Weekend Diversion: My favorite Viral Video of all time

esiegel — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 12:52:44 +0000

"I'm not anybody's judge; I don't know what motivates people to do what they do. But I have a lot of admiration for anybody who can start with absolutely nothing and make a little something out of it." -Wilford Brimley

I've got a lot of respect for the creativity that goes on over the internet, ever since the original Winnie-the-Pooh and Spirit of Christmas videos I saw way back in the 1990s. But unlike the corporatized Harlem Shake, there's a classic from more than seven years ago that keeps spawning new videos: Wilford Brimley's commercials!

Image credit: Liberty Medical.

As I've told you before, I remember these commercials from back from my Price-Is-Right-watching days, where I would learn about various fiber products, adjustable beds, mobility-enhancing scooters, nicotine patches and gums, cholesterol medications, denture creams, and of course, diabetes testing supplies.

While diabetes is no laughing matter, the original Liberty Medical campaign -- coupled with Brimley's unique pronunciation of diabetes -- made for this goldmine back in January of 2006, with a little creativity.

As is always the case, there were spinoffs, spoofs, and alternate versions created in droves. "Beetus" (or beetis) became a meme in its own right, and even spawned a flash game.

Image credit: http://www.diabeetis.com/.

But what's made this my favorite is the sheer number of excellent, quality videos that have continued in the same vein as the original. A few years ago, I showed you the -- embarrassingly catchy -- diabetes dance mix, which was my favorite at the time.

And yet, the internet has not stopped creating better and better versions of this! From a year ago, here's Wilford Brimley rapping to U Can't Touch This, which is excellently done.

There's also the absurd Ice Ice Brimley, which is also incredibly well-done.

But I don't want you to get the mistaken impression that this is amusing because it's mean-spirited; I've certainly never taken it that way. So finally, I want to share with you the most surprising Brimley video I've run across, because unlike all the others, I actually felt inspired at the end of it!

It's very rare that something I saw on YouTube sticks with me for more than a couple of minutes, but the Wilford Brimley videos are still with me years later. I still can't rationally tell you why they amuse me as much as they do, but there it is, and I hope they amuse you too! Have a great weekend, and I'll see you back here next week!

esiegel Sun, 03/31/2013 - 08:52

beetus

Weekend Diversion: My favorite Viral Video of all time