You know, Im gonna bring this up. Im gonna be honest about my - TopicsExpress

You know, Im gonna bring this up. Im gonna be honest about my memories of Robin Williams. From the time I began to be more in touch with pop culture, Robin Williams bright spots were few and far between. At least on the big screen, he was often a frustrating has-been who attached his names to dismal tripe like Old Dogs and License to Wed. It wasnt all bad. Just today I posted a wonderful bit of stand up of his about George W. Bush and a beautiful bit of his on the TV show Louie. Throughout my brighter years, I tended to have more fun seeing Robin Williams impressions than I did new Robin Williams material (see also: Bill Cosby). But that says little about his legacy and more about the beautiful fact that he didnt leave us feeling like he still had so much to give, like, say, Phillip Seymour Hoffman. Robin Williams death was more akin to Michael Jacksons, at least a decade removed from when he had conquered the world but a blazing reminder of his universal power. Even look to the nineties. Flubber is a shitty movie. Jack was fun but also kinda shitty. Oh, hey. Jumanji. He was in that, wasnt he? Jumanji is still awesome. Always will be. Dead Poets Society, Good Will Hunting, sure. Not testaments to whats important about him, but those happened. Lets...maybe we can talk about Patch Adams again in a few years. Not right now. The Birdcage. Mrs. Doubtfire. Thats more like it! Aladdin was many of our first exposures to him. Really, if you want to have a tribute watch, though, go watch Good Morning Vietnam. Just go do it. Thats who Robin Williams was. He was zany, crazy, annoying, hyperactive, making jokes so fast that youd forget to laugh. He was irreverent without being disrespectful. How did he do that? Go watch it, Im begging you. I think a piece of the puzzle is Death to Smoochie. Dont ask me why. Im just convinced that it is. You ever hear what they say about funny people? Its that theyre the most troubled. Comedy and tragedy are actually barely distinguishable. Both are the surreal run up against reality. The difference is tone or timing. But to do comedy, one must know tragedy. If a friend of yours ever goes someplace dark when theyre talking, ask them how theyre doing, really ask them. Dont just take them at their word, either. People need to be reached out and cared about, and especially with so much pressure to fit a particular image, some people might think its easier to just escape than to tell someone the truth. In summation. 1. Go watch Good Morning Vietnam. 2. Be thankful he had a fulfilling career arc. 3. Check up on your friends. Dont just assume theyre being funny.