HBO Comedy Hour - An All-Star Toast to the Improv - 1/30/1988

[@ginogarcia8730]

RIP Richard Lewis now... I didn't get his performance here before but now watching it again I love it.

[@jamescrawford9643]

Robin was the best Ad-lib comedian ever! RIP ROBIN you'll be loved an missed forever!😂🤣😂🤣We laugh in your Honor!😘

[@trenawawrzyniak4397]

Robin Williams was the impov mastermind a genius among mortals. I am sorry he felt like he had to end it how he did.. Living with depression is hard enough but to be loosing your mind for him it must've been agonizing. I hope somewhere in his amazing brain that he knew just a little that he was loved,respected and admired for his amazing lighting fast ABILITIES to entertain us. I was fortunate enough to see him perform live 2 times in my life. He acting was fantastic. Mr. Williams you are missed. Sir May you rest in peace .

[@pgmatg]

Robin had Lewy body dementia, that could not be diagnosed when he was alive. it results in judgment imperament, hallucinations, challenges with movement, disturbed sleep, severe depression. Life expectancy in later stages 2-7 years.

[@davidhallett8783]

It would’ve been nice if he had kept quiet during the other comedians acts. Polite. Or at least normal he was embarrassing

[@perlyyyy]

Robin was the GREATEST OF ALL TIME

[@jblackbath]

@@pgmatgThis. It frustrates me when everyone keeps saying he commited suicide because of depression when they cant bother to take five minutes to look up the facts. Robin Williams was not so horribly depressed that he commited suicide. He had Lewy Body Dementia which is a disease that killed him. Very different. But Legends never truly die. Long Live Robin Williams forever✨💖

[@paulguzman1634]

This was one of the best ones I have seen because all of these guys are amongst my favorites from back in the day. Seeing then together is awesome. Robin just blows everybody away here even some of the audience looked stunned! Not that I blame them I would have crawled into my shoes if I had been fortunate enough to be there, and he approached me.

[@damiandevaraj9358]

Robin Williams movies I grew up with, pure genius of comedy , they should make a statue of him in Hollywood

[@prithviroy11]

I think Matt Damon said they're planning to make one on that famous bench from Good Will Hunting in Boston.

[@Rbl7132]

This is LEGENDARY and PACKED with geniuses at their best.

[@warrenbass7350]

We will never have another Robin Williams,.. rest in peace sir. You were a genius

[@TheHalloweenGuy13]

I remember watching this the night it was live. Robin was on fire, and Paul's jokes, whenever he got them in, had me in stitches.

[@krissidee]

I really needed to see this tonight, so I could laugh myself breathless. Robin, I still miss you. RIP

[@thermalchill]

Thumbs and toes up . Those are the pioneers, the trailblazers of stand up and this world will never, ever be the same without beloved Robin Williams. He's preforming for other heroes who left before him.

[@frazzyblue1384]

I see Robin’s point, it felt like all the others had jokes ready but Robin actually was doing improv 😂

[@RobertGuida1015]

Just came across this, amazing how time has past. Amazing that half the comics here are no longer with us- Robin Williams, Richard Lewis & Martin Mull are now making God & the angels Crack up from laughter!! RIP to these giants!!

[@johnmullens2857]

Billy and Robin really were the peanut butter 'n jelly of comedy when they got together..

[@prithviroy11]

that bit about 2 gentile businessmen was so quick and funny. I'm going to use that

[@Colsoloact-po9wv]

Robin Williams was an absolute legend...with improv no one could touch him! RIP Robin!

[@danmuscutt5187]

Funniest person I ever witnessed, and I turn 65 in a month. Comic genius.

[@viqarkagzi3922]

I grew up on allot of Comedienne’s he was on a whole another planet

[@BelizeVacations]

Dean Martin

[@798jeremy]

I like how in the end Robert Klein practically had to push a button off to Robin Williams to make him stop XD Man, he could go on like that almost endless, that's how outstanding he was!

[@foto21]

Imagine if HBO had not existed in the 80s. We are so lucky they did! I came here for Robin Williams, but everyone up there was really solid. Great line up.

