Director Paul Feig Remembers Rivalry with Robin Williams in Stand-up Comedy

Paul Feig, the renowned director of “Bridesmaids,” recently shared memories of his early stand-up comedy days, recounting experiences with the late Robin Williams. Feig’s anecdotes came during an appearance on “Dinner's On Me,” a podcast hosted by actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson, published on October 8.

In the podcast episode produced by Sony Music Entertainment, Feig, 62, detailed an especially challenging period in his career. He was just emerging into the comedy circuit during the time when iconic comedians like Williams were active. “I got sabotaged by Robin Williams a couple of times,” Feig recalled, speaking about performances at The Improv comedy club, a famed venue in New York City.

Feig explained a particular incident where his performance was overshadowed by Williams, who spontaneously took the stage. “I remember like once, it’s my time to get up and there’s a full audience. I was so excited and they come up like, ‘Oh, you know Robin just wants to get up and do a quick set first.’ I’m like, ‘Well cool,’” Feig commented. However, Williams’ set extended to an hour, leaving the venue nearly empty for Feig’s performance except for one audience member waiting for her husband.

Despite these early setbacks, Feig went on to achieve considerable success. He shared with Ferguson a pivotal moment in his career when NBC greenlit one of his projects while he was in London. “It was huge, I mean it was life-changing,” Feig remarked, detailing how he wrote about the experience in a notebook found during his tube ride in London.

Feig is best known for directing episodes of “The Office” and “Freaks and Geeks,” earning Emmy nominations and a Directors Guild of America Award. He also mentioned that his latest project, “A Simple Favor 2,” is nearing completion.

While Williams was known for his stage presence, he was also criticized for his liberal borrowing from other comedians’ material. Although fellow comedians like Godfrey, Richard Lewis, and Robert Wuhl have spoken about Williams’ past transgressions, few have expressed lingering resentment. “Some comics hated him for it,” said Richard Lewis in Budd Friedman’s 2017 oral history of The Improv, adding, “But I wasn’t one of them.”

Williams himself acknowledged these controversies. In a 2010 interview on Marc Maron’s “WTF” podcast, Williams admitted that during periods of intense club engagements, he occasionally repeated jokes heard from others, saying, “My brain was working that way.”

Robin Williams passed away in 2014 at the age of 63. His legacy is cherished by many, including his son Zak Williams, who often shares tributes, remembering Williams’ ability to bring hope and joy to many.