Billy Crystal Reveals Which “SNL” Costar He ‘Couldn’t Even Look at’ During Sketches Without Breaking

**Billy Crystal Remembers Hilarious Moments with Chris Guest During Iconic SNL Stint**

Billy Crystal, renowned for his roles in classic films like *When Harry Met Sally*, reflected on the memorable experience of working alongside his fellow comedians during his time on *Saturday Night Live* (SNL). The 78-year-old star recently shared anecdotes from his SNL career while celebrating his new Broadway show, *860*, at PaleyFest 2026 in New York City.

During a discussion with celebrated actress Whoopi Goldberg, Crystal was asked about the colleague who brought him the most joy and laughter throughout his career. Without hesitation, he cited Chris Guest, who was also a cast member during SNL’s tenth season, alongside Crystal in 1984.

Crystal recounted that sharing the stage with Guest often left him unable to maintain his composure. “I couldn’t look Chris Guest in the face. I did more sketches with Chris than anybody else,” he recalled, highlighting the dynamic with their ensemble cast that also featured notable talents such as Martin Short and Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

One of the memorable sketches from their time together was the recurring “Willie and Frankie” skit, which became widely recognised for the line, “I hate when that happens.” Crystal described the comedic essence of the characters they portrayed: “They were masochists. They would hurt themselves, and we’d go, ‘I hate when that happens.’ Chris makes me laugh like crazy.”

However, the laughter occasionally became too much for Crystal to handle. He shared a particular instance on air when Guest ad-libbed a line that threw him off completely. “He was supposed to say, ‘So I went home, and I took off my clothes, and I bathed in a vat of gin, and I rolled back and forth on some push pins,’ and I went, ‘Oh.’ And he goes, ‘Yeah, I hate when I do that,’” Crystal recalled with amusement.

In an unexpected twist during a live sketch, Guest altered his lines, launching Crystal into a fit of uncontrolled laughter. “So now we’re on the air, and he goes, ‘So I stripped down to the nude,’ and I went, ‘Oh, you bastard.’ It’s just a funny way of saying I got naked … and I just couldn’t control myself,” he said.

Despite the distractions that Guest often provided, Crystal made it clear that he holds Guest in high regard. “He’s brilliant,” he emphasised. Crystal didn’t stop there; he also praised other SNL alumni, including Martin Short, proclaiming him to be “as funny as it gets.” He reminisced fondly about the late Robin Williams, whom he regarded as one of the “geniuses” he had the privilege to work alongside.

Crystal’s journey with SNL was not without its twists. Although he had originally been slated to make an appearance in the show’s very first episode, circumstances led to him being cut. However, he persevered and eventually hosted the show twice in 1984 before officially becoming a cast member for a single season.

As he reflected on these experiences, it was clear that the camaraderie and hilarity shared with his fellow cast members, particularly with Guest and Short, had a lasting impact on his career. Crystal’s reminiscences serve as a reminder of the joy that stems from collaborative creativity, especially in the high-pressure environment of live comedy.

As the conversation at PaleyFest unfolded, it became evident that the laughter shared on stage and behind the scenes remains a cherished part of Crystal’s legacy. His appreciation for the creativity of his contemporaries illustrates the enduring bond forged through shared comedic experiences. The moments of genuine laughter not only defined his time on SNL but have also resonated throughout his impressive career in entertainment.