During a recent appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, celebrated comedian Keith Robinson opened up about his experience of coping with not one, but two strokes. Despite the seriousness of the situation, Robinson used his signature humor to find solace and navigate through the challenges he faced.
Robinson, who had just released his stand-up special titled “Different Strokes,” discussed how the strokes had affected him over the course of four years. Admitting that the first stroke was shaky, he went on to say that the second stroke truly showed him the severity of the situation.
But for Robinson, finding humor in the situation was essential to his recovery. As he expressed to Fallon, “Comedians are obviously known for their ability to make light of a dark situation. I mean, was that what you were trying to do, find the humor in the situation immediately?” Robinson responded with an emphatic “Yes, you have to.”
Robinson explained that he took in everything he felt was funny and realized that anything could be funny if he just used it. Rather than sitting back and feeling bad, he chose to embrace the humor in his circumstances.
Even his comedian friends played a role in reminding Robinson that he was back. He shared an anecdote about dropping his cane and struggling to pick it up, only to have Amy Schumer kick it across the floor. And at the Comedy Cellar table, comedian Chris Rock greeted him with the nickname “Strokey Robinson,” solidifying Robinson’s return to the comedy scene.
Walking on stage to film his special, Robinson described it as nothing short of a miracle. He wasn’t sure if he could even talk for two hours, perform back-to-back shows, and still stand. But he accomplished it and received immense applause and congratulations for his triumphant return.
Robinson also revealed that he had temporarily lost his voice after the second stroke. With a self-deprecating nod, he mentioned that his 4-year-old grandson said he sounded like Squidward from SpongeBob SquarePants.
Throughout it all, Robinson learned to live in the present, cherishing every moment. He emphasized the importance of not putting off things for tomorrow and encouraged people to take action now. In his own unique comedic way, he exclaimed, “Never put on tomorrow what you can do today. In other words, if there’s someone you want to punch…please do it now!”
Robinson’s appearance on The Tonight Show was a testament to his resilience and determination to bring laughter into every aspect of his life. His stand-up special, “Different Strokes,” is currently streaming on Netflix, providing audiences with a chance to experience his unique perspective and comedic brilliance.
To summarize, Keith Robinson‘s appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon was a lively and inspiring discussion about how humor became his greatest ally while navigating through the challenges of experiencing two strokes. His ability to find light in the darkness and entertain others with his unique perspective is a testament to his strength as a comedian and as a person.
