My favorite White guy Tim Robinson
My favorite White guy Tim Robinson
In honor of Detroiters being added to Netflix
I know what you might be thinking, who the fuck is Tim Robinson, well let me change your life. He is the funniest white guy alive at the moment and I know that’s a big statement to make but let me argue my case. Also, I’d like to state that he is from Detroit(the burbs) if that weighs in on your decision of my argument so be it.
He is most famously known for a little show called Saturday Night Live where he was a writer and performer from 2012-2016. After leaving to go on and create Detroiters and then I Think You Should Leave. And let me just say both shows have become a beloved favorite of mine. I am from Detroit, so I knew of the show but it wasn’t really on my radar, like I saw a couple of scenes and thought they were funny. But I sadly didn’t tune in at the time the show aired. But during Covid lockdown, I Think You Should Leave became a comfort binge. It’s a sketch comedy show that is so outlandishly “out there” and zany but still sort of like relatable.
Each sketch is set up with a main character who sort of has a crazy storyline/dialogue or others around him with a crazy storyline. What sets it apart from other “silly” sketches, is that when it starts, it’s normal, in the sense of just another day in life. However, the wackiness comes out of the absurdity of the situation and a misunderstanding between the characters, allowing audiences to relate and laugh at the circumstance. This style of comedy is hard to master but once done, it is the best form in sketch. It’s controversial, raunchy, and relatable, but still, the joke doesn’t rely on the detriment of the character/person. I’m not laughing at someone’s faults or making fun of their characteristics. Tim has found a way to make the “butt” of the joke be about a miscommunication between the characters. And in a way that is comedically more effective than other styles of sketch comedy.
FAVORITES
Detroiters isn’t really a sketch show, it follows a storyline but there are still wacky shenanigans happening. It’s just centered around Detroit crazy. Which is a sort of “crazy”. The jokes still operate the same way as I Think You Should Leave, the “butt” though isn’t about hurting someone more so on the “uniqueness” of the situation. The “butt” of the joke is the situation. It’s relatable, quirky, but still out of pocket.
Let’s get into why I love him, I’m going, to be honest majority of it is because all of his love interests are always a Black woman, and not just like some lightskin Black woman but a monoracial Black woman. That’s groundbreaking today, with the rise of Shondaland and interracial relationships becoming a mainstay on our screens. Mixed or lightskin Black women have become the main representation of Black women. So for a sketch show on Comedy Central and Netflix to showcase this is monumental. Especially for a show that represents the city of Detroit, the show did justice to my city. I’ll even go further to talk about the inclusivity of all different types of bodies(race, size, gender, orientation, disability, etc). The characters/actors look like “normal” everyday people. This is the inclusivity that we’ve been begging for and it’s just in a small sketch show.
I’m not by any means diagnosing someone but the majority of his characters are really good representations of people on the spectrum. This topic has been analyzed and pulled apart all over the internet but we have all come to the same conclusion. StrikerStar 19 a YouTuber has discussed in one of his videos how Tim has showcased a great example of what it feels like to be on the spectrum as someone who also is on the spectrum. StrikerStar 19 goes on to mention how in the other shows of its genre(sketches), the absurdism comes from the reaction of the characters instead of actual absurdity. Continuing with great examples of how those on the spectrum would view and relate to each of these scenarios. He identifies aspects of what it’s like to live on the spectrum relating to the show. An article called, How ‘I Think You Should Leave’ Conveys The Autistic Experience on Vocal Media Geeks, by Jay Kobayashi similarly discusses 3 extinct big reasons that StrikerStar 19 also mentions. Social Missteps, Misinterpretation Of Social Cues, and The Struggle For Acceptance, with these 3 main issues for people on the spectrum, the article also uses skits and breakdowns on why this show is a great representation.
In the end, Tim Robinson is a comedic genius and a Detroit icon, he has not only been inclusive in his storytelling but also has become an amazing representation for those on the spectrum. Both of his shows; Detroiters and I Think You Should Leave should be on your guy’s watchlist.
Also, check out StrikerStar 19 video and Jay’s article, they do an amazing job of going into more depth on the skits than I do.