Paul Feig, famous for directing the hit film Bridesmaids, shared how the legendary Robin Williams inadvertently derailed his potential stand-up comedy career.
If you haven’t seen Bridesmaids yet, you’ve missed out on a comedy gem. Featuring stars like Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, and Maya Rudolph, the film truly delivers on humor.
Feig, who also directed popular projects like The Office and the Ghostbusters reboot, has a knack for comedy, making his aspiration to be a comedian quite plausible.
However, his journey in stand-up comedy took an unexpected turn due to Williams, who “sabotaged” his career on a few occasions.
Feig’s attempt to make a name for himself in the Los Angeles comedy scene, where notable figures like Jay Leno, Williams, and Jerry Seinfeld thrived, was interrupted by Williams’ impromptu performances.
Feig recounted how Williams would often request to do an unplanned set, which ended up reducing Feig’s stage time.
Speaking with Jesse Tyler Ferguson on Ferguson’s podcast, Dinner’s on Me, Feig said, “I got sabotaged by Robin Williams a couple of times when I finally got to be a performer at The Improv.”
“I still wasn’t one of the main guys so I’d have a later spot. I remember like, once it was my time to get up, there was a full audience and I was so excited and they come up like, ‘Oh, Robin just wants to get up and do a quick set first’ and I’m like, ‘cool’.”
This led to Williams taking the stage, and after his hour-long performance, most of the audience departed before Feig could perform.
Feig said, “He did an hour and he finished and everybody left except for one woman who was waiting for her husband to come back from the bathroom.”
Such occurrences are not unheard of in the comedy world.
In fact, in 2009, Dave Chappelle performed an impromptu half-hour set at Carolines on Broadway while visiting his Chappelle’s Show co-star Charlie Murphy.
Similarly, Seinfeld often tests his new material in New York comedy clubs with surprise performances. It’s all part of the craft.
Feig, trying to maintain good relations with the venue owners, chose not to confront the situation when Williams took over his time slot.
He explained, “You were so held hostage, if you will, by The Improv and The Comedy Store because those were the… that’s the place.”
“That’s where you’re going to get discovered, that’s where you’re going to be a big shot so you had to do anything to stay in their good graces, to impress them.”
However, this wasn’t the sole reason Feig decided to move away from stand-up.
He admitted he was “losing the spark for it” and didn’t want to become “miserable” pursuing comedy.
In hindsight, this decision has paid off as Feig’s success in directing has earned him an estimated net worth of $35 million, a substantial achievement.
Perhaps Williams inadvertently steered Feig toward a more prosperous path?
Robin Williams, who tragically passed away in 2014 at the age of 63, remains cherished for his contributions to television and his enduring kindness.