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Chris Crocker -- from YouTube to boob tube

Mathew Ingram, September 19, 2007 at 2:51 PM EDT

Pity anyone who has been trying to get attention for their YouTube videos in the past week or so. Why? Because the past week has belonged solely to Chris Crocker, the pseudonym of a young gay man who reportedly lives with his grandmother in a small town in Tennessee, and makes videos in his closet.

One of those videos -- in which a crying and screaming Crocker tells people to "leave Britney alone" as mascara runs down his face -- has gotten almost eight million views on YouTube. As a service to you, my faithful readers, I have embedded it here so that you can experience the full Chris Crocker effect in person.

Crocker has now been signed to a TV production deal with 44 Blue Productions, according to a note in Variety magazine. The company says it plans to create a show around the YouTube star and his life as a gay man in a small U.S. town. "It's going to pretty much be the 'Chris Crocker experience,'" a spokesman for the production house said. "We consider him a rebel character that people will find interesting. He's going to be a TV star."

Not only is YouTube home to Chris Crocker's video clips -- which are available on his YouTube page here -- but now there are parodies of his Britney video as well (in which he defends her after her recent train-wreck performance on the MTV Video Awards). One of the most popular is by Seth Green, the comedian/actor/writer who starred in the Austin Powers movies and who writes and produces the Robot Chicken show.

Crocker has also been interviewed on Jimmy Kimmel Live (via iChat from his home in Tennessee), and was recently the subject of a fairly long feature piece -- called "Escape from Real Bitch Island" -- in The Stranger, an alternative newspaper in Seattle. In the story, it says that a former Hollywood producer for Entertainment Tonight had approached Crocker about basing a reality show on his life. If you're interested, Wikipedia has more.

  1. Jim Terrets from Vancouver, writes: Now that Chris Crocker has a TV deal we can shut the internet down since it has fulfilled its purpose. More seriously, this goes to show how desperately TV is trying to remain relevant in the YouTubization of entertainment. Why watch a half-hour show when you can catch the best bits in 2-5 minute YouTube clips followed by a dose of Chris Crocker? This deal is great for Chris but something that's entertaining for 3 minutes may not translate all that well to a half-hour. Just how much Chris Crocker can an audience handle? I guess we'll find out.
  2. jimmy10 leon from Chico, United States writes: Chris Crocker had over 8 million download viewers on the lastest Britney video. A ripening Cheddar Cheese in the UK drew over one million.

    I quess what I'm trying to say here is that though Chris Crocker is interesting would he be a sellable reality TV series.

    Chris has in the past few years built an audience much in the way Rush Limbaugh has....only opposite.
    I can't see Rush Limbaugh have his own reality TV show either.
  3. Ben W from Canada writes: The question's not how well the show is going to do. The question is - when will the tv industry adopt some ethics and stop exploiting people with obvious mental health problems? Attention-seeking kids like Chris use YouTube as a means of expression and that's normal; for the tv industry to exploit extreme cases like his for bucks is just plain sick.

    We've seen this story before - I'm With Busey, the Star Wars kid, etc. - and if we want to de-stigmatize mental illness, programmers need to be the first to step up.
  4. altered chaos from United States writes: WOW - i don't have anyone in my entire life - including family who would even put forth that kind of emotion over me, regardless of the circumstances of my life- even if i died a horrendous death! this guy really has a serious clinical infactuation with ms. spears (or is either a damn good actor) to portray that kind of emotion. my only wish is that someone even had a fraction of that emotion for me - real or not!

    but - seriously his intensity is beyond bizzare! he need's med's...
  5. Bob Andelman from St. Petersburg, United States writes: re: Irked Britney Spears Fan
    Learn more about TV Producer (MSNBC's "Lockup" series) Rasha Drachkovitch in this online video interview: http://www.mrmedia.com/2007/09/rasha-drachkovitch-lockup-executive.html
  6. tammy schlebach from Dallas, United States writes: I am not sure what it is about this guy, but he has a gift. He cracks me up. I think he will be a star someday. He is just too funny. I have never seen anything like it. Good for you for making a name for yourself in this greatbig world full of people. Good luck to you. You're imagination is amazing.
  7. Rene Roy from Fort Erie, Canada writes: Check out liam kyle sullivan as well.... "Shoes" "Text Message Breakup"...
  8. Bradley Parr from Los Angeles, United States writes: Crocker should grow up. He complains about his gay life in Tennessee or whatever stupid state he lives in. Well, there are other states--California, New York--where he doesn't have to endure rampant homophobia. And he should stop bloody living with his grandparents. I'm sure he can get a job. At The Gap or something.

    But more importantly, this kind of lisping, makeup-wearing, pathetic snivelling gay thing is such a relic of the past. The rest of us look at him and think, god, grow up.
  9. CandelLife Me from Cocoa Florida, United States writes: So the wacko (Chris Crocker) that says he doesn't care about 911 and all the people that died doesn't matter to him, he specifically said he "didn't care about 911" and that Brittany is more important than 911... this person deserves his own tv show????? Is that how low we have sunk? His own video and his own words: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7ZxLeXbA6g&mode=user&search=
  10. JOSETTE DAWSON from CHICAGO, IL, United States Outlying writes: THIS MESSAGE IS TO CHRIS CROKER

    I DONT MEAN TO BE RUDE BUT I HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY.

