FIRST TIME REACTING TO | Robin Williams Monologue: Safe Sex | Saturday Night Live

[@Daehawk]

Robin was one of a kind. No one like him then and no one like now and there wont be a new Robin in the future. I miss him, his humor, and his movies. Im still hurt he felt so bad at the end he took his own life after giving so many laughs and so much joy to the world. I love you Robin and miss your presence on this Earth.

[@ChefBeagz]

And that, is why I don't refer to him as only a comedian, but more of an entertainer.

[@gerardroll6468]

There are many classed as comedic legends…. And then there’s Robin Williams (R.I.P ✊😔). He was in a class all by himself ✌️😌

[@andrewft31]

@MB724evergreeniterraceisminewhy would you bring your mother into this?

[@brittreacts]

@andrewft31 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@hibhibb5429]

@@brittreacts Check out Robin Williams on "Inside The Actors Studio" with James Lipton in 2001. It was Extremely funny and so insightful!!!

[@xzonia1]

@MB724evergreeniterraceismine Robin Williams got sober in 1982 after John Belushi's death, and he remained sober until 2003. He went to rehab in 2006 to address his fall off the wagon. He was bipolar, prone to bouts of mania and depression. He was likely having a manic episode the night this was filmed, hence why he cannot control his speed of delivery in this monologue.

[@Migz2682]

​@hibhibb5429 yaaaaas inside the actors studio with Robin williams. I know you do clips. But it doesn't give it justice. You gotta watch thewhole thing.

[@gregorykenfield3134]

Robin Williams was the undisputed king of improvisation...even HE didn't know what he was going to say next!

[@Brian_S_1971]

It will be 10 years in August since Robin Williams passing.. RIP

[@TonyM1961]

Robin was incredibly gifted. He won a full scholarship to Julliard, no mean feat. While there, his primary field of interest was drama/acting, but he was so gifted that he rapidly advanced through his classes. He took side classes in dance and vocal music. He left Juliard during his junior year after famed actor John Houseman told him "we have nothing left to teach you". If you want to really see him and his personality in depth, find his appearance on Inside The Actors Studio where he was being interviewed yet still constantly ad libbing comedy. He had the entire audience of student actors just rolling. Be aware that the full thing is a couple hours so it's definitely an investment of time, but well worth it

[@MrTech226]

Christopher & Robin's Housemaster was iconic British/American actor named John Houseman from 1968 to 1976. Robin told Johnny Carson on his 1st appearance on Tonight Show about Houseman after he informed Johnny about Julliard.

[@KelliViti]

He was classically trained. He, & Christopher Reve ( original big screen Superman ) Were classmates & best friends, at Julliard. I am sure movement classes were part of the overall curriculum. PS. This is the early to mid 80s. Very little was known about AIDS. In terms medications. People were still dropping like flies. He is referencing safe sex, & the fear we all felt. Surrounding hookups / dating.

[@animangamania]

He was also roommates with Kevin Conroy (our favorite animated Batman) at Julliard, IIRC. Conroy heard a group of people having conversations at night, which turned out to be Robin doing multiple personas.

[@dennisshaper4744]

People weren't dropping like flies. But it hit the gay community hard.

[@KelliViti]

@@dennisshaper4744 I'm aware. I was 12 in 1980. Everybody had many partners in the 70s. But. Men are men. when they want to have sex with other men. They do. Especially at the height of sexual revolution / gay liberation, era. When sex was part of expressing / owning your identity. When a shot was all you thought was needed. To avoid serious consequence. Hell, at 15. I remember thinking. Thank God. I am not 5, or 6 years older. It could easily have been me. Fortunately or unfortunately. We are all a product of our time. If the wording seemed callous. It was not meant as such, Dropping like flies. Was the literal phrase used / verbiage of that time,

[@CreativeGuy99]

Robin Williams is on the Mount Rushmore of comedians.

[@markmyers6472]

If you can find it... there was a TV show called "Inside the Actor's Studio", The MC, James Lipton would interview actors/directors/etc. for an hour... Robin Williams was on and James Lipton just set back and watch like the audience as he taught a class on improv.... he was an absolute master. If you can find it, watch it... you might love to react to it too..

[@Lynn7015hb]

Yes you're right, AIDS became more widespread in the 80s, that's why he's referring to rubber gloves & condoms. There was an effort in media to get ppl to use them. And the "I'm melting" line is from The Wizard of Oz (if you didn't catch it.) ❤❤❤Robin.

