How Billy Crystal learned to imitate Sammy Davis, Jr. | American Masters | PBS

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ม.ค. 2025

ความคิดเห็น • 127

  • @trishlangford5773
    @trishlangford5773 ปีที่แล้ว +68

    So good to hear Billy talking about Sammy. I've loved Sammy all my life. Always will. ❤❤❤❤

    • @Blackjesus3
      @Blackjesus3 5 หลายเดือนก่อน +4

      He was great

    • @jones3561
      @jones3561 18 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

      An under rated singer for sure

  • @12345682900
    @12345682900 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +66

    I was ALWAYS a fan of Sammy (for all the reasons Billy mentions). I'm so glad Sammy is remembered was such respect, love & affection.

    • @marksamuelsen2750
      @marksamuelsen2750 21 วันที่ผ่านมา +4

      What’s Truly SAD is ………When The BabyBoomers are All Gone Legends Like Sammy, Frank, Dean and Billy will Be All Forgotten Forever. ♾️ 😢

    • @judibarth7999
      @judibarth7999 18 วันที่ผ่านมา +5

      My parents took me to Sammy Davis Jr. in Mr. Wonderful on stage in New York! The first broadway show I’d ever seen!

  • @Greatdome99
    @Greatdome99 21 วันที่ผ่านมา +67

    Joey Bishop was in Sammy's car driving to Las Vegas one time when he got pulled over for speeding. Sammy explained, "I've only got one eye--did you want me to keep it on the road or on the speedometer?" The cop let him go.

  • @Rick_Hoppe
    @Rick_Hoppe 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +83

    Billy Crystal’s reminiscences of Sammy are a treasure!

    • @NellieKAdaba
      @NellieKAdaba 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      I agree.

  • @antonnym214
    @antonnym214 21 วันที่ผ่านมา +73

    Props to whoever is conducting this interview. They are astute enough to realize when you have someone like Billy Crystal delivering the goods, you just get out of his way and let him roll. Terrific stuff! and I LOVE Sammy! My goodness, there will never be another. He was great in everything. Even the small parts in All in the Family and I Dream of Jeannie. Wherever we saw him. What a treasure! He died in 1990, age 64, which was far too young for a world that was far better with him in it.

    • @jettabartholomew1118
      @jettabartholomew1118 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +3

      Well said❤

    • @2BESTdogBLUE
      @2BESTdogBLUE 7 วันที่ผ่านมา

      @antonnym214
      YOUR COMMENT
      IS🏆WINNING!💯✨️❤️

  • @bethelle9099
    @bethelle9099 18 วันที่ผ่านมา +28

    Billy is a gem!
    Best host ever of the Oscars!

  • @myutoob2011
    @myutoob2011 19 วันที่ผ่านมา +18

    Sammy Davis was a special talent. I wish I had seen him in person. It's sad we don't have entertainers like him anymore.

  • @DanielHart-v5m
    @DanielHart-v5m 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +27

    What a story teller. Billy Crystal is an American treasure.

  • @gregoryphillips3969
    @gregoryphillips3969 18 วันที่ผ่านมา +22

    One of the greatest interviews of all time. Incredibly honest and heartfelt while at the same time hilarious. Billy Crystal is in the moment here with his unique memories of Sammy Davis Jr.
    Thank you for this.

  • @qarsiq
    @qarsiq 19 วันที่ผ่านมา +21

    You can tell Billy loved him, beautiful interview.

    • @randallcarlson255
      @randallcarlson255 11 วันที่ผ่านมา

      I'm just trying oon😮😅😅😮😮

    • @randallcarlson255
      @randallcarlson255 11 วันที่ผ่านมา

      I'm just going home and ooo😅

  • @shelbyng8703
    @shelbyng8703 17 วันที่ผ่านมา +11

    Being alive at the end of 2024 and listening a legend pay a most heartfelt and sincere tribute to another legend fills me with humility, gratitude, and a sense of privilege. This reinforces my belief that some entertainers and artists should live forever. I thank God for Billy Crystal, Sammy Davis Jr., and many, many others who, through their craft, enrich our little lives.

