What was Robin Williams’s first HBO stand-up special, broadcast in 1978?

Robin Williams’s first HBO stand-up special, broadcast in 1978, was Off the Wall.

The special captured Williams during the early phase of his rapid rise, when his improvisational energy and fast shifts among voices and characters were becoming widely recognized. His television breakthrough had come through the alien character Mork, first introduced on Happy Days and then developed into Mork & Mindy.

Off the Wall is sometimes confused with An Evening with Robin Williams, a later 1982 concert special that became more widely remembered. Williams continued combining stand-up with acting throughout his career, moving between television, film, live comedy, and dramatic roles while retaining a strong connection to improvisation.