I’d actually been seeing Jennifer Coolidge’s address in headlines online for a minute, but I didn’t pay them any mind. Like I said, watching commencement address hadn’t been my thing in years. However, after Usher’s speech, I went in search of 2025 commencement speeches and hers was one of the first to pop up.
I can’t say that I’m a fan or not a fan of Jennifer Coolidge. I mean I loved her in “Legally Blonde,” I like her Discover Card commercials and I hear she was great in the second season of “White Lotus,” though I haven’t seen that show because I don’t have cable. But, similar to Usher, she’s not someone that comes to mind when I think of academia – the typical commencement speaker. I am, however, totally fine with being proven wrong. Let’s watch how she did.
Interesting Observation
One of the stand-out things about her speech was not what she said, but how she said it. She sounded either partially dunk or constipated, I couldn’t figure out which. Perhaps she was playing up the character trope she often portrays in her work. I need to watch an interview with her to get a better idea. But whatever the case, the way she spoke was definitely…interesting.
Inspirational Takeaways/ Quotes:
“You just have to have insane expectations and believe they’re going to come true.”
“I expected something great would really happen to me…It was the one and only thing I really had going for me.”
Overall Thoughts
I liked that fact that in spite of traditional expectations, she didn’t get up there trying to give a speech like she was an erudite scholar, when she’s really more of an around the way girl…well, the working-class Boston suburb version of it – not that you can’t be both. As a writer, the advice you’re often given is write what you know. In this speech Jennifer talked about what she knows – herself.
While most of the headlines touting her speech highlighted her saying “just friggin’ do it,” I appreciated the story she told about seeing Grace Kelly as the queen of Monaco on the cover of Life magazine and thinking that great things could happen for her too. I love how she stated she lived in her imagination despite her circumstances. It was a mindset thing for her. And even though she experienced a lot of rejection and didn’t experience career success until later in life, she didn’t give up. She shot for the moon. It’s like Donnie Simpson used to say at the end of each “Video Soul” episode –“shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll still be among the stars.” Slurred speech or not, that message is always clear.
The Clue Breakdown
Did you decipher yesterday’s clue? I’ve got the breakdown for you. But first, let’s revisit the clue:
Our next speaker would probably fly more under the radar if it wasn’t for their huge cult following that would make anyone feel like a boss. Don’t get bent out of shape if you can’t guess who it is. Just say thank you, next.
The first put of the clue which states, “Our next speaker would probably fly more under the radar if it wasn’t for their huge cult following,” references her popularity for often being a scene stealing co-star rather than the main character.
The next part, “that would make anyone feel like a boss,” references her role in the movie “Like a Boss.”
Following that we have “don’t get bent out of shape if you can’t guess who it is,” references the “bend and snap” moment from the movie “Legally Blonde.”
Finally, “Just say thank you, next.” references her appearance in Ariana Grande’s music video for her song “Thank you, Next.”
Clue for the Next Speaker
This speaker’s clever alliterations may have you tongue-tied but don’t get it twisted, this speaker has the academic prowess to match that sass.
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