  • @stephengiese7549
    @stephengiese7549 19 วันที่ผ่านมา +17

    How many people can tell stories about Sammy and also do the best imitation of him ever! Grateful, funny and stories😁

  • @johntiger5
    @johntiger5 ปีที่แล้ว +39

    Billy Crystal is a gem.

  • @jeffreylockhart8292
    @jeffreylockhart8292 ปีที่แล้ว +19

    I love this, hearing this hearing his way of telling specific parts of spending time with Sammy Davis, Jr. Sammy Davis , Jr. entertainer since a kid what a dancer as a kid he was!! Started with Will Mastin Trio his old man was Sammy Davis , Sr. being on stage and entertaining from the 30's !!

  • @JohnKorvell
    @JohnKorvell 21 วันที่ผ่านมา +15

    Billy's reverence of the old pro's of show biz like Sammy and Rickles is so great!

  • @teresakoren5987
    @teresakoren5987 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +5

    The legend that is Billy Crystal; 700 Sundays, he is so brilliant. Sammy's talent was limitless, he did it all, sing, dance, tap, impersonations, comedy, he grew from a child star into a massive superstar.

  • @Paul-lm5gv
    @Paul-lm5gv 21 วันที่ผ่านมา +19

    There are no people around anymore like Sammy Davis Jr, or anyone who was an entertainer back then, Sinatra. Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis and dozens of others. Total class. They are all gone! And no one today can take their place! Thank God for TH-cam!

    • @gregoryphillips3969
      @gregoryphillips3969 18 วันที่ผ่านมา

      In my mind the 2 greatest all around entertainers of all time are Sammy Davis Jr. and Judy Garland.
      If you're stress dancing, singing, acting and all around presence there really isn't an argument to be made.

    • @kazunguzungu
      @kazunguzungu 12 วันที่ผ่านมา

      Dave Chappelle is here

  • @michaelmeurer5801
    @michaelmeurer5801 13 วันที่ผ่านมา +6

    Sammy kissing Archie Bunker was one of his great moments. 👍❤️

  • @touchofdumb
    @touchofdumb 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +13

    Billy doing Sammy doing Bogey! Woah cats. Im in Heaven and I mean that.

  • @kathleen4376
    @kathleen4376 13 วันที่ผ่านมา +5

    Sammy dancing , singing and acting live on stage … what a treat that would be !!!I love picture I have of Sammy in a red sweater vest and black slacks fling a leaping high dance move. It really captures his essence !

  • @marciawade8813
    @marciawade8813 19 วันที่ผ่านมา +8

    I always Remember, Sammy Davis', Jr.'s mother was Puerto Rican... I love Billy's Sammy Davis, Jr's voice... His inflection... Sammy owned "I've got to be me".

  • @Wench_Mobb2
    @Wench_Mobb2 ปีที่แล้ว +18

    *When he used to do those specials with Robin Williams and Whoopi Goldberg it was amazing. They were all fantastic together*

  • @joe-vz6hx
    @joe-vz6hx 21 วันที่ผ่านมา +10

    Two of my all-time favorite entertainers; thanks for this. Billy is so lucky to have had the experiences he's had...hey face, can you dig it...I knew that you could, yes, yes...

  • @alexwallace9832
    @alexwallace9832 19 วันที่ผ่านมา +8

    I'm so glad that this was on my feed. I loved Billy Crystal's storytelling.
    Sammy Davis Jr. was a fantastic artist.
    Cheers from Australia 🇦🇺

  • @LMays-cu2hp
    @LMays-cu2hp ปีที่แล้ว +13

    Thank you for sharing thos beautiful history.

