Can you imagine a world-class actor rocking up to your university to not only give a moving speech, but throw the entire student body into an impromptu dance party? Sounds ridiculous, but you don’t have to put your mind’s eye to work – last month, Steve Carell did exactly that, and the hilarious clip is still going viral, amassing over 349,300 YouTube views to date!
Steve Carell, aged 62 and star of The Office US, takes to the podium before an auditorium packed with students, all decked out in graduation robes and hats. The staff is seated behind him on stage, including the Dean of Northwestern University, Patrick E. Johnson.
“Another stumbling block to kindness is the act of holding a grudge,” Steve Carell tells the sea of uni-leavers, before telling an eighteen-year-old anecdote about the time he’d stepped on a very famous actress’s dress at his first Academy Awards ceremony, angered her, held a grudge and realized after meeting her for a second time, that on rare occasions, grudges do serve a purpose, against the most sour characters at least.
After making the staff and student body erupt in laughter, Steve asks them all to stand. A dedication, perhaps? A round of applause? Hardly even close. Hit tracks start booming from the theatre’s sound system: first, a quick snippet of a Michael Jackson anthem, then Natasha Bedingfield’s “Unwritten,” before landing on The Ting Tings’ iconic 2007 pop hit “That’s Not My Name.”
Steve rallies up the teachers, grooving on stage behind him, before taking Dean Patrick E. Johnson by the hands for a hilarious back-and-forth, shimmy-studded dance more ridiculous than most Music Man readers could imagine. It’s the epitome of dad dancing: Steve Carell skipped the musical theatre/Broadway stage most actors grace before landing on the silver screen, with Dean Patrick proving he’s a better dancer than the Oscar Award-winning celeb.
As the chorus is unleashed, Steve runs down to the excited students, giving high-fives all around whilst amping up the buzz.
When Steve finally returns to the stage, the comedy isn’t over, commenting, “That was as invigorating as it was disturbing. Wow, am I out of shape.” And as he tries to continue his speech, he stops, shaking his head and admitting to the laughing audience, “I am so out of breath right now.”
Steve’s surprise appearance and dance break didn’t just have an impact on the students of Northwestern University. Fans online have been moved by this clip, sharing, “In a world bereft of Robin Williams’ awesome presence in it, I’m happy Steve Carell is here to shine a light into the darkness and remind us what laughter feels like,” and “I spend a lot of time being anxious and furious at present circumstances. I’ve watched this video, like, 10 times since it’s been posted. It’s the best medicine.”
Steve Carell isn’t the only celeb to have recently given a university speech. Check out Snoop Dogg’s speech at USC Marshall School of Business above!