By LOUIS B. HOBSON --

His opening montage in which he had himself computerized into the five best picture nominees drew tumultuous response.

"It's the most gratifying response I've had for anything I've done in absolutely years," admits Crystal.

"It was the culmination of a month of very stressful work conceiving, writing and filming the inserts. My work as a director (on Mr. Saturday Night) was definitely a bonus because I knew what could be done..."

Crystal admits the most difficult assignment was getting David Letterman to participate.

"It was literally two weeks of pleading and cajoling. Dave was afraid that the audience would boo when he appeared. I had to assure him, he'd be the star of the entire joke and, as it turned out, I was right.

"His appearance (in The English Patient spoof) drew the wildest applause."

Crystal says he's not certain he'll host next year.

"I'd have to be certain I could come up with something to top this year's introduction to the show."

Crystal stars this Friday opposite his long-time friend Robin Williams in the comedy Father's Day.

MEL JOINS IN THE FUN

Mel Gibson makes an uncredited cameo appearance in Father's Day as an obsessed body-piercing fan.

Joel Silver who produced Gibson's Lethal Weapon movies produced Father's Day and is also the producer of Gibson's summer movie The Conspiracy Theory.

"Mel and I were hanging around the Father's Day set one day during a break in his filming.

"Robin (Williams) and Bill (Crystal) thought it would be a riot if Mel played a rock star or space-out rock fan. It was Mel's idea to do the body-piercing stint. It fits in with his kind of warped humor," explains Silver.

That warped sense of humor caught Conspiracy costar Julia Roberts off guard.

"Her first day on set, Mel gave her this beautifully-wrapped gift. He said it was to welcome her to the project," recalls Silver.

"She accepted it graciously and walked toward her trailer unwrapping it. Then we all heard this blood-curdling scream.

"At the joke shop down the block, Mel had bought the most realistic-looking rat. Julia pleaded with us to find some way to get back at him."

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