Hilarious, Talented Improviser: Reggie Watts at TEDxUSC 2012

The hilarious, brilliant and unpredictable Reggie Watts makes his first appearance at TEDxUSC. Reggie's improvised musical sets are created on-the-spot using only his formidable voice and a looping machine. No two songs are ever the same. Hear his first, original, never-before-heard song at TEDxUSC 2012 here.

[@medmed974]

This is actually what lectures sound like when you zone out.

[@johnnythreefour2902]

+Crème Fraîche Not really.

[@natepark2973]

+Crème Fraîche Yea maybe at 4:48 lol. That part had me in tears

[@PickyMcCritical]

+Nate Park One of my favorite THINGS that Reggie has done on stage lol

[@stradedigital3725]

No idea what the heck is the USCK... some New Zealand auditorium perhaps.

[@fsebb541]

Actually ...

[@guigoGOGO]

That "I would like to be Claire" bit was Genius, and so easy to miss!!

[@notsure1969]

Great understated joke.

[@guigoGOGO]

@@notsure1969 youtube sent me a notification for your comment here for some reason, so now I have to watch the video again to remember what I was talking about... hahahahah

[@fz3990]

Have you actually thought about how hard it is to properly speak improperly . He's very talented lol .

[@UserName-ii1ce]

"The alfulence of our current emorional state" lmao

[@stevoofd]

Yeah he’s doing comedy on a Meta level that takes advantage of the arbitrary nature of language and is operating on a level exposing the emergent nature of meaning. There is some sense in his nonsense which we can all relate to.

[@Selekta.official]

THIS IS ART.

[@letsplaythatgame]

NO! THIS. IS. SPARTA!

[@jmmacphail1]

Next level Andy Kauffman

[@DomeeNyck]

This is without a doubt

[@thehappyfarmerdefi2365]

I love how well he talks about absolutely nothing

[@mattasticmattattack8546]

He talks about Non molecular dynamics. Wait.... nm.

[@wilhelmdrum7918]

He's such a hilarious and talented improviser!

[@knobtwista]

His sweater is amazing, I want one.

[@russelldofrane6614]

TEDx has jumped the shark but Reggie is top of his game! Truly one of the greatest entertainers of a generation.

[@TrinityGhost1]

I don't think I've ever seen a bad Reggie Watts performance. Literally, not even one. I say this, as a person who has watched pretty much every Reggie Watts performance on youtube, and a few irl.

[@mattasticmattattack8546]

Even on James Corbin hes always off the cusp pure genius

[@Chartoise]

I had to stop it, because im laughing too hard and im in the office....

[@CRAY0NEAT3R]

Two thirds of the audience has no idea what the fuck is going on.

[@limealgant9582]

kevin martin including me

[@th3unmaker]

Limeal Gant he says nothing at all. and uses a lot of words to do so. and sounds like he might be saying something.

[@samcravits3245]

Some of his ideas go into a funnel that you know he is saying something he believes but it's not in context with anything else because he breaks off into other ideas. Above everything else he seems to point his ideas to individualistic relativity, which is the birth of art but also nihilism and he knows that what matters, is that even if someone doesn't understand a lot of things, they're perspective and understanding of his art is just as important as the perspective of someone who understands a lot of things, or just as important as the non-perspective of a molecule of dust I.E. the universe.

[@seandavidlelandmusic]

"we are always trying to invent some new niche" - brilliant - how can so many voices come from one person? awesome

[@MayaState]

You should look into some cartoon vocal artists.

[@kaladinstormblessed5308]

the first 40 seconds: I've done these to many times, but you cant really say no to one of these.

[@thomasgamperle]

Don't know why but I love when he says "Telemetrics"

[@Pimpapotomus]

Griptape or not, someones pulling that ollie to nosebleed.

[@internet_internet]

I concur

[@SlightsAndTricks]

best quote, "we've all seen ghost protacall, we all know what happens... so ill stop there." hahahahahaha

[@Tony07UK]

This guy writes political speeches for politicians ..

[@jessiebennett416]

:$

[@letsplaythatgame]

beyond biological knowledge, in a sense that makes sense if you sense it, if you know it. it's almost like passion, when you write it. like others. biologie.

[@paulflahive8275]

In a sense it makes cents

[@soulslaveone]

For who?

[@jam_maj]

@@letsplaythatgame the intonation of ones comment implies the gathering of one another to understand without distancing from what is effectively a social situation

[@QadamNahkal]

finely somebody speaking my language

[@dudemonkey731]

"finely"

[@DoozieDoodle]

@@dudemonkey731 Exactly

[@officialjarix]

Well, the world beyond that you could send me your address, the owner of a volcano vaporizer greet you and I will have a great weekend and I have been a while. Thx!

