This is a profoundly Canadian piece of comedy. It is subtle, quiet, and eminently polite, but the satirical undercurrent is devastating. The joke is that Kelly’s character is an empty vessel with nothing to say and an impressive, reassuring way of saying it. But, in truth, this sketch does have an important message. It’s a step-by-step tutorial on how to listen to TED Talks while remaining acutely aware of all of their gimmicks and tropes. “Everybody knows that a presentation seems more legitimate than it actually is if there are slides,” Kelly says. So that’s one helpful tip for audience members right there: Don’t be too swayed by those colorful, eye-catching slides. Later, he says, “By making a list with my fingers, I’ve made you believe there is a point.” Another good one to remember. Beware of anecdotes, conversational laughter, meaningless numbers, repeated phrases, changes in tone of voice, and cues to applaud. It’s all smoke and mirrors. The more one studies this video, the more educational it is.