Hugh Laurie - Keynote Conversation with David Silverman

American Atheists 2018 National Convention
Hugh Laurie is an actor, director, singer, comedian, and television icon. We're honored to welcome Hugh as the keynote speaker for our 2018 National Convention, his first appearance at an atheist event.
From his work with collaborator Stephen Fry in the sketch comedy series A Bit of Fry & Laurie to his starring role as Gregory House in House MD, Hugh Laurie has been a fixture of television, film, and music for more than 35 years. He has also made appearances on HBO's Veep, BBC's The Night Manager, and currently stars on the Hulu series Chance.
In addition to his acting, Mr. Laurie is a talented musician and plays piano, guitar, drums, harmonica, and saxophone. He is a vocalist and keyboard player for the charity rock group Band From TV and has released two blues albums, Let Them Talk and Didn't It Rain.
AMERICAN ATHEISTS is a national 501(c)(3) organization that defends civil rights for atheists, freethinkers, and other nonbelievers; works for the total separation of religion and government; and addresses issues of First Amendment public policy. Follow our updates on Twitter and Facebook.
Official Website: www.atheists.org/
Twitter: / americanatheist
Facebook: / americanatheists

Пікірлер: 108

  • @FutureAbe
    @FutureAbe3 жыл бұрын

    We desperately need more long-form conversations with Hugh Laurie

  • @panviper7647
    @panviper76475 жыл бұрын

    I wish I could meet this guy. Such a genius. And I miss House more then my own doctor

  • @HarryNicNicholas

    @HarryNicNicholas

    4 жыл бұрын

    just come to england, we are all exactly like hugh and we all talk with fake american accents. :)

  • @andrealuvshouse

    @andrealuvshouse

    3 жыл бұрын

    PAN VIPER I have met him - twice. I went to two of his concerts. There is nothing like seeing someone you respect coming out of his dressing room or trailer at 1 in the morning after a long concert, looking tired and bedraggled, but very happy to meet his fans and just chat us up a bit. I got to talk with a very nice, humble man.

  • @thecatman4ever
    @thecatman4ever5 жыл бұрын

    Hugh Laurie is a brilliant actor!

  • @Summerdontknowme
    @Summerdontknowme5 жыл бұрын

    I can’t get over the fact I had no idea this was happening and I live very close to Oklahoma City.

  • @joshh.5805
    @joshh.58055 жыл бұрын

    How am I the first one to like this. There were 0 likes and 1 dislike. Come on, people, it's Hugh Laurie -- talent and rationality.

  • @evelynbaron2004

    @evelynbaron2004

    5 жыл бұрын

    Think you were 1st on the scene; by the time I caught up with you, much better response!

  • @HarryNicNicholas

    @HarryNicNicholas

    4 жыл бұрын

    everyone loves a laurie.

  • @wuffalo

    @wuffalo

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@HarryNicNicholas good with a bit of fry, too

  • @Antis14CZ
    @Antis14CZ4 жыл бұрын

    I don't have any poignant comment, I just wanted to say I had fun in a little bit more meaningful way than just one click. This video deserves it.

  • @CansuCancan9
    @CansuCancan97 ай бұрын

    This is hands down the BEST interview ever conducted with Hugh Laurie!

  • @leeknights5540
    @leeknights55403 жыл бұрын

    Best ever interview with the super gorgeous drop dead funny bloke and wit Laurie.

  • @julesvallerand8415
    @julesvallerand84155 жыл бұрын

    I was waiting for this....as a fan of HLaurie for a long long time...I’m craving for interviews/event where he can interact & express his opinions very sarcastically & poignant......

  • @delraybrewer
    @delraybrewer4 жыл бұрын

    By the 5th minute, he was making me really nervous by still standing. SIT MAN.

  • @wuffalo

    @wuffalo

    2 жыл бұрын

    LMAO I was just thinking this

  • @thecosmoterran9916
    @thecosmoterran99165 жыл бұрын

    Legend.

