ladymadonna
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Apr 23, 2024 14:40:17 GMT -4
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Post by ladymadonna on Aug 9, 2006 23:05:43 GMT -4
One of my very favorite books AND movies, which is kind of rare. ITA that Williams WAS Garp. Hmm, I haven't read TWATG in a long time, I think it's time for a re-read.
I loved his early stand-up stuff, and Good Morning Vietnam. I can't help but like him. The joke stealing stuff really sucks, but that aside, he comes across as really genuine, real person, imo. I hope he gets the help he needs (for the coke, because yes, he's a long time coke addict and used to do long stand-up bits about it.) He's no George Carlin, but all in all he's always been one of my favorite comedians.
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Ella
Sloane Ranger
Posts: 2,945
Dec 6, 2005 19:33:31 GMT -4
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Post by Ella on Aug 9, 2006 23:06:49 GMT -4
I haven't seen a lot of his movies, but he seems like a good guy. Good luck to him. Booze is hard to overcome.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Apr 23, 2024 14:40:17 GMT -4
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Post by Deleted on Aug 9, 2006 23:58:54 GMT -4
Best of luck to him. My favourite Williams movie is The Fisher King. I have a passionate, almost irrational, love for that movie. And the scene in the Chinese restaurant with Amanda Plummer when they play table hockey with the dumplings is brilliant. Some of his super-sappy stuff I can't stand, but usually I think he's great. And when he plays the bad, creepy guy, he's fantastic.
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niddlemiddle
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Apr 23, 2024 14:40:17 GMT -4
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Post by niddlemiddle on Aug 10, 2006 0:10:11 GMT -4
Here's a little story... There is a really high-end clothing boutique in San Francisco called Wilkes Bashford. Robin, among other SF notables, shops there regularly. Not only is RW really hairy... he also sweats buckets.... and I mean buckets!!
They always keep a stack of undershirts ready for any drop-by's from him. NASTY!
I had NO idea he took in Christopher Reeves' son... that makes me a little misty. That poor child.
On a side note: I love the area of San Francisco where he lives. It's just stunning and while it's a super wealthy area, I would have thought he would have lived in Pacific Heights.
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aiders
Guest
Apr 23, 2024 14:40:17 GMT -4
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Post by aiders on Aug 10, 2006 2:09:14 GMT -4
Yup, he lives in SeaCliffe, which is unbelievably gorgeous. Sharon Stone, Danielle Steel, etc live(d) there too. I love to drive around the area when I'm in SF.
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ernestine
Landed Gentry
Posts: 728
Mar 16, 2005 15:22:36 GMT -4
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Post by ernestine on Aug 10, 2006 9:32:22 GMT -4
I wasn't aware that Robin took in Christopher Reeve's son. I heard that he was living with his (Will's) best friend's family. Now I suppose that this COULD be Robin William's family. But isn't Will about 13? Does RW have a son that age? Where did you hear he took Will in? If he did, that's the most awesome thing I've ever heard. Especially because they purposely tried to hide the fact to keep Will's privacy.
I just have my doubts that it's true.
I love RW. The Birdcage is like my favorite movie ever.
He probably steals jokes unconsciously. Hears them, then when he's onstage without a script, making connections lightning fast, he comes up with something he's recently heard. He probably shouldn't go to comedy clubs or watch comedians. I definitely don't think he NEEDS to steal. His mind is so quick! He definitely can get on my nerves though.
Theres a scene in the Birdcage where he comes out of character and becomes RW and it's jarring every time. He's on stage and he's telling some dancer he can be Martha Graham Martha Graham Martha Graham, or Twyla, Twyla, Twyla... it should have been cut. That was RW up there on stage, not Armand Goldman.
Love him.
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Post by Wol on Aug 10, 2006 12:53:46 GMT -4
He probably steals jokes unconsciously. Hears them, then when he's onstage without a script, making connections lightning fast, he comes up with something he's recently heard. He probably shouldn't go to comedy clubs or watch comedians. I definitely don't think he NEEDS to steal. His mind is so quick! He definitely can get on my nerves though. This, unfortunately, is not how standup works. What you think is him working without a script is actually material he's worked on for awhile. Someone who has been performing as long as he has does very little off the cuff; even responses to hecklers are rarely spontaneous. And there is no "unconscious" theft - if he knows it's not his material, he should not be saying it onstage during his act, period. And the reason he keeps going to clubs is to keep getting new material, so he clearly does feel the need to steal. I think he does have a quick mind but he's been at this so long that he has a rehearsed comeback pretty much for anything. The only stuff I think he really did on the fly was some of the improv he'd do during Comic Relief with Whoopi Goldberg and Billy Crystal. Most comics go to a certain comfort zone when they have to improv, and Robin and Whoopi tend to work blue in those circumstances, with Robin going right to the dick jokes. Predictable, but still funny. This is a gray area in standup as a lot of people will do similar material - everyone wants to mine the humor in things that are universal, like airline travel or diaper changing. But few comics with chops like Robin's (Carlin, Seinfeld) have the reputation for out and out theft that he has. Hell, Seinfeld scrapped his entire act a few years ago and worked out a brand new set. This is damn near impossible - only the bravest (or craziest) comic will throw out their whole act. Do you know how hard it is to come up with sixty minutes of brand new material? It's practically unheard of. Shit, fifteen minutes of brand new material will stump most people. Sorry to rant, but am close to many talented comics who work with more integrity than Robin Williams. Seconding the love for Garp and particularly The Fisher King.
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Post by BoroKat on Aug 10, 2006 14:35:04 GMT -4
I guess it is just hard to accept that Robin Williams steals other people's jokes because of his level of success and the fact that in all other aspects, he seems to be a good person.
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kiran
Guest
Apr 23, 2024 14:40:17 GMT -4
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Post by kiran on Aug 10, 2006 15:16:43 GMT -4
I once heard him say that during Julliard he was already a bit gone, and Chris Reeve really took care of him, and made sure he ate and all that. And they both became successful around the same time so they stayed close.
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Post by Wol on Aug 10, 2006 18:39:44 GMT -4
Was just reminded by a friend that the title of Robin's first album "Reality...What a Concept" was stolen from another comic, and that comic punched him out at the Comedy Store. In fact, Robin has been punched out for theft a number of times at different clubs. And hey, weird useless trivia - 60% of comics are left handed.
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