  • @fgrady1
    @fgrady1 21 วันที่ผ่านมา +7

    That man had a LIFE! ….His ability to tell stories about things that happened to him was note for note incredible. What a talent!

  • @EDAHSC
    @EDAHSC 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +6

    Great to see Billy taking about Sammy. I'd love to have been in his shoes and get to know the truly greatest entertainer of all time. Billy's not to bad himself. Must of had some great times. Just so happens I'm reading a biography on Sammy now and have been consuming everything I can find. Happy I found Billy's interview.

  • @cgf2018
    @cgf2018 23 วันที่ผ่านมา +7

    One of my favorite books was his “Yes I Can”.

  • @judibarth7999
    @judibarth7999 18 วันที่ผ่านมา +4

    My parents took me to Sammy Davis Jr. in Mr. Wonderful on stage in New York! The first broadway show I’d ever seen!

  • @lauriethomasmd3760
    @lauriethomasmd3760 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +9

    I met Billy Crystal in the late 70s. So, of course, now I tell people “He’s my close personal friend!”

  • @robertmacpherson6715
    @robertmacpherson6715 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +5

    Sammy was the Performer’s Performer, overshadowed by Sinatra and Dean, but what a voice.

  • @tbradley2014
    @tbradley2014 8 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    Thank you for sharing, Billy. I'm so glad this was recorded and shared to be a part of history! Love you always.

  • @boeingav8tr525
    @boeingav8tr525 21 วันที่ผ่านมา +4

    Billy, you’re so blessed to have these memories

  • @peroteive9962
    @peroteive9962 21 วันที่ผ่านมา +6

    Thank you Billy. Also love Sammy.

  • @DaddyTre65
    @DaddyTre65 2 วันที่ผ่านมา

    A master storyteller reminiscing about one of the greatest performers of all time. Absolutely awesome! ⭐

  • @bg7606
    @bg7606 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +8

    What an awesome set of stories. Esp the soul food

  • @sgtmajvimy
    @sgtmajvimy 19 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

    love these stories. Sammy was always my favourite. What a treasure that man was. Billy's story telling is just so marvellous. thank you for sharing this.

  • @BlueBaron3339
    @BlueBaron3339 ปีที่แล้ว +27

    It's not that folks have forgotten what an *immense* talent Sammy Davis, Jr. was...that *voice* those *moves* that *chutzpah* he had from an extremely early age on. It's because they've never encountered it. They didn't grow up with stars that could sing, dance, and act - brilliantly! But Billy Crystal remembers. Fondly, and in such rich detail 😃❤

    • @artheriford
      @artheriford ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Truth. The didn’t call him Mr. Show Business for nothing. Sam was the man!

  • @Deanriley
    @Deanriley 21 วันที่ผ่านมา +4

    Sammy Davis, jr was one of the most talented artists ever.

  • @artheriford
    @artheriford ปีที่แล้ว +7

    Billy's tribute/impersonation of Sammy was the funniest SNL skit I ever saw. "Jackie Rogers Jr's $100,000 Jackpot Wad" Some said it was racist, but that was so not racist. Sammy was one of Billy's biggest heroes and earliest influences.

    • @trishlangford5773
      @trishlangford5773 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Couldn't get away with it these days. The grim, sour faced, humourless WOKE mob would be "Outraged". They really are the biggest miseries on the planet and aim to make Everybody as miserable as they are. Reality was Sammy loved it. He was so cool. I so wish we hadn't lost him so soon. 😢

    • @artheriford
      @artheriford ปีที่แล้ว

      No. Sammy . Dean Martin. Frank Sinatra. Peter Lawford. Joey Bishop . I will never be that cool. @@trishlangford5773

    • @mackdaddyg321
      @mackdaddyg321 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Trish, honey, are you okay?

    • @Joe-sn6ir
      @Joe-sn6ir 18 วันที่ผ่านมา

      @@trishlangford5773 AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-men!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • @BDUBZ49
    @BDUBZ49 6 หลายเดือนก่อน +7

    One of the kings of comedy.

