Steve Jobs Halts Noah Wyle Impersonation at Macworld to Coach Actor

Macworld NY 1999-Noah Wyle imitating Steve Jobs — JoshuaG

JoshuaG

Jobs brought the Pirates of Silicon Valley star onstage to playfully mock his own presentation style and hyperbolic rhetoric before jokingly demanding a guest role on ER.

AI-assisted summary of Macworld NY 1999-Noah Wyle imitating Steve Jobs — original source. Check the original for full context.

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Key ideas

  • Actor Noah Wyle opened the Macworld NY 1999 keynote impersonating Steve Jobs, donning his signature black mock turtleneck, jeans, and wire-rimmed glasses following his role in 'Pirates of Silicon Valley'. (0:00)
  • Steve Jobs surprised the audience by walking out mid-presentation to playfully critique Wyle's performance and coach him on authentic keynote mannerisms. (1:45)
  • Jobs used the comedic sketch to poke fun at his own iconic catchphrases, claiming Apple had retired the descriptor 'insanely great' a hundred years ago. (1:45)
  • The appearance demonstrated Jobs's lighthearted endorsement of Wyle's film portrayal, culminating in playful banter about landing a guest role on NBC's 'ER'. (1:45)

Detailed notes

## Bulletin - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIClAanU7Os&t=0s) Actor Noah Wyle opened the Macworld NY 1999 keynote impersonating Steve Jobs, donning his signature black mock turtleneck, jeans, and wire-rimmed glasses following his role in 'Pirates of Silicon Valley'. - [01:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIClAanU7Os&t=105s) Steve Jobs surprised the audience by walking out mid-presentation to playfully critique Wyle's performance and coach him on authentic keynote mannerisms. - [01:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIClAanU7Os&t=105s) Jobs used the comedic sketch to poke fun at his own iconic catchphrases, claiming Apple had retired the descriptor 'insanely great' a hundred years ago. - [01:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIClAanU7Os&t=105s) The appearance demonstrated Jobs's lighthearted endorsement of Wyle's film portrayal, culminating in playful banter about landing a guest role on NBC's 'ER'.

## Key takeaways - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIClAanU7Os&t=0s) Noah Wyle opened Macworld NY 1999 in full costume mimicking Steve Jobs's signature outfit, gait, and stage presence. - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIClAanU7Os&t=0s) The appearance capitalized on Wyle's recent portrayal of Jobs in the TNT biographical film 'Pirates of Silicon Valley'. - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIClAanU7Os&t=0s) Wyle's opening monologue leaned heavily into Apple's 'Think Different' marketing campaign and the theme of Apple's late-1990s resurgence. - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIClAanU7Os&t=0s) The spoof built anticipation using classic Jobsian hyperbole, culminating in a string of escalating superlatives about 'insanely great' products. - [01:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIClAanU7Os&t=105s) The real Steve Jobs interrupted the speech from backstage, jokingly telling Wyle he was 'blowing it'. - [01:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIClAanU7Os&t=105s) Jobs gave Wyle a live coaching session on stage habits, such as opening water and grabbing the slide clicker before clasping hands. - [01:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIClAanU7Os&t=105s) Jobs poked fun at his own public persona, remarking that Apple stopped using the phrase 'insanely great' a long time ago. - [01:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIClAanU7Os&t=105s) Jobs explained he personally invited Wyle to the keynote, joking that Wyle was 'a better me than me'. - [01:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIClAanU7Os&t=105s) Wyle expressed genuine relief on stage that Jobs was not upset about the depiction in 'Pirates of Silicon Valley'. - [01:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIClAanU7Os&t=105s) Jobs playfully proposed evening the score by asking Wyle for a guest appearance on the medical drama 'ER'. - [01:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIClAanU7Os&t=105s) Wyle delivered a deadpan response to Jobs's acting pitch, telling the Apple CEO to 'talk to your agent'. - [01:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIClAanU7Os&t=105s) As Wyle walked off stage, Jobs shouted a memorable inside joke quote from 'Pirates of Silicon Valley' before giving him a warm audience send-off.