[@jameswhite1320]

I will always remember Comedy Relief. Robin would always leave the others in the dust. Pure Comedic Genius. RIP MASTER.

[@jack18901]

Richard Lewis’s delivery is what I imagine an anxious Labrador Retriever’s stream of consciousness sounds like

[@glenn-younger]

What a piece of comedy G O L D. I expected a night of improv, but it was more stand-up routines with Robin Williams improvising interjections along the way until he got to his own set where you could see his brain synapses sparking in new directions. As a side note, how about the complicity between Robin Williams and Billy Crystal? You see mutual respect and a sense of play between them. From Billy's first quiet, "Sit down Robin"... "Okay"... to when Billy tapped Robin's knee, gave him a quick look, and the two stood up and interjected a quick bit. (The Jewish Orgasm was one of them.) Back to the group, each comic brought his own unique brand of humor to the show and it was hysterical. Thank you so much for sharing.

[@lazio7495]

By far, Robin Williams just out performs any comedian before and after his time! Wish you were still here 🙏

[@NZStarWarsNooB]

Robin goes into 20 different characters within 60 seconds...this man's ability to claim the stage and floor was beyond anything I have ever seen.

[@mperez5920]

R.i.p robin, no one compares to you, even now. Incomparable!

[@Vortigan07]

Just fantastic to watch!! For me, the order of appearance was absolutely perfect, each one building upon the work of the last until that final explosive crescendo of arguably the best there's ever been in Robin Williams! What a force of nature that man was!!! I'm no physicist, only an interested observer, but you have to wonder (in terms of the 1st law of thermodynamics) where that energy came from and where it went. Who can say? But we were blessed indeed that for a while, it was manifest in the form of Robin Williams. RIP.

[@MultiMolly21]

35 Years ago, the backbone of 21st century comedy spread before us like a buffet, and their brotherhood is heartwarming.

[@NUCLEAR154]

❤❤❤❤❤😅WOW This is a heavenly plethora cloud of comedy genius ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤the BEST

[@wrc1210]

I remember watching this in the 80s. Such a classic. Martin Mull was my favorite. He was so dry and sarcastic and insulted everybody with a velvet glove. And Robin Williams doing the fake sign language in the back with the fake wanking motions kills me every time. But Martin handled the distractions like a pro.

[@doncicci9608]

Martin Mull so hilarious. I loved him on Roseann as her boss. Imagine being on stage and heckled by Robin Williams. Mull worked it with his own gift of humor.

[@scalzmoney]

I recorded this on a VHS tape when it was on and watched it over and over again back in the day. That line from Martin Mull about Robert Klein rehearsing his spontaneous bits always stuck with me. Like, ouch. Then I think Billy Crystal says 'keep reading'. Zing. These are six guys at the top of their game. A great example of 80s stand-up culture.

[@jazzpunk]

I also have this on VHS (or maybe Beta). Just watched again...Paul Rodriguez is killing me.

[@monetfritz4196]

By far Robin Williams has, and will always be a genius. we miss you bud we miss you rest easy until we meet again.

[@r3tr0actiongamer24]

Robin is beyond next level, so amazing and very much missed.

[@r3b3lvegan89]

One of a kind, one in a billion

[@SoulPhotog]

❤One in a zillion!!❤

[@BartSondermeijer]

Agree, Robin should get a statue/somewhere on top of a U.S. monument. What an intelligent guy................

[@salini209]

Clearly he is the best of the best..rip Mr Williams you are missed more then you will ever know 😢

[@aniimastounian6758]

What a treat, they dont make them like this anymore, such great people and comedy. Thank you for the video

[@prepperjonpnw6482]

I remember going to the Improve every week in the mid to late 80’s when I lived there. If you name a great comic from that time I probably saw them live at the improve. I still tell stories of the times I was there and have to say my life has been all the better for the time I spent there. A special thank you to Robin Williams for injecting so much laughter into my life over the last 4 decades. I hope to be at your table when I go to the other side. Thank you for posting this, I needed some laughter tonight. I’m feeling very much alone right now.

