The ‘Bridesmaids’ Director Reflects on a Hilarious, Yet Humbling Encounter with the Legendary Comedian
In the competitive world of stand-up comedy, even the most seasoned performers can find themselves overshadowed, especially when Robin Williams is involved. Director Paul Feig, best known for helming hit comedies like Bridesmaids and The Heat, recently shared a humorous memory of being upstaged by Williams early in his career during an episode of Jesse Tyler Ferguson’s Dinner’s on Me podcast.
Feig recalled performing at the iconic Improv in Los Angeles when the comedy scene was booming with stars like Jay Leno, Jerry Seinfeld, and, of course, Robin Williams. “I wasn’t one of the main guys yet,” Feig explained, noting how tough it was to stand out. His big moment came with a full audience, but just as he was about to take the stage, he was told, “Oh, Robin just wants to get up and do a quick set first.”
What began as an exciting chance to share a stage with Williams quickly turned into a frustrating experience. Williams performed for an hour, and by the time he finished, most of the audience had left. “Everybody left, except for one woman who was waiting for her husband to come back from the bathroom,” Feig humorously recalled. Despite the setback, Feig didn’t hold a grudge, recognizing that performing at The Improv alongside comedy greats like Williams was still an incredible opportunity, even if things didn’t go as planned.
Robin Williams, known for his electric and unpredictable performances, was no stranger to controversy in the comedy world. Over the years, several comedians, including Richard Lewis and Robert Wuhl, accused him of “borrowing” jokes. Williams himself admitted to this during a 2010 episode of Marc Maron’s WTF podcast, acknowledging that his rapid improvisation style sometimes led to unintentional repetitions of material he had heard from others.
Despite these accusations, most comedians, including Feig, seemed to take the incidents in stride, recognizing Williams’ genius and the pressure of the stand-up circuit. As Feig reflected, even being upstaged by Williams was part of the chaotic, yet thrilling, journey of being a comedian.
Though Williams may have “sabotaged” Feig’s moment on stage that night, Feig has no hard feelings. Instead, he cherishes the memory as a funny chapter in his rise from the stand-up scene to becoming one of Hollywood’s top comedy directors.