## Detailed walkthrough ### [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIClAanU7Os&t=0s) Noah Wyle's Impersonation of Steve Jobs

The Macworld NY 1999 keynote kicks off with a burst of energetic music and roaring applause from an excited crowd. Walking onto the stage in Steve Jobs's signature uniform—a black mock turtleneck, blue jeans, and round wire-rimmed glasses—is actor Noah Wyle. He perfectly mimics Jobs's distinct, measured stride, his open-handed gestures, and his low-key, confident stage presence. The audience, delighted by the surprise appearance of the actor who had recently portrayed Jobs in the TNT television film *Pirates of Silicon Valley*, cheers warmly as Wyle takes his place at the center of the stage.

Wyle begins the presentation by adopting Jobs's exact vocal cadence, thanking the crowd for coming and promising that this is going to be a truly great Macworld. He leans into the iconic "Think Different" marketing campaign, telling the audience, “You know, everybody at Apple has been thinking different for the last couple of years. We're selling a lot of computers, but there's something else happening here: the resurgence of Apple, and you're going to see a lot of that today.” He then begins to hype up the upcoming announcements, building momentum by repeating Jobs's favorite superlatives. He promises "some great new products, some really great new products, some insanely great new products, some really totally wildly insanely great new products," before his speech is suddenly cut short.

[01:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIClAanU7Os&t=105s) Steve Jobs Interrupts and Confronts His Double

Just as Wyle is building up to a crescendo about the products that are going to change the world, the real Steve Jobs walks out from the wings of the stage to a massive wave of laughter and applause. Jobs immediately stops Wyle in his tracks, jokingly critiquing his performance by saying, “That's not me at all. That's not me at all. You're blowing it.” Jobs then proceeds to give Wyle a live coaching session on how to properly play the role of Steve Jobs on stage. He instructs him on the necessary physical cues, telling him, “Look, you're supposed to come over here, open a water, get the slide clicker, then you can put your hands together.” He also pokes fun at his own reputation for using hyperbolic language, teasing Wyle about his repetitive phrasing: “This 'insanely great' thing—we stopped using that a hundred years ago, you know.”

Jobs then warmly introduces Wyle to the crowd, saying, “I invited him here today so we could see how I really act, and plus because he's a better me than me.” Wyle, smiling, expresses his relief that Jobs isn't holding a grudge over his portrayal in the recent television movie, saying he is glad Jobs isn't mad about the film. Jobs laughs it off, saying, “What, me upset? Hey, it's just a movie,” but quickly proposes a trade to make things even. He asks Wyle if he can pull some strings to get him a guest spot on *ER*, the massive NBC medical drama on which Wyle starred as Dr. John Carter. Wyle deadpans, “Talk to your agent,” which gets a huge laugh from the audience. As Wyle waves goodbye and walks off the stage, Jobs calls out after him with a cheeky, highly specific inside joke referencing a famous line from *Pirates of Silicon Valley*: “Huh, are you still a virgin?” The crowd erupts in laughter and applause as Jobs bids him a final farewell, saying, "Ladies and gentlemen, Noah Wyle."

## Mentioned Noah Wyle, Steve Jobs, Apple, Macworld, Pirates of Silicon Valley, TNT, ER, NBC, Dr. John Carter

## Video description Here we see the actor Noah Wyle playing the role of Steve Jobs at the start of the Macworld expo. Noah played the role of Steve in the movie Pirates Of Silicon Valley which was released that same year.