  • @stephaniestanley8041
    @stephaniestanley8041 18 วันที่ผ่านมา +3

    I know Sammy was a complicated flawed man but the talent he had was SUPREME. 🎉😮❤

  • @halnwheels
    @halnwheels 16 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    what a pleasure to have stumbled onto this. What a great story teller Billy is.

  • @richardbrobeck2384
    @richardbrobeck2384 19 วันที่ผ่านมา +4

    great interview !

  • @artie
    @artie 6 วันที่ผ่านมา

    I can listen to this legend all day!!! Love him. Anything his in is a treat for me. God bless him for entertaining us for years. What a man

  • @NainieJ
    @NainieJ 18 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    What a sweet thing to say about Sammy. By a sweet Billy❤

  • @stevescott6503
    @stevescott6503 4 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Entertainers like Sammy, Frank, Dean and so many others will never be forgotten. They were the golden age of not only Holly Wood, but all of |entertainment. I am glad I lived through some of it from the 50s and after.

  • @maviccabreraballeza6100
    @maviccabreraballeza6100 4 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Thanks for this gem of a video. I love Sammy Davis. Thank you, Bill!

  • @williampinchbeck4321
    @williampinchbeck4321 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    What a wonderful experience that had to be!! Sammy was the greatest!!!

  • @mrkeopele
    @mrkeopele 15 วันที่ผ่านมา

    wow! listening to Billy talk story about Sammy is so good, it reminds me of Henry Bushkin talking about Johnny , it's great to hear these memories. thank you

  • @tftkadawidalle-hp8wt
    @tftkadawidalle-hp8wt 4 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Thanks for sharing, Mr. Crystal; speaking your truth. ✨🙏🏿🫶🏾

  • @kathy2024
    @kathy2024 19 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    What a great interview! I love Billy Crystal ❤

  • @PattyScheuermann
    @PattyScheuermann 4 วันที่ผ่านมา

    When my sister & I would belt out his songs when my parents we out. I still sing the songs in my car!!

  • @joanmurphy2166
    @joanmurphy2166 24 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

    Thank you. Enjoying this!

  • @jbkormos
    @jbkormos 3 วันที่ผ่านมา

    What a fucking awesome story!! I laughed--BRILLIANT...!
    Sammy always struck me as an incredible talent and sweet human being. I truly wish he were still here.

  • @ddburrows988
    @ddburrows988 21 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

    Wow, what well-told stories.

  • @LaurenceShaw-iq9mk
    @LaurenceShaw-iq9mk 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    This is sweet. Thanks Billy.

  • @RickDuBose-o8q
    @RickDuBose-o8q 21 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    I AM A SUPER ARDENT FAN OF BILLY CRYSTAL. FROM "MR. SATURDAY NIGHT" TO THE "CITY SLICKERS" FILMS. THIS GUY ALWAYS PUTS A TWINKLE IN MY EYES!!!

  • @eileendarbyshire9028
    @eileendarbyshire9028 8 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Thank you for posting I look forward to more videos from you. Bless you. I had enough of this preferent biasness in this world. I have had to endure it for over 50 years. This is so special.

  • @TripleJ69
    @TripleJ69 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    Those were great stories. It sounded like the golden age of Hollywood. Great story.

  • @johnmoore1798
    @johnmoore1798 21 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

    Billy is great

  • @cynthiarowley719
    @cynthiarowley719 18 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    Sweet ! Thank you 🎉

  • @danielraymadden
    @danielraymadden 6 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Sammy loved people....love makes you shine like a star....

  • @CatCaretakerID
    @CatCaretakerID 15 วันที่ผ่านมา

    I miss Sammy Davis Jr. Such a great entertainer - we don't have people like him anymore, variety entertainers.

