Variety and DListed are making it sound like Chris Crocker just inked a new deal for a TV show in the wake of his Britney video. That's sort of true, in a limited sense, but they have the chronology wrong and seem to be downplaying the still-nonexistant nature of Crocker's show.
First off, the deal is nothing new. In my Crocker profile back in May, I mentioned the deal:
Over on YouTube, where Chris also posts, the total number of views for his videos long ago passed the one million mark. Among the people far away from Real Bitch Island who are tuning in: Cassie, the R&B star, who has a subscription to the Chris Crocker video stream on her YouTube page; Glenn Meehan, a Los Angeles producer who recently inked a deal with Chris to develop ideas for a TV show; and Matt Sunbulli, MTV's "web correspondent," who has requested a Chris Crocker video for the MTV website.
So there's no new deal since May. Second, there is some distance between having a development deal and actually having a TV show. What Crocker has right now is still only a development deal.
I just spoke to Meehan again, and he confirmed this, saying nothing new had happened. "We've had him under a deal since you were up there with him," Meehan told me. "It's the same one."
Welcome, Chris Crocker Fans (and Haters, and Curious Onlookers)
It's been rather amazing to watch the reaction to Chris Crocker's Britney video over the last week—and to watch the hits on this little web site spike as a result of people searching out the profile of Crocker that I wrote back in May.
For me, it's been a lesson in the enduring power of the mainstream media, even in these increasingly web-centric times. Sure, my Crocker profile got some hits in the four months before the Britney video. But that was nothing compared to the traffic the story saw after Crocker's video landed him on CNN, Fox News, Howard Stern, Jimmy Kimmel, VH1, and so on, which led to tons of people outside the already existing universe of Crocker-watchers suddenly going, "What the...?" and typing his name into their search engines. Which, I'm guessing, is how you got here.
In case you missed it, here's Crocker doing his web-cam interview with Kimmel on ABC, being analyzed on VH1's "Best Week Ever," and getting parodied by Seth Green:
Thanks to all of you who have written over the past few days with nice words, criticism, and other feedback about my profile. A couple of questions keep coming up, and I'll try to answer them here:
1) Where does Chris Crocker live? At Crocker's request, I promised not to reveal the exact location of the home where he makes his videos. He told me he's received death threats in the past, so it seemed a reasonable request. Which means, Crocker-stalkers, that I can only tell you what I wrote in the profile: He lives with his grandparents in a conservative town in the South. Sorry.
2) Is Chris Crocker serious about Britney? Crocker has answered this question himself in the comments attached to his video:
Yes, I was "REALLY" crying, you fucking morons. The one time I'm NOT acting- everyone says I am.
And I can assure you that his love for Britney Spears did not begin last week. Back when I spent a few days with Croker in his town, Britney came up repeatedly. He cited her as one of his heroes and major influences. He was extremely proud of having almost as many MySpace friends as her (now he has about 100,000 more than she does). And when we drove to the next town over to go to a gay bar, well, here's what happened:
On my last night in town, I pick Chris up in his grandparents' driveway and we head to the next town over, which has a gay club, one that people come from all around to attend. We pass a giant car racetrack, and miles of signs advertising chicken strips and the price of gas. I told Chris to bring some CDs, and he's brought Britney Spears (the whole discography). We're listening to In the Zone...
So, do I find it believable that Crocker might be outraged over Britney's treatment after her Video Music Awards performance? Yes. He's like that. As for the tears? I'm sorry, but I can't certify whether they were real or not. Like you, I only have his video and his own words to go on.
Variety and DListed are making it sound like Chris Crocker just inked a new deal for a TV show in the wake of his Britney video. That's sort of true, in a limited sense, but they have the chronology wrong and seem to be downplaying the still-nonexistant nature of Crocker's show.