[Source](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIClAanU7Os)

中文简报

乔布斯在Macworld打断诺亚·怀尔的模仿并现场“指导” 乔布斯将《硅谷传奇》主演请上台，幽默自嘲自己的演讲风格与夸张修辞，随后还开玩笑要求客串《急诊室的故事》。 在1999年Macworld纽约大会上，曾出演《硅谷传奇》的演员诺亚·怀尔以史蒂夫·乔布斯的经典造型登台开场。乔布斯随后中途现身打断模仿，现场幽默点评并“指导”怀尔的演讲动作，同时自嘲自己的标志性口头禅。这场客串展现了乔布斯对怀尔表演的轻松认可，双方最后还在玩笑中探讨了乔布斯客串《急诊室的故事》的可能性。 在出演《硅谷传奇》后，演员诺亚·怀尔身穿标志性的黑色半高领衫、牛仔裤并佩戴金属细框眼镜，以模仿史蒂夫·乔布斯的形式为1999年Macworld纽约主题演讲开场。 (0:00) 史蒂夫·乔布斯在演讲中途出场给观众带来惊喜，他幽默点评了怀尔的表现，并现场指导他如何表现出真正的主题演讲举止。 (1:45) 乔布斯借这个喜剧小品调侃了自己的经典口头禅，称苹果早在一百年前就已经停用“极好”（insanely great）这个词了。 (1:45) 这次亮相展现了乔布斯对怀尔在电影中塑造其形象的轻松认可，并在关于让乔布斯客串NBC剧集《急诊室的故事》的玩笑互动中落下帷幕。 (1:45)

Reading summary

At Macworld NY 1999, actor Noah Wyle opened the keynote with an impersonation of Steve Jobs, prompting the real Jobs to interrupt, critique the performance, and address Wyle's portrayal of him in the television film Pirates of Silicon Valley. Parodying Apple's Keynote Rhetoric and Persona (0:00) Noah Wyle entered the stage wearing Steve Jobs's trademark black mock turtleneck, blue jeans, and round glasses, mimicking the Apple CEO's deliberate cadence and physical gestures. Drawing on his role in the TNT film Pirates of Silicon Valley, Wyle incorporated Apple's "Think Different" marketing campaign into his remarks, touting strong computer sales and the company's ongoing resurgence. He then satirized Jobs's signature rhetorical habits, hyping upcoming announcements by repeating escalating superlatives, including "insanely great" and "really totally wildly insanely great new products." Jobs's On-Stage Rebuttal and Hollywood Exchange (1:45) Steve Jobs halted the presentation by stepping onstage to jokingly critique Wyle's delivery, demonstrating the exact physical routine he uses during keynotes—opening a water bottle, picking up the slide clicker, and placing his hands together. Jobs also poked fun at his own past catchphrases, remarking that the phrase "insanely great" had been retired long ago, while humorously telling the audience that Wyle was "a better me than me." Addressing Wyle's television film, Jobs dismissed any resentment, laughed off the portrayal, and jokingly requested a guest role on Wyle's medical drama ER before sending the actor off with a quote referencing the film. The scripted interaction served as a self-aware public relations moment, allowing Jobs to acknowledge his media caricature, diffuse any perceived tension surrounding Pirates of Silicon Valley, and engage the audience before turning to Apple's official keynote announcements.