  • @johnlooney2319
    @johnlooney2319 11 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Forgot about Billy till now. What a entertainer in his own right. Sammy was a triple threat...When i was young, loved the theme song to the tv show Berreta . Seemed like Sammy was friends with everyone in show business.

  • @Prifly70
    @Prifly70 3 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Westbury Music Fair, parents took us all the time. Sammy in the round !

  • @burtcampbell1452
    @burtcampbell1452 19 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

    BILLY CRYSTAL IS ONE OF THE FUNNIEST GUYS EVER

  • @bartofilms
    @bartofilms 16 วันที่ผ่านมา

    What a great story!...

  • @jodie4609
    @jodie4609 21 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

    Yup Billy Crystal on Billy Crystal

  • @vec875
    @vec875 12 วันที่ผ่านมา

    This was great.

  • @RUBYROSE365
    @RUBYROSE365 4 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Truth be told . Respectfully by Billy Crystal 🔮

  • @smoothvelvetsinger
    @smoothvelvetsinger 4 วันที่ผ่านมา

    He's a good storyteller👍

  • @Matlockization
    @Matlockization 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    It would be hilarious if Sammy Davis Jnr could see Billy Crystal do an impersonation of him.

  • @thedevilinthecircuit1414
    @thedevilinthecircuit1414 18 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Billy is a great entertainer. Listen closely to his speech patterns and tenor, and you'll be surprised to hear Walken in there. They have *very* similar voices.

  • @barbarabonnette2705
    @barbarabonnette2705 11 วันที่ผ่านมา

    I think Billy Crystal needs to be the executive producer of the Sammy Davis Jr. story…….. it would be so much fun! But he should tell the story and do it in retrospect ❤

  • @garylobo3
    @garylobo3 18 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Beautiful stuff Billy! But my favorite all time roast of Sammy doing the Dean Martin roast was Foster Brooks, pretending to be drunk and saying, We're all here to honor that wonderful star, Sandy Dunkin Jr...
    And what would Las Vegas do without you, Slammy, Slummy, Sammy?
    I thought Sammy would have a heart attack, he was laughing so hard.
    But Billy obviously loved Sammy, and Muhammed Ali and Howard Cosell as well. Did perfect impressions of all three!

  • @lynnturman8157
    @lynnturman8157 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    The two most talented guys in show biz ever were probably Micky Rooney & Sammy Davis, Jr. They could do anything & everything. And do it better than 95% of the people who could just do one thing.

  • @rager-69
    @rager-69 21 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

    If Sammy was making up stories on stage about Billy, what do you want to bet he was making up stories about Frank, Bogie and Cooper?

  • @DarnellPlayer-k5v
    @DarnellPlayer-k5v 15 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Wow. Did Billy open for Sammy before his role on SOAP?

  • @joestrickland5153
    @joestrickland5153 6 วันที่ผ่านมา

    GREAT STORY IM A SAMMY FAN💪🏾

  • @jaddae7099
    @jaddae7099 15 วันที่ผ่านมา

    I wanted that to be me, I wanted that to be me, what else can I be than just what he is

  • @cynthiazumbrunn8700
    @cynthiazumbrunn8700 17 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Billy doing Sammy doing Bogart wow

  • @fjmugwump
    @fjmugwump 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    I LOVE this Billy Crystal reminisce about my favorite entertainer, Sammy Davis! I have always loved Billy and I loved Sammy more! I cried when Sammy left us! 😂👍

  • @cherylkurucz8852
    @cherylkurucz8852 17 วันที่ผ่านมา

    🌟💖🌟💖🌟💖🌟💖🌟

  • @vernonedmonds8596
    @vernonedmonds8596 20 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    He and Jim Henson passed a few hours apart 😢

    • @AP-gb3eh
      @AP-gb3eh 12 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      Dark day

  • @vshewett4333
    @vshewett4333 13 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    The young actors today aren't "stars". The real stars are all gone!😢

  • @jelambertson
    @jelambertson 19 วันที่ผ่านมา

    I love Sammy. If you do too don’t read his Wikipedia.

