The Genius of Robin Williams

I remember watching Robin Williams come out onto the set of the Letterman show, one time, and hilarious, high-energy, comic chaos ensued.  It was bedlam.  Can bedlam be funny?  Well, this was funny bedlam.  Even Letterman—who can pretty much enter into comic verbal sparring with anyone—just sat back, smiling and let him riff.  It seemed like his mind could fly from one funny idea to the other, making brilliant connections and launching into characters and voices instantaneously.  His gift was truly rare.

Years ago, a friend told me he had seen Robin in a club in the early 80s.  This person said Robin had the audience cracking up, of course.  But the crowd, according to my friend, was also in awe as they watched him.  Robin had a unique ability to stand on a stage, all by himself, and improvise extraordinary comedy out of thin air.  It is not an exaggeration to say that he was a comic genius.

It is heartbreaking to know that Robin Williams is gone.  Our world can always use a little more laughter and that is something Robin gave us with dazzling charm.