Appearing on Bob Costas’s Back on the Record on HBO Max, Crystal described the infamous Smith-Chris Rock confrontation as a “more disturbing incident, for sure.” It was an attack. I had experiences. I organized the Grammys three times and things have fallen on me “. He continued, “Inside [Oscars] pre-production, the amazing Gil Cates, we would go through – he was the producer for six of the nine I did – we would go through the short description and say, ‘Maybe I should be there because something can happen there. “If this person wins, I have to follow him.” Crystal has argued that having a host brings an element of control to an event. “I set myself up to host the show, to really host the show so you can combine it. So whenever I see a show that is a show without a host, yes, it went faster, but there is no one there to capitalize on anything and give the public the feeling that there is someone in charge. “ Crystal remembered a time when the Grammy Awards were being presented. Comedian Jackie Mason made an incendiary remark, followed by Little Richard with something similar. Crystal was sent out to break up the situation, which he did by making a joke.
