Robin Williams may be younger generation's Bob Hope
Friday December 06, 2002By 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.''
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