Who Is Fred?


Most adults can’t stand and don’t get why a squeaky voiced adolescent is the most subscribed Youtube channel of all time but children who watch YouTube love hyperactive web video character know as Fred.

Who is Fred?

Well, I was lucky enough to catch up with Lucas Cruikshank the 15-year-old actor/creator Creator and alter-ego of “Fred” at the NewTeeVee Live conference and interviewed him on my handy dandy digital video Flip camera.

When Lucas was only 12, he created his first YouTube channel and built his following into the #1 Most Viewed (All Time) Comedy Channel on YouTube with 100 sketch and improv videos. Two years later, he spun-off his “Fred” character to its own “Fred’s YouTube” channel and it has now become the fastest-growing and most-successful launch in YouTube history. Each week on Thursday FRED videos are posted and by Saturday they have over 1 million views. Then he goes on to get over 6,000,000 video views a week. Not bad for a kid from the Mid-West.

Lucas created the character with Anger Management and family problems not just to be funny, he created Fred because he wanted to act and living in rural Nebraska didn’t give Lucas too many performing options. Well Lucas’s performing has paid off, not only does he make money off T-Shirt sales he has also landed product placement deals and an acting job on cable TV. The only thing Lucas has spent his money on so far is an Apple Computer that he uses to edit “Fred” on using Final Cut Express.

Lucas hopes that his success with Fred will lead him to acting in comedy movies like the ones Jim Carrey and Will Farrell do but some of the Hollywood agents I spoke with have their doubts. They feel “Fred” is a one trick pony.

I’m routing for Lucas and I feel that with the right agent and producer team an “I want to be Fred!” Tour could be developed so that adoring Fred Fans around the nation could see and interact live with the off the wall Fred. I can also think of about five ideas for Fred movies: A Fred Christmas, A Fred Vacation, A Fred Summer Camp, Fred’s Foster Parents and Fred Runs Away.

Keep me in mind Lucas, I know you are going places and I’d love to help.

Lucas did tell me yesterday that he has signed a merchandising licensing deal and that his Fred T-Shirts will not be available in stores around the country.


  • Dr.J.
    One day my son was watching iCarly and afterwards he comes to me and asks, "Dad, have you heard of Fred?" "Fred who?" I replied. "I dunno, it's just Fred. Here, watch." Then he showed me a video of Fred on YouTube. I laughed my a** off. Later that week the previously mentioned iCarly episode was re-run. I was amazed how much screen presence he had considering his minimal TV experience. Then, my son showed me this interview...
    One thing that I have always said is: 'Just because someone has a job doing "X", it doesn't mean he/she is any good at it.' This applies to the above knucklehead Hollywood agents. I mean... THIS KID IS ONLY 15! I can't even imagine what someone with his talent, at his age is capable of next. I agree with 1TimStreet, Lucas IS going places.
  • Hey Joe,

    Thanks for the comment.

    Now imagine you were having a party at The Blind Onion Pizza Company, maybe a little league party and some guy from a local garage comes into the party and says, "Wow, you kids are great baseball players very cool! Keep up the good work!" Then he starts yelling at all the parents, "Now, just wondering, do your kids know about the “My Auto Repair Shop” here in the Northwest and at least Nevada?

    The name of the mascot for My Auto Repair Shop is in fact — “Baseball.” And in fact it is a — “Baseball.” If you or your parents have a baseball (and you bring it to m shop), I'll give you a gallon of gas on your birthday.

    Try and strike up an advertising deal with them. My Auto Repair is the best in the country! (No joke.)"

    Would you ask the guy to leave your Pizza place or would you let him keep yelling?
  • Joe
    Even one-trick ponies can be worth a lot of bucks by performing just ONE GOOD TRICK that enough people love to see. There's also been lots and lots of musical artists who have come and gone in a flash with a ONE-HIT SINGLE to their credit.

    The boy can make a big hit out of this for himself even if it is a one-curtain show. Who cares?! If people made a multi-millionaire out of the inventor of "pet rocks" back in the '70s, then they'll make Fred one, too. The odds of missing the opportunity have gotta be like missing the broad side of a barn whereas the lad has a showing of over a million subscribers and pulls in a million-plus views a week.

    Now, just wondering, does Fred know about the "Blind Onion Pizza Company" here in the Northwest and at least Nevada?

    The name of the mascot for the Blind Onion Pizza Company is in fact -- "FRED." And he is an -- "onion." If your name is Fred (and you can prove it with a photo I.D. card), the pizza joint will give you a free beer on your birthday. (Sorry, son, you're not old enough to drink beer yet.)

    Try and strike up an advertising deal with them. The pizzas are among the best in the country! (No joke.)
  • oh my gosh i love fred i want 2 see all his movies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!






    marry me fred!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • I forgot to tell those of you who don't already know: If you were wondering How does Fred make his voice sound funny? Lucas just speeds up his audio track when he's editing his video to make Fred's voice sound that way. He doesn't inhale helium.
  • worldofhiglet
    I think the people who say he is a one trick pony of the aforementioned adults who don't get why kids love this show. If you can get past the conceit of the voice (which is, I admit, quite difficult) then the shows are not just random shouting - they have form and meaning, too.

    Lucas has created a happening using what was available to him and if he wants to go further then I'm sure he will. He has made a great start and, if he gets some decent advice, he should do well. It's good that he is aiming high - if he didn't then he would get nowhere. I wish him all the best and hope his next work places less reliance on chipmunk technology.
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