Robin Williams tells Jimmy Kimmel why he still performs improv

When Robin Williams visited Jimmy Kimmel Live on Tuesday night, Kimmel was impressed not only just to have Williams on as a guest — it made him feel like he’s actually hosting a TV talk show — but also because he’d heard that Williams performed improvisational comedy with “the kids” down the street over the weekend.

Williams has made a habit over the years of dropping in at improv theaters around the country, from New York to Chicago to San Francisco and Hollywood.

So he was more than happy to talk about it. As he was overjoyed just to keep performing improv. He name-checked iO West, Nerdmelt and Set List.

“I think they went, ‘Hey, the old guy is standing up. Way to go!'” he joked.

Kimmel compared it to having Michael Jordan show up at your pick-up basketball game. Williams humbly replied that he wouldn’t take the comparison that far. They also joked about the idea of Williams making any money off of his impromptu improv drop-in performances. “What? (I do it) For cash? ‘Here’s $1.40.’ God damn! I’m gonna buy a box of Twizzlers!”

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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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