Schall writes about her comedy career and the viral video that served as her “big break”
This can’t be real! This can’t be real! This can’t be real! OMG!!! STOP!!
At 6 years old, I already knew that I wanted to be a performer and entertain people. After my very first hip surgery at 9 years old, I was immobile from the waist down for the following year. My parents converted our den into a hospital room so I could recover at home in between surgeries. I would lay in my in-home hospital bed and watch TV 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
I was obsessed with comedy. From Rosie O’Donnell’s daytime talk show to I Love Lucy, which was airing on Nick at Nite, I had these funny people making me feel better. Much more than that, while the rest of my family was sleeping at night, I was awake by myself with my hilarious TV friends keeping me company. I never felt alone, even when I was alone, because I had them.
I decided right then that I was going to pay it forward — I was going to do for others what entertainment had done for me.
I’ve been busting my tushy entertaining people for 15 years. For 10 of those 15 years, my full-time job was being a comedian. Although it paid my bills, I never got that big break! Well, that was until this past week. One video that took a total of 60 seconds to make changed my life.
I posted the video late Thursday night on Nov. 12. I woke up to 300,000 views on TikTok and was so excited that people were connecting and laughing (and crying) at my video. I couldn’t have imagined what happened next in my wildest dreams. (Side-note: I do have some wild dreams! One time I had a dream that I was on set with the cast from Saved By The Bell and Zack wanted to sleep with me. But he was dating Kelly, so I told Kelly — because I am a good friend — but she got mad at me! Mad at me! She thought I was trying to steal her boyfriend. Katie, It was a whole thing…sorry, I digress — what were we talking about?)
The first big account on Instagram to repost my video was @tanksgoodnews! I have to send him a big thank you specifically, because he may have been the reason that all of this snowballed. After that, the beautiful Kyle Richards posted the video in her Instastory, and she sent the video personally to a lot of people. Now, it should go on the record — I am a huge Real Housewives fan. I admit, I don’t know everything, but I do know that Kyle Richards is Beverly Hills royalty, and to have her stamp of approval was everything! Next Jennifer Gardner posted it to her wall and from there…well actually…I don’t know what happened next. I’m pretty sure I passed out, and I have not woken up yet!
Watch: Robyn’s conversation with Katie on Saturday night
I want to say that the best part of all of this is seeing all the celebrities comment and repost, but it’s not. Although that part is super fun…like really crazy, super fun, but really, the best part happens at night. When I finally get to sit down with my phone, I go through my DMs and read people’s messages to me.
During such an awful year, I love reading that people are finding comfort and happiness in my videos. I know there are people out there who feel just like little 9-year-old Robyn — scared and in pain. It makes me so happy that through my videos they are feeling a little less alone.
Written by Robyn Schall.
