Commencement speeches

[Killick]

TV Guide has a pretty good link to some celeb speeches, worth viewing. Some pretty funny stuff in there. Surprisingly, I really liked Ellen DeGeneres', given at Tulane last week. Among her lines: "When I was your age, I had no idea what I was going to do. I had no idea who I was. I dated men... So, I guess what I'm trying to say is that when you get older, most of you will be gay."

Colbert, Farrell, Jodi Foster included. They are long, though (about 9-10 minutes each).

 

[dreunc1542]

TV Guide has a pretty good link to some celeb speeches, worth viewing. Some pretty funny stuff in there. Surprisingly, I really liked Ellen DeGeneres', given at Tulane last week. Among her lines: "When I was your age, I had no idea what I was going to do. I had no idea who I was. I dated men... So, I guess what I'm trying to say is that when you get older, most of you will be gay."

Colbert, Farrell, Jodi Foster included. They are long, though (about 9-10 minutes each).

Yeah, the Ellen one was good. We had Jim Lovell (played by Tom Hanks in Apollo 13) and he was pretty good.

 

[finishthehat]

Link? I couldn't find it on that site.

 

[User 1019]

I did not attend my commencement, so I have absolutely no clue who it was. I bet is was good, though.

 

[Killick]

Sorry. Forgot the link:
http://www.tvguide.com/News/Celebrity-Commencement-Speeches-1006279.aspx

 

[greenlantern]

I did not attend my commencement, so I have absolutely no clue who it was. I bet is was good, though.

I attended my commencement in 2004, and I have no idea who it was.

 

[RickStain]

Worst ever?

 

[Armchair_QB]

If we're talking worst commencement speakers, I've got:

Highest ranking female in the Vatican (at the time).

I win. Or lose, depending on your perspective.

 

[greenlantern]

After thinking about it, I believe my speaker worked in the Dubya administration. Some boring Asian guy.

 

[Mystery_Meat]

I had Tim Russert at mine.

 

[Killick]

That had to be cool. Russert could be very funny, and then turn on a dime and be profound.

 

[JackReacher]

I read somewhere (here, I think) about Patton Oswalt's speech at William and Mary last year. I remember it being pretty funny. Sorry, don't have the link, but I think he put it up on his site.

 

[Double Down]

Worst ever?

Off topic, but the genius of that scene is that the mayor really does want to get through his speech, which is awesome. Even though he's totally evil and about to kill everyone, I like it that he really wants to make some snotty points about teenagers and how they don't respect their elders. And then, of course, The Scooby Gang whoops that ass, but I appreciate that Whedon had the mayor stay true to character right to the end.

 

[RickStain]

"Just ascend already" was the best line of the season.

 

[qtlaw]

Had the Rev. Jesse Jackson at my law school commencement. He was the essence of a moving orator. He gave a nice rousing call to look forward to the future.

 

[I Digress]

I had Peter Ueberroth... I remember nothing.

 

[Killick]

I had many Jaegermeisters... I remember nothing.

Fixed.

 

[PeteyPirate]

Laura Bush spoke at SMU last week, her alma mater, and commented that she had skipped commencement for her master's degree. The speaker that day was her future father-in-law.

 

[Moderator1]

Gov. Mills Godwin.
SIX minutes. SIX. Loved it.

I was at Virginia Tech's graduation the year of the shootings. My future daughter-in-law was graduating.
Pres. Charles Steger gave a 16-minute speech that was unlike any I've ever heard. Incredible and I told him as much when I saw him in town later that weekend. Not a dry eye in the place.
The real speaker - the general who had been in charge in Iraq, Abizad or something? - had NO chance. None. I don't think anyone heard a word he said.

 

[sportschick]

My group got Matt Lauer, who was quite funny. The afternoon grouping got Hillary Clinton, who was good, but not nearly as much fun