Uploaded November 2014 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
An open letter to the especially sensitive members of the cosplay community:
*** CLICK "SHOW MORE" TO READ ***
Hello, and thanks for your interest in my recent "Hitting Cosplayers in the Face" video.
This video, like every video I've made for this series over the past twenty years, was intended as nothing more than lighthearted prank-style humor. No one was violated or harassed in any way during the making of this absolutely harmless video. All interviewees granted permission BEFORE and AFTER the interview, and they all had fun during the process. Some interviewees were already MediocreFilms fans and asked ahead of time if they could be interviewed in the video. Others even thanked me publicly afterwards: twitter.com/_macy_rose_/status/529373829051584514
The lightweight microphone is actually a tiny lavaliere mic put inside a toilet paper roll with black tape around it, and a soft foam pad. It weighs only ONE OUNCE, and could not possibly hurt anyone in the least. The "hit" sound effect is increased in the editing process to make it sound more dramatic.
Although this prank is intended to create surprised reactions, it's as harmless as it could be. I'm even careful not to damage any cosplayer's makeup.
I started doing this prank in 1993 in Las Vegas for a TV show called "Skip TV": youtube.com/watch?v=CB0W4QQnpUM
In 2006, "Greg Hits Hollywood" was the first video of mine that was featured on YouTube, selected by YouTube's front page editor: youtube.com/watch?v=ENmZ_zirEc0 It received over a million views and a good deal of positive, good humored TV attention by such shows as The Today Show, Good Morning America and led to a new mic-hitting video being commissioned by the Maury Povich Show.
I have continued to revisit this audience-pleasing prank over the years, and last year I smacked over 40 YouTubers in the face with the mic for this popular video: youtube.com/watch?v=tNBKAQ6UTNw
I'm also often commissioned by various companies and series to perform this prank, including only last month by the website mandatory.com: mandatory.com/2014/10/21/professional-prankster-abusing-tourists
Even NBC's Saturday Night Live has now (famously) adopted the prank for their own popular sketch starring Bill Hader: heavy.com/entertainment/2014/10/bill-hader-herb-welch-snl-saturday-night-live-reporter-skit-video
As you can see, over the years I have performed this playful prank with all types of people. I believe in treating everyone equally and I see no reason why cosplayers should receive special treatment or be treated differently than everyone else. Comedy is an equal opportunity thing. The only backlash I have ever received on this prank is from a very small and vocal group of cosplayers, many of whom have only read a biased blog post about what I do and have not even bothered to watch the video before forming an opinion about it.
I have no control over whether people think this is funny or not. Humor is subjective, and I get comments on just about every video I release that it's the funniest thing in the world to one person, and it's completely unfunny to another. I'm sure people are similarly split on the comedy of Will Farrell, Monty Python, The Marx Brothers and many other comedians I consider hilarious. Everyone is entitled to their opinion on humor and it's really none of my business what people think of me. I will simply continue to do what I think is funny and what makes me laugh, and hopefully my audience will continue to grow and enjoy my work.
Greg Benson
MediocreFilms
p.s. For those of you who appreciate the humor of this prank, please feel free to support the main channel video with a view and a thumbs up to counteract the haters: ►► youtube.com/watch?v=VECkp84r924
SUBSCRIBE to mediocrefilms2: bit.ly/subMF2
SUBSCRIBE to MediocreFilms: bit.ly/SubMF
MORE PRANKS: bit.ly/MFpranks
An open letter to the especially sensitive members of the cosplay community:
*** CLICK "SHOW MORE" TO READ ***
Hello, and thanks for your interest in my recent "Hitting Cosplayers in the Face" video.
This video, like every video I've made for this series over the past twenty years, was intended as nothing more than lighthearted prank-style humor. No one was violated or harassed in any way during the making of this absolutely harmless video. All interviewees granted permission BEFORE and AFTER the interview, and they all had fun during the process. Some interviewees were already MediocreFilms fans and asked ahead of time if they could be interviewed in the video. Others even thanked me publicly afterwards: twitter.com/_macy_rose_/status/529373829051584514
The lightweight microphone is actually a tiny lavaliere mic put inside a toilet paper roll with black tape around it, and a soft foam pad. It weighs only ONE OUNCE, and could not possibly hurt anyone in the least. The "hit" sound effect is increased in the editing process to make it sound more dramatic.
Although this prank is intended to create surprised reactions, it's as harmless as it could be. I'm even careful not to damage any cosplayer's makeup.
I started doing this prank in 1993 in Las Vegas for a TV show called "Skip TV": youtube.com/watch?v=CB0W4QQnpUM
In 2006, "Greg Hits Hollywood" was the first video of mine that was featured on YouTube, selected by YouTube's front page editor: youtube.com/watch?v=ENmZ_zirEc0 It received over a million views and a good deal of positive, good humored TV attention by such shows as The Today Show, Good Morning America and led to a new mic-hitting video being commissioned by the Maury Povich Show.
I have continued to revisit this audience-pleasing prank over the years, and last year I smacked over 40 YouTubers in the face with the mic for this popular video: youtube.com/watch?v=tNBKAQ6UTNw
I'm also often commissioned by various companies and series to perform this prank, including only last month by the website mandatory.com: mandatory.com/2014/10/21/professional-prankster-abusing-tourists
Even NBC's Saturday Night Live has now (famously) adopted the prank for their own popular sketch starring Bill Hader: heavy.com/entertainment/2014/10/bill-hader-herb-welch-snl-saturday-night-live-reporter-skit-video
As you can see, over the years I have performed this playful prank with all types of people. I believe in treating everyone equally and I see no reason why cosplayers should receive special treatment or be treated differently than everyone else. Comedy is an equal opportunity thing. The only backlash I have ever received on this prank is from a very small and vocal group of cosplayers, many of whom have only read a biased blog post about what I do and have not even bothered to watch the video before forming an opinion about it.
I have no control over whether people think this is funny or not. Humor is subjective, and I get comments on just about every video I release that it's the funniest thing in the world to one person, and it's completely unfunny to another. I'm sure people are similarly split on the comedy of Will Farrell, Monty Python, The Marx Brothers and many other comedians I consider hilarious. Everyone is entitled to their opinion on humor and it's really none of my business what people think of me. I will simply continue to do what I think is funny and what makes me laugh, and hopefully my audience will continue to grow and enjoy my work.
Greg Benson
MediocreFilms
p.s. For those of you who appreciate the humor of this prank, please feel free to support the main channel video with a view and a thumbs up to counteract the haters: ►► youtube.com/watch?v=VECkp84r924
SUBSCRIBE to mediocrefilms2: bit.ly/subMF2
SUBSCRIBE to MediocreFilms: bit.ly/SubMF
MORE PRANKS: bit.ly/MFpranks
