Alan Alda On Why Communication Is So Important To Science 

An AMAZING Human being, Actor, Writer, Producer, philanthropist, Husband, Father, etc. Still handsome, charming, and sharp as a tack in his 80s. Long may you run, Alan.

Alan Alda shaped my sense of humor more than anyone else when I was a kid. His performance in the entire life of MASH was one of the best performances in any show at any time ever.

My father died when I was 12 in 1981. Coming home in 1983 as a latch key kid I'd put on mash at 4 and the tv staton would play 3 episodes. I grew into a young adult watching Hawkeye and wishing I could have a dad like him. I've got a 10 year old myself now and sometimes I use things I learned in 1983.

One of my all time favorite actors. I can see Stephen Colbert is humbled being in his presence.

I have loved Alan Alda since I was a child. Love him still. I simply can't imagine a world without him. His intelligence, humor, and great love for the "elemental" make him a national treasure.

He is 85 and still alive and kicking. Great to see him here!

Met the man while filming a documentary. He was an absolute gentleman and charming to the entire crew. 100% class act, even when he didn't have to be.

As a Science teacher since the 1980's, I have greatly appreciated Alan Alda's presence in the media to advocate for science literacy. His work on Newton's Apple made it to my lesson plans year after year due to the production quality and importance of the topics. Heartfelt thanks for your ongoing projects that further these important messages, Mr. Alda!

I love this man. Mash got me through my "awkward" years. I was always a loner, night owl, it was the only time i could escape my family, i would watch late night re-runs of mash almost religiously, i even got all my stoner friends hooked on it. Hawkeye was so sharp that it made me wanna sharpen myself. I credit Alda for making me wanna self educate, even at one of the most reckless times in my life, always a positive influence. Thank you sir!

His podcast, Clear and Vivid, is one of the best out there. And he is such a kind, beautiful, elegant person.

Alan Alda is a national treasure!! What an awesome human being! :)

Big ups to Jon Batiste for playing Suicide is Painless in the intro when Alda came out. It was a beautiful intro song of Alda's hit show M*A*S*H

Between his science shows, and MASH, this guy taught me everything I needed to know to be a decent human being. Learn, be empathic, and keep your sense of humor.

Dear Alan we here in Canada would love to name you a honorary Canadian! You are one of the greatest entertainer's on the planet! And such a great human being! 🙂

Love to you Alan Alda!

Alan Alda was the first actor I fell in love with. MASH is still one of my all time favourite shows, and laugh just as hard as I did when I was younger. A true gem 🙏

What a wholesome interview. I love how the audience and Stephen just seem to listen when Alda speaks. So quiet you can hear needle drop. Very intimate - love it.

This is an amazing treat! You are so loved, Alan Alda! ❤️☮️❤️

Alan is such a legend!

He's great actor and human being.

God, I love Alan Alda so much!!! One of my greatest Booomer crushes!

Neurological diseases like Parkinson's are so brutal, especially when they affect people with such great minds. To have the source of so many physical maladies be the source of your wit and brilliance just makes the manifestations that much more painful to see. Mr Alda is a treasure, and I hope he has many years ahead of him.

What a lovely man.

What an artist!

Good to see him doing so well!

As a non American, I must admit and concede; America can and does (rarely), produce the most excellent cultural exports. Alan Alda, since playing 'Hawkeye', has been a beautiful export. Looking at the man, I very much doubt Mr. Alda did much acting in M.A.S.H. He simply showed up as Alan Alda, took the money and left at the end of the day's shoot.

I fell in love with Captain Hawkeye Pierce when I was 12. I'm 58 years old and still in love with you Alan. "What a man! What a man! What a mighty good man!" - En Vogue?

I could sit and listen to him and Steven and their wives for hours.) For him to choose Communications as a subject of teaching and learning from is truly awesome... the thought of it lends life. Parsing the best means of expression from a scientist or teacher, and seeing them "get it" And Mr Alda would be quietly making sure everyone was having fun.

He's like Morgan Freeman in the fact that he's pretty much been old throughout my entire life, but awesome and timeless in his work.

ALAN ALDA, AN ICON!!!

