The Great LOL of China | Robin Williams and the Chinese comedic brotherhood

The world just got a lot less funny.

I say the world, because Robin William’s death has not just shocked and saddened his fellow American compatriots, nor merely the English-speaking world. When I woke up today, both my Facebook and WeChat feeds were full of condolences and reminiscent words.

He is a true comedian who makes people across different cultures laugh. That both Westerners and Chinese alike acknowledged his loss shows that his comedy accessed our common humanity. Beyond language, time, and culture, Robin Williams reached within people everywhere and touched whatever it is that makes us laugh.

To me, he will always be the Genie from Aladdin. My Chinese friends were more likely to bring up the Dead Poet’s Society or his new sitcom, Crazy Ones. My WeChat moments feed was full of William’s quote of “Carpe Diem.” Amongst all the great things Williams brought us, we can also thank him, profusely, for popularizing this saying in China before “YOLO” became popular.

Comedy is a brotherhood, and my Chinese comedian friends were the first to recall Williams’ impact on their own comedy. To the stand-up comedians, Robin Williams was an example of classic American standup. I asked them what Williams meant to them. One person remembered his first impression was Williams being “strong on stage, powerful.” Others said he was so dirty they learned new words they had never conceived of.