Shonda Rhimes' Unforgettable Speech: Prepare to Be Inspired

15 Dec 2014 · 2 min

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1:33

TJ Walker (uploader) presents a short YouTube commentary praising Shonda Rhimes' acceptance speech at a Hollywood awards ceremony. He calls the speech funny, touching, credible, sincere and modest, notes it may use a teleprompter yet feels live, highlights thoughtful and poetic elements, and urges viewers to watch the linked clip for an example of excellent public speaking.

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It turns out Chandra Rhimes isn't just a great TV producer, she's also a good speech producer. So I've had a number of you send me this video clip. I've watched it, and it is indeed a fantastic speech. Shonda Rhimes, accepting a recent Hollywood Award at an awards ceremony out there, gave a speech that is funny, it's interesting, it's touching, it's credible, it comes across as sincere, it's modest. And yet there's no fake modesty. It really has everything you want in a speech. Now, to my eyes, it appears as though she's using a teleprompter, but that she's doing it so well, it would not be noticeable to most people watching the speech or in the audience. Regardless of whether she is or isn't, she gives you the sense that she is in the moment. She's thinking and talking at the same time. She's being fresh, she's being sincere, she's being candid. But she's put a lot of thought into it. It's not just, oh, well, thanks, this is great. There's a tremendous amount of thought reflection put into this speech. Parts of it were poetic. So enough of me commenting on it. I've linked to it below. Do yourself a favor. You might not be a fan of Grey's Anatomy or Scandal or other TV shows that she's known for producing, but if you are a fan of good speaking, I urge you, watch this speech.