Leave it to the wonderful and oh so talented Alan Alda to identify a core need in society (especially today) - Communication. He brings together scientists and medical personnel together to learn to communicate- isn’t that marvelous. Of course, we can expand that to so many areas in out society. He is truly one of a kind. A gift to humanity if only we would listen. I have had a crush on Mr. Alda since childhood and now I see, he’s not just a great actor but the whole package. Live long and Prosper Mr. Alda.

Alan Alda is an absolute treasure. We must protect him and Betty White. Edit: and Dolly Parton. Sorry. I was tired when I wrote this.

nostalgia and sadness poor guy has developed hand tremors with age hope we get to keep him around as long as possible Thank You Alan For All The Laughs !!! ( and the wisdom therein)

❤️ not only Mash. I just finished watching The West Wing, on Amazon. Mr Alda was also amazing in that show.

"I've been in plays that closed during the intermission!" 😂

M.A.S.H. is one of my favorites from over my life. Thank you Alan.♥️

Love, Love, Love Alphonso D’Abruzzo... a gift to our planet. The only time I ever saw my father (WWII Veteran) cry was 28 Feb 1983, M*A*S*H* Farewell, Goodbye, and Amen finale. Mr Alda is a fellow Italian, and Hawkeye from my home state of M*A*I*N*E* - - Mr Alda, making the world a better place!

Alan Alda is simply wonderful !

He's so right about communication. So often patients are left to advocate for themselves and don't know what to ask and the doctors never have enough time. Don't be afraid to email your doctor. The more info they have the better.

I just adore his voice and he was such an influencential person in my life. I loved his philosophy on life and intellect..it provided much solace as a gawky child growing up.

Alan alda survived polio as a child quite interesting actually and he's been married for 63 years to his wife

Such a smart man. So eloquent.

I wish I could give Alan Alda the biggest hug. He is awesome. The best. A top shelf human being.

@ 1:58 I agree with Alda - communication is so important to everything about a good and healthy human existence. Listening and THEN speaking, preferably.....

Alan is such a great actor, but his science shows really shone. I could watch them all day.

What a treat this was. I have the fondest memories seeing mom & dad watching “Mash” together ❤️😍

His podcasts are awesome. The Science pod is my favourite. Thanks Alan.

great actor!

What a nice thoughtful man. We need 100 million more just like him. My mom's favorite show was MASH. I can't see Alan without thinking about my late mom.

It was a pleasure to see you Mr Alda too. Loved MASH and now your interviews too.

Love this man.

He's a humble man. Met him on an elevator once when I was doing IT for a regional theatre. He initiated small talk and treated me with respect.

I sat next to him and his wife at a play. They held hands the whole time. I said hello at the break and he kindly shook my hand and introduced me to his wife. Big smile, lovely man.

I've watched TV for 66 years. 'Mash' was and always will be my favorite show. Perfect combination of actors, plots and scripts.

I absolutely love Alda. From Pierce to Vinnick, he plays so many of my favourite characters!

Alan Alda is a national treasure.

This is so strange. I was just thinking of Alan's guest appearance on the Colbert Report earlier. Love that they had Suicide is Painless playing when he came out.

Alan Alda is truly one of the best humans to grace this planet.

Brilliant man, and kind human being! It would be wonderful to have lunch with Alan Alda...

...and now my laughter from Mr Alda's memories of MASH has woke up the rest of the house, at 5:15am.

Such a joy to see Alan Alda. Always enjoy seeing him and excited to learn about his podcast. ❤️

Love you, Alan Alda! So happy that your wife & you are having so many years together. Both of you take care & stay safe during this pandemic.

Even at 85, he’s still got it..

Wow. This is sooo good. Stephen could have Alan Alda back every week.

ADORE Alan Alda totes !! Such an Iconic star & such a wonderful Human Being ! Just seeing him made me smile & made my day !

Actually, love both of them

Alan Alda is global treasure! MASH is one of if not the greatest dramatic comedy ever. The last episode still gets me every time. Peace to all!

Amazing soul. Alan please interview some ordinary people. You will be unbelievably fascinated.

