Convocation: What's the Point of Comedy? (And other pointless questions)

Come hear the conversation between two alums, Daniel Radosh ’91 and Ed Helms ’96. 

Daniel Radosh is the senior writer for the Daily Show with Trevor Noah and has won three Emmy Awards as a writer for the previous host, Jon Stewart. Prior to that, he was a journalist whose work appeared in the New Yorker, the New York Times, and many other publications. Daniel is also a cocreator of the forthcoming sitcom Liberty Crossing on Go90 and the author of the book Rapture Ready! Adventures in the Parallel World of Christian Pop Culture. While at Oberlin, he created a briefly notorious humor magazine called Below the Belt. He lives in Brooklyn, New York, with his wife and three children.

Ed Helms is an actor, writer, producer, and comedian. After graduation, Helms moved to New York City to pursue a comedy career, ultimately becoming a correspondent on the Daily Show with Jon Stewart before joining the cast of The Office. He also starred in The Hangover trilogy and other films. He has lautnched his own production company. Outside of entertainment, Helms is on the advisory board for Education Through Music LA, works with Malaria No More, and sits on the Oberlin College Board of Trustees. A lifelong musician, he plays a mean banjo in his bluegrass band, The Lonesome Trio.

The convocation is free and open to the public.

Sponsored by the Office of the President and the Finney Lecture Committee.

Photos courtesy of Daniel Radosh and the University of Virginia.