[@wordgiesworld5483]

He was on Inside the Actor’s Studio back in like 2001. Most episodes were an hour, his was an hour and a half. The host, the late James Lipton, asked a question about where his operation for voices and characters comes from. He took a scarf from a woman in the audience and went on a fast paced, totally improved stream of characters just using that scarf. He was also very open about his drug use. Great interview if you can find it.

[@Migz2682]

So apparently said they aired 1:30 because the network made an exception but the interview lasted a little over 3 hours. He said they cut so much material because he went on his tangents and the audience needed time to compose themselves. That's so incredible.

[@mikelbrett1]

What you see in this clip is Robin Williams, boundless energy, he could go on for hours. As others mentioned he did a lot of ad lip, so even if there was a script, he rarely followed it. One thing a lot of people don’t know about Robin is that in every movie he was in he asked the production company to hire at least 10 homeless people to work on the set. It is estimated he helped well over 1000 homeless during his career. He was one of a kind, I am just glad I got to experience him from his early days on Mork & Mindy throughout his career.

[@gerardroll6468]

Getting Robin to stick to a script was as futile a task as expecting a politician to tell the absolute truth about anything… NEVER a good idea. His class shone through when he was allowed to just wing it & give his character its own spin in tv & movies. Classic example of that was his role as the genie in “Aladdin” 🧞‍♂️🧞‍♂️🧞‍♂️. He went completely off the script there & it WORKED BRILLIANTLY 🌅👏👏👏🌅

[@maybedrinkin3241]

Nanoo Nanoo 🖖

[@dennisshaper4744]

Cocaine

[@cliffordsmith8230]

Robin Williams is truly one of a kind. I put him up there with Jim Carrey as 2 of the best at doing improv. If u've never seen of Robin's live standups ur missing out. He's totally different than what he was when he was doing a movie. This monologue is more in line with his live standup. I never knew Robin had a very different set of language he used when he did a movie as opposed to his live shows then when I watched him live. The day that people learned he passed away felt like the world was going to be a lot sadder since he was gone.

[@Nurse66]

That was pure of the moment performance!!!!! Robin was the best ad-lib comedian and Actor we’ve ever had….I’m sorry for his family and Robin, “Nanu nanu!” RIP😢😢😢

[@kylesummers1565]

A true genius (in every literal sense), but a very troubled soul. Peace, Love!!

[@davidtullis2810]

Robin Williams on the show Inside Actors the Studio one lady laughed so hard they had to call the paramedics

[@Jerry-p3h]

First watched him on Mork & Mindy. Hilarious, SNL , The World Acording to Garp , 3hr craziest movie I've ever seen.... On the dark side there is What Dreams May Come. He really was a unicorn, he tells jokes while acting like he's someone else and in FULL CHARACTER of course. Gotta see him in Popeye movie😂😂😂

[@gerardroll6468]

What about his sinister side coming out in that movie where he played a creepy, stalker type in “1 hour photo”??? That was the exact opposite of the way we see him in this video or any of his standup routines. He just did it so well.

[@georgemckrakkin1141]

Robin Williams king of adlib. His hero was Jonathon Winters. Juliard graduate.

[@hibhibb5429]

I will always always always enjoy the time that Robin Williams was on "Inside The Actors Studio" with James Lipton in 2001. It was Extremely funny and so insightful!!!

[@xzonia1]

I loved Inside the Actors Studio, and Robin was just the best guest! :)

[@justarandomveryintelligent8934]

Robin was a GOD of improv. The man could throw out hundreds of off the cuff jokes in a single minute his brain was moving that fast (sometimes on cocaine but he got sober in the 90s which is when we found out he was high energy by default). Its easy to see why a dementia diagnosis would be so devastating to him. Yeah by the way it wasn't depression that brought about his end. At least not the way most people think it was. He had been diagnosed with lewy body dementia and towards the end his deterioration was really bad. He just went out on his own terms rather than end up a shell of man with no idea who or where he is.

[@gerardroll6468]

I agree with you 100% 👍😁. I once heard him described as “the Concorde of Comedy, meaning his mind & comedic ability was always operating at supersonic speeds, a truly appropriate reference 🫰😜

[@lehen1013]

The Gary Hart reference makes this about 1984 when he ran for President and had to step aside for "indecent behavior".

[@valogden]

Crazy to think how any sign of scandal took a person out of running for office. I miss the old days.

[@xzonia1]

@@valogden Same. As of yesterday, we now have a convicted criminal running for President. Never could have imagined it back then.

[@adamwyler1773]

Mayor Ed Koch. He served as mayor for 4 or 5 terms from the late-70's to the mid-80's. He was VERY popular.

[@kennydeez..1774]

Great Reaction to Robin Williams👍🏾💯👍🏾

[@brittreacts]

Thank you!

