MovieChat Forums > Robin Williams Discussion > Was he really all that funny?

Was he really all that funny?

posted 7 years ago by coreymax23
19 replies | jump to latest

Or just a sad, pathetic clown stuck in the soul of someone who performed without rehearsal for the situation he placed himself in? I mean, come on,to me he seemed the consumable, phychological jokester who was unable to transform his reality into the process that sane people live every day. I didn't find him funny, just irritating. Every show, he seemed coked out of his mind, and we, as a community, laughed and praised this man for being so hilarious!? Go to any state hospital and you'll run in to hundreds of Robin Williams!

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[–] Destinata 7 years ago

John Cleese, legendary writer and comedian and founding member of Monty Python's Flying Circus, was in the middle of an interview with the press and noticing their disappointment said, "Look, I can't be funny all the time. I'm not Robin Williams!"

Yes, Robin Williams WAS all that funny. Back when he was 100%, he was lightening fast with a mind that made comedic connections like no one else. I think these two clips sum him up best: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3x1BTlDBrrc
Nah. After that one, I don't need two.

Every generation has "their" comedian. For my parents and for your grandparents, it was Bob Hope. It was Steve Martin for awhile. Then came Robin, and he was the top comedian for decades.

Yes. He was blindingly funny when he was on top of his game.

When evil is viewed as good, righteousness is viewed as evil.

[–] R_Kane (15828) 5 years ago

That which is most popular is rarely that which is best. It’s hard to consider Bob “I never met a war I didn’t like” Hope the comic of his generation when he was up against the likes of George Carlin
and Lenny Bruce. Much of Hope’s popularity stemmed from the success of the “The Road To . . .” film series, wherein he co-starred with charming crooner Bing Crosby, who was kind of an Irish version of Dean Martin, absent the booze. Crosby’s smooth charm
and wit were major reasons for Hope’s apparent success. Comics are rebels. Old Ski-nose was the lapdog of the establishment. Can you see a President inviting Carlin or Dennis Leary to golf? Neither can I.

[–] Destinata (2630) 5 years ago

One cannot debate matters of taste. Carlin had a strong following, as did Bruce. They couldn't come close to Bob Hope's popularity when Hope was at the top of his game. Hope blasted both Dems and the GOP. I grew up with comedy like that -- which could see the humor on BOTH sides of the aisle.

I find it hilarious that the progressive comics have dug their own graves. Even Seinfeld is considered so edgy that college students have to run to their safe rooms. Seinfeld!

Not only is the comedy I used to enjoy dead, the comedy you used to enjoy is dead. Comics can't be rebels -- they have to toe the progressive line. Rebel against that, and they are pilloried.

[–] R_Kane (15828) 5 years ago

We have a different idea of what a comic is, and that’s okay. To me, a comic is a stand-up comedian who writes and improvised his or her own material. I don’t think of comic actors, like John Cleese, who work from a script, or let’s call them corporate comics, like Hope, who have people writing their material and then recite the material before an audience. By my definition, a real comic makes people uncomfortable. By my definition, I don’t think it’s possible for an emotionally-healthy person to be a comic, though Carson might have come close. By my definition, a comic has a short life-span, and may very
well be self-destructive. Comedy is neither safe nor pretty nor comfortable; real comedy, therefore, tends to be unpopular. True comedy, as in Greek comedy, shows us the human condition at its most bleak. We laugh so we do not cry. Comedy is an ugly mirror.

[–] Destinata (2630) 5 years ago

Robin Williams started doing standup. David Letterman's tribute to him recalls him that way, since they both started at The Comedy Store: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3x1BTlDBrrc.

You mentioned Carson. Robin wrote his own material, and a lot of it was ad libbed. Carson hated having Bob Hope on the show because he actually insisted on his writers writing the segment -- so Carson would have to set up Hope's jokes exactly as written. Still, Hope was as big as he was because he took digs at everybody. He loved having Robin on because he could, as Letterman said, just sit back and let it happen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFNrLmxvq50&t=430s .

Carson was far from an emotionally-healthy person. He was legendarily angry and hateful, very spiteful to everyone around him. And a compulsive skirt-chaser. He seemed to try to lose his torment in booze and sex. Carson's comedy seems remarkably tame compared to Robin Williams'.

Now that appearance on Carson would be an outrage -- Williams makes jokes about gays, blacks, Hispanics...but perhaps they'd forgive him because of the Ronald Reagan jokes.

After Williams' death, there was an interview with Bobcat Goldthwait, a longtime friend, who talked about being asked if Robin was depressed. Goldthwait said something like, "Of course he was depressed! He was a comedian! We're all depressed. We'd ask each other, 'How would you do it?' 'Jump off a bridge, I think. You?'" As Mark Twain said, "The secret source of Humor itself is not joy but sorrow. There is no humor in heaven." I'm not so sure about that conclusion, though. As Robin Williams said, "You know God has a great sense of humor -- look around you!"

[–] JohnnyDoe (1723) a month ago

Trump inviting Dennis Leary to golf?

[–] jalidav1980 7 years ago

Maybe not that funny, but he played some memorable parts in some really great films. It wasn't just his humour, but his individuality that made him so loved

[–] funkychicken (607) 6 years ago

Exactly, he had a certain charm. Check out one of his later movies "RV" for how he could take mediocre material and make it entertaining, and yes even funny. He had something.

[–] jnorgle 7 years ago

Again, humor is not cut/dry. Funny for someone else, not for others. And comedians do what they want or what they think is best.

[–] TaRaNRoD (1579) 6 years ago

"Again, humor is not cut/dry. Funny for someone else, not for others"

THIS! Exactly, everyone laughs at different things. We could argue that Monty Pythons are comedy geniuses whetever we like them or not, but they are somehow an exception in this area.

Usually, the sense of humor is something personal. I never found Robin Williams all that funny, BUT... He was a gifted actor and somehow managed to turn everything he touched into something with, at the very least, some potential. He did have something. So well, not finding him funny is one thing that I can understand... Bashing him like OP just to get attention for being "a special snowflake who doesn't follow the general consensus" is really lame.

I can myself prove your point by talking about my personal tastes: I hate Jim Carrey and honestly think that his humor is lame and unfunny. However, people tend to agree that he is a great comedian. I don't say that they are wrong, because obviously I'm really in the minority. If he became so successful and loved, that means that he does have something, but he simply doesn't appeal to me. Period. On another hand, I know a lot of people who think that Danny McBride is an unfunny, one-way and untalented "actor". For my part, I find him funny. No, he doesn't have much range (he basically plays the same character in every movies) nor does he have a smart humour. But, for some reasons, it works for me. I laugh when I see him on screen and even can't explain why.

Bottom line, the sense of humour is personal and there's no need to be a little bitch about it.

[–] Burk48917 (11026) 6 years ago

I never liked his comedy,but he was a decent actor.

[–] ThrillerTalk (1118) 6 years ago

Well that's up to you OP. Comedy is subjective.

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

I only tolerated him because of 'Mork&Mindy' which I enjoyed as a child. Nostalgia reasons, you know. 'Good Morning, Vietnam!' was on my watchlist for so long and then one day I've decided to give it a try. Didn't manage past the first 40 minutes.