[@CarlosMorales-dn8ww]

4 decades going to the " Improve "

[@paulfrank4551]

Don't feel alone. You have God with you because Robin is Jesus Christ, in my opinion. If you love Robin, you are a good person, God knows....

[@lottiehowes585]

I hope someone good will come into😮 your life soon, 🙏

[@perryparsons9960]

Commando comedy at it's best, personal favorite was Martin Mull. He was just rapier wit, while Robin just did his Miles Davis riffs over everybody else. Mr. Crystal was his usual respective, insightful humor, would push the envelope, then bring it back in to be the true gentleman he is. And yes, very good reason why they saved Robin for last. He is the impossible act to follow.

[@destroyerj]

Martin Mull! DAMN. This man has had a fabulous career, I did not know he was a comedian! Two and a Half Men, Roseanne, Mister Mom. WOW.

[@davidhallett8783]

I wouldn t have been able to tell he was a comedian from those shows either

[@pauladouglas9891]

He was a talented artist, musician and author too.

[@prithviroy11]

I think Robin Williams has had a better and bigger career but it's not a competition like he said, there's plenty for everyone.

[@mindful_clip]

Now everyone should know why Robin Williams was always the last act... N A T U R A L ... No one could EVER go after him.. The best RIP

[@dog-thebackwardgod]

He uplifted everyone there as well. He fed off others and gave it back twice fold. I miss him. Learning his meds caused his suicide was an eye opener.

[@tywilliamnash5078]

doG -the backward goD I believe it was because he had been diagnosed with some debilitating disease, he being in the second stage (no cure in sight) did not want to devolve into a decrepit vegetable, is the real reason that he took his own life. It was in the suicide note, one of his sons explained it to the press, and the rest of his children understood, and asked for the public to understand and forgive him like they did..... and for the media/press to back off and show some respect and decency and a little privacy...... which thankfully they did.

[@PostSasso]

He was on so much coke.. Wonder why he sweats so much and the others are fine?

[@davidandcarolh]

Don't know if he was Coked out and really don't care. He was one hell of an comedian and one great actor. Don't know if anyone could ever do improve acts like him. He will always be missed by me and God bless him.

[@jaimhaas5170]

Robin can only be consumed in small doses...like white lightning. In the same way I never liked any of his lead roles in motion pictures.

[@Oliviux78]

I don’t know how Robin had so much energy. He can’t help himself. 😂

[@keldorgreyskull6495]

The coke helps

[@spydrmac4010]

One of my favorite HBO specials. Came searching for this one right after Mitsie of the Comedy Store died. Always remembered Robin's jokes with Bud.

[@RCASD]

Pure fun. Ya, Robin was Robin, rest in peace. We miss you.

[@aspenrebel]

OMG!! Robin Wlliams' brain is going at "light speed". All "off the cuff".

[@cherylthorpe4087]

Robin - KING of improvisation!

[@___David___Savian]

Billy Crystal (5 feet 6 inches tall) still alive 72 years old worth 60 million dollars Robert Klein (5 feet 11 inches tall) still alive 78 years old worth 10 million dollars Martin Mull (5 feet 10 inches tall) still alive 77 years old worth 8 million dollars Richard Lewis (5 feet 9 inches tall) still alive 73 years old worth 7 million dollars Paul Rodriguez (5 feet 10 inches tall) still alive 65 years old worth 4 and a half million dollars Robin Williams (was 5 feet 7 inches tall) he was 63 yrs old at death and was worth 75 million dollars. RIP.

[@glenn-younger]

That was an interesting bit of trivia and post script. Thank you. ;.)

[@davidzwack1308]

Watch how Klein watches these guys. He is in awe and at the same time...utter respect.

[@daphnelightner6531]

The special was a huge influence on me as a 14-year-old. Incredible treat to be able to see it again for the first time in over 30 years. RIP Robin and Richard

[@seinsmeld13]

We miss you Robin. We know you're making everybody howl in heaven.

