Robin Williams: History of Religion | Live on Broadway (2002)

In this stand-up piece from Robin Williams' 2002 HBO special "Live on Broadway," the comedian dives head first into religion: his own, the United States' and before you know it, we're wandering the desert. Classic Robin Williams stand-up, rapid-fire mixing of historical facts with voices, accents, and physicality. Robin Williams' stand-up comedy moved fast, as he riffed from one topic to another. He was animated and physical, telling the story with his whole body, punctuated by accents and voices when it fit the bill and sometimes when it didn't, like in his raccoon piece, "I don't know why I made them Irish, but it worked." He left Juilliard to work on his stand-up in the 70s and once TV came calling, his talent for the screen, big and small, could not be denied. Known for his improvisation, he never fully left the stand-up comedian behind, but his stand-up work became more sporadic. An occasional special, USO performances and Comic Relief were an outlet and way for him to still connect with audiences through his solo act. Recorded live at the Broadway Theatre, this special marked Williams' return to his stand-up roots after a 16-year hiatus. His Broadway performances were the last stop on a 26-date U.S. tour, delivering a hilarious show for his fans filled with the funnyman’s trademark frenzy. The Official Robin Williams YouTube Channel celebrates the life and comic genius of Robin Williams. While Robin started performing stand-up comedy in the mid 1970s, most of America first fell in love with him as the naïve and hilarious alien from the planet Ork in Mork & Mindy. He became an instant superstar and went on to do five HBO stand-up specials and dozens of feature films, winning numerous awards. Robin performed steadily for nearly four decades—from comedy clubs to stadiums, from talk shows to USO tours—and amazed audiences with his frenetic energy and unbelievably quick wit. #robinwilliams #standupcomedy #religioushistory