15 Funniest TED Talks Ever Given

TED talks often cover serious subjects: global warming, poverty, and diseases, to name a few. But there is a lighter, more entertaining side to TED. Watch these talks for comedy, wit, and funny moments from smart thinkers.

1. The Axis of Evil Middle East Comedy Tour: Jamil Abu-Warden talks about how he’s been able to get laughs across borders in the Axis of Evil Middle East Comedy Tour.
2. Tom Reilly Delivers a Comic Send-up of TED2006: Tom Reilly’s talk is a satirical parody of the 2006 TED conference, discussing the $100 laptop, people who work at Harvard, and the plight of the polar bear. There’s even a special moment between Tom and Al Gore.
3. Silicon-based Comedy: Watch this talk to get introduced to Marilyn Monrobot, a socially intelligent robot that offers standup comedy with audience feedback.
4. Let’s Talk Parenting Taboos: The publishers of Babble.com discuss 4 facts that parents never admit, but should. This talk is funny for parents and nonparents as well.
5. Julia Sweeney has "The Talk": Julia Sweeney discusses what happened when she had to tell her 8 year old daughter a white lie about frog reproduction.
6. Parrots, the Universe, and Everything: Douglas Adams finds humor in rare and unusual animals, and shares his witty observations on how fickle evolution can be in this talk.
7. Did You Hear the One About the Iranian-American?: Standup comic Maz Jobrani jokes about being an Iranian-American, with inner conflicts and more.
8. Ze Frank’s Nerdcore Comedy: Ze Frank, known for online comedy and web toys, shares a nerdcore standup routine in this talk.
9. Yossi Vardi Fights Local Warming: Have you ever wondered about the dangers of blogging for men? Prankster Yossi Vardi offers his perspective.
10. Charles Fleischer Insists: All Things are Moleeds: Best known as the voice of Roger Rabbit, Charles Fleischer shares this funny discussion on maps, geometry, charts, and more. To top it all off, he shares his theory of everything called "Moleeds."
11. Rory Bremner’s One-Man World Summit: This comedian does hilarious impressions and commentary of global figures including George Bush, President Obama, and Gordon Brown. He even offers a few inside jokes for TED fans.
12. Lies, Damned Lies, and Statistics (about TEDTalks): Proof that TED can poke fun at itself, Sebastian Wenicke discusses "the optimum TEDTalk" with statistical analysis.
13. John Lloyd Inventories the Invisible: Do you want to see what is not seen? Watch this witty TED talk to explore natural mysteries with comedian John Lloyd.
14. Felix Dennis’ Odes to Vices and Consequences: Visit Felix Dennis’ vices through this funny exploration of original poetry.
15. The Raspyni Brothers Juggle and Jest: These brother jugglers are funny and charming. Have fun watching their coordination, balance, and comedy.

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(source:onlinecolleges.org)

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