[@70lonebear]

Robin was a student of Juilliard for 2 years I think, he did have training in dance and acting, in addition to that he spent many years preforming at a comedy club in LA called the Improv. That made him a master of improvision. He talked about working with an outline, but never a script and if he thought that the outline was crashing, he would just play it by ear.

[@rapodejko]

Robin was a true showman

[@ScottMayys]

Robin Williams is one of the most talented people to ever walk the Earth .

[@kevinmarshall854]

When Robin With was "ON" there was no one better at makig people laugh uncontrollably. Unfortunately before his death he had gotten so depressed about his life and his health problems that he was not able to find any happiness or laughter in his life. But whenever I miss him at his very funnieinst I watch the old Johnny Cardon clips on KZbin that has Robin Williams in them. You get to see his true comedic genius at work as things came into his mind faster than most people can say their ABC's. He was a graduate of the JUILLIARD SCHOOL OF ACTORS. He was trained in Shakespearean acting as well as comedic acting. Just watch the video of the making of Good morning Vietnam or when he did the Disney movie ALADDIN . Or any of the many comedy movies like Mrs. Doubtfire or one of my favorite R.V. There is not a movie that was not funny that he was in!!! Watch his comedy performance that he did that is here on KZbin "ROBIN WILLIAMS live on Broadway or Robin Williams live and uncensored. Both are a definite must see!!!!

[@brianvernon249]

He just wanted to be with his best friend Christopher Reeve.

[@IPushedGollum]

Robin Williams is one of the absolute all-time greats and one of my favorite comedians of all time, in one league with Don Rickles, George Carlin and Richard Pryor.

[@brandonpuckrin7514]

He's a Comic Genius. His show Live At The Met is a Classic and a must watch

[@dscotthoward7467]

Robin Williams just WAS!!! More than anybody else.

[@swcoder]

Saw him live once, one of the greatest for sure.

[@Purple1984Rain]

Robin’s creative brain was unmatched. He could improvise on the spot any subject matter and do a full hilarious routine. His 1983 concert film “An Evening With Robin Williams” showcased his comedic genius to the fullest.

[@mattperiolat]

You called it - Robin did this during the height of the AIDS epidemic. Minute people found out it could be sexually transmitted and was FATAL in the era before AZT, safe sex became very en vogue. Robin was just a mad genius - he somehow tapped into that “Is it funny, are they reacting, do it!” humor and most everyone I have ever met just loved him. Miss him so.

[@keithmays8076]

Just wait till you see him, Billy Crystal, and Whoopie Goldberg hosting Comic Relief. They were the Three Amigos of Comedy.

[@jayweb51]

If you look up pandemonium in the dictionary, you'll find Robin Williams photo there. Many a time directors have had to ask Robin to tone down, and keep him in check from going off on a tangent during filming. When he did Good Morning Vietnam, the director just said to the cameraman "just keep the camera rolling"; as a lot of Robin's performance was ad lib. If you were to let him go, it would be like being in the path of a twister. He is fabulously phrenetic, pure chaos. There is nothing or no -one like him. GENIUS

[@hopeklemann1]

💔 miss him so much

[@matthewcompton3448]

For some more Robin fun, check out the video 'The Genie Outtakes of Robin Williams in Aladdin (Rare Voice Recording Sessions)'. It's audio outtakes of his from Aladdin. Another video that talks about his improvisation is 'When Robin Williams Goes Totally Off Script!'.

[@ChiefAdele]

Robin studies at Julliard.. he learnt classical acting... He didn't graduate from there.. but all his training in classical acting and dancing came from there...

[@tricialebanno4437]

Robin was way ahead of the times, but also timely with his comedy. The 80's were scary with AIDS and STD's, so he was making it ok to talk about what people needed to do to stay safe. Such a genius that we lost way too soon.

[@remmymafia3889]

Love the glasses Britt- with your looks you can make any accessory look like a million bucks. (I love your perfect skin)

[@brittreacts]

Thank you!

[@spicy321]

This episode is from January 1988. I still have it on a VHS somewhere and it was one of the best SNL episodes I've ever seen.

[@robertamigliore8504]

Robin could have been anything he wanted to be. A unbelievable talent.

[@RonaldCanfield-m2r]

Yes, you are correct in regard to the timing of the subject matter.

