A TED Talk to End TED Talks
A TED Talk to End TED Talks
The TED Talk stage is a place for bold ideas, radical insights, and life-changing wisdom. But… not always. Your task is to write a TED Talk that either should exist, shouldn’t exist, or wasn’t supposed to happen at all.
The Supervillain Keynote – A TED Talk delivered by a villain, laying out their philosophy, their grand plan, or why they’re right and the world is wrong.
The Unnecessary Talk – A deep dive into a topic so absurdly small or meaningless that it has no business being a TED Talk—yet the speaker treats it as if it’s the most important revelation of our time.
The Accidental Speaker – Someone who was never meant to be on stage somehow ends up delivering a TED Talk, rambling their way into what the audience believes is life-changing wisdom.
Self-Important and Self-Aware - Giving a TED talk that is aware of the self-important nature of TED talks, and parodies or satires them. Reggie Watts and James Veitch are perfect model texts for this.
Commit to the Bit – Whether it’s a villain explaining why superheroes are the problem, an overzealous rant on proper sock organization, or a janitor confusedly giving a speech, the speaker must fully believe in their words.
Hook the Audience – Start with a compelling (or ridiculous) statement that grabs attention: “For too long, we have underestimated the power of the dishwasher.” or “I’m not supposed to be here, but since you’re all listening…”
Lean Into TED Talk Tropes – Use dramatic pauses, fake statistics, rhetorical questions, and bold claims to make even the dumbest topic sound profound.
Surprise the Audience – Maybe the villain makes a disturbingly good point. Maybe the absurd TED Talk actually has deep wisdom. Maybe the accidental speaker stumbles into real insight. Keep them guessing.
What makes this speaker compelling? Is it their confidence? Their accidental wisdom? Their unsettling logic?
How does the audience react? Are they inspired, terrified, or just confused?
If this were a real TED Talk, would it go viral for the right reasons… or the wrong ones?
What’s the final mic-drop moment? Does the speaker leave the audience in awe, in laughter, or in total disbelief?
Dr. Doofenshmirtz in Phineas and Ferb – A villain who can make the most ridiculous evil plans sound logical.
Reggie Watts’ TED Talk (Link) – A surreal, nonsensical talk that somehow feels profound.
This Is What Happens When You Reply to Spam Email (Link)- James Veitch is a scammer's nightmare.
Being There (1979, Film) (Link) – A simple man whose vague words are taken as brilliant insights.
The Overconfident YouTube Explainer – That person who insists they have cracked the code to life’s greatest mysteries… even if it’s just about folding T-shirts.