精炼阅读摘要

在1999年纽约Macworld大会上，演员诺亚·怀尔（Noah Wyle）与苹果公司首席执行官史蒂夫·乔布斯（Steve Jobs）联袂完成了一场兼具自嘲与品牌宣发的开场演出，通过戏仿与即兴互动消解了影视作品带来的争议，并确立了大会轻松自信的基调。 标志性舞台风格与话语模式的戏仿 (0:00) 演员诺亚·怀尔因在TNT电视电影《硅谷传奇》（Pirates of Silicon Valley）中饰演乔布斯而备受关注。在本次演讲开场时，他身穿乔布斯标志性的黑色半高领衫、蓝色牛仔裤并佩戴圆形金属框眼镜亮相，精准模仿了乔布斯从容稳健的台风、标志性手势以及特有的语音语调。怀尔在发言中紧密呼应了“非同凡想”（Think Different）宣传主题，向观众宣扬苹果在过去两年的电脑销售成绩与复兴态势，并接连使用“极其伟大”（insanely great）等乔布斯常用的夸张最高级修辞来渲染即将发布的产品，生动还原了外界对乔布斯舞台风格的典型印象。 乔布斯的现场打断与自我解构 (1:45) 当怀尔的夸张演说达到高潮时，真实的乔布斯走上舞台打断表演，调侃怀尔“完全没演对”并现场提供示范教学。乔布斯指出标准的台上动作应当包括走至一侧、拧开瓶装水、拿取幻灯片翻页器，随后才能将双手合十置于胸前。乔布斯还借机戏谑了自己对极端赞美词的偏爱，笑称“极其伟大”这种说法早在一百年前就不再使用了；他随后向现场观众正式介绍怀尔，大度称赞对方“比自己更像自己”，展现出极高的自我解构与幽默感。 影视互文与文化符号的轻松和解 (1:45) 针对怀尔在《硅谷传奇》中的扮演，乔布斯以“只是一部电影”为由表示并不介意，消除了怀尔的顾虑。随后两人展开了一系列流行文化互文互动：乔布斯提出交换条件，询问能否在怀尔主演的热门医疗剧《急诊室的故事》（ER）中客串一个角色，怀尔则幽默地回应让其“与经纪人商谈”。在怀尔离场时，乔布斯更是当场引用了《硅谷传奇》中的经典台词进行调侃，将传记电影引发的话题成功转化为一场融洽的现场公关与文化互动。 本段记录展示了乔布斯对大众媒介塑造其个人形象的开明态度，以及苹果利用流行文化为商业发布会造势的娴熟技巧。不过，该材料仅记录了发布会的开场趣味表演，并未包含后续涉及具体软硬件产品发布的实质内容及商业数据。

