San Jose Mercury News, Calif., Bits & Bytes Column By Rory J. O'Connor, San
Jose Mercury News, Calif.
Knight-Ridder/Tribune Business News

SAN JOSE, Calif.--Jan. 12--The 800 or so computer mavens who forked over $25
each for tickets to last Saturday night's Digital Queers benefit party in San
Francisco knew their money would help a favorite non-profit group and they'd
get a few surprises and some laughs in return.

But revelers got more than a $25 entertainment value when an unexpected guest
took the stage at the Yerba Buena Gardens: comedian Robin Williams.

Williams galvanized the crowd with a 15-minute routine poking fun at gay
arch-enemy Sen. Jesse Helms, the Catholic Church and the Walt Disney Co.,
with whom Williams has a beef over royalties for lending his voice to the
genie in the movie "Aladdin."

Digital Queers co-founder and 3DO marketer Karen Wickre said Williams
originally agreed to appear but didn't tell organizers he'd donate a
performance until 20 minutes before he arrived.

In gratitude, Digital Queers co-founder and Supermac Technology strategist
Tom Rielly wanted to come up with at least a little trinket for Williams. A
clever T-shirt wasn't digital enough. But when he spotted Apple marketing
executive Michael Tchao near the stage, a deal was struck. Williams soon will
get his own Newton personal digital assistant - along with personal training
by Tchao.