  • @vanessa20130903
    @vanessa201309035 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for posting !!! I love Hugh .

  • @freyag9285
    @freyag92855 жыл бұрын

    Love Hugh, though I can't believe when atheism, Douglas Adams, Blackadder, A bit of Fry and Laurie were being discussed, the name Stephen Fry wasn't mentioned..

  • @MrEAus

    @MrEAus

    5 жыл бұрын

    Indeed Though at least Stephen got a brief mention in this video's description Better than nothing I suppose

  • @evelynbaron2004

    @evelynbaron2004

    5 жыл бұрын

    I get very up close and personal when it comes to people I admire, several of whom are up there in your list; I don't think it was a slight; it simply didn't come up. Fry and Laurie's friendship is legendary and Stephen Fry himself is an impassioned outspoken atheist and much more overtly emotional than Hugh Laurie but I didn't see any evidence of high-handed exclusion or anything like that. In a completely sphere, the late Tom Petty, whom I thought a private man of sterling integrity, fallibly human as we are all, I suspect rated friendship and loyalty higher than anyone since Montaigne; it was the reason people like Roger McGwinn and George Harrison were so drawn to him. So that shortly after his death, when Jeff Lynne, who couldn't possibly tour with ELO because of the impossible logistics, suddenly took to the road and was proffered commiseration at the death of his great friend Tom, brushed it off, with, 'yeah, really sad mate, we did hang out at his house, mostly listening to his obscure Beach Boys album' it was outrageous to me. Sorry for bit of a ramble, but I understand what you mean, and didn't feel this here at all. In point of fact, Laurie was interviewed about his long, close friendship with Stephen Fry and he said, 'I love that man and I worry about him sometimes, because of his idealism which prompts him to make himself vulnerable. He puts himself out there generously, but it's dangerous in my view'. Tx for post; this is an excellent video, glad to have stumbled upon it.

  • @HarryNicNicholas

    @HarryNicNicholas

    4 жыл бұрын

    yes, in fact the whole monty python link didn't get any air time, but, needs to be a four hour interview. i don't think silverman helped much, i like his forthrightness, but he could've done better here.

  • @heygranti24

    @heygranti24

    Жыл бұрын

    ​@@evelynbaron2004Well, I think that Stephen Fry has been enough vocal and doesn't really brings up Hugh's atheism when he is into conversations. So having just Hugh speak on his behalf for once should be fine with people.

  • @teaburg
    @teaburg5 жыл бұрын

    Brilliant!

  • @gertkristensen2705
    @gertkristensen27053 жыл бұрын

    Thanks - what a clever conversation

  • @unit0033
    @unit00335 жыл бұрын

    Great chat with a great thinker

  • @weitonglee9585
    @weitonglee95854 жыл бұрын

    so insightful and it's amazing to see Hugh has the habit to think really carefully and collect all the available info before making a statement or movement. Because things could be very complicated and counterintuitive. As always I love Hugh.

  • @inquieta90
    @inquieta905 жыл бұрын

    He was great, the audio is very poor...

  • @thatcutebird5213

    @thatcutebird5213

    4 жыл бұрын

    my ears yearn for stereo.

  • @ErdTirdMans

    @ErdTirdMans

    Жыл бұрын

    The audio engineer: "Left 90% We got it"

  • @tribalwoman138
    @tribalwoman1383 жыл бұрын

    I love the show House, also ive been an Atheist all my life with really no trouble because i dont allow it. I always felt special being Atheist and i still do. Great interview.

  • @KuntaKinteToby
    @KuntaKinteToby3 жыл бұрын

    I think Wilde's quote needs to be changed, the only sin is not stupidity, but rather ignorance. A person can be born stupid and there's nothing that can do to change that; EXCEPT, become informed. Especially now in the information the only excuses for ignorance are laziness or arrogance.