[@jimst.george234]

No

[@AaronHahnStudios]

Reading other comments,. they're right.... Robin was born for comedy, what a wonderful world it was with Robin in it. He did rule the stage for instinctive comedy.

[@janejamison6056]

Martin and Robin were pretty much heckling each other during Martins bit :D :D

[@Gray.12]

52:20 "Coz why I don't have an act! To me, that means something. Improv!" ~He was actually dissing the others for having an act lmao Some comments say he was being disrespectful for interrupting the others. Yeah, he tends to do that a lot. However, since this is 'improv', he was actually the only one doing it. The others were trying to stick to their planned act.

[@FreshAirRules]

Its hard not interrupting someone when you're 10 times funnier. He just dominated everything. What a mind, what a talent.

[@DJMC19]

@Michael Richmond that too, legend

[@robertearl2821]

Only one Robin Williams never again RIP love you

[@doncicci9608]

This was the first time I ever saw Richard Lewis. I always remember him saying calls before 6am means death in the family and his mother had a menora on a dimmer. His set here was so hilarious. I was a huge fan of his ever since. I'm so so sad over his passing. 😢

[@karensheline5955]

If you have to share a stage with Robin Williams.....prepare to be UPSTAGED!!! He is a loose cannon, and we ❤️ it. Although Martin Mull held his own....I’ve liked him since FERNWOOD TONIGHT!

[@Sick_Boy_Rick74]

Rewatching this the day after Richard Lewis passed away… I watched this back in 88 live. I had to find it after Robin Williams had passed away. So many good memories and laughs with these characters! A big part of my childhood. May Richard and Robin make all those in heaven laugh their asses off!

[@ORAAKATOY]

Oh how I miss Robin, we need him now more than ever. RIP.

[@tywilliamnash5078]

I've never seen this before and didn't even know that it existed. It's was so damn funny I actually took two and a half hours to watch it, because I kept pausing it to finish laughing, because if I let it run, I would miss chunks of it. I also backed it up in fifteen-twenty minute increments so that I could rewatch it, enjoy and savor it better. Very Funny Indeed. I've never seen Robin Williams start telling jokes at this rapid fire rate, creating it at will and apparently totally improvised..... and on top of all that he manages to be 'ON' and to stay turned 'ON' like that. It was amazing...... he was amazing. I had some good healthy belly laughs watching this video. Thank You For Sharing. RIP Robin Williams.....now I'm crying....

[@moapaname]

I have just been watching it in increments like you for a couple of days. I really enjoyed it. God I love Robin

[@ye2low]

Martin Mull is like a stealth missile. Thank you for posting this. My face is tired from laughing.

[@SuckMyKiss420]

It's weird growing up seeing most of these guys on either tv shows or movies before seeing their comedy. It makes me appreciate them more now.

[@duncanpflaster6070]

Thank you for uploading this - my brother and I used to watch this over and over as kids. So hilarious.

[@___David___Savian]

Robin was the glue that held everything together around him.

[@BillFikes]

"There's a thin line between comedy and working again." Paul Rodriguez Actually LOL!

[@cookiebabyd]

That's Paul Rodriguez?...wow , he looks cute...i wonder how old he is when this was taken.

[@vtr0104]

I loved teh joke about the Iranian-Mexican kids about growing up and owning, then vandalizing their own gas-station :))))

[@tonyavallejo7790]

So much talent on one stage! Robin and Billy are the best but Richard and Paul are funny too.

[@GilbertGStaInes]

Robin Williams is the King and Billy Crystal is his Wingman!!

[@truenorthstrongfree8566]

Billy crystal sucked large,,,,, HE AINT NO WING - NOTHING CHICKEN WING,,,,AND THATS ABOUT IT,,,,,, Z E R O - COMPARISON - boo hoo billy boo hoo chew on that he was nothing and he still in a NOBODY,,,,,, BRUTAL HUMOUR AND HE SUCKED JUST AS BAD ON SNL,,,,,,,,, ROBIN WILLIAMS COULD DESTROY billy boi ,,,,blind folded and with ear muffs on..... crystal was so largely over rated that it was a joke all by itsself..... stop the madness already,,,,,MARVELOUS SIMLPY ----NOT NOT NOT NOT NOT MARVELOUS ,,,SIMPLY BRUTAL MORE LIKE IT ,,,,,,STFU STFU STFU

[@brendag6148]

@@truenorthstrongfree8566 Are you okay? You seem a bit tense..