[@Mcvthree3]

Mayor Ed Koch (Kotch?) Was NYC mayor during the SNL early years. He was a frequent guest on the show. Gary Hart was a us presidential candidate whose candidacy blew up because he was caught with a hot mistress in a love nest. Half the time, robin goes over EVERYBODYS head. His delivery jumps around so much. Much of what he said came off the top of his head

[@ronaldferino3414]

You really should watch Robin William's first tonight show appearance on Johnny Carson Robin is so off the wall he has Johnny Carson laughing so hard BELIEVE ME it's defiantly worth watching. By the way he also went to Julliard School of the Arts. It's really worth watching you won't be disappointed !!

[@CarolLee-mq8er]

Robin is a rabbit hole all his own. Funniest man could act and do drama as good as he could do comedy. Genius in his own right. ❤

[@robthomas3664]

You mentioned that you were born in '88. So, you were the right age that your parents likley would've shown you Disney's Alladin. He practically MADE that movie!

[@christinahilt2978]

If you want to see his dance ability you should find the episode of Mork and Mindy where he joined the cheerleading squad. You should check out him in the funeral scene on Carol Burnett. Normally they only improv a scene once but he asked if he could do it again. It was crazy and they were improv specialists.

[@farfromperfek]

To answer your thumb nail question about Robin. Yes As someone old enough to be watching the 1st ever aired SNL episode. Nothing is better than the 1st 3 seasons.

[@rmathis268]

King of comedic improv

[@jayweb51]

A lot of times in his movies, if he forgot his lines, he would improvise; most of the times, the director would allow the cameras to keep rolling. Some of those footages would make it into the movies. The man was a genius. You should react to some of his movies; l would recommend Good Morning Vietnam, or Mrs Doubtfire.

[@connielyons562]

I completely forgot about that! Thank You!

[@brittreacts]

You're welcome!

[@tommonsen965]

Takk!😘 Not know if u heard off irish stand up comedian named Dave Allen , he is the best story teller ever he past away in 2005 rip ☺ Check out his take on religion or Adam & Eve 😅

[@dsusan17]

Robin Williams was a genius

[@1yankeesrule]

U should do a lot of him. He’s awesome

[@jbear3562]

Johnny Carson once introduced Robin Williams as "A young man you call on stage then just get out of his way." RIP Robin, we miss you.

[@MrGaryGG48]

At about 7:45 Britt is commenting that Robin doesn't sound like someone using que cards. If he used que cards at the pace he's moving, it would sound like a little kid with a playing card in his bicycle spokes... who could even read them at that pace??? 😂🤣

[@christopherferrarelli2262]

This monologue from SNL was from 1986. - Ed Koch (not Cox) was Mayor of NYC. - Gary Hart was a U.S. Senator running for President, but had extramarital affairs that eventually led to him withdrawing from the race. - Mike Tyson had just burst onto the scene as a boxer, just years before he became World Champion. - AIDS was on the rise in the mid-80’s, and you are right about how much Robin Williams was taking steps to make light of it.

[@DarthLoki]

That was actually a really special episode to have James Taylor on. He performed the song "Lonesome Road", which he also performed at the beloved former SNL cast member John Belushi's funeral.

[@RonaldCanfield-m2r]

The King of the ad-lib.

[@connieclarke8552]

Love your glasses. You look so cute!

[@brittreacts]

Oh thank you!

[@robertwaites1285]

I read where Robin would go off script and improvise many of his lines and when he was in Mork and Mindy he would sneak dirty stuff in different languages so they had to have a censor who spoke three or four different languages

[@jimbrown868]

Britt: You've got to check out Robin with Craig Ferguson on the Late Late Show. You'll love it.

[@nickmorse2277]

He went to Juilliard pants the dancing with all the other impressive parents can do. Very talented individual.💯

[@triman95]

If you can find it, he was absolutely incredible when he did "Robin Williams; Live at the Met".

[@jbird40jc]

If you watch some Robin Williams stand up concerts, you will belly laugh!🤣

[@richwelling3409]

I think I remember hearing that he did use cue cards, but they were not detailed. He would just write down key words to remind himself of the jokes. Like, he might write, "Plate spinner,: and that was enough for him to remember the entire joke and the set-up for it, too.

[@bobv586]

Great shirt.

[@mikeymike7721]

a muther effin legend

[@tonyhill1264]

I cried the day he died...Such a brilliant mind but a troubled person.😢😢😢😢

[@StevePaur-hf4vy]

Ed Koch, pronounced "kotch", was the Mayor of New York from 1978 to 1989. His pet project was affordable housing to help reduce the homeless population in the city.

[@badplay156]

I saw an interview with Colin Mochrie who was on Who's Line Is It Anyway, a long running improv tv show. He said that he was thrilled when Robin Williams was on the show because they were all trying to decome as good as him

[@crcoord]

love the new goggles, you look cuter than ever!

