August was a sensational month for viral news, driven by Bigfoot, Chupacbra, the Olympics, Sarah Palin Photos and everything Obama. These viral posts drove Trend Hunter to a record 6 million monthly views while providing ample entertainment for our viral obsessed community.
The number one post was about Sarah Palin photos. The Alaskan governor was a former beauty pageant contestant. Accordingly, we published two articles as a test. The Sarah Palin Photos post was a published back-to-back with an article about ‘Female Vice Presidents’. Not surprisingly, the web has become more obsessed with Sarah Palin photos than with the Sarah Palin bio… The photo article accordingly drove more than 200,000 views versus 8,000 for the news of a female leader.
For more interesting stories, check out this slideshow which wraps up the Top 50 viral posts of the month. If you want to stay on the cutting edge, you can also check out more of our free micro-trend reports or sign-up for our weekly Trend Candy Trend Newsletter.
Top 50 Viral Posts in August
Bigfoot, Chupacabra, Olympics, Sarah Palin Photos and Obama:
Jeremy Gutsche — Aug 31, 2008 — Micro Reports
46
10 Celebrity Nose Jobs
From Jennifer Aniston to Blake Lively
45
Digitally Aged Celebrities
Stars in 2040
44
Au Natural Olympians
Naked Powerade Athletes Show Their Muscles
43
Political Fashion Icons
Michelle Obama Style
42
$14 Million Baby Photos (Update)
Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt Baby Twins Pictures
41
Beijing Olympic Opening Ceremony Video
Official Footage
40
Contradictory Weight Loss
Jennifer Love Hewitt's Weight Loss, Thoughts on Body Image
39
Body Image Double Standards
Advertising Age Suggests Women Want Skinny Models
38
Celebrity Lesbian Weddings
Portia de Rossi and Ellen DeGeneres to Wed
37
Implants at 14?
Ali Lohan's Boob Job a Bad Example For Teens
36
60 Concept Cars To Drool Over
35
Turkish Bath Fashion
Kate Moss ‘Hammam' Shoot for W Magazine
34
Superstar Lingerie
Janet Jackson Launches 'Pleasure Principle' Collection
33
Evidence of Chupacabra
Is the Goat Sucking Animal Real?
32
High School Musical Meets Grease
Retro-Cool Elle Photoshoot
31
Supermodel Wars
Janice Dickinson Attacks Tyra Banks
30
10 Hollywood Weight Fluctuations
29
Faking Stupid
Paris Hilton for President + 10 Reasons She's Smarter Than You
28
Celebrity Imitation Surgery