The Unforgettable Comedy Lesson Bob Newhart Taught Our University Community
The adored actor addressed the 100th commencement celebration in 1997. He was awarded an honourary diploma.
July 23, 2024
By Matt Palmer
The actor and comedian Bob Newhart died on July 18 at age 94 many members of the Catholic University of America community remember fondly that he gave the commencement address in the commencement of 100th year May 17th 1997. Newhart was also awarded an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from The University and was a proud father of one of the Cardinal and his son Timothy. Timothy graduated from the University in 1989, earning an undergraduate degree in English.
The Grammy and Golden Globe winner started his career as an accountant, but became famous for his standup comedy masterpieces. The lifelong Catholic then became famous thanks to his sitcoms “The Bob Newhart Show” and “Newhart.” The comedy legend was awarded the first, and sole Emmy for appearances as a guest on a contemporary showcalled “The Big Bang Theory.”
“I certainly don’t delude myself that there aren’t certainly more important things to do in life than make people laugh, but I can’t imagine anything that would bring me more joy,” Newhart spoke to the graduates, families faculty, staff and other members who were present.
In his address to students from 1997 Newhart presented an unusual perspective on how humor could change lives and even save them. Through the speech, the Newhart’s signature humor and dry wit about life and faith was on display.
“I’ve found that one other thing that humor does is it makes us free,” Newhart stated. “That might seem as a bizarre conclusion however, as long as the tyrant is unable to take control of the minds of free people and women, they are liberated. Humor was everywhere in the midst of the iron Curtain and also in POW prison camps.”
Find out more about the speech of Newhart, “Humor Makes Us Free, Laughter Gives Us Distance”below .
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Thank you so much.
Audience: “Hi, Bob.”
“Hi, Bob,” I’m sure you know me.
I’m going to be remembered in the history books for this. What I’ve accomplished I’m going into history as “Hi, Bob.”
It is a privilege and a joy to be asked to speak at the commencement speaker in 1997. It may seem like tears, but they’re actually allergies. The son I have graduated from the university in 1989, with a degree from the department of English literature, with a specialization in poetic works by Yeats. You’ve probably noticed when you browse the classifieds pages, you will find page after page of opportunities for Yeats scholars.
When I was invited to speak at the commencement I was reminded of an incident involving Jascha Heifetz, a famous violinist. He was invited to perform in Grange Hall in Minot, North Dakota and he agreed to perform in December. Then, as December approached, the weather became extremely cold for New York and he called to say, “I’m sorry, I won’t be able to make it.” The person who arranged for him to be there told him, “We have 3,000 people in Grange Hall here in Minot, could you try to?” He said, “I will.” Then he left New York and flew to Denver and then hopped on a tiny plane and eventually got into Minot around 11 o’clock in the night. He went into Grange Hall and there were twelve people gathered in that Grange Hall.
He replied, “I’m sorry I can’t perform before an audience of this size. You stated that there were 3,000 people in the room.” And he added, “Well there were, but they were worried that you would not appear.”
He added, “I’ve never appeared in front of such a small audience.” The man who made arrangements for him to appear told him, “Jascha if you could just sing one or two songs, that would be … “
In a way, I feel that I’m extremely honored. I’m not sure if you’re the right guy however I’m extremely grateful. I’m Irish Catholic, 3/4 Irish, 1/4. German and I’m sure that the humor is derived in the Irish side, since the Germans have not been regarded as being one of the most fun races ever. The issue with Germans,
Germans are extremely Iiteral in their American humor. We often seem to be very eccentric in our humor, and are often able to say the exact opposite of what we’re saying. For instance, a German tourist might look at a German tourist to say “I don’t mean to bother you but your friend Curly over there has no hair at all on his head, and Tiny is over 350 pounds.”
I was born Catholic and many of my acquaintances are Jewish Some are Protestant. Every religion is saying the same thing, which is “be nice to each other.”
Within the Catholic religion it is well-known that there is the option of a confession. Non-Catholics don’t really understand what it’s like to go into this tiny dark room and confess to the awful things we’ve done throughout the week. However, if you’re Catholic there are certain etiquette you’ll learn: are in the very final pew, and you observe the two lines move, and which one moves faster is the one you’re sucked into.
We’ve all been there.
Growing growing up in Chicago The best time to make a confession was at the time of the Notre SMU-Dame game. The priest could say any thing: “I just killed my family.” “Well, don’t do it again, my son,” and you could even hear the game going on as the game played.
The most difficult thing I experienced while being Catholic was having to study the laws for the first time in your confession. The first is “Thou shalt not worship false idols.”
I lived in Chicago and, as I mentioned I’m not sure the details of D.C., but you can travel through Chicago over 10-12 miles and not encounter a false god. If you do not, the last thing you’re planning to do is pull over in your car to praise it.
You could look at your wife and tell her: “Lock your door, honey, I’m pretty sure that’s a …yeah, tha”s a false idol over there.”
The other one that surprised me off was “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife.” When I was seven, and always believed that the priest was telling me that I must never “cover” thy neighbor’s wife as I was not going to do it regardless. It’s actually only a crime if you cover your neighbor’s wife.
You’re free to cover all other wives in the area and be home for free until you start covering your neighbor’s wife you’ll need to confess.
To prepare for today’s speech I read a variety of other commencement speeches. It seems like there is an obligatory reference to the work of Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World. Also, in order to convey the impression that you are intelligent, although you don’t need to be intelligent to be intelligent, just make the impression. This is typically achieved by making a reference to Katka even if you’ve not read one works by him … or works.
The common theme throughout commencement addresses is the work that the speaker is doing for a living is valuable.
This is why I’m now trying to explain what I do to earn a livelihood. I was stunned when I read some of the books that I’d read about humor and laughter by the variety of authors who wrote about the subject. They started by Aristotle, Plato, Hobbes, Freud (who devoted an entire book to it), Kant, Schopenhauer, Spenser, and Arthur Roestler who dedicated all of the book’s first 90 pages the Act of Creation to the role of humor within the process of creation.
I’ve discovered that another factor that humor has is it gives us freedom. It may be an odd idea however, as long as the tyrant is unable to take control of the minds of free people and women, they are liberated. The humour was plentiful in the midst of the Iron Curtain as well as in POW camps.
Humor is also a method of dealing with the mysterious. There was an earthquake a few times in the past, but it was Los Angeles, and it was only 3 or 4 days after that I was first introduced to the earthquake-related joke.
Someone told me, “The traffic is stopped, but the freeways are moving.” Laughter is a way to gain the ability to move away. It lets us take a step back from a situation that we cannot control, and to deal with it, and then continue to live our lives. It aids in distinguishing us from animals.
Whatever hyenas’ voices appear to be, they’re not really laughing. This also helps to determine our mental sanity. The schizophrenic lacks a sense of humor. His world is constantly a intimidating, hostile place. The man of the nation can discover amusement in his.
Erasmus composed in the praise of folly, “No society, no union in life could be either pleasant or lasting without me,” of course, referring to folly.
People who have a sense humor are often less egocentric and more real in their perception of the world. They also tend to be more humble in times of achievement and less depressed when they are in a state of struggle.
I don’t believe that there aren’t more important things that I can do in life than making people smile, but I’m unable to imagine anything else that would give me more pleasure.
In the meantime, I’d like to thank students of the year 1997. Congratulations!