What's The Story of Robin Williams at UCB Jr.?

[crumbum]

A couple of years ago a friend told me some LA lore involving Robin Williams showing up at one particular UCB theater event a couple of weeks running. Apparently he horned his way on stage and hogged the spotlight each time, resulting in the UCB people more or less asking him to stop coming around.

I recall this coming up here in passing a while back... does anyone know more about it? Is that all there is? What's the real story?

(I also remember hearing that he was in rehab soon after I was told the story.)

[ericluxury]

Dont know anything about that story, but if you want to hear a kinder story about Robin Williams at UCB Jr. then see Never Not Funny, Season 1, Episode 14 (i think, or somewhere about then)

[Bryan]

There was lots of talk about this on the aspecialthing board a while ago. That would probably be the place to go for more information.

[Regular Joe]

I won't drive too far drive down the highway to the comedy zone, but as I recall it, Williams was in training for that movie where he played the Jon Stewart character who became president. The way I heard it was that he wasn't funny on stage, it was awkward, but the crowd was polite anyhow. Not a very interesting story? Maybe I don't have all of it.

[crumbum]

Yeah, with some minimal searching online so far I haven't found anything to support the idea that it was a train wreck, as much as I would like to back up my preconceptions. However to hear my friend tell it, RW acted as though he was the only one on stage. The usual stream-of-consciousness garbage.

I admit I'm just looking for an excuse to hate.

[hugman]

I have no trouble believing that Mr. Williams was unfunny and annoying, but I do find it hard to believe that they went so far as to ask him not to come back.  No way, jose.

[crumbum]

I have no trouble believing that Mr. Williams was unfunny and annoying, but I do find it hard to believe that they went so far as to ask him not to come back.  No way, jose.

I may have misrepresented what I heard. It was more like after this happened a number of times, they asked that he refrain from showing up unannounced and taking over. Though again, I don't really know how much truth there is to it.

From what I've read I gather that at some later point (last year?) he became involved again in a more official way, with some nights that specifically focused on him.

[erechoveraker]

He did something similar here in Seattle a year or so back, him and Morgan Murphy starting hanging out with some local comics at a small venue here and he kinda took over. If I remember right, it happened 2 or 3 nights in a row too, although I'm sure here it was more of a treat then maybe at the UCB. SHRUG.

[Jouster]

I have no trouble believing that Mr. Williams was unfunny and annoying, but I do find it hard to believe that they went so far as to ask him not to come back.  No way, jose.

I may have misrepresented what I heard. It was more like after this happened a number of times, they asked that he refrain from showing up unannounced and taking over. Though again, I don't really know how much truth there is to it.

From what I've read I gather that at some later point (last year?) he became involved again in a more official way, with some nights that specifically focused on him.

This didn't happen at UCB Jr., I can guarantee you.

I was at a stand-up show that he did a drop in at and I hated it, but I've never been a fan, even when I was a kid.

[Ramsobot]

I was actually at a show in NY at the UCB Sr. where he dropped in on an improv team (Bangs). I was initially flabergasted and ready to put on my comedy snob hat, but he surprised me and did a pretty good job of working with the team. He stood on the backline and waited for the right moment to jump out rather than take over the show, he played the game with the rest of the team and I think the show worked out really well.

It was also nice to have something to say about comedy that my parents would care about.

[senorcorazon]

Did he do that funny Black Guy voice? Because THAT is gold. And fresh.

[pscan]

I am Not A Fan, but here is a report of the Bangs show referenced above: http://gothamist.com/2008/11/19/robin_williams_pops_into_the_ucb_th.php

As a UCB/improv junkie, the idea horrifies me, but according to everyone I talked to who saw it and/or performed with him had nothing but lovely things to say.