[@maybedrinkin3241]

I miss Robin. He was a troubled but very good soul. And highly entertaining.

[@connielyons562]

I remember when he Debuted on "Mork and Mindy ". RIP Robin and Pam.

[@stk0308]

Fun fact. Mork actually debuted on 'Happy Days'

[@-R.Gray-]

He wouldn't have been reading his monologue (he toured as a stand-up), but he would have read his lines for the sketches. The writers have less than a week to write, make costumes for, and choose the best sketches. They are re-writing and altering lines up 'till the last minute, depending on what worked or didn't at dress rehearsal, and often the breaking news of that day (eg. on election days).

[@brheinfeldt]

In movies and on stage, Robin Williams was a MASTER of improvisation!!&! Directors wouldn't worry about what was scripted with him, they'd just say wind him up and let him go!!&! For those of y'all that keep mentioning his downfalls... the man is gone and can no longer defend himself, let it go! There was never a reason to bring up demons.

[@romysan1]

Lots of energy...almost manic. very funny. RIP Robin.

[@snorpenbass4196]

The Gary Hart thing had been made into a movie called The Front Runner, with Hugh Jackman playing Hart. It's not entirely accurate, as such movies often are, but it's a good introduction to the whole mess - the rest can be done through some web surfing.

[@locatewyoming8609]

We were in the Aids epidemic at the time of this recording

[@forresthouser5807]

Early to mid 80's was the discovey/learning/informative time period regarding HIV/Aids.

[@jamesjackson8540]

A very early Robin Williams comedy bit was “Death of a Sperm Ballet.” He plays an 8 year old at a dance recital performing “Death of a Sperm”. You should look it up.

[@lucasbentz6338]

Howdy from Oregon!

[@peterburrell007]

Back when SNL was funny. And Robin was the King. RIP buddy. And this was early 80's, Aids was just becoming a thing and it was scary to all the 70's free sex folk. Things changed forever then.

[@zvimur]

For more dancing RWilliams "Death to Smoochy".

[@BanditHeelerOhBiscuits]

He’s the greatest!! Robin Williams was a commercial for cocaine.

[@kimzwolinski9919]

My guess would be that it’s improvised. He was great at it ❤

[@Folthorn]

Check out his skit on the invention of golf. It's hilarious.

[@MarvinWesson-vy6jd]

I’m not sure how true it is but I’ve read that Robin Williams, Made the companies that he worked with, hire at least two or three homeless people, every time he worked with them.

[@ausmarkb]

His live shows were two hours of that chaos

[@matthewcompton3448]

According to the video description, this monologue aired January 23, 1988.

[@TheThrillisGone]

Not doubt Robin Williams was a giant, seen on many programs but I just want to have you check out Dana Carvey's "church lady" a recurring character sketches on Saturday Night Live during the late 1980's and then brought back some years late. Promise you will love it.

[@Christopher-Baltimore]

Robin Williams was one of a kind! He had at least two stand up albums that I know of. I grew up with Live At The Met which was made in the early/mid 80’s. I bought it on cassette around ‘88 when I was 11, and though I didn’t understand a lot of it I died laughing throughout the entire act. This bit is one the longer clips I could find. It’s got some language to edit out (Robin had a mouth!). I highly recommend checking out his stand-up. Here’s the clip from Live At The Met: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eYW2q6Jrhsh5mZosi=29Mws2thbvtOJVIc

[@quixote6942]

Robin was the Wayne Brady of the 80's. He attended Julliard (didn't Graduate from it, though). Robin earned extra Money by being a street mime, complete with Face paint and Spandex!

[@troymendiola3676]

There were 3 people in the 80s/90s that would make you think with every word, Robin, was totally off the hook, Eddie was awesome, but another guy that was crazy was Howie Mandel

[@wildwestmt67]

You’re right on about no cue cards. Watch “Good Morning Vietnam”, much of his performance was adlib!

[@rishabhpb]

Robin's standup at the time was a lot of stream of consciousness

[@kevinchurch1924]

He was one of a kind...Nanu...Nanu...Watch the video of him as the flag. Early eighties.

[@marcconnery]

He was a juliard student

[@91GT347]

He had unlimited cocaine. Lol RIP legend. Yeah, the good SNL was back with Eddie Murphy, Chevy Chase, etc. It used to actually be funny.

[@JakkFrost1]

Even on his scripted shows, particularly Mork and Mindy, the scripts usually had a full section with nothing written, just marked "Robin does his thing for 5-10 minutes". Robin could work from a script, but it was often more or less just a suggestion for which general direction he might want to take the conversation.