  • @Jemini4228
    @Jemini4228 Жыл бұрын

    "I'm not an academic or a stand up comedian" says the very successful comedy actor and Cambridge graduate. Don't sell yourself short Laurie!

  • @edwarddonnachie1565
    @edwarddonnachie15655 жыл бұрын

    The penalty kick taker crosses himself and the goalkeeper crosses himself , how does that work out ?🤣.

  • @PartlySunny74
    @PartlySunny743 жыл бұрын

    There’s a huge industry of motivational speakers, seminars, books and recordings for athletes and salespeople using faith as a device. It isn’t just early family and local church groups that are indoctrinating athletes and convincing them they aren’t capable of, or responsible for, their own achievements.

  • @livb6945
    @livb69454 жыл бұрын

    There's an Atheist Association?? To a swede what he says about Britain is even more relevant. We're the most secular country in the world

  • @vishnueashwar

    @vishnueashwar

    2 жыл бұрын

    @Bartosz Wojciechowski are you sure about that?

  • @edmundrobinson2011
    @edmundrobinson20115 жыл бұрын

    Hugh should get a Knighthood.

  • @HarryNicNicholas

    @HarryNicNicholas

    4 жыл бұрын

    hopefully he would turn it down, god made the monarchy...

  • @j.r.arnolli7494

    @j.r.arnolli7494

    3 жыл бұрын

    Harry Nicholas / that's what the monarchy thinks, they haven't been told, yet....

  • @SnuffIt
    @SnuffIt Жыл бұрын

    I believe in God, but, as Wilson said once “House reads the Bible, he reads the Koran because he likes to know what mistakes people are making”; although I don’t think that atheist are making a mistake by not believing in God, I’m still very interested in knowing what their thoughts are. To spend time listening to Hugh Laurie is definitely always worth it.

  • @daniellamcgee4251
    @daniellamcgee4251 Жыл бұрын

    Pareidolia - the perception of a recognisable image, or meaningful pattern where none exist, or is intended, such as the perception of Wolf Blitzer in a patch of mould on a bathroom ceiling. Suspension of disbelief - being able to become emotionally involved in a story as a lived reality, while suspending logical awareness that it isn't real, that allows for enjoyment of the narrative. The phrase is attributed to Coleridge, 1817, referring to the experience when reading literature.

  • @allanlees299
    @allanlees299 Жыл бұрын

    Robert Sapolski of Sanford University said, "you can't reason someone out of something they didn't reason themselves into." Moreover, once the neural connections are made with regard to some belief, it's not possible to un-connect those neurons. Therefore it's extremely difficult to alter a belief once it's been established in the hardwiring in the brain. What matters is that social policy should be engineered in order to minimize the effects of irrational beliefs and prejudices.

  • @cidalianeves7585
    @cidalianeves75852 жыл бұрын

    As anyone figured out what actress drew him being stabbed in the eye?

  • @jessebarlow1277

    @jessebarlow1277

    Жыл бұрын

    sounds like it was Jennifer Morrison, based only on his description of the context. i guess it could have been one of the guest stars tho.

  • @evelynbaron2004
    @evelynbaron20045 жыл бұрын

    There was so much great stuff in this conversation but the one thing that I thought was pivotal was Hugh Laurie's reference to the 'threat to the tribe', which we are all guilty of, as he wittily pointed out. There will always be a tension between freedom and the need to belong; think Northrop Fry termed it The Myth of Concern and the myth of Freedom; 1967 Centennial Canadian lectures, vr loose paraphrase. Because of the world recession and because of wars, migrations of people not seen since the aftermath of WWII there are a lot of people who feel profoundly disenfranchised so increasingly the window of informed debate is closing in an alarming manner. You see this ubiquitously in comments under videos on the net where there is a unanimous chorus of 'we are with you o master' -- Jordan Peterson comes to mind as I reveal my own prejudices. I miss the days of people like Christopher Hitchens, the Great Contrarian, who would wade into the fray with glee for the intellectual exercise of it == no ad hominin attacks from him, just a kind of glee. CS Lewis, in his role as Christian apologist, didn't take personally the arguments of people like myself who thought him a brilliant man but disagreed with his fundamental tenets. I loved this conversation; for me of course I do subscribe to the views expressed here, but perhaps what Hugh Laurie refers to goes a long way to the intransigent religiosity more prevalent in the States than in any other 1st world nation, as far as I can tell. Excellent conversation.