  • @NitroModelsAndComics
    @NitroModelsAndComics 19 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    All he had to do was call. I woulda hung out with Sammy every night.

  • @CHDean
    @CHDean 18 วันที่ผ่านมา

    18:32
    When even your own mother doesn’t believe you….

  • @mdarrenu
    @mdarrenu 19 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    The first time my dad took me to live theatre was NEVER.

  • @frankmcfarlane-e8m
    @frankmcfarlane-e8m 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    given the fiction sammy told about billy in those intros it makes me wonder about the stories sammy told billy!

  • @HiVizCamo
    @HiVizCamo ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Funny the difference.

  • @georgialerangis2123
    @georgialerangis2123 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

    ❤🎉

  • @mollypitcher9380
    @mollypitcher9380 18 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    Tom Hanks stole his acting roles.

  • @danwallach8826
    @danwallach8826 18 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Was Billy Crystal's actual, real last name "Kristol?"
    You know, like political commentator Bill Kristol?

  • @egx161
    @egx161 17 วันที่ผ่านมา

    I wonder how Billy Crystal feels about doing black face makeup on SNL?

  • @dabzprincess92
    @dabzprincess92 18 วันที่ผ่านมา

    I want to know how Billy really feels about censorship today, especially in comedy???? That was the million dollar question you failed as a journalist to ask.

  • @a34rwl
    @a34rwl 6 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Say it ' Im blacking up' just say it.

  • @jpatino9388
    @jpatino9388 19 วันที่ผ่านมา

    This great story telling should go to the Smithsonian for prosperity.

  • @jeff1867
    @jeff1867 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    So if your a liberal your allowed to do blackface if your a republican doing blackface your canceled. I love when Billy does sammy but just find it odd on who's allowed to do certain things

    • @trishlangford5773
      @trishlangford5773 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +5

      Not so strange. Sammy and Billy were friends and both Jewish. Also tthere were three big differences.
      1) Billy did it with Sammy' s blessing .
      2) Back then people still had a sense of humour
      3) Things were not so tediously Woke. People weren't so easily "triggered" to take offence. They had a backbone not a jelly belly.

    • @juanareas5317
      @juanareas5317 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      We loved Billy's impressions of Sammy. Black people weren't sensitive about it back then. We had a sense of humor.

    • @waldolydecker8118
      @waldolydecker8118 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

      There's nothing "odd" about it, Simpleton...if you are a "member of the group" you are allowed; if you ain't a member of the group then you ain't allow - its that simple. Billy and Sammy were both CLOSE PERSONAL FRIENDS AND BOTH JEWISH. You and your white buddies are neither. Another example is - YOU in anger can call one of your relatives "stupid" or a "slut" because you are their family member; but if a non-family member called your sister "stupid" or a "slut" it would be a fighting insult because that person IS NOT A MEMBER OF YOUR GROUP. Listen to Jewish standup comics...they make fun of Jewish mothers and Jewish home life all the time...Black comics do the same about Black people - but if a non-Jewish person started making jokes about Jewish mothers and Jewish home life, the comments would be perceived as Anti-Semitic and not be funny to Jews because that person is not a member of their group.
      Shit ain't got nothing to do with whether you are "liberal" or "conservative" like they taught you on FOX News. IT HAS TO DO WITH BEING A MEMBER OF THE GROUP. If you know you ain't a member of a group, then you should have no reason wanting to engage in behavior in which only group members are entitled. Its that simple. Something is wrong with you if you think you are entitled to engage in behavior reserved for other groups.

    • @tranurse
      @tranurse 29 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      He started imitating Sammy as a child, and he knew him. SDJ and his family loved it and him. Get a grip

    • @otrnam1
      @otrnam1 18 วันที่ผ่านมา +4

      The difference, the GOP and MAGA do Blackface with hate. Let’s keep it real here.