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CNN Live Sunday
Robin Williams Provides Comic Relief to U.S. Troops in Afghanistan
Aired October 20, 2002 - 17:56 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Now some comic relief. One of his best known movie roles was as a D.J. entertaining U.S. troops in "Good Morning, Vietnam." Well, now, Robin Williams is getting a taste of the real thing as he heads to Afghanistan to give U.S. forces there something to laugh about. Here's Sean Callebs.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is one guy who really had them at hello.
ROBIN WILLIAMS, ACTOR: Good morning Bagram!
CALLEBS: In Robin Williams' quest for laughs, he found a target- rich environment. Many here soldiers from the 82nd Airborne, who spend a lot of time in aircraft.
WILLIAMS: The lovely flight in, thank you. I love spiraling in, nothing like that to make your colon go, "fire in the hole."
CALLEBS: Troops were thrilled Williams played to small gatherings around Bagram Air Base.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The way he presented himself to everybody was real nice, came out real strong. All the support here gave him one hell of a show.
CALLEBS: The king of improve didn't miss a beat with the troublesome microphone.
WILLIAMS: This is so much better. There we go. Thank you. We're back. I feel like we're at a golf match. We're at the third hole in the Afghan Open. We can't play the 10th hole because it's still mined.
CALLEBS: For thousands living on a steady diet of dust and duty, it was a rare chance to have some carefree time, to openly laugh, snap some pictures, and for a few moments, forget how much they miss their families.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Every day the same routine. It gets boring. And then for him to come out here is -- it's something to look forward to. It's good to see him up close instead of in the movies.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm on night shift, so this is kind of good for me, I get to be off shift and can follow him around a little bit and see him. It's really -- it's great.
CALLEBS: But remember, these are red-blooded troops. Much of the humor, red, white and blue, with an emphasis on blue.
WILLIAMS: I'm sorry for spraying you, girl, don't go Oprah on me. Hm-mmm. Man sprayed me.
CALLEBS: For those who have been getting by with forced smiles creasing their faces, this was welcome relief. The laughs were genuine, and so was the appreciation.
Sean Callebs, CNN, Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Afghanistan>
Aired October 20, 2002 - 17:56 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Now some comic relief. One of his best known movie roles was as a D.J. entertaining U.S. troops in "Good Morning, Vietnam." Well, now, Robin Williams is getting a taste of the real thing as he heads to Afghanistan to give U.S. forces there something to laugh about. Here's Sean Callebs.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is one guy who really had them at hello.
ROBIN WILLIAMS, ACTOR: Good morning Bagram!
CALLEBS: In Robin Williams' quest for laughs, he found a target- rich environment. Many here soldiers from the 82nd Airborne, who spend a lot of time in aircraft.
WILLIAMS: The lovely flight in, thank you. I love spiraling in, nothing like that to make your colon go, "fire in the hole."
CALLEBS: Troops were thrilled Williams played to small gatherings around Bagram Air Base.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The way he presented himself to everybody was real nice, came out real strong. All the support here gave him one hell of a show.
CALLEBS: The king of improve didn't miss a beat with the troublesome microphone.
WILLIAMS: This is so much better. There we go. Thank you. We're back. I feel like we're at a golf match. We're at the third hole in the Afghan Open. We can't play the 10th hole because it's still mined.
CALLEBS: For thousands living on a steady diet of dust and duty, it was a rare chance to have some carefree time, to openly laugh, snap some pictures, and for a few moments, forget how much they miss their families.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Every day the same routine. It gets boring. And then for him to come out here is -- it's something to look forward to. It's good to see him up close instead of in the movies.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm on night shift, so this is kind of good for me, I get to be off shift and can follow him around a little bit and see him. It's really -- it's great.
CALLEBS: But remember, these are red-blooded troops. Much of the humor, red, white and blue, with an emphasis on blue.
WILLIAMS: I'm sorry for spraying you, girl, don't go Oprah on me. Hm-mmm. Man sprayed me.
CALLEBS: For those who have been getting by with forced smiles creasing their faces, this was welcome relief. The laughs were genuine, and so was the appreciation.
Sean Callebs, CNN, Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Afghanistan>
