Robin Williams TCA Stand-Up: Sarah Palin, Anderson Cooper and Cow Valve Sex

Larry David wasn't the only comedian trying to elicit halfhearted chuckles from the ultra-serious TCA crowd yesterday (how you can be so lifeless when there's a well-stocked hors d'oeuvre bar five yards away, I have no idea). Robin Williams took the stage to promote his upcoming comedy special Robin Williams: Weapons of Self Destruction, which has yet to be written or taped. While providing a few actual insights into his life, most of Williams' Q&A was spent using the Langham Hotel's Huntington Ballroom as if it was Pittsburgh's Funny Bone, trying out new material with mixed results. Your scorecard, Mr. Williams.

"How about the new dollar bill. Instead of 'In God We Trust,' it just says 'Trust Me."

I guess this is a joke. C+

"I just like the idea that Lou Dobbs said that Rachel Maddow is the queen of the tea-baggers. There's something there. It's like saying Anderson Cooper is the king of the strap-ons."

Anderson Cooper is gay. What worn-out reference is next? A crazy GPS system? D-

"I was driving across the Golden Gate Bridge and my GPS said 'Take a right turn."

Uh oh. C-

"Sex with a cow valve is kind of like a duel to the death between your heart and your penis. It's like a Civil War reenactment in a wheel chair."

At least it's personal. B+

"I realized when I was growing up that they used to say that drugs could kill you. And now my doctor's saying [I] have to have drugs to live. I realized that my doctor is my dealer now. And a lot harder to get ahold of."

Points for exploring the dichotomy of prescription drugs and noting that drug dealers are notoriously unreliable. A-

"How did they find [Sarah Palin]? Project Running Mate?"

A below average pun, but for some reason, the utter banality of this line is making me laugh a lot harder 24 hours later. B-

"The reason I'm going back to do stand-up again is I've run out of merchandising money from Bicentennial Man."

Self-effacing and one of the least obvious films from his CV to reference. Solid A

Let's hope that there's more where this came from.