  • @SasidharPamganamamula

    @SasidharPamganamamula

    5 жыл бұрын

    Nicely put - With the (albeit slow) demise of religion, it was always inevitable that tribes would start forming in the secular schools of thought as well. I suppose the idea of 'belonging' is that enticing and, as religion erodes away, the average 'follower' needs a new leader. And, people like Peterson are stepping up to the mantle. No matter how much we want it to be otherwise, I suspect that truly critical, skeptical thinking will always remain accessible to the few (and not the many).

  • @AgentQQ8
    @AgentQQ8 Жыл бұрын

    “Everything causes cancer.” - Love, California

  • @chrismalcomson7640
    @chrismalcomson76403 жыл бұрын

    I find that interesting that people believe and don't believe at the same time. We scatter peoples ashes in places they'd have liked and yet we know its completely illogical but somehow it seems spiritually the right thing to do..

  • @lycanblud
    @lycanblud5 жыл бұрын

    Is tha Gad Saad on the front row?

  • @nueznonuez329
    @nueznonuez3293 жыл бұрын

    if you're watching in windows 10, this might help with the audio uknowit.uwgb.edu/page.php?id=82920

  • @eun-solkim7080
    @eun-solkim70803 жыл бұрын

    My right ear is lonely

  • @chadhiggins9944
    @chadhiggins99442 жыл бұрын

    did someone seriously bring their baby to this event?

  • @petewoodroffemusic
    @petewoodroffemusic5 жыл бұрын

    Oh dear!!!

  • @el6178
    @el61783 жыл бұрын

    Τhe NFL player thanks God for the strength he himself gets from believing. The NFL player feels grateful for the fact that he has faith. That's all it is.

  • @boneappletea3858
    @boneappletea38583 жыл бұрын

    43:50 damn, he seemingly knows more about american history than americans loljk.

  • @miskbalder
    @miskbalder Жыл бұрын

    The need to belong is certainly an important thing, loners turn quite bitter with time, especially those who say that they like being alone, becaue they are alone with their own thoughts, never having their thoughts provoked or questioned, so ultimately they raise themself, thinking they know best :) Though that might still be favorable to indoctrination, the freedom to express yourself and question things to find the answers is so important Religions and the nazis(and likeminded, closeminded groups), out of plain fear, push their beliefs into young childrens throats, because they are so easily manipulated, at least until they reach the age of 20 An important question is, do all atheists also indoctrinate their children into believing there is no god, or do they teach their children to think for themself? I'd like to hope it is the latter

  • @janusatthegate6201
    @janusatthegate62014 жыл бұрын

    All the loud dominionists lost to the loud atheist. Wtf? It is "legal" now.

  • @boneappletea3858
    @boneappletea38583 жыл бұрын

    House....sit down.

  • @Spameggssausage
    @Spameggssausage4 жыл бұрын

    if there were a god why would he even care about some football game? a friend of mine was in this audience

  • @Alex-pp3sp

    @Alex-pp3sp

    2 жыл бұрын

    Why wouldn't he

  • @SpamEggSausage

    @SpamEggSausage

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@Alex-pp3sp because life and death is more important than who wins some football game?

