rehearsals, Crystal is met by producer Morty Arnold. The show’s guests subsequently arrive, including singer Sammy Davis, Jr., comedian Buddy Young, Jr., and “existential sit-down comic” Brother Theodore. The group congregates at a party, where they meet the show’s director and choreographer, the fey Chip Dimentebella. As rehearsals begin, Buddy tells Marty about his startup days and shows clips from hosting the children’s show “Fort Fun” in 1956. Elsewhere, another of the show’s guests, Fernando Lamas, has car trouble while driving to the mansion, telephoning Morty that he may not make it. Later, Marty interviews Sammy, who talks about the significance of his rings and then plays show-biz games with the director. Buddy regretfully excuses himself from the show after getting news that his mother-in-law has died. Afterward, Morty expresses his anger about Buddy, who he feels proved “unprofessional” by leaving. Meanwhile, Sammy is physically struck down on the tennis court by an exasperated Brother Theodore, leaving Chip in a panic. After Sammy departs, Morty and Chip drive off together. The next night, Crystal reports for his live show in New York City, where he performs a monologue. The subjects include: returning to his home turf on Long Island; the argumentative nature of New York City drivers; his Jewish relatives; out-of-sync movies at drive-ins; bad casting in Hollywood productions, leading to impersonations of Edward G. Robinson and Yul Brynner in “The Ten Commandments”; and home movies circa 1956. Later, Fernando finally arrives at the theater. After telling of his travails, he chats with audience members and says that the crowd “looks mah-velous.” Crystal then reclaims the stage to talk about a twentieth class reunion in the guise of the class clown, later discussing Vietnam veterans and marijuana use.

Details

• NETWORK: HBO
• DATE: July 31, 1987 8:00 PM
• RUNNING TIME: 0:58:25
• COLOR/B&W: Color
• CATALOG ID: B:13756
• GENRE: Comedy
• SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy
• SERIES RUN: HBO - TV, 1987
• COMMERCIALS: N/A

CREDITS

• Buddy Morra … Executive Producer
• Larry Brezner … Executive Producer
• David H. Steinberg … Executive Producer
• Billy Crystal … Producer, Director, Writer
• Vic Kaplan … Co-Producer
• Eddie October … Associate Producer
• Paul Flaherty … Director, Writer
• Dick Blasucci … Writer
• Marc Shaiman … Music by
• Billy Crystal … Cast, Himself/Sammy Davis, Jr./Buddy Young, Jr./Fernando Lamas
• Rob Reiner … Cast, Marty Di Bergi
• Eugene Levy … Cast, Morty Arnold
• Christopher Guest … Cast, Chip Dimentebella
• Brother Theodore … Cast, Himself
• Marc Shaiman … Cast, Himself
• Mike Reynolds … Cast, Indian Chief
• Amy Lyn Bacall … Cast, Girl Scout
• Jake Jundee … Cast, Little Boy
• Yul Brynner
• Edward G. Robinson