When Harry Met Sally Fans Love To Quote At Billy Crystal, But There’s One Line He’s Still Surprised He Gets

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There are numerous reasons why ‘When Harry Met Sally…’ stands out as one of the finest romantic comedies ever made. The film offers an exceptional pairing of Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan, and it provides a delightful portrayal of friends turning into lovers. Additionally, it serves as an opportunity to explore the iconic Katz’s Deli, which gained its fame from the movie’s well-known fake orgasm scene. Interestingly, even though fans of the film directed by Bob Reiner still quote lines from it, Crystal is taken aback by one particular line that he continues to hear, and it isn’t what you might expect.

Composed by the late Nora Ephron, the romantic comedy starring Meg Ryan featured some of the most hilarious and authentic lines, such as “They don’t make Sunday [underwear]…because of God,” or “I drove him away. And I’ll be forty…someday!”. Even after 35 years, the male lead of “When Harry Met Sally…”, Billy Crystal, continues to recall these quotes as fans often share them with him. However, there’s one quote that stands out for Crystal, and it’s not from the famous scene at Katz Deli. It’s the line, “Baby fish mouth,” which still resonates with the New York native.

There’s a T-shirt. It’s sweeping the nation. Yeah, I hear them talking.

Instead of constantly dwelling on the widely recognized false orgasm scene, it’s heartening to discover that fans adore the Pictionary scene in “When Harry Met Sally.” In this uproariously funny instance, the entire group gathers for a game reminiscent of charades, where players must guess words based on drawings. As Sally attempts to depict “Baby talk,” Jess, one of Harry’s friends, hilariously blurts out “Baby fish mouth!” This nonsensical response, though seemingly absurd, resonates with many as it reflects the struggle to blurt out wild guesses in a desperate bid for victory, even when the answer seems like a long shot. With a T-shirt gaining popularity nationwide, perhaps this underappreciated phrase could find viral fame among today’s generation.

Indeed, Billy Crystal is often remembered for his famous line, “I’ll have what she’s having,” which originated from the scene in “When Harry Met Sally” where Harry and Sally were dining at Katz Deli. In this scene, Sally was trying to prove that women can fake an orgasm, and her demonstration caused quite a stir. An older woman, played by Rob Reiner’s mother, overheard the conversation and responded with the now-iconic line that resonates with many. Even though Crystal doesn’t particularly enjoy hearing this line on his tough days, he expressed to People how moved he is that fans continue to connect with that memorable scene.

When others desire my situation or even give me a secret acknowledgment from strangers, it’s incredibly charming. The charm comes from the affection people seem to have for that particular moment.

There’s no doubt that the scene “I’ll have what she’s having” continues to resonate with many, as evidenced by various tributes and parodies over the years. In 2013, a flashmob reenacted the Katz Deli scene on location, involving twenty improv actors and fake sound effects. Keira Knightley also humorously recreated this scene for Vanity Fair’s collection of classic movie remakes. More recently, Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan joined forces to simulate another orgasm in a Super Bowl LIX commercial promoting the quality of Hellman’s mayonnaise. An unexpected appearance by Sydney Sweeney saw her deliver the iconic line. This shows that the charm of the New York-set romantic comedy has not waned from the memories and affection of its audience and cast.

It might catch Billy Crystal off guard that people often reference “baby fish mouth” towards him, but it’s a testament to the fact that the memorable quotes from When Harry Met Sally… extend beyond “I’ll have what she’s having.” Given that the movie was consistently hilarious throughout, it’s worth noting that scenes other than the Katz Deli scene deserve some recognition too. If you want to revisit all the laugh-out-loud lines from this 1989 romantic comedy, they’re available on your Paramount+ subscription.

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2025-02-09 17:41