That catchphrase and other favorite Bernie Brillstein-isms (most beginning or ending with "kid") were invoked by speakers at the SRO memorial at UCLA's Royce Hall for the pioneering manager and producer who died Aug. 7 at age 77.

Emcee Martin Short set a light-hearted tone at the outset: "He used to say to me, 'Kid, I'm going to get you a gig at Royce Hall if it kills me.'�"

The array of notables who took part in the two-hour program was a testament to Brillstein's skill at spotting talent and guiding the careers of showbiz heavyweights ranging from Jim Henson to Lorne Michaels to John Belushi. And the sheer number of high-powered industryites among the 1,100 who attended the memorial reflected how well-liked the garrulous Brillstein was in the biz.

Befitting a man who represented many comics in his 50-plus years in showbiz, the tributes from Bill Maher, Rob Lowe, Jennifer Aniston, David Spade, Dan Aykroyd (who also did two numbers with Jim Belushi in their Blues Brothers guise), Norm Crosby, Jon Lovitz and John Larroquette were anything but reverent.

Jack Burns paid tribute to Brillstein's loyalty, recalling how he arranged an intervention and supported him through a rehab even when Burns was long past his earning prime. Kermit the Frog provoked some sniffling and teary eyes with a heartfelt rendition of "Rainbow Connection."

Perhaps the most representative yarn about the famously unfiltered Brillstein came from comedy scribe Alan Zweibel.

Zweibel recalled his signing meeting with Brillstein and asking whether there would be a contract between them. Brillstein promptly told Zweibel he could "shove your contract up your ass" and offered a handshake instead.

Over the years, Zweibel said he'd kept a running tally of things Brillstein had told him to "shove up his ass."

Among them: "First drafts of screenplays; CAA; opera; the Celtics; Sepulveda; the Internet; Palm Springs; and foods you're not supposed to put ketchup on."