[@christopherdesimone206]

@@truenorthstrongfree8566 When your parenting, sometimes shit goes wrong. Guess that's what happened to you, NUT JOB.

[@ZiddersRooFurry]

@@truenorthstrongfree8566 Did you take some of Richard Lewis's coke?

[@Draagreon]

@@truenorthstrongfree8566 Kids, this is why you shouldn't drop babies.

[@puddysue]

All these guys are great. Richard Lewis was killing me...

[@thisbeem2714]

Robin Williams...he stole the stage.

[@juliettebrown2673]

The best ever of comics & sadly Robin Williams left us but with his great filmed legacy!!

[@Cinderspark9]

Can you imagine if Robin Williams had existed 50 years earlier and died in obscurity, never being fully realized for his genius? Maybe he would star in an old black and white movie, and we would go "Hey, Ruth, who was that funny guy from that movie we watched? Did he do anything else? I like his glimmer."

[@DavidFrancis24824]

Thank you for posting this. This was fucking great. Everyone was amazing. Robin Williams was one hell of an entertainer.

[@LanceNakagawa]

Thank you so much for posting this! I missed seeing this so much -- everyone in it is at the top of their game.

[@stlvhsvault4475]

The best part is the Martin Mull joke tossed in Paul Rodriguez's direction. People would call it politically incorrect today but it's just a joke. Hilarious.

[@cmansfield3]

Great stuff. My favorite joke from this special was always Robin's impromptu miming a spray-paint graffiti introduction of "PAUL... RODRIGUEZ!..." onto the backdrop. Not politically correct either, but effing hilarious. It even cracked up Paul. :) I still have the VHS tape from when I recorded this special off HBO 30 years ago. A few years back when Robin died I thought of encoding and uploading it but i never got around to it. Glad to see someone else did, thanks.

[@selyts4]

If I was a comedian I would never want to share a stage with Robin Williams! Doesn’t matter who it is, he would upstage anyone! Guy’s so funny he’s got the other comedians in stitches!😂

[@nunornogueira]

34:25 Billy's face says everything......the true and honest admiration of his friend's great work. RIP

[@TheGimpPimp1]

Robin Williams is the absolute BEST...

[@roninkraut6873]

Martin actually killed it.

[@keithkeihsa9350]

Love Robin Williams, Billy Crystal, Paul Rodriguez, wished Whoopie Goldberg was on this show and Rodney Dangerfield man what a show this could've been with these legends

[@paulnaylor512]

Thanks for posting. I taped this years ago from tv but it’s long since vanished. Great to see it again

[@willd.8040]

I can't believe that I remember the intro song. I remember that I started watching stand up on cable around this time, when I was 11 or 12 years old, but I really didn't remember this HBO show until I saw the into and heard the song. The memories came flooding back. Incredible.

[@Artix9]

Hearing Robin laugh in the back is the most beautiful sound in the world ^^

[@secondace]

Absolutely

[@chocloditelensman]

I think Martin was the comical genius this night.

[@danielcaldecott175]

Coincidentally he was also the only one reading from a script

[@istiaqahammed7027]

Robin is madman 😍😍😍😍 R.I.P man #we_miss_u

[@MrAmedina26]

ladies and gentlemen, the myth the legend... Robin Williams!!!!!

[@Rbl7132]

This show is the "Dream Team" ! Martin Mull, the least qualified did a masterful job in getting up to the other guy's level. Folks, todays comics can barely qualify to sit in the audience, much less stand on the same stage. This is historic!

[@selyts4]

I think it’s because today’s comics have to be so careful not to say anything “offensive “ to the SJW’s of the world who are just waiting to pounce on someone and get them canceled! Thanks to these people comedy is dead! I miss the days where comedic geniuses like Billy Crystal and Robin Williams can work the crowd into a frenzy!

