Robin Williams may be younger generation's Bob Hope
Friday December 06, 2002
By JEFF WILSON
Associated Press Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) For the younger generation of military
fighters overseas, comic actor Robin Williams may be the 21st
century's Bob Hope.
``They love him. He's all they talk about,'' Hollywood
ambassador Johnny Grant said Friday after completing a 10-day USO
trip to Afghanistan and Pakistan to visit U.S. service personnel
fighting the war on terrorism.
It was Grant's 56th overseas mission to entertain American
fighting men and women. His troupe included Dennis Haskins of
``Saved by the Bell,'' Kate Linder of ``The Young and the
Restless,'' and LeeAnn Tweedon of Fox Sports' ``The Best Damn
Sports Show Period.''
Grant never goes overseas without conducting his ritual poll
asking military personnel to name the celebrities they would most
like to meet.
``Robin Williams is the big thing,'' said Grant, who arrived in
Afghanistan three weeks after Williams visited them. ``The young
GIs now have their own Bob Hope and it's Robin Williams. They were
all talking about him. I think they really appreciated him coming
home and calling big names and asking them to go over there.''
Other favorites requested were Adam Sandler, Janet Jackson,
Britney Spears, George Cloony, Denzel Washington and Josh Hartnett.
Athletes are also very big ``Charles Barkley would be a huge
hit,'' Grant said.
``Who do they most want to see? Anybody,'' said Grant, who had a
message for Hollywood: ``Any star that goes out there gets more
than they give, believe me.''
For more than a half-century, Grant has traveled the globe with
celebrities, including Hope, to visit U.S. service personnel
stationed in faraway places. The avuncular honorary mayor of
Hollywood regularly rubs elbows with the celebrities during
dedication of new stars on the Walk of Fame.
Grant, who turns 80 on May 9, said he was encouraged by
America's new generation of patriots.
``They are smarter, more sophisticated and seem more focused.
They are ready to do whatever the commander in chief tells them
to,'' Grant said. ``I took out all the old jokes from World War II
Army food jokes, second lieutenant jokes and ugly women jokes
it really makes them laugh.
``It's a pretty good bunch of Americans we have over there.''
(Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)