[@notsure1969]

finely. lol

[@williamkjwilliamkj1815]

Every time I watch this...Just brilliant. I wish there were more Reggie Ted Talks.

[@afrog2666]

I love Reggie Watts, he`s always funny.. You guys should check out Reggie Watts Teaches Science!

[@captkremen1725]

Were you supposed to get a free spliff with this talk?

[@PickyMcCritical]

Pause at 0:57. Everyone you see who doesn't crack a smile is working full-force to understand what they're hearing lol

[@darkcnotion]

Namasphere.

[@solarestone]

My attention span: *Finally, a worthy opponent!*

[@ClutchClick]

Best 9 minutes I've ever spent.

[@crawford244]

When you're trying to hit the word count in an essay...

[@avedic]

3:00 to 4:00 is utterly brilliant. gahhh....he's way more than an amazing comedian. he's a true musical genius. it's like psychedelic electro soul.

[@tonys-photo-shop]

Love this guy, totally random and hilarious with the added musical and rhythm talents 😎

[@uknowwho889]

I like to be Claire.. so clever.

[@EmperorsNewWardrobe]

uknowwho889, why? Is it a reference to someone specific?

[@wriches]

@@EmperorsNewWardrobe yuh like totally

[@777fiddlekrazy]

this guy is brilliantly funny and invoking!

[@williamgregory1848]

I’ve been waiting my whole life for this.

[@smokejc]

We must protect Reggie Watts at all costs.

[@hayley8715]

awesomeness, how have I never heard of this guy?!

[@CodyBarneck]

You my hero for life. You my hero for ever.

[@mangekyotsukuyomii]

Reggie Watts is speaking my language. What is nothing if not something? Something can't be nothing if something, such as, within itself is in something. Therefore the conclusion that I came to is that all somethings originate from nothingness. But is such a thing real? Maybe so, when in reality, I came up with a solution, which is that reality is reality.

[@Selekta.official]

+mangekyotsukuyomii you get it

[@vanceclemens9934]

I wish I could get all of the 'songs' Reggie Watts has made..

[@kyudieu9870]

can you imagine how hard to do this kind of art compared to convention type performances. damn unbelievable.

[@louisskulnik7390]

He is like James Joyce in so many ways. Psychedelic, Encyclopedic, extremely funny!

[@major1388]

Gotta love reggie

[@marksteele5183]

This dude is amazing though

[@DCSwallow]

Excellent!

[@sonicfamily5704]

Great video quality! A+++++++

[@BennyBoy_1010]

Love it!! he's hilarious!

[@thusotsomela9274]

Jewel Burgess

[@carlossanches7862]

this is what happens to you when language become paint or strings or steel balls gravitating outside of your interior

[@alexhetherington8028]

At the end I would of said I'm outa sphere.

[@djmaxxsaint]

The sweater is mesmerizing. And it's Claire.

[@lifeofanidiot]

I NEED THAT SWEATER

[@timothyfloogle]

where can i get 12

[@pro163]

i love him

[@jamestheredd]

Claire's perspective was needed on that topic I think.

[@marksteele5183]

I feel like this would make much more sense if you were high

[@Seranadensoul]

Mark Steele I think less so

[@matmatician7]

4:47 would completely ruin your brain.

[@mush420]

it does a little, but now im hungry

[@NocturnalIntuition]

This whole sphere talk is actually about the energetics of our bodies. How we absorb peoples energy and peoples absorb ours.

[@ryanhall5619]

what the fuck ever he is doing it to be funny

[@DramaticDepth]

Am I having a stroke

[@PetarKaser]

HVe you survived?

[@chuey30]

There's a TED message somewhere in his performance

[@USEDtoRule]

After years I still have no clue whether it's the best or the worse talks ever been on KZbin.

[@Inertia2012]

The master of talking, without actually saying anything... 😅

[@strawberrycough22]

Pfft... I do that all the time

[@bvdek]

I often like to be Claire as well Reggie... usually just on weekends though

[@jasper24601]

He’s so good at a British accent!

[@EdiDrums]

He can cook up a beastly Chinese tongue and a pretty convincing Italian pastiche too, on a whim. See also Bill Bailey.

[@jasper24601]

@@EdiDrums I am indeed a Bill Bailey fan!

[@matthewbishop8395]

English accent

[@jasper24601]

@@matthewbishop8395 yes

[@MatthewMcGovernmainpage]

A genius!

[@travellingsherpa9037]

Am I the only one who actually feels dumb for not laughing, yet impressed at the 5 seconds of beatboxing?!