One can only hope to age so gracefully, to have seen and achieved as much, and to give back constantly while setting such a wonderful standard for class and pedigree. Alan is a fine gentleman.

Fangirling so hard! I absolutely adore Alan Alda!

One of the good 1's , love Alan Alda brilliant human being.

One of the best, most interesting guests Colbert has ever had.

How Remarkable! Alan Alda is a national treasure!

Love Alan Alda💖

He should be protected as a national treasure.

Damn… Alan Alda is a great soul😌🙂.

Nothing but pure respect for Mr. Alda.

I just love Alan Alda, what a great guy 🙏🏼

Truly a legend.

MASH is still on of my all time favourite shows. Amazed that Alan is still with us. You got to love this guy!

Grew up watching this very smart, funny, warm person. Still love him and thankful for his huge talent.

I love Alan Alda so much. He was and is my first celebrity crush.

I think Alan Alda knows how to show the world how to grow up in an online society. Maybe we ought pay close attention to his ways.

What a decent human being! Godspeed sir!

Playing Benjamin Franklin “Hawkeye” Pierce in my senior year’s high school play was _the_ best time doing character research and method acting I could’ve asked for, ‘cause not only Robert Altman, but specifically ‘cause Alan Alda. Today, as a doctor and scientist, I can’t tell you how incredibly frustrating it is, trying to make points about the larger importance of the data to idiots who call themselves “science journalists” but who couldn’t even describe “post-positivism”-the current, dominant, scientific paradigm-let alone what the general idea from the results of a body of scientific literature, or, God forbid, the upshots of a _single, specific study_ - despite that we write discussion sections, with subsections about what the general, theoretical, methodological, and pragmatic implications (as well as a study’s limitations and, in turn, suggested future research possibilities) are, within that perspective. What’s worse is that that’s because “science journalists” already have their “hooks” to sell their stories-which most often have little to nothing do with the most meaningful advances in knowledge are, for humanity and the planet-that hugely amplify findings’ connection to narratives that their audiences would most gladly pay their mental labor, to which to listen, instead of actually interacting with the people those journalists call to interview, unless those people are charlatans who chose their field, based on the ease with which they thought they could become fucking celebrities...

Had the great pleasure of seeing Alan speak at the Cheltenham Literature Festival a few years ago. Wonderful storytelling and the warmth of his connection to the audience has stayed with me.

What a wonderful talented human being, mr. Alan Alda. A extraordinary legend with an amazing legacy. All the best from Romania mr. Alda!

I cannot thank you enough for bringing on one of the most sharing and remarkable people.

I still watch MASH and have gotten my 9 and 11 year old hooked on it. He and Jamie Farr were actually veterans from the Korean War. He's a National Treasure.

Yay, Alan Alda!!! Loved him since I was a kid. Watched and rewatched MASH, looking back...probably where some of my humor comes from...I sometimes have a dark sense of humor...seeing irony in reality is a thing that I lived with for 50+years. Positive vibes from New Hampshire, remember to be kind to each other and yourself during this pandemic and social crisis

OMG! Everytime I hear the theme from M*A*S*H I tear up! I LOVE this man! He is a national treasure!

I feel grateful to see Alan and be reminded of all the moments I spent watching M.A.S.H with my grandmother, who I miss dearly. It feels wonderful to know he has touched so many lives, and we get to spend time on Earth in the same timeline as someone like him.

Let’s not forget he had the best laugh in television history.☺️👍🏾👍🏾

I was thinking of him a couple days ago and bam! Lol! Wow! Love his voice! Love him! One of the good guys.

I still watch MASH 4077 to this day. I have ripped every episode from DVD to my Plex server and can watch it anywhere, anytime. One of my favorite shows of all time and it was on TV before I was even born.

I read his autobiography. He really had a rough childhood and came from a pretty broken family. It's amazing how normal & centered he's always seemed. And also Sweet Liberty is one of my favorite movies ever. Very underrated comedy.

Alan Alda does the best Alan Alda impression

Bless his heart.. he's still around.. Love him!

Quite simply, a national treasure. Truly.

He’s still got it!