Detailed notes — zh

## Background 该视频由用户 JoshuaG 于 2006 年 2 月 10 日上传至 YouTube 平台。页面简介说明，视频记录了演员诺亚·怀尔（Noah Wyle）在 1999 年纽约 Macworld 博览会开场时扮演史蒂夫·乔布斯（Steve Jobs）的趣味场景，怀尔在同年上映的电视电影《硅谷传奇》中正是乔布斯的饰演者。 ## TL;DR 在 1999 年纽约 Macworld 大会开场，演员诺亚·怀尔身穿标志性黑色高领衫与牛仔裤登台，夸张模仿史蒂夫·乔布斯的言行举止与狂热修辞，大谈苹果的复兴与“疯狂伟大”的新品。随后真正的乔布斯走上舞台当面打断他，幽默挑剔其走位与动作细节，并调侃苹果早已不用那种老套说辞。两人在台上谈笑风生，乔布斯更开玩笑要求在怀尔主演的热播美剧《急诊室的故事》中客串以作补偿，随后在观众的欢呼与掌声中正式接管属于自己的发布会。 ## Atmosphere & style 现场氛围极其轻松欢快且充满戏剧性张力，观众席中掌声与笑声此起彼伏。怀尔夸张而认真的滑稽模仿迅速拉高了会场热度，而真假乔布斯同台互动更是将现场气氛推向高潮。乔布斯本人的风趣从容与大度自嘲，让这段破次元的联动兼具科技发布会的历史感与情景喜剧般的幽默感。 ## Bulletin - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIClAanU7Os&t=0s) 在1999年纽约Macworld博览会开场时，曾在电影《硅谷传奇》中饰演乔布斯的演员诺亚·怀尔身穿经典黑色高领衫与牛仔裤假扮乔布斯登台开场。 - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIClAanU7Os&t=0s) 怀尔在台上夸张模仿乔布斯的标志性肢体动作，并用连串叠加的“疯狂伟大（insanely great）”修辞宣布苹果的复兴与新产品。 - [01:46](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIClAanU7Os&t=106s) 史蒂夫·乔布斯本人随后现身打断怀尔，当场纠正其开水、拿翻页笔和双手合十等肢体细节，并调侃苹果早已弃用该口头禅。 - [01:46](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIClAanU7Os&t=106s) 乔布斯公开赞许怀尔的表演，并开玩笑要求在怀尔主演的热门美剧《急诊室的故事》（ER）中客串角色作为补偿，随后正式接管发布会。 ## Key takeaways - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIClAanU7Os&t=0s) 演员诺亚·怀尔身穿黑色高领衫搭配牛仔裤的标志性装束，作为“假乔布斯”在1999年纽约Macworld大会开场亮相。 - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIClAanU7Os&t=0s) 怀尔曾在同年上映的电视电影《硅谷传奇》（Pirates of Silicon Valley）中饰演史蒂夫·乔布斯。 - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIClAanU7Os&t=0s) 怀尔以惟妙惟肖的手势和语调向观众致意，并宣称本届大会将展现苹果团队践行“Think Different”理念带来的公司复兴。 - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIClAanU7Os&t=0s) 怀尔通过层层堆叠最高级形容词（如极其伟大、疯狂伟大）戏仿乔布斯极具感染力的产品演讲修辞风格。 - [01:46](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIClAanU7Os&t=106s) 史蒂夫·乔布斯本人中途登台打断怀尔的演讲，直言对方的模仿完全偏离了真实情况。 - [01:46](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIClAanU7Os&t=106s) 乔布斯当面拆解并纠正了自己的习惯动作流程：走到桌旁、开水瓶、拿翻页笔，最后才能双手合十。 - [01:46](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIClAanU7Os&t=106s) 乔布斯幽默调侃称苹果早在一白年前就不再使用“insanely great”这一老套陈旧的宣传词汇。 - [01:46](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIClAanU7Os&t=106s) 乔布斯正式向全场引见怀尔，风趣表示请他来是想看看自己平时的样子，并夸赞怀尔演得比自己还要好。 - [01:46](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIClAanU7Os&t=106s) 面对怀尔关于电影改编是否冒犯的询问，乔布斯大度表示这只是一部电影，未予介怀。 - [01:46](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIClAanU7Os&t=106s) 乔布斯开玩笑提出交换条件，要求怀尔为其在热门美剧《急诊室的故事》（ER）中安排一个客串小角色。 - [01:46](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIClAanU7Os&t=106s) 两人在台上握手拥抱后怀尔离场，乔布斯在观众热烈掌声中正式开启当年的Macworld主题演讲。 ## Detailed walkthrough ### [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIClAanU7Os&t=0s) 诺亚·怀尔登台模仿史蒂夫·乔布斯 在热烈的掌声与背景音乐中，演员诺亚·怀尔（Noah Wyle）身穿经典的黑色高领衫与牛仔裤走上1999年纽约Macworld博览会的舞台，惟妙惟肖地扮演起史蒂夫·乔布斯（Steve Jobs）。怀尔在当年上映的电视电影《硅谷传奇》（Pirates of Silicon Valley）中饰演了乔布斯。他站在聚光灯下，以乔布斯标志性的手势和语气向热情的观众致意，并宣布这将是一届精彩绝伦的Macworld大会。 怀尔在台上模仿乔布斯侃侃而谈，强调过去几年里苹果公司的每一个人都在践行“不同凡想”（Think Different）的理念。他声称苹果不仅售出了大量电脑，现场更在发生着更深层次的变化，那就是“苹果的复兴”。为了调动全场气氛，怀尔开始极力夸张乔布斯常用的修辞风格，宣称苹果准备了一系列令人惊叹的新产品，层层加码地形容这些产品“极其伟大”、“疯狂地伟大”，甚至将其描述为“真正完全狂热且疯狂地伟大的全新产品”。 - 怀尔模仿乔布斯的开场白，宣称过去几年苹果团队始终在践行非同寻常的创新思考。 - 他在台上层层递进地堆叠最高级形容词：“We've got some great new products, some really great new products, some insanely great new products, some really totally wildly insanely great new products...” ### [01:46](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIClAanU7Os&t=106s) 乔布斯登台打断与幽默互动 正当怀尔滔滔不绝地夸耀新产品时，真正的史蒂夫·乔布斯走上舞台直接打断了他，直言怀尔的表演完全偏离了真实情况。乔布斯当面指出他的表演细节漏洞：“That's not me at all. You're blowing it. Look, you're supposed to come over here, open a water, get the slide clicker, then you can put your hands together.” 乔布斯随后调侃道，苹果早在一百年前就已经不再使用“疯狂伟大”（insanely great）这种陈旧的说辞了。 面对全场观众的欢呼与掌声，乔布斯正式向大家介绍了诺亚·怀尔，并风趣地解释自己之所以邀请怀尔来现场，一方面是想让大家看看自己平时到底是如何表现的，另一方面也是因为怀尔扮演的自己比他本人还要出色。怀尔随即致谢并庆幸乔布斯没有因电影《硅谷传奇》的演绎而生气。乔布斯则表现得十分大度，表示那只是一部电影而已，但紧接着开玩笑提出交换条件：“You know, if you do want to make things right, you could get me a little part on ER, that'd be really great.” 在两人握手拥抱之后，怀尔走下舞台，而乔布斯还不忘调侃了一句电影中的经典台词，随后在观众雷鸣般的掌声中正式接管属于他的发布会。 - 乔布斯纠正了怀尔的走位和习惯动作：先走到桌旁、拧开一瓶水、拿起幻灯片翻页笔，最后才能把双手合十。 - 乔布斯幽默地提出让怀尔在热门美剧《急诊室的故事》（ER）中为他安排一个小角色，以作为对电影改编的“补偿”。 - 怀尔退场时，全场观众报以长达数十秒的热烈掌声。 ## Mentioned 史蒂夫·乔布斯, 诺亚·怀尔, 苹果公司, Macworld, 硅谷传奇, 急诊室的故事, 不同凡想 ## Video description Here we see the actor Noah Wyle playing the role of Steve Jobs at the start of the Macworld expo. Noah played the role of Steve in the movie Pirates Of Silicon Valley which was released that same year. [Source](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIClAanU7Os)

