Billy Crystal: Milton Berle Slapped Me Twice!

Billy Crystal recently shared humorous and surprising anecdotes about his interactions with the legendary Milton Berle. While appearing on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Crystal, 78, detailed two separate instances where Berle slapped him. The first occurred during the taping of the final episode of Tonight Starring Steve Allen. When cameras failed to register, Berle took the stage and performed for the audience. Upon his return, Berle turned and slapped Crystal, a gesture Crystal understood as comedic.

Weeks later, Crystal encountered Berle again at Spago restaurant. Berle engaged in playful antics before approaching Crystal's table. There, Berle performed an impression of Jerry Lewis directing a film, which culminated in him slapping Crystal's face once more. Crystal described Berle as a significant figure in television history, noting his role in popularizing the medium.