Robin Williams brings “Weapons of Self Destruction” to NYC for final run before HBO

Robin Williams began an extended run tonight in New York City, with seven nights at Town Hall (and the weekend in Atlantic City), finishing up his "Weapons of Self Destruction" tour before bringing it to HBO on Dec. 6.

Dave Itzkoff at the New York Times recently caught up with Williams during a swing through the Southeast. Here's a money quote from the piece, which ran yesterday:

Only now that the hyper-verbal Mr. Williams finds himself in a confessional mood, he isn’t sure he knows when to stop. “How much more can you give?” he asked rhetorically. “Other than, literally, open-heart surgery onstage? Not much. But the only cure you have right now is the honesty of going, this is who you are. I know who I am.”

Although this quote might be even more compelling: ‚ÄúI‚Äôve always felt that Robin‚Äôs blinding speed and flash of wit was an effort at concealment, rather than revealing,‚Äù said Eric Idle, a longtime friend. ‚ÄúHe would be talking about something personal or sexual, but it was always in general, not about him.‚Äù

The rest of the article takes stock of where Williams is, at 58, in both his personal life and his career, and where he goes from here. It's a bit like Idle's quote in that way, hinting at something deeper. Will we see a different, bolder Robin Williams onstage? Maybe someday soon. Until then, here's a clip previewing his HBO special. Roll it!

Sean L. McCarthy

Editor and publisher since 2007, when he was named New York's Funniest Reporter. Former newspaper reporter at the New York Daily News, Boston Herald and smaller dailies and community papers across America. Loves comedy so much he founded this site.

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