  • @Alex-pp3sp

    @Alex-pp3sp

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@SpamEggSausage Who said that he cares about winning a game But though he cares about every detail we do so he can rate us Life is a test , that simple

  • @Luna.3.3.3
    @Luna.3.3.34 жыл бұрын

    Sound...? What sound... boo hoo, I love Hugh Laurie, too bad I can't hear him

  • @jessebarlow1277
    @jessebarlow1277 Жыл бұрын

    Hugh's mysticism keeps peeking out through his flamboyantly bitter skepticism

  • @alexcampbell3032
    @alexcampbell3032 Жыл бұрын

    And yet, one year later in 2019 in an interview at the Edinburgh Festival he talks about his "Presbyterian Soul". Politics loss for sure.

  • @gpl211212
    @gpl2112125 жыл бұрын

    850...a bit sad, by now it should be sold out at 850,000, and people standing outside with a drinking glass to the wall.

  • @cynthiahogan4598

    @cynthiahogan4598

    2 жыл бұрын

    I was very privileged to have been there. He's the only reason I attended. I have photos from the food bank work we did the next day where he pitched in with the rest of us.

  • @nononouh
    @nononouh Жыл бұрын

    9 12 17 20

  • @loh.22
    @loh.224 жыл бұрын

    Did he just say football players are the most talented athletes in the world?! Lmao of shit that’s funny. If they were true.... the whole world would be playing that sport. And guess what. They already have their own football.

  • @dearestsimone
    @dearestsimone2 жыл бұрын

    I'm disappointed to see Hugh L here. A bit crushed actually I thought he was a little kinder toward religion than his peers. I guess he is kinder, still.

  • @RobertDMoore
    @RobertDMoore5 жыл бұрын

    Dear Dummy American Atheists, Please do us over 31 millions who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing viewers a BIG favor? Please add the captions or subtitles on every video you posted on KZreads and we are kinda of tired nagging you and others about captions BUT do not CRAPtions according to Rikki Poynter. Come on, be thoughtful or mindful to put captions on every video you post, thanks. I have asked the same from Freedom From Religion Foundation and they added captions after aired videos immediately. (Thanks, FFRF)

  • @evelynbaron2004

    @evelynbaron2004

    5 жыл бұрын

    I am a bit of a luddite in these matters, but on my laptop, which is by means top of the line, you can turn on and off subtitles; I agree the sound in general wasn't very good, especially because it was so important not to lose a witty epigram and there were many. Excellent point.

  • @milliebeanadventures225

    @milliebeanadventures225

    5 жыл бұрын

    Cry baby

  • @evelynbaron2004

    @evelynbaron2004

    5 жыл бұрын

    there are captions available, and I am not entirely sure what American Atheists have to do with your inability to access information you have every right to …...

  • @gpl211212
    @gpl2112125 жыл бұрын

    I think hugh may be overstating the percentages of athiests in the u.k....well, those who admit it.

  • @evelynbaron2004

    @evelynbaron2004

    5 жыл бұрын

    It is subjective; I grew up in the UK and had much the same experience in my family and friends as Hugh Laurie; one would have to conduct a poll perhaps. Certainly overt religiosity as is found in parts of the US is shunned. Interesting point!

  • @HarryNicNicholas

    @HarryNicNicholas

    4 жыл бұрын

    www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/british-people-atheist-no-religion-uk-christianity-islam-sikism-judaism-jewish-muslims-a7928896.html we do our research us science believers.

  • @chrispalmer7893

    @chrispalmer7893

    3 жыл бұрын

    He was specifically talking about the under 30s not the whole population.

  • @josoverthehill
    @josoverthehill10 ай бұрын

    As a Catholic... I hate when athletes thank God, too. 12:28 It's insulting to think that God would choose sides among his children. And yes, even if you don't believe in Him.... He loves you, too.

  • @amandawhittemore5078

    @amandawhittemore5078

    5 ай бұрын

    I wonder if you worry about other religions hell. Because you think your loving but it's hate speech to us.

  • @cecilianicoletti2896
    @cecilianicoletti28964 жыл бұрын

    Surprise me!!!Atheist. . That answer many things.