Original transcript

[0:00] [Music] [0:00] [Applause] [0:00] [Music] [0:02] [Applause] [0:13] [Applause] [0:26] w [0:36] [Applause] [0:55] hi thanks for coming [1:00] this is going to be a great Mac [1:09] world you know everybody at Apple has [1:11] been thinking different for the last [1:13] couple years we're selling a lot of [1:16] computers but there's something else [1:18] Happening [1:19] Here the Resurgence of [1:24] apple and you're going to see a lot of [1:26] that today we've got some great new [1:29] products some really great new products [1:32] some insanely great new [1:35] products some really totally wildly [1:39] insanely great new products we have got [1:42] products that are going to [1:45] make that's that's not me at all that's [1:49] not me at all you're blowing it look [1:52] you're supposed to come over [1:54] here open a water get the slide clicker [1:57] then you can put your hands together [1:59] this this insanely great thing we [2:00] stopped using that 100 years ago you [2:03] know I mean I ladies and gentlemen Noah [2:06] [Applause] [2:14] Wy I um I invited him here today so we [2:18] could see how I really act and plus [2:21] because he's a better me than [2:23] me thank you thank you I am just glad [2:26] that you're not mad about the [2:28] movie what what me [2:31] upset hey it's just a movie but uh you [2:35] know if you do want to make things right [2:36] you could get me a little part on [2:38] ER that' be really great talk your job [2:41] welcome aboard thank you very much thank [2:46] [Applause] [2:50] you huh are you still a virgin [2:54] [Applause] [3:07] ladies and gentlemen Noah Wy