James Lipton's Inside The Actors Studio series on American TV channel Bravo has become something of an institution, albeit in a love-it-or-hate-it sort of way. Some can bear the host's somewhat pretentious questions in order to hear movie stars reveal some enlightening aspects of their personal life and professional process, whilst others can't stand Lipton's sycophantic tone and do spoofs of him on their sketch shows (David Cross later, awkwardly, worked with him on Arrested Development). For all the goofiness and slightly cringy interview questions Lipton doles out - some regulars include "What turns you on?" and "What sound or noise do you hate?" - he sometimes hits on something really, really good. One of the really, really good episodes to be taped at New York's Pace University was Lipton's conversation with Robin Williams which aired in 2001, around about the time the comedic actor shocked everyone with some intense dramatic roles as the psychopathic stalker in One Hour Photo and the psychopathic crime author/possible murderer in Christopher Nolan's Insomnia. Williams was his usual magnetic self, zipping from subject to subject before Lipton could even prompt him, and generally being incredibly entertaining. If a little hard to control. The highlight of the interview might have been when Williams actually settled down and responded, with all seriousness, to the last of Lipton's infamous ten questions: "If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates?" At the end of his barnstorming performance, Williams confided that he would like to hear:
"There's seating near the front. The concert begins at 5. It'll be Mozart, Elvis, and anyone of your choosing. Or if heaven exists it would be nice to know that there's laughter. That would be a great thing to hear God go 'Two Jews walk into a bar'..."
We hope that you're laughing, Robin, wherever you are. If you find yourself struggling with depression or suicidal thoughts, there are people you can talk to and support out there. In the UK you can anonymously contact the Samaritans or mental health charity Mind, and in the US there is the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. You are never alone and you don't have to suffer in silence.
Tom Baker is the Comics Editor at WhatCulture! He's heard all the Doctor Who jokes, but not many about Randall and Hopkirk. He also blogs at http://communibearsilostate.wordpress.com/