[@ArneBergsch]

constant namaste to that.

[@morrow8787]

we do grow up pretty quick indeed Reggie. Cheers for reminding me that

[@troyhilliard5390]

5:04 he started saying sheeple.

[@alecek]

Namasphere :D:D:D

[@Pogonotrophy]

I want this sweatshirts. All of them.

[@xenofied]

Someone please link to this comment feed someone who entertains on the same level as Reggie Watts. And this is what I mean by entertain: to not explicitly communicate a single message yet receive an applause at the end.

[@juanjamm]

Jaime Gracious Nah man. You won't find another one at his level. Really.

[@matthewfeger5006]

I dont think you know what sarcasm is.

[@ProdigyOfSinMD]

+Jaime Gracious Paul F Tompkins, Andy Daly, Jon Daly, Lauren Lapkus, Thomas Middleditch, Jason Mantzoukas, Bret Gelman, Scott Aukerman, Mike Hanford, Paul Rust, Neil Campbell. Pretty much anyone that pops up on Comedy Bang Bang for that matter. Listen to the podcast, it's great.

[@xenofied]

Wow. Thanks a million KoalaPassion. I will check all these people out as soon as I finish work.

[@Selekta.official]

+Jaime Gracious YES YES YES, he seperates the two on purpose i think. Its insane. The people who just clap and go ahhhh there it is. And the people who say AHH THERE it is. His encompassing real act.

[@LimmingKenny]

I remember this guy, he's cool

[@kenny.m.olsen95]

Still remembering?

[@Alexander-rz2en]

He is in the Late Late show with James Corden

[@uriahkoch6411]

shots fired

[@WatchdogGoon]

I want to be Claire. *noms a sphere*

[@DerekMoore82]

I'm wondering, as good as this is.. What makes it better is that he probably listened to the people in the conference ahead of him, and is making fun of all those speakers in his act. So the people in the audience would get even more out of it. However, if there was a speaker named Claire.. that might be a bit mean.

[@gantos5072]

Derek Moore I’m pretty sure he makes most of it up on the spot. He does improve

[@gantos5072]

Improv

[@thebigeasye77]

best. sweater. ever.

[@amygoodenough7646]

It's like listening to Boris Johnson

[@TheCoolStuffHD]

Thats what i sound like when i'm super baked.

[@BenNJerrys2xaday]

clair

[@eschelar]

Nice intro!

[@KelseyBearrr820]

hes like a new terence mckenna

[@jarrettboyarsky602]

he swims in the same consciousness as mckenna but mckenna will always take the cake for me lol... im just glad to see someone out there knows about terrance . he's my all time favorite dude aha

[@arthurcheek5634]

I agree "he swims in the same conciousness"

[@CausalityLoop]

I am a professor of Non-Molecular Dynamics.

[@rubentschernutter2093]

lyrics pls

[@dalesmith4609]

ollie to nosebleed :)

[@nibblynobbler7064]

Yes, because the lettuce in salads is so nutritional.

[@jamiepsilon]

Is this the guy from pitch perfect 2

[@FirstLast-tj6xy]

go watch, reggie watts - why shit so crazy on youtube

[@ballsw33d]

What happened to him when he joined james

[@smokejc]

Nothing.

[@BurningCopies]

how does he put that shirt on

[@Deathshuck]

You have to remember this simulation is a good one. Things are solid and you can move this mass of molecules from one place to another at will. Similarly, you can put your arms through the sweater holes and decorate yourself with that fine woven tapestry. As Reggie would say, that's something you live inside of every day.

[@tamerbashat1058]

Keep your spheres where your spheres belong, try not to expose your spheres to people. Haha :D

[@coralineparmentierpianist]

That sweater though

[@djesno]

Fu k...Shit is stacked here. Also, it's very substantative!

[@vaotuuboi314]

If your high don’t watch 5:00 🤯

[@notsure1969]

That was

[@bvdek]

Namasphere

[@damarilawrence9330]

Son Gohan playin golf on his shirt...

[@jayceemanila3575]

sensible enough for me what do you thnk..?

[@saadan92]

what's up with his pink little finger nail at 6:46 :D

[@terceiraxxi]

"Numehro" 5:30 Numero ,number.

[@AKCzech555]

There is actually quite a lot to understand.

[@Rhlgull1331]

4:42

[@Stbuster31]

Musical and more comedic Hitchens

[@kibijit]

And also, not a twat.

[@Claire-ing]

tag yourself i'm claire

[@chesmari]

PITCH PERFECT 2

[@j.gustavoventura9323]

Uhh counter?