[@Rbl7132]

Someone show me a funnier hour of comedy ever in history!!!!!! This is a masterpiece!!!!

[@Cocodrillo18]

don rickles u may like too

[@Cocodrillo18]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/qZWzlJ1_p7ipmdU&ab_channel=what4cars

[@Rbl7132]

@@Cocodrillo18 of course!

[@prithviroy11]

@@Cocodrillo18 Billy roasted him a little there

[@thefifthdementia5231]

Saw Martin Mull live in 1975 in a little club in Chicago. He was pretty cute back then and mixed music with insults as sharp as knives. About 8 years later saw Robin Williams, probably at Comedy Store, in this little after-hours room that he burst into with more dick jokes than I could count. (Up till then, I'd never heard one.) He too was cute and his energy made everyone feel as high as he was. Very lucky to have been in the presence of such talented men, especially when they were so young and their humor was so fresh.

[@kittyhawk8775]

I loved going to the Improv in the earlier days, I was there when many a famous comedian or actors were just starting out. It was the best of times 😂😂

[@freddytheplatypus826]

42:31 "i don't blame you Robin, i blame the one that gave you the shot." best line from Martin lol

[@miragejeff1]

Never seeing Martin Mull before, I thought he was the equal of Robin Williams. Very understated and funny.

[@legendnyc]

Love this. Martin Mull Destroyed!!

[@JazTrance]

I would have loved to have been at that show

[@dawnbevers2444]

Don't want to go on before or after him .I miss his genius 💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕

[@Jarlen01]

I honestly believe Robin never had a stand up routine, he just made it up as he went along.

[@kerstinthomas8299]

Lol crystal and williams are literally the epic duo rip robin 😫

[@94hawaiijedi]

Once Robin gets to the mic, it's done. LOL

[@theitalianscorpio]

Haha yeah once you let him loose you aren't getting him back. Lol.

[@nostalium]

Robin Williams starts at 49:00

[@johnpunchard8161]

Saw Robin Williams in Iraq in 2007. He was amazing. Made me laugh so hard I forgot about the combat zone I was in. The mortar attack that night brought me back to reality.

[@spencerallbritton9459]

The Jewish cheerleader bit killed me lol. Billy and Robin were geniuses.

[@RollingThunder69]

Yep. We just couldn't take them ANYWhERE!!!!!

[@SpringoStar]

Best quote of all by Robin in this special: "Look how fast his hand was moving - My god! It was like the speed of Light! You could have an orgasm in another dimension!"

[@kevs6402]

Great bunch of comediens. Played off of each other very well.

[@brendag6148]

I absolutely loved Robin, he is performing on a whole different level. But damn, I am deeply impressed by Marten Mall. He can drop a mic like no one. "it's here where Rodriguez discovered the motherload of material to be found in ridiculing ones people" or "it is the stage where someone like Robin Williams could turn his otherwise disabilitating social disorders in a 7-figure paycheck". 😂 The other comedians suffered by the constant hilarious ad-lips of Robin, but Marten actually used the situation and turned it around to create more comedy gold.

[@britters220]

He could keep up with Robin

[@jessekittrell2946]

@@britters220 no he couldn't. Robin was almost completely improving and ad libbing while Martin's was mostly pre written. Robin's brain was just faster than almost anyone's around him 🤷🏼‍♂️.

[@jazzpunk]

HBO also had a Robin Williams special (when most only knew him as Mork)...Williams did a bit that looked into his brain as he was improvising. Classic.

[@meirwise1107]

Billy Crystal is sharp, funny and sweet.

[@bobbymcgee723]

This is the best hour of comedy ever.

[@ad8554]

Billy Crystal was dressed like he's going to film City Slickers lol

[@katiezee2]

these great guys in their prime, can't beat that

[@craigbecker6417]

Sad, sad lose of brilliance.. Took over any stage he was ever on. May have been a top 10 actor ever.. Missed but will never be forgotten!!

[@mopar65pa]

AWESOME! Robin Rocks.