Photo: Instagram
His new show brings a manic energy to Netflix.
By Amy Lamare — Written on May 22, 2019
Comedian Tim Robinson is starring in the latest comedy series from Netflix, I Think You Should Leave. But he isn't just the star; he's also the writer and creator of it. The sketch comedy show is the latest from the creator of Comedy Central's Detroiters, a series that was loved by fans of comedy everywhere. If you were a fan of that show, you'll recognize many of the faces on his latest show. Sam Richardson makes an appearance to fight a skeleton army with Ebenezer Scrooge. Will Forte stars to enact mid-flight vengeance. Did we mention this show is a bit surreal? It is definitely worth a watch if you're a fan of comedy and the ridiculousness. Who is Tim Robinson?
1. He's from Detroit
Tim Robinson was born May 23, 1981 in Detroit, Michigan. He graduated from Clarkston High School in Clarkston, Michigan in 2000. He and his wife Heather have two children, a daughter and a son. He has performed at The Second City, iO Theater and Just for Laughs.
2. The SNL years
If Tim Robinson looks familiar to you (and you didn't watch Detroiters), there's a good reason for that. He made his debut as a featured player on Saturday Night Live on September 15, 2012. A year later, it was announced that he would be working on the writing staff and not be a cast member. This made Robinson the second cast member (Brian Doyle-Murray was the first) to go from featured player to staff writer. While he was a featured player he was known for celebrity impressions including Ben Bailey and Bill Cowher. He was also the reoccuring character Carl, a senior citizen working retails who always got insulted by Niff and Dana (Bobby Moynihan and Cecily Strong).
3. I Think You Should Leave
Robinson's Netflix show is different from the streaming service's usual fare in that the six episodes run just 15-20 minutes each. The show features guest appearances from Steven Yeun, Patti Harrison, Tim Heidecker, Fred Willard and his fellow SNL cast members Andy Samberg, Will Forte, Vanessa Bayer and Cecily Strong. According to Deadline Detroit, the series is described as "a bonkers new sketch show." It is also called "nuts." Each episode features the characters who "navigate awkward workplace drama, host an intervention in a Garfield-themed house and talk their way out of a babysitter’s fake hit-and-run," according to Netflix. The synopsis for the show says: "Tim Robinson and guests spend each segment driving someone to the point of needing — or desperately wanting — to leave. . . There is no such thing as an ordinary interaction."
4. A sample storyline
One of the episodes called "Baby of the Year," started in the final round of a baby judging reality competition series. The host is trying to keep the rowdy audience from cursing out the babies that they don't want to win. A panel of judges starts adding to the melee by revealing problematic secrets. It is absurd and surreal, especially when a middle-aged man in the audience, caught up in the contest, yells: “I hope you f*cking die Harley Jarvis” at a biker-clad “bad boy” baby.
Amy Lamare is a Los Angeles based freelance writer covering entertainment, pop culture, beauty, fashion, fitness, technology, and the intersection of technology, business, and philanthropy. She is deeply devoted to her chocolate Labrador and an avid long distance runner. You can find her on Instagram and Facebook.