#1
Posted: 10/4/06 at 12:11pm
a good interview with Robin Williams on politics and his upcoming film, which looks very promising
Williams and Linney discuss 'Man of the Year'; Downey Jr. becomes 'Iron Man'; Johansson gets royal and more...
Oct. 3, 2006
The last time we spoke to Robin Williams, he was promoting the thriller "The Night Listener." Who would have suspected that immediately after that film's opening, he would have voluntarily re-entered rehab? (It wasn't that bad.) Two months later, Williams is back on the publicity trail. This time he's chatting about his Barry Levinson-directed political comedy "Man of the Year" in which he plays a TV commentator who becomes president of the United States. At this point, it seems appropriate that we let the hyperactive comedian speak for himself.
Hollywood Hitlist: How difficult has the turmoil in your personal life been recently?
Robin Williams: Oh, my personal life? Only that I went to rehab the same day that Mel Gibson was arrested on the Pacific Coast Highway, and that allowed me a certain anonymity. And that God does have a sense of humor. He was stopped by the only Jewish highway patrolman.
Has Gibson called to lend any support?
No, we never met, and we're supposedly keeping correspondence. But I have Jewish agents, so I haven't gotten any messages.
Why do you think so many qualified people haven't run for public office or the presidency?
I have seen a lot of extraordinary people -- Mario Cuomo -- for whatever reason not want to go further ... if their life isn't squeaky clean, you go, 'Well, you can't be president.' If you apply the same standards, moral standards, to most of the presidents we've had, then they wouldn't be in office. 'Mr. Jefferson, it's Sally on line two.' 'I told you I wouldn't wait in Paris! I've been waiting in Paris for two days, Thomas Jefferson! You said I'd be first lady!'
Why does it seem like comedians are the great social commentators of our day?
As you see with all these guys like Bill Maher, Jon Stewart, [Stephen] Colbert ... all they're doing is basically just saying, 'Here's the absurdity.' And people laugh, and yet it still goes on. You can look at any given day and go, 'That's insane.'
Williams' thoughts on running for president and Arnold Schwarzenegger:
Oh, not for me. Like my character (in 'Man of the Year'), I believe I serve a better purpose just being able to make fun of everything. I wouldn't want to run. I mean Arnold ran and has done very well. Right now a lot of Republicans are going, 'He's turning!' And there are people who say he's actually kind of an anomaly right now -- a moderate Republican. He's a lot like an Amish tech rep -- there aren't that many.
If you did run, what would your slogan be and who would be your running mate?
'Why not? Try me! What could be so bad?' It's a very Jewish campaign. Who would be my vice president? I would go with Stephen Colbert. His performance at the White House Press Corps dinner (earlier this year) ... I think it's quite powerful what he did. Or Martha Stewart just to know she'll have an interesting place to live. She's already done time and as long as she has the ankle bracelet.
robin williams interview on msn
Williams and Linney discuss 'Man of the Year'; Downey Jr. becomes 'Iron Man'; Johansson gets royal and more...
Oct. 3, 2006
The last time we spoke to Robin Williams, he was promoting the thriller "The Night Listener." Who would have suspected that immediately after that film's opening, he would have voluntarily re-entered rehab? (It wasn't that bad.) Two months later, Williams is back on the publicity trail. This time he's chatting about his Barry Levinson-directed political comedy "Man of the Year" in which he plays a TV commentator who becomes president of the United States. At this point, it seems appropriate that we let the hyperactive comedian speak for himself.
Hollywood Hitlist: How difficult has the turmoil in your personal life been recently?
Robin Williams: Oh, my personal life? Only that I went to rehab the same day that Mel Gibson was arrested on the Pacific Coast Highway, and that allowed me a certain anonymity. And that God does have a sense of humor. He was stopped by the only Jewish highway patrolman.
Has Gibson called to lend any support?
No, we never met, and we're supposedly keeping correspondence. But I have Jewish agents, so I haven't gotten any messages.
Why do you think so many qualified people haven't run for public office or the presidency?
I have seen a lot of extraordinary people -- Mario Cuomo -- for whatever reason not want to go further ... if their life isn't squeaky clean, you go, 'Well, you can't be president.' If you apply the same standards, moral standards, to most of the presidents we've had, then they wouldn't be in office. 'Mr. Jefferson, it's Sally on line two.' 'I told you I wouldn't wait in Paris! I've been waiting in Paris for two days, Thomas Jefferson! You said I'd be first lady!'
Why does it seem like comedians are the great social commentators of our day?
As you see with all these guys like Bill Maher, Jon Stewart, [Stephen] Colbert ... all they're doing is basically just saying, 'Here's the absurdity.' And people laugh, and yet it still goes on. You can look at any given day and go, 'That's insane.'
Williams' thoughts on running for president and Arnold Schwarzenegger:
Oh, not for me. Like my character (in 'Man of the Year'), I believe I serve a better purpose just being able to make fun of everything. I wouldn't want to run. I mean Arnold ran and has done very well. Right now a lot of Republicans are going, 'He's turning!' And there are people who say he's actually kind of an anomaly right now -- a moderate Republican. He's a lot like an Amish tech rep -- there aren't that many.
If you did run, what would your slogan be and who would be your running mate?
'Why not? Try me! What could be so bad?' It's a very Jewish campaign. Who would be my vice president? I would go with Stephen Colbert. His performance at the White House Press Corps dinner (earlier this year) ... I think it's quite powerful what he did. Or Martha Stewart just to know she'll have an interesting place to live. She's already done time and as long as she has the ankle bracelet.
robin williams interview on msn
"I'm an American, Damnit!!! And if it's three things I don't believe in, it's quitting and math."
