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June 22, 2009

John Hodgman's Legendary Speech On Nerd Rights

thumbnail icon: John Hodgman's Legendary Speech On Nerd Rights

John Hodgman was the keynote speaker at this weekend's Radio & TV Correspondents' Dinner in Washington DC, following President Barack Obama, which is insane. Not that he was the keynote speaker, but just that he followed the president, and that he stood at the podium on the same dais and addressed the man directly. Obviously, someone has to be the keynote speaker and follow the president and stand at the podium on the same dais and address the president directly, but it still feels strange and thrilling. That is the magic of John Hodgman. He is everyone's secret favorite, but that secret is out, and has been for awhile. He's the human incarnation of a Pavement 7". And this moment is the main stage at Lollapalooza. Wait a second, you mean thousands of people know who this guy is and enjoy what he does? I'm not the only one?

The only thing better than that metaphor is John Hodgman's speech, which is after the jump.

What a nerd. (Via BoingBoing.)

Posted by Gabe at 2:30 PM in ,
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19 Comments

CarolineA

This is the best administration ever!!!! Can Hodgman be Secretary of Keeping it Real?

Posted by: CarolineA profile link at 06/22/09 2:52 PM | Reply
Score = 18 Vote up Vote down
The Life of the Mind

"He's the human incarnation of a Pavement 7". And this moment is the main stage at Lollapalooza."

Wait, are you implying that we're supposed to throw mud clods and rocks and him until he leaves the stage in anger? I think your metaphor falls a little short here, Gabe.

Posted by: The Life of the Mind profile link at 06/22/09 2:52 PM | Reply
Score = -5 Vote up Vote down
OxBakerTriumphant

We get it: you saw A Slow Century. For me, it was still the Perfect Metaphor Forever.

Posted by: OxBakerTriumphant profile link in reply to The Life of the Mind's comment at 06/22/09 4:30 PM | Reply
Score = 4 Vote up Vote down
OxBakerTriumphant

Although I maintain that the metaphor stands, I should concede that that was a really good catch. I think maybe my case of the Monday's plus my instinctual need to protect any and all Pavement-based metaphors made my post unnecessarily grouchy.

Posted by: OxBakerTriumphant profile link in reply to The Life of the Mind's comment at 06/22/09 9:34 PM | Reply
Score = 3 Vote up Vote down
practicallyinformation

John Hodgeman is america's Summer Babe (Presidential Version).

Posted by: practicallyinformation profile link at 06/22/09 3:20 PM | Reply
Score = 24 Vote up Vote down
super!

500 days of john hodgman

Posted by: super! profile link in reply to practicallyinformation's comment at 06/22/09 3:28 PM | Reply
Score = 29 Vote up Vote down

the paranthetical statement warrants more than a mere plus 1. good show sir.

Posted by: McFuzz profile link in reply to practicallyinformation's comment at 06/22/09 5:22 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down
cranB

Hodgman 's done this "jocks vs. nerds” debate for months in the context of the tactics employed by this administration and the campaign that preceded it, but it’s another thing entirely to express this analogy to the president. Pretty great.

(Interested parties may also want to check out the middle of this interview, where he uses the “jocks vs. nerds” framework to describe the creative direction of LOST.)

Posted by: cranB profile link at 06/22/09 3:26 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

Dear John Hodgman,
Will you marry me?
Love,
Leah

Posted by: beahlurgin profile link at 06/22/09 3:40 PM | Reply
Score = 3 Vote up Vote down
Friendly Giant

Obama totally knew that Conan worshipped Crom. He just doesn't want to be labelled as a secret Cimmerian.

Posted by: Friendly Giant profile link at 06/22/09 3:52 PM | Reply
Score = 10 Vote up Vote down
paige.

14 minutes of nerd perfection.

Posted by: paige. profile link at 06/22/09 4:11 PM | Reply
Score = 7 Vote up Vote down
Boris Grushenko

geeks > nerds

Posted by: Boris Grushenko profile link at 06/22/09 4:11 PM | Reply
Score = -5 Vote up Vote down
Carrie

Obama/Hodgman 2012, please.

Posted by: Carrie profile link at 06/22/09 4:28 PM | Reply
Score = 5 Vote up Vote down

I met Hodgeman before he was famous (he was my boss' old college roommate), and I can personally attest to his greatness. He lives in Park Slope and has a kid and is totally great.

Posted by: email at 06/22/09 4:32 PM | Reply
Score = 2 Vote up Vote down

I knew the dog before he came to class.

Posted by: Milhouse in reply to email's comment at 06/22/09 5:22 PM | Reply
Score = 12 Vote up Vote down
Trouble Downstream

this was great and it does sum up the bush administration without completely vilifying them (although I think that is warranted as well). the brilliance of Obama's appeal is that he works with both groups. He is both the coolest guy in the room and smartest.

Posted by: Trouble Downstream profile link at 06/22/09 5:47 PM | Reply
Score = 3 Vote up Vote down

pacific trim

Posted by: matt at 06/22/09 6:41 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

I was a late blooming Hodgmaniac, having first seen him as "the man from the greeting card company" in Flight of the Conchords' first season. I am now, however, completely in love.

Posted by: Hannah JV at 06/22/09 11:17 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

Where is who now?

Posted by: elelevato at 06/23/09 12:51 AM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

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