speech – The Comedy Bureau

Jon Stewart Correctly Warns of Threat to Comedy Being Authoritarianism, Not ‘Woke Police’ in Mark Twain Prize Speech

June 23, 2022

When it was announced that Jon Stewart would be this year’s recipient of The Mark Twain Prize Humor, we said he was the most deserving winner of said award in a very long time.

Jon Stewart, a true icon of modern comedy/political comedy, made good on that notion in his acceptance speech during the annual ceremony held, once more in person, at The Kennedy Center. Stewart weaved plenty of laughs through dedications and thanking the folks honoring him, then reached what the earned-soapbox-moment about comedy not being under threat within the context of cancel culture, but, rather, despots, authoritarians, fascists, etc. that seek to silence and censor any sort of criticism or deviation from their grand vision for their world.

Checking power via comedy with The Daily Show and now, The Problem with Jon Stewart, has been at the core of so much of Stewart’s comedy (even if that power is Arby’s). Again, that’s why he’s the most deserving Mark Twin Prize winner in many, many years.

See all of that for yourself with Jon Stewart’s Mark Twain Prize speech here.

Please Enjoy Mike Birbiglia’s Commencement Speech for Georgetown’s Class of 2020

May 18, 2020

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It’s that time of year where waves of graduations are happening at every level. As far as comedy is concerned, that does usually mean that there is a handful of great commencement speeches that are given by comedians and, essentially, you get to see inspirational stand-up done in a gowns and ceremonial hats. The speeches are meant for the graduates, but there’s a certain joy in still watching such addresses no matter what stage of life you’re in.

The COVID-19 pandemic has obviously made an in-person graduation with hundreds or thousands of people gathering impossible at the moment. Yet, the commencement speeches are still coming through for the classes of 2020 remotely.

Mike Birbiglia just remotely gave such a speech that was pretty damn perfect for the Georgetown University Class of 2020 and the almost unbelievable times that we live in. Birbiglia makes a rather short speech as far as commencement speeches go, but it’s so perfectly worded (as it would be from someone who routinely does celebrated solo shows on Broadway).

Please enjoy it and maybe feel a little more inspired about life going forward here.

And We Have the First Funny, Inspiring Commencement Speech This Year with Will Ferrell’s Speech to USC Graduating Class of 2017

May 15, 2017

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On top of Will Ferrell giving the delightful, uplifting commencement speech that you’d expect from Ferrell, he is now has an honorary doctorate from USC and we can only hope that he uses that credit all the time, whether applicable or not.

Watch Ferrell’s speech to the USC Graduating Class of 2017 here.

Here’s Andy Kindler Delivering The 2015 State of the Industry Address at JFL Montreal

July 27, 2015

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Despite his own protestations about being good at roasting, Andy Kindler roasts the entire industry of comedy every year at The JFL Montreal Comedy & Arts Festival. It’s like enjoying a new hour from Kindler every summer.

So, without further adieu, here’s Andy’s 2015 edition of The State of the Industry Address wherein he sticks it to that thing Jerry Seinfeld said about colleges and more.

Wake Forest Gets a Commencement Speech From Stephen Colbert

May 20, 2015

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Stephen Colbert has kept relative radio silence since his departure from The Colbert Report last year.

However, not appearing in public probably wasn’t going to last all the way until the premiere of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert in September.

So, here’s Colbert, on the week that David Letterman is exiting The Late Show, sans The Colbert Report “Stephen Colbert” character, giving one great send-off to the Wake Forest Class of 2015.

Listen to Andy Kindler’s JFL Montreal State of The Industry Address for 2014

July 27, 2014

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andy kindler, comedy festival, jfl, just for laughs, montreal, public address, roast, speech, state of the industry

Every year at the Just For Laughs Montreal Comedy & Arts Festival, the hilarious Andy Kindler gives his famous State of the Industry Address, roasting the entire industry of comedy no matter how big, powerful, or famous anyone is.

Throughout JFL Montreal, one of the biggest comedy festivals in the world, it’s one of the highlights in the entire schedule and you can now listen to Kindler’s 2014 address here.