ROBIN WILLIAMS - COMEDIES PRODUCING BIG PROFITS FOR STUDIOS

COMEDIES PRODUCING BIG PROFITS FOR STUDIOS

They rarely get mentioned when Oscar nominations are announced, but comedies continue to generate a lot of ticket sales worldwide, according to USA Today , which noted that of the top ten grossers over the past year, six have been comedies -- several of which were "savagely reviewed." Comedies are generally big earners during periods of economic hardship, the newspaper observed, quoting Universal's distribution chief Nikki Rocco as saying, "People need something to take their mind off things, and comedies do that." Robin Williams, who stars in the comedy Old Dogs , which opens Nov. 25, told the newspaper that "as things get stranger in the world, people want to laugh as a release. It reaffirms our humanity." Williams also complained that comedy receives little respect from critics -- or from the industry as a whole. "Comedy built this industry," he said. "But it's treated like it's damaged. All we have, really, is the Golden Globes [which has separate categories for comedies and musicals]. Usually we have to sit at the children's table."

18/11/2009