Celebrities appearing in popular sitcoms to rake in more ratings isn’t uncommon. But everyone lost their minds when Robin Williams appeared on ‘Friends.’ Always working on his current impulse, there was no telling what this magician would unveil from his bag of tricks. The cast and crew were thrilled when Williams showed up with his buddy Billy Crystal.
Together, they riffed and created a memorable cold open that made the rest of the episode irrelevant. The only thing people remember is how Robin Williams and Billy Crystal walked into the doors of Central Perk and had us in splits. The improvised brilliance could have only come from the minds of Williams and Crystal together.
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Which Character Did Robin Williams Play On ‘Friends’?
Robin Williams and Billy Crystal appeared in the third season of ‘Friends’ in the episode ‘The One With The Ultimate Fighting Champion.’ The episode takes place in Central Perk, with the group catching up. Monica (Courtney Cox) has been dating Pete (Jon Favreau), a billionaire, for some time now. Robin Williams and Billy Crystal walk in when she’s about to tell her friends about their relationship.
They are Tomas and Tim, with the latter trying to calm his friend down. With no regard to personal space, they ask the group to scootch over and make some room on the couch. Robin Williams does an ambiguous and exaggerated accent, talking about how he suspects his wife is having an affair. When Tim asks who it could be, Tomas tells him he suspects it’s her gynecologist. Because “he’s got access.”
Trying to have their conversation, the group is scandalized by Tomas and Tim. Now invested in their story, the group is scandalized to learn that Tim is the aforementioned gynecologist having an affair with Tomas’ wife. When Joey (Matt LeBlanc) tries to confirm this, Tim ironically tells him off for interrupting a private conversation. Tomas storms out after publically ending his friendship with Tim, leaving the group too stunned to speak.
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The Story Behind Robin Williams’ Cameo
Robin Williams and Billy Crystal’s appearance on ‘Friends‘ was a happy accident. They were never scheduled to make an appearance. The duo was hanging on a nearby film set. They came across the place where ‘Friends‘ was shooting. The creative team jumped at the prospect of being in the show. The show’s writers didn’t give them any line of dialogue, letting the pros get to work.
The duo came up with a back story where Robin Williams suspects his wife of cheating on him. Their magic rubbed off the cast, with Courtney Cox and Matt LeBlanc playing off the guest stars. In the end, the group’s collective surprised reaction is a genuine moment that made it to the final cut. Their appearance on the sitcom was also a part of promoting their movie ‘Fathers’ Day.’
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