Billy Crystal says comedy is 'becoming a minefield' - New York Post

Billy Crystal doesn’t sound too impressed by the current state of comedy and cancel culture.

“I don’t like it, I understand it … I just keep doing what I’m doing and that’s all you can do right now.

Crystal touches on the theme of changing comedic tastes in his latest flick, “Here Today.” The movie, the first he’s directed in two decades, follows a veteran comedy scribe, Charlie Burnz (played by Crystal), who is battling dementia.

“That’s something that we really need more of, the country, and that is empathy and that’s what I think is the beautiful part of this friendship,” he said.

And I think that’s a beautiful thing.”.

Crystal has a career that spans decades — from his start as one of the first gay characters on TV in the comedy “Soap” to beloved movies including “The Princess Bride,” “When Harry Met Sally … ” and “City Slickers.” He even won a Tony for Special Theatrical Event in 2005 for his autobiographical one-man show “700 Sundays.”.

Of the common thread running through all his characters, he said, “They’re human, there is a humanity about the characters I like to play and there’s something redeeming about them.”.

One of his most iconic roles — Mike Wazowski, a one-eyed, excitable green-hued monster — is making a comeback.

“You know I’d rather talk about ‘Here Today,’ ” he said, but not before adding, “It’s an interesting time, it’s an interesting time.”

“Gerrit Cole is really someone, you just shake your head and go, ‘How great a pitcher is this guy?’ ” he said