Ed Helms: The History of SNAFUs

Mon May 05 2025 at 06:30 pm to 07:30 pm UTC-07:00

Cubberley Community Center | Palo Alto

The Commonwealth Club
Publisher/HostThe Commonwealth Club
Ed Helms: The History of SNAFUs
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From nuclear weapons on the moon to training cats to be CIA spies to turning the weather into a weapon—Helms has the inside scoop.
About this Event

During the Second World War, members of the United States Marine Corps coined a sarcastic acronym to explain a state of chaos and confusion: SNAFU, or situation normal, all fouled (or a saltier f-word) up. More than 80 years later, Ed Helms began to explore history’s greatest own-goals.

And now Helms comes to Commonwealth Club World Affairs in Silicon Valley to share his absurdly entertaining look at some of history’s greatest face plants. He’ll draw on his new book—conveniently titled SNAFU: The Definitive Guide to History’s Greatest Screwups—to enlighten us about some of history’s darker moments.

Helms is an actor, writer, producer and comedian who was a correspondent for “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.” He portrayed Andy Bernard in the celebrated sitcom “The Office” and Stu Price in The Hangover film trilogy. He has won awards for his performances and for his comedy writing. And—you can sense a theme here—he is the host of the podcast “SNAFU with Ed Helms.”

From nuclear weapons on the moon to training cats to be CIA spies to turning the weather into a weapon—Helms has the inside scoop on the greatest foul-ups of modern times.

NOTE: TICKET INCLUDES A COPY OF SNAFU.

Cubberley Community Center Theatre
4120 Middlefield Road
(near Montrose & Middlefield)
Palo Alto, CA 94306

SPEAKERS

Ed Helms, Actor; Comedian; Writer; Podcast Host; Author, SNAFU: The Definitive Guide to History’s Greatest Screwups

Moderator TBA

5:45 p.m. doors open & check-in
6:30–7:30 p.m. program
(all times Pacific Time)

This program is in-person only. If you have symptoms of illness (coughing, fever, etc.), we ask that you either stay home or wear a mask.

Attendees subject to search; no large bags

Photos courtesy the speaker.

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Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Cubberley Community Center, 4000 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, United States

Tickets

USD 63.20

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