  • @rationaloutlook5772

    @rationaloutlook5772

    3 жыл бұрын

    Did you mean that in a positive or negative way?

  • @ziggylaurie2268
    @ziggylaurie22683 жыл бұрын

    God = Sky Daddy

  • @ziggylaurie2268
    @ziggylaurie22684 жыл бұрын

    Who takes a baby to a public talk? How annoying!

  • @frankbarrie6785

    @frankbarrie6785

    3 жыл бұрын

    Someone too broke to hire a baby sitter. It's tough in America unless ur part of "the 1%"

  • @rubaakkila5991
    @rubaakkila59913 жыл бұрын

    I am sad... I just disagree

  • @sdasclk1861
    @sdasclk18614 күн бұрын

    Sad.

  • @xxxxxx-hx3vp
    @xxxxxx-hx3vp5 жыл бұрын

    I am not an atheist, but at the same time I am not a very religious person. I'm very suspious towards any religion or any ideologism as, at the end of the day, they always devide people (in a nasty way). What strikes me though, is that amongst all the interviews I've seen with H. Laurie, this is the only one that he made an actual efford to be LIKED AND ACCEPTED. And it wasn't just a normal efford. It was a BIG efford. To the point it made me cringe. It's just made me thinking...Is he just a zealot excited about his new point of view (which is utterly understandable) or is there something...deeper. What do you think?

  • @evelynbaron2004

    @evelynbaron2004

    5 жыл бұрын

    At the beginning of the conversation he made it clear that his views were formed very early on as a child. I think he was trying to show respect for the US, where overt religiosity flourishes in a way not found in Europe, even officially Catholic countries like Italy and France. Was he trying to propitiate an American audience? Both Stephen Fry and Jaimie Oliver found themselves in the American bible belt and both differentiated between their love of the people while being candid about the differences in belief systems, which I found valid and respectful. Closer to home, the late great Robin Williams quipped about why he loved New York so much; 'you walk down the street pursued by an elderly lady waving her handbag at you; 'you're Mork! Don't deny it! I hate Mork!" which for him must have been a refreshing change from autograph seekers and paparazzi. Your post was really interesting; I didn't get the same impression, but it made me think, which is what it's all about. Cheers!

  • @HarryNicNicholas

    @HarryNicNicholas

    4 жыл бұрын

    @daniel letterman watch his interviews, and i mean on his comedy work, i've always liked him, he typifies what brits aspire to, educated congeniality with a sharp wit. i';ve not even started the video yet, so who knows, but i think if he has been moved by silverman he's become aware of how dangerous religion is becoming, both east and west, and as a fellow brit i think it's time religion was given as much hell as possible.

  • @ewinkaable

    @ewinkaable

    Жыл бұрын

    It's been a long time, but I fully agree with the original comment. I've never seen him so agitated. Complete bootlicker here...wtf

  • @AgentQQ8
    @AgentQQ8 Жыл бұрын

    The pope cancelled Hell. Really? That both sucks and is a relief. A) I’m not going to hell, and B) NO ONE is going to hell? Doesn’t seem right … but then again, neither does crucifying the best of us for Reasons …

  • @southshore8911
    @southshore8911 Жыл бұрын

    So Brilliant ,Yet so Foolish and dark , no wonder his singing career tanked Anybody realizes a higher power made Everything ,whatever you call it is your business but you got to be a complete fool not to realize it.

  • @michaelstamper5604

    @michaelstamper5604

    Жыл бұрын

    The more educated we become, the more glaringly obvious it becomes that there cannot be, nor ever was, a god of any description. It's basic common sense. Only the ill educated or the wilfully stupid still believe in a Stone Age fairy story filled with magical superbeings. I feel very sorry for anyone who is still taken in by such nonsense in this day and age, when we can prove the real causes for things that were once attributed to "god".

  • @hollyb6885

    @hollyb6885

    8 ай бұрын

    I think his singing career is doing fine. I listen to his music several times each week.