The Incomparable Comedic Genius of Jonathan Winters

[brian64]

Something made me think of JW, and it's been several years since I watched any of these, so had to revisit them.

Truly one of a kind...master of improvisation. Amazing talent to invent characters on the spur of the moment with any little prop and ad-lib hilarious stuff.

RIP Jonathan...thanks for the laughs.

1973:

Montage_Part 1_Orinda Film Festival:

Part 2:

 

[georged]

He was an example of a "good kind of crazy".

 

[warren]

And he readily admitted to the diagnosis. Much less "high energy" than Robin Williams, much easier to sit back and simply enjoy. Nothing hostile about his humor. I also miss him,

 

[jerry]

I interviewed him in the late 1980’s on KMDY (KoMeDY) Radio in Thousand Oaks, CA. It wasn’t really an interview. I welcomed him, and he delivered a 20 minute monologue. He was hysterical and a bit scary

 

[Merton]

JW was a true comedy genius. Carson loved him and even took his old woman character and did his own version. Robin Williams basically imitated Winters' act and Jim Carey owes a lot to Winters. Loved watching the Carson clip. Thanks for posting.

 

[brian64]

Much less "high energy" than Robin Williams, much easier to sit back and simply enjoy.

That's exactly it. Robin was the heir apparent, and was very good, but not as easily and comfortably enjoyable as Jonathan.

 

[brian64]

JW was a true comedy genius. Carson loved him and even took his old woman character and did his own version. Robin Williams basically imitated Winters' act and Jim Carey owes a lot to Winters. Loved watching the Carson clip. Thanks for posting.

One other great Tonight Show appearance. Carson tells the same story as the previous clip at the beginning of this one...JW comes out at about 1:30: