Famous Debaters List

[Ryan]

Name famous people who were debaters and, if possible, name their event.

Prez. Bill Clinton - Former LDer
Prez. Lyndon Baines Johnson - Former Debate Coach
Prez. Woodrow Wilson - Former Debate Coach
Prez. George W. Bush - Kicked off Yale's Debate Team
John Wayne - Interp
Oprah Winfrey - DI
Brad Pitt - Interp
Adam Sandler (i believe) - HI

Continue the list!

[Slurpee]

Robin Williams did HI.

Check out the NFL nationals book that lists former champions, there are some more famous names in there.

[Josiahzacks]

Bruce "The Boss" Springstein: New Jersey Extemp. State Champion

[dmcordon9]

James Dean was an NFL DI finalist

Shelley Long from Cheers was NFL OO champion back in the 60's.

If I remember anymore I'll post them.

[dmcordon9]

I know that Oprah Winfrey was mentioned earlier, but it should be mentioned that she was an NFL DI finalist.

[Ryan]

I just looked it up, and James Dean, with "The Madman" by Dickens, was 1st at Indiana state tourney (essentially the NFL-based qualifying tournaments to nationals on a statewide scale), and was 6th at NFL Nats.

Here's a list of a few more I found off a website: Vice President Hubert Humphrey, Senators Richard Lugar and William Frist, media visionary Ted Turner, Emmy award winners Kelsey Grammar and Shelly Long, television host Oprah Winfrey, news anchor Jane Pauley, CSPAN founder Brian Lamb, Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, University Presidents David Boren,and John Sexton, Commentator Rush Limbaugh, Federal National Mortgage CEO Franklin Delano Raines.

[Xtemper]

Thanks everyone for doing research on the issue. I knew some of the names (Oprah, Ted Turner) but James Dean was a surprise. I wonder if competition at the National level was more or less difficult in decades past. Whoever researches that and writes a post on the subject gets a gold medal.

[sportyprincess]

Tom Brokaw

[chrispac]

hey anyone know where i can find a list online of former nfl champions or finalists? i can't seem to find it..

[MRdbtr]

The Great Ted Danson went to nationals in HI (I think...could've been DI)

[CAforensics]

Richard Nixon did debate im not sure what debate event but he did do debate

[Jesus]

Thats awesome! where could u find that past NFL champs book?

[CAforensics]

dont know i tried looking for the past champs at nflonline.org but i wasnt able to find it there

[Jesus]

wow...thanks for the help...

[FunkyChicken]

Renee Zellweger, DI. Learned that from a talent agent who said he kept losing against her in their region. That is awesome.

[Ryan]

High School and College Interpers:

Creator of CSI
Ross "the Intern" (The Tonight Show - getting show on E!)
Josh Gad (one man show, wait a year or two before he blows up big)

[Ryan]

Quick Update. Today I went to see Avenue Q on Broadway and after the show, I overheard Stephanie D'Abruzzo, who plays Kate Monster and Lucy and was a 2004 Tony nominee as Best Actress in a Musical, mention to someone about speech tournaments. I asked her about it and she said that, in fact, she did compete. We then had a nice discussion for a few minutes about her experiences with speech. Her main event was OI, she did some of the other interps, and sadly, she never qualled to nats. But that proves that even if you don't qual to nats, you can still be a star on Broadway!

[jdcongresscapt]

Yeah. A star in a show about lewd puppets.

[Chewie]

Which is the BEST KIND.

[jdcongresscapt]

Agreed. It is an awesome show.
EVeryone's a little bit racist

[Chewie]

WELLLLLLLLLLLLL!

I'll be Princeton, JD, you can be Kate Monster.

Princeton:
Say, Kate, can I ask you a question?

Kate Monster:
Sure!

Princeton:
Well, you know Trekkie Monster upstairs?

Kate Monster:
Uh huh.

Princeton:
Well, he's Trekkie Monster, and you're Kate Monster.

Kate Monster:
Right.

Princeton:
You're both Monsters.

Kate Monster:
Yeah.

Princeton:
Are you two related?

Kate Monster:
What?! Princeton, I'm surprised at you! I find that racist!

Princeton:
Oh, well, I'm sorry! I was just asking!

Kate Monster:
Well, it's a touchy subject.
No, not all Monsters are related.
What are you trying say, huh?
That we all look the same to you?
Huh, huh, huh?

Princeton:
No, no, no, not at all. I'm sorry,
I guess that was a little racist.

Kate Monster:
I should say so. You should be much more
careful when you're talking about the
sensitive subject of race.

Princeton:
Well, look who's talking!

Kate Monster:
What do you mean?

Princeton:
What about that special Monster School you told me about?

Kate Monster:
What about it?

Princeton:
Could someone like me go there?

Kate Monster:
No, we don't want people like you-

Princeton:
You see?!
(singing starts)
You're a little bit racist.

Kate Monster:
Well, you're a little bit too.

Princeton:
I guess we're both a little bit racist.

Kate Monster:
Admitting it is not an easy thing to do...

Princeton:
But I guess it's true.

Kate Monster:
Between me and you,
I think

Both:
Everyone's a little bit racist
Sometimes.
Doesn't mean we go
Around committing hate crimes.
Look around and you will find
No one's really color blind.
Maybe it's a fact
We all should face
Everyone makes judgments
Based on race.

Princeton:
Now not big judgments, like who to hire
or who to buy a newspaper from -

Kate Monster:
No!

Princeton:
No, just little judgments like thinking that Mexican
busboys should learn to speak god**** English!

Kate Monster:
Right!

Both:
Everyone's a little bit racist
Today.
So, everyone's a little bit racist
Okay!
Ethinic jokes might be uncouth,
But you laugh because
They're based on truth.
Don't take them as
Personal attacks.
Everyone enjoys them -
So relax!

Princeton:
All right, stop me if you've heard this one.

Kate Monster:
Okay!

Princeton:
There's a plan going down and there's only
one paracute. And there's a rabbi, a priest...

Kate Monster:
And a black guy!

Gary Coleman:
Whatchoo talkin' 'bout Kate?

Kate Monster:
Uh...

Gary Coleman:
You were telling a black joke!

Princeton:
Well, sure, Gary, but lots of people tell black jokes.

Gary Coleman:
I don't.

Princeton:
Well, of course you don't - you're black!
But I bet you tell Polack jokes, right?

Gary Coleman:
Well, sure I do. Those stupid Polacks!

Princeton:
Now, don't you think that's a little racist?

Gary Coleman:
Well, ****, I guess you're right.

Kate Monster:
You're a little bit racist.

Gary Coleman:
Well, you're a little bit too.

Princeton:
We're all a little bit racist.

Gary Coleman:
I think that I would
Have to agree with you.

Princeton/Kate Monster:
We're glad you do.

Gary Coleman:
It's sad but true!
Everyone's a little bit racist -

All right!

Kate Monster:
All right!

Princeton:
All right!

Gary Coleman:
All right!
Bigotry has never been
Exclusively white

All:
If we all could just admit
That we are racist a little bit,
Even though we all know
That it's wrong,
Maybe it would help us
Get along.

Princeton:
Oh, Christ do I feel good.

Gary Coleman:
Now there was a fine upstanding black man!

Princeton:
Who?

Gary Coleman:
Jesus Christ.

Kate Monster:
But, Gary, Jesus was white.

Gary Coleman:
No, Jesus was black.

Kate Monster:
No, Jesus was white.

Gary Coleman:
No, I'm pretty sure that Jesus was black-

Princeton:
Guys, guys...Jesus was Jewish!

Brian:
Hey guys, what are you laughing about?

Gary Coleman:
Racism!

Brian:
Cool.

Christmas Eve:
BRIAN! Come back here!
You take out lecycuraburs!

Princeton:
What's that mean?

Brian:
Um, recyclables.
Hey, don't laugh at her!
How many languages do you speak?

Kate Monster:
Oh, come off it, Brian!
Everyone's a little bit racist.

Brian:
I'm not!

Princeton:
Oh no?

Brian:
Nope!

How many Oriental wives
Have you got?

Christmas Eve:
What? Brian!

Princeton:
Brian, buddy, where you been?
The term is Asian-American!

Christmas Eve:
I know you are no
Intending to be
But calling me Oriental -
Offensive to me!

Brian:
I'm sorry, honey, I love you.

Christmas Eve:
And I love you.

Brian:
But you're racist, too.

Christmas Eve:
Yes, I know.
The Jews have all
The money
And the whites have all
The power.
And I'm always in taxi-cab
With driver who no shower!

Princeton:
Me too!

Kate Monster:
Me too!

Gary Coleman:
I can't even get a taxi!

All:
Everyone's a little bit racist
It's true.
But everyone is just about
As racist as you!
If we all could just admit
That we are racist a little bit,
And everyone stopped being
So PC
Maybe we could live in -
Harmony!

Christmas Eve:
Evlyone's a ritter bit lacist!

[jdcongresscapt]

Can I be Gary Coleman?

[Chewie]

Let's figure out the cast right now!

JD, I'm assuming you're not black, since no one on this site is, save maybe AfricanHI (Tope), so he gets dibs on Gary.

Princeton should play Princeton, since they have the same name.

Kate Monster can be...Ria, I guess, unless you have a better casting idea than me (Cinderella, maybe)?

I'll be Brian.

JD...That leaves you with...Christmas Eve...the hilariously accent Asian lady. :)

So

CAST:
Princeton: Princeton Armstrong
Kate Monster: Ria/Cinderella/Whoever (ideas?)
Gary Coleman: Tope
Brian: Me
Christmas Eve: JD

Sound good?

[jdcongresscapt]

FIne then. I shall tackle the hilariously accented Asian lady
Concerning Kate...we need to get more girls on this site

[Chewie]

It's funny you should say that, concerning Christmas Eve...

I just happened to run into some debaters from my old high school at a shopping complex last night, and one of them was a novice (last year) named Sue. Sue, also, is ASIAN, and she would be perfect for the part. Sadly, she has all of two posts on this site.

So yeah, you get Christmas Eve, unless Sue comes on, and then you...uh...can produce. :D

[Theatreguy]

Im very confused?

[Chewie]

Which part? About the whole play? Or just Sue?

[Theatreguy]

okay i get it now... haha lol i want to be kate .... lol

[jdcongresscapt]

YAY!
Does this mean we can move Ria or Jess or whoever to Christmas Eve? Producing sounds cool now.
Springtime, for Hitler, in Germany!
Winter, for Poland, and France!

[ria]

umm....i'm confused...what is this?

[Chewie]

umm....i'm confused...what is this?

This is why you fail. :P

It's a song from the musical "Avenue Q", which was about the life and times of some down-on-their-luck puppets, and was a darker, sillier, and much much dirtier version of Seasame Street, basically. It won the Tony for Musical of the Year (or the equivilent to that) in 2004.

[ria]

oh. i didn't know that.

[Cinderella]

ooh! ooh! Can I be Kate Monster??

[jdcongresscapt]

Sounds fine to me. Does this mean we can dump Christmas Eve on Ria?

[ria]

as ria still only vaguely knows what's happening, i suppose that's alright with me.

[ria]

i've only heard of it, but that's as far as my knowledge goes.

[Cinderella]

Ria, if you get the chance, download a song or two or get someone to burn you the CD. It's INCREDIBLE

[ria]

duly noted.

[nubian_lover]

omg, that is the BEST cd ever. Listening to it right now.
(belts out and sings)


"there is life outside your apartment, i know it's hard to conceive. But there's life outside your apartment, and you're only gonna see it if you leave....."

"I'm kinda pretty and pretty **** smart. I like romantic things like music and art. And as you know I've got a gigantic heart, so why don't I have a boyfriend? ****! It sucks to be me!

"Let's see...You've got a friend, the theme from friends, that's what friends are for..****!"

I only listen to the cd like everyday.

OOOOOh, oooh! I wanna be Gary Coleman! I'm black! (I'll bet you $10 the Pope will come in and say that I'm being racist, but hey!) I can be Gary Coleman! I'm short! I can say "What you talkin' bout, Willis?" really well. You know you wanna.... :D

[AfRiCaNHI]

Rock on Gary Coleman.....


The guy who played Darth Vader in the original Star Wars films also did debate. However, I'm not sure what event he did.

[Aelfric5578]

James Earl Jones (The Voice) or the actual person in the suit?

[Jesus]

Can I be a bad idea bear and/or trekie monster?

[jman255*]

The Bad Idea Bear is the most incredible invention EVER.

[AfRiCaNHI]

James Earl Jones (The Voice) or the actual person in the suit?

Twas James Earl Jones. The guy in the suit (to me) is simply an extra.

[debsterz]

Can Cinderella and I be Nikki and Rod. I mean we live together in real life already!

[Chewie]

Really? That's hot.

I think the FOL'er nearest to me is in Kentucky.

[ria]

yay for kentucky! lots of fol'ers live near me. my brother used to be one...

[Ryan]

New Addition: Scott Mechlowicz competed in duo in high school and college. He went to Plano Sr. in Texas. He also has a song about him. He played Scottie in Eurotrip and is the Scottie in the wonderous song 'Scottie Doesn't Know.' He won Harvard and some other large national-quality tournaments.

[nubian_lover]

That's the funny and yet cool thing about speech. I've done theatre for a long time both in and out of school, and none of their acting talents can really compare with those of the interpers that I have seen. It doesn't surprise me that there are famous people out there who did speech and debate. I always look around at people at tournaments and think, "One of us is bound to be famous. All this talent can't possibly go to waste." :D

[theatrix04]

Dan Castellaneta (voice of Homer Simpson) - HI, OC, and Duet
Kathy Griffin - Verse, DI, and HI
Thomas Lennon - OC, HI, Duet, and Group Interp
Felicity LaFortune - HI, Duet, Prose
Jane Pauley - Oratory, After Dinner Speaking, DI
Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio - DI and Verse

wonder if anyone in Avenue Q or other shows did speech in High School?


do you have any alums from your school......

[Nocturne]

Kathy Griffin - Verse, DI, and HI.

Kathy Griffin...DI? are you kidding me?

I am obsessed with her new reality show.

I just wanted to put that out there

[theatrix04]

yes, she had actually done DI.....
she did not do much FUNNY stuff during high school.
more sidekick, smaller, straight roles.

She was definitely NOT out there like she is now.
In college, she found she could make fun of family and people from her past and get laughs....

[Chewie]

She's not funny now, either.

[Ryan]

wonder if anyone in Avenue Q or other shows did speech in High School?
Go back a few pages and you'll read about the discussion I had with Stephanie D'Abruzzo regarding her days in speech.

[theatrix04]

Quick Update. Today I went to see Avenue Q on Broadway and after the show, I overheard Stephanie D'Abruzzo, who plays Kate Monster and Lucy and was a 2004 Tony nominee as Best Actress in a Musical, mention to someone about speech tournaments. I asked her about it and she said that, in fact, she did compete. We then had a nice discussion for a few minutes about her experiences with speech. Her main event was OI, she did some of the other interps, and sadly, she never qualled to nats. But that proves that even if you don't qual to nats, you can still be a star on Broadway!
Thanks Basaltrock..... I missed watching for a few days ......
actually many, many never qualify for Nationals but make it big on Broadway, Film, Television, theatre......

then again some make it big and really are not that funny...

[xxLusciousZechxx]

Vince Vieluf went to my school and got second at State in Duet his senior year.

If you don't recognize the name, Google him.

[tgjdlc]

zach efron...google him...or ask Jesus (chris) about him..

[Ryan]

Yep, big ups to Zac. He was big before with Summerland. But now, he's the idol of every preteen girl in America with High School Musical. Not a bad improvement from being half of the FOL 2003/04 #4-Ranked Duo.

[Aelfric5578]

I just found out something very interesting. First a little bit of probably uneccessary background. Yesterday marked my last time being a cast member of my high school's drama club. Soon I will be graduating. Thinking about the end of my high school acting career started me thinking about the beginning. We used the R.E.M. song "It's the End of the World as We Know It" as our theme song. Since then, that song has held a special place in my memory. So I was looking up the lyrics on Google and I found this:


While there are many plausible explanations for what the combination of lyrics mean, it is widely believed that the inspiration for this song came after Michael Stipe attended a Policy Debate competition at a high school in north Texas. This homage to the esoteric activity would explain both the rapid delivery and apocalyptic content of the lyrics.

Who knew? On a somewhat related note, I found this (http://www.worth1000.com/emailthis.asp?entry=201764) hillarious.

[Chewie]

I just found out something very interesting. First a little bit of probably uneccessary background. Yesterday marked my last time being a cast member of my high school's drama club. Soon I will be graduating. Thinking about the end of my high school acting career started me thinking about the beginning. We used the R.E.M. song "It's the End of the World as We Know It" as our theme song. Since then, that song has held a special place in my memory. So I was looking up the lyrics on Google and I found this:


While there are many plausible explanations for what the combination of lyrics mean, it is widely believed that the inspiration for this song came after Michael Stipe attended a Policy Debate competition at a high school in north Texas. This homage to the esoteric activity would explain both the rapid delivery and apocalyptic content of the lyrics.

HAHA. That would be awesome. It makes perfect since that The End of the World would be inspired by the debate forum that practically REQUIRES Nuclear Winter to be a point of contention in every round.

[Ryan]

New addition: Tony Zuiker, who competed in high school and college interp during the mid-to-late 80's, is the creator of CSI.

[NFox]

ME.

Just give it a few years.

Nick Fox

[xxLusciousZechxx]

Ditto.

[popper2014]

Anthony Rapp (Mark from Rent)

[Megan]

I found out at my sister's graduation that Tavis Smiley was on the speech team at my high school. He's got a late-night PBS show, and also hosted BET Tonight for quite a few years.

[NFox]

Ryan Knowles is getting himself pretty famous. He's currently in the HUGE Disneyland production of Alladin, got rave reviews off-broadway, is going to be in a feature film in the new year, and from April until June-ish he was a cohost on Nickelodeon's MeTV (Before it was cancelled).

If anyone wants to see some clips from MeTV with Knowles, I just uploaded some clips of it to Youtube: http://youtube.com/watch?v=PywMaYTchwE

Enjoy!

-Nick

[oHIo]

There's a clip of Ryan Knowles in the Aladdin production on youtube too. Let me find it.

EDIT: Found it. Shows quite a different side: http://youtube.com/watch?v=Uv_whBvvmCM&feature=related

[Cinderella]

Oh wow, that's awesome! Thanks for posting those, guys! :)

[Ryan]

Wow, I miss Ryan. Very glad he's doing so well.

[nirorivers6]

i read somewhere on FOL that someone from ugly betty did forensics.

[Solid Bob]

i read somewhere on FOL that someone from ugly betty did forensics.

His name is Michael Urie. He did interp at Plano Senior in Dallas, Texas. At Texas state Tournament this year he is doing a documentary. We had to sign a form to say that its ok if we get put into the film. Pretty awesome i think.

[jakitax3]

Al Pacino!

[worsethansex]

I can't believe this has been around for so long without anyone mentioning Jon Voight (or, to you, Mr. Angelina Jolie's Dad) and Roger Ebert were both IL state champs in the '50s, Voight in After Dinner Speaking, Ebert in Radio Speaking.

[Ryan]

If you're an MTV Real World fan, check out Real World Hollywood 20 this year. One of the girls, Sarah Ralston, competed for Arizona's Desert Vista (class of 04) in high school and ASU in college (national finalist).

http://photos-h.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v17/68/45/10014876/n10014876_31092007_1468.jpg
(Sarah is in the bottom row, second from the left)

[Topo]

I don't know if this makes sense but she looks like she would be on Real World.....lol

[nirorivers6]

Is that Paul Davis two down from her? It looks like it, and that would make sense, but I can't tell cuz he's making a funny face...although that should be a clear sign.

[oHIo]

Is that Paul Davis two down from her? It looks like it, and that would make sense, but I can't tell cuz he's making a funny face...although that should be a clear sign.

Paul graduated in '06 so if that's him then he's a sophomore back then.

Looks a lot like him, probably is him I would bet.

[Ryan]

Yes, that is Paul but it was his Senior year. I said Sarah graduated from high school in 2004, she was a Sophomore that year. That picture was taken at the 2006 NFA Nationals in Eau-Claire, Wisconsin.

[wasoe]

Steve Zahn was a two-time MN state speech champion from Robbinsdale Cooper High School. He won Prose in 1985 and Drama in 1986.

[JDuarte227]

i read somewhere on FOL that someone from ugly betty did forensics.

His name is Michael Urie. He did interp at Plano Senior in Dallas, Texas. At Texas state Tournament this year he is doing a documentary. We had to sign a form to say that its ok if we get put into the film. Pretty awesome i think.


He was the National Champion in DI in 1998 with "Confessions of a Nightingale" by Charlotte Chandler.

[Ryan]

A follow-up on my last message about Sarah Ralston on The Real World... tonight's episode featured a visit by Sarah's fiance Ryan Hubbell. Ryan was an individual sweepstakes champion at AFA Nationals, coached oratory last summer at GMIF, used to coach at Desert Vista HS and now coaches at Stuyvesant HS.

[jaikes101]

A follow-up on my last message about Sarah Ralston on The Real World... tonight's episode featured a visit by Sarah's fiance Ryan Hubbell. Ryan was an individual sweepstakes champion at AFA Nationals, coached oratory last summer at GMIF, used to coach at Desert Vista HS and now coaches at Stuyvesant HS.
Ryan and Sarah were both back at Desert Vista helping this past week, to help DV prepare for nats! Hahha that had to have been cool.

[Solid Bob]

BAck to the Urie thing. Did any one see the Best Week Ever where he was on it. There was a segment where u could vote on him solving the oil problem, revealing something about Ugly Betty or see him do Jurassic Park by himself playing all the characters..

Does anyone know if that was possibly an HI of his when he did Interp?

[MackAttack]

SNL's Kenan Thompson was a speechie from some school in Atlanta in 1996.

[Seabass08]

SNL's Kenan Thompson was a speechie from some school in Atlanta in 1996.He wasnt funny then he isn't funny now.

[Ryan]

I was just watching an old episode (1991) of The Simpsons that featured forensics. In this episode, Homer wants to date Marge. He finds out she competes in forensics and he joins the debate team. Marge appears to do Oratory (a feminist topic regarding motherhood). Artie Ziff mentions something after she runs the speech in practice comparing the performance to a DI. Homer ends up competing against Artie Ziff in a mock debate (looks like old policy debate, current PFD). The coach tells Homer its time for his rebuttal, he misunderstands what she means, and ends up mooning the audience (pus the butt in rebuttal).

Homer asks Marge to help him study French and keeps her until 1AM the night before a forensics tournament. She gets very angry with him when she finds out that he isn't taking French and just wanted to get to know her. She gives a very sub-par tired performance at the tournament and doesn't break (Artie, who is also on the team, wins 1st place in debate).

Considering that practically half the cast of The Simpsons competed in forensics, this episode is one of the most accurate renditions of speech I've ever seen in a TV show or movie.

[jaikes101]

I was just watching an old episode (1991) of The Simpsons that featured forensics. In this episode, Homer wants to date Marge. He finds out she competes in forensics and he joins the debate team. Marge appears to do Oratory (a feminist topic regarding motherhood). Artie Ziff mentions something after she runs the speech in practice comparing the performance to a DI. Homer ends up competing against Artie Ziff in a mock debate (looks like old policy debate, current PFD). The coach tells Homer its time for his rebuttal, he misunderstands what she means, and ends up mooning the audience (pus the butt in rebuttal).

Homer asks Marge to help him study French and keeps her until 1AM the night before a forensics tournament. She gets very angry with him when she finds out that he isn't taking French and just wanted to get to know her. She gives a very sub-par tired performance at the tournament and doesn't break (Artie, who is also on the team, wins 1st place in debate).

Considering that practically half the cast of The Simpsons competed in forensics, this episode is one of the most accurate renditions of speech I've ever seen in a TV show or movie. Any idea the name of the episode? I know one of the writers for the show, used to coach forensics as well...I'm just curious if he wrote this episode.

EDIT: He did, and the title (if anyone else was wondering) was "The Way We Was"

[Ryan]

Update on Josh Gad: He is now a correspondent for The Daily Show. Check him out here:
http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=228974&title=money-shot

[Ryan]

Forensicators and MTV's The Real World just seem to go hand-in-hand. This season, Real World Cancun features Bronne Bruzgo. Back in high school at Holy Ghost Prep, Bronne stacked up a strong list of accolades including 2006 NFL Nationals Duo Runner-Up, 2005 Harvard DI Finalist, and coauthor of the MCP piece Red God.

[Superextempman]

Weird Al Yankovich
I am not kidding!
kinda makes sense if you think about it