    1ST OF ALL ITS A GOOD THING TO EXPRESS YOUR THOUGHTS BUT THERE IS A THIN LINE TO IT WHEN YOU LOOK LIKE A COMPLETE IDOT ON NATIONAL TV AND THE INTERNET. PEOPLE THINK YOU ARE A NUT JOB.

    2ND IF YOU WERE SO CLOSE AND BEST FRIENDS TO BRITNEY YOU WOULD HELP HERE GET HER LIFE BACK IN ORDER.

    3RD CHRIS DID YOU NOTICE THAT BRITNEY IS HANGING OUT WITH MEN AND DRINKING AND GOD KNOWS WHAT IN STEAD OF BEING WITH HERE KIDS.
    THOSE KIDS DID NOT WANT TO BE BORN INTO HER LIFE BUT THEY ARE THERE AND THEY ARE BEING VERY MESSED UP. AND I THINK HER MOM AND DAD AND KEVIN AND THE COURTS NEED TO TAKE THEM AWAY FROM HER AND THEN WE WILL SEE WHO IS THE BETTER PARENT.

    4TH BRITNEY NEEDS TO GET HER ACT TOGETHER AND THINK ONLY OF HER KIDS AND STOP ACTING LIKE AN OUT OF CONTROL TEENAGER AND ACT LIKE AN ADULT!!!!!!!!

    5TH CHRIS YOU NEED TO STOP BEING SO PSYCO PEOPLE THINK YOUR NUTS
  11. ralph smith from Portland, Oregon, United States writes: YOU naysayers and negative people are just Jealous Of Crockers shooting star success and you petty people only look at surface features which is to say your all wayyyyy too superficial. Im listening to crockers words on You tube and " Hearing " that hes Intelligent has a heart and can be hurt like anyone else, I support him 2000% and wish him all the success life has to offer HIGH-5 Chris go get em! Oh and you have to admit he is funny wild and crazy but So is Robin Williams .
  12. Lyon Danebridge from Jackson, NJ, United States writes: CHRIS CROCKER, Hey!! Chris Crocker! It's Almost Halloween Ghetto Queen 2, by Lyon Danebridge can be found on, YouTube: LyonDanebridge, as well: GoodNight, GoodNight, SweetDreams by Lyon Danebridge I Can't Go To Sleep, My Legs Are Too Long by Lyon Danebridge Rock A Bye Baby, Don't You Cry by Lyon Danebridge and more! As an Artist (fine art, oil and acrylic, sculptor, and murialist) I have also simultaneously maintained and persued my Art as a Musician/Songwriter and Singer. Lyon Danebridge is an ARTISTIC, multifaceted, creation and creator. Chris Crocker, I extend to you an open invitation to visit me: LYON DANEBRIDGE, on YouTube. Any one interested or curious, this same invitation is open to you as well. I welcome subscribers, comments and ratings, on my YouTube site, LyonDanebridge Chris Crocker, I salute you for trying and achieving, I hope you go far and wide, 5 stars! I trust and hope you use your chances wisely and prosper in your endeavor for your meaning of success! Chris, I have enjoyed some of your videos long before the "leave britney alone" video, one I enjoyed was Queen of Ghetto. I wrote (and performed) the: Hey!! Chris Crocker! It's Almost Halloween Ghetto Queen 2 an it can be found on YouTube, in tribute and fun, I hope anyone viewing enjoys it in the same manner. YouTube is GREAT! Much success and happiness Chris Crocker! Remember: "It's where you are, in relation to the rest of the Universe!" Stop in Chris : Lyon Danebridge on YouTube. Everyone is invited! Lyon Danebridge on YouTube
  13. ralph smith from Portland, Oregon, United States writes: I wish Chris Crocker would get his own TV show we could base it on what its like being gay in the GOOD OLE USA and show all the hatered he's faced with being "just" who he is, In this new generation it seems to be all about who you can hate and beat up?? not who u can accept and love . is this generation ZERO ? If so the name is very fitting .
  14. Lawrence Davis from Denver, United States writes: Great blog with lots of useful information and excellent commentary! Thanks for sharing. http://www.1-satellite-tv-facts.com/Direct-TV.html http://www.1-satellite-tv-facts.com/Dish-Network.html http://www.1-satellite-tv-facts.com/Satellite-Radio.html http://www.1-satellite-tv-facts.com/T1-Internet-Service.html http://www.1-satellite-tv-facts.com/Satellite-DSL.html http://www.1-satellite-tv-facts.com/Satellite-Internet.html http://www.1-satellite-tv-facts.com/VoIP.html http://www.1-satellite-tv-facts.com/Phone-Systems.html http://www.1-satellite-tv-facts.com/Affiliate-Programs.html

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