I'm watching Robin Williams on "Inside the Actors Studio," and find myself equally parts laughing and annoyed. He is indeed a comic genius and can rattle off a ten minute improv'ed routine without much effort, but at times I feel like telling him to just shut the hell up and finish out your interview.

I've always been on the fence with Robin Williams the stand-up. At one time, I thought that he could do no wrong. But now, if I see that his stand-up is on, I'll usually opt to see something else. My favorite type of comedy is the story telling variety, hence my favorite comedian is Bill Cosby. I like comedians who are able to tell a complete narrative while leaving the audience in stitches. So Robin Williams can at times not be my cup of tea since his stand-up is the opposite of narrative based.

Robin Williams movies are a mixed bag in and of themselves. "Aladdin" was a masterpiece when I was a kid, but I don't think it has aged well. Robin Williams' stream of conscious routines don't fare well with me during repeated viewings. Maybe it's the energy of it all getting too tiring. I don't know. When he's on, he's on though.

I really like his great movies though. "Good Morning Vietnam" is one of the greatest anti-censorship movies ever made. It's anti-war without being "anti-war" if that makes any sense. "Good Will Hunting" is one of my all-time favorite movies and scripts. Without Robin Williams, that movie would not have been made nor would it have been as impactful. He played that role perfectly.

Oh, and let's not forget "Dead Poets Society." Would that movie have been nearly as PERFECT without Robin Williams?

But don't get me started on "Patch Adams" or "Mrs. Doubtfire." Good lord those sappy movies blow hard.

matt out