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RIP Robin Williams
Yesterday, the world stopped laughing.
Checking my Twitter feed last night around 7:30 p.m., The Hollywood Reporter headline read, “Breaking: Robin Williams dies of suspected suicide.” Learning this shocking news for the first time was a moment of pure disbelief. How? Why? Tragically, the only answer that could be given was that it happened. While his personal struggles were not a tightly-kept secret, it doesn’t make this situation any easier. From his elaborate stand-up to wild and hilarious improvising on late night television to his family-oriented classics to his more serious roles in an academic setting to his relentless creative energy, Robin Williams was an icon and a fan favorite of people from multiple generations.
He was one-of-a-kind.
His talent helped define stand-up comedy, improvisation and molded countless childhoods. The following video clip is certainly not enough to fully remember Robin Williams, but it’s a start.
Rest in Peace Robin Williams.
The Eternal Legacy of Harold Ramis
By: Ash Vickers of MegaCynics
Harold Ramis will be dearly missed and fondly remembered as a man who connected multiple generations together with timeless comedy favorites. His talent for writing, directing and producing witty and humorous one-liners and creating funny characters, as well as portraying funny characters that were witty and humorous with some great one-liners, Harold Ramis was in the entertainment business to make people laugh and smile.
And he did.
Here is a small collection of his writing, directing, producing and acting credits:
Caddyshack, Stripes, Animal House, National Lampoon’s Vacation, Ghostbusters, Ghostbusters II, Groundhog Day, Analyze This, Multiplicity, As Good as It Gets, High Fidelity, Orange County and Year One.
These are just some of his best-known projects. Just reading those titles is making me laugh and reminisce about all the hilariously classic scenes I and millions of others still happily quote to this day. Harold Ramis not only brought countless families together to watch the Griswold’s every Thanksgiving and Christmas, Bill Murray every Groundhog Day, but he also brought us joy in watching two idiots struggle in the Army and, unforgettably, the coolest group of ghost-fighting scientists in history.
He was a comedy legend that worked with comedy legends. In front of the camera or behind it, he was sensational. That’s a rare gift and he was a rare talent.
While it’s impossible to pay a complete tribute to his life and filmography, below is a video by CNN’s Jake Tapper that can serve as a wonderful reminder of how he made us laugh and feel better about the infinitely complex and mysterious thing we call life.
Who are we gonna miss?
Harold Ramis.
Thanks for the memories and rest in peace.
Uncle Phil’s Final Curtain Call
Sadly, actor James Avery did not get to ring in 2014.
For those who may not be familiar with the name James Avery, he may be known not only as the former voice of Shredder and Splinter in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles television series from the late 1980s and early 1990s, but more famously remembered as Uncle Phil from the 1990s sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
According to the Washington Post article, “James Avery, television and movie actor, dies,” Avery passed away at the age of 68 on Tuesday, December 31st. The cause seems to be related to complications from a major surgical procedure.
Millions of fans from around the world watched (and watch in reruns) Avery entertainingly portray Uncle Phil in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air for 6 seasons. His character was the moral center of the show. He provided plenty of laughs and moments of sincerity and heart, as well as important life lessons for the show’s viewers.
For 30 minutes a week, he was everybody’s uncle.
Below is a clip featuring some favorite moments from the popular sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. There is one portion that starts at 3:26 that embodies so much of what so many loved and will miss about everybody’s Uncle Phil (however, it is recommended to watch the entire video).
The background to the scene is that Will went against his uncle’s stern warnings to not go to the pool hall. Will disobeyed and thought he could beat an older gentleman who turned out to be one of the pool hall regulars. Deep in debt, Will was forced to use his uncle’s Mercedes/his ride as collateral until his debt could be paid. Panicked, Will managed to convince his furious uncle to go back to the pool hall to discuss with the hustler a way to get the car back alongside his trusty butler Geoffrey/”G.”
Uncle Phil has lost a couple games to Will’s nemesis…and badly. However, Uncle Phil is able to negotiate one more game at the steep price of $100 a ball…
Smart. Loving. Funny. Role Model. A Hustler for Good.
Now, the “Big Guy” is with The Big Guy.
Rest in peace James Avery/Uncle Phil.
Jimmy's Daily Planet 