Examples of Speaking Clearly and "Gravitas"

OK, this is kinda advanced: not only is it a live TV show with lots of distracting background laughter, but it's comedy, good old American humor a la "The Colbert Report" (granted, not the best source for ESL material).

Despite all that, I liked the point of this: Americans speaking clearly and slowly, though sillily: Stephen Colbert and Stone Philips video here.

The last entries on their contest are actually used by news folks as vocal warmups. They're also complicated and advanced tongue-twisters, and to think I used them for my second ESL lesson! Oh well....

"Amidsts the mist and fiercest frosts"

and

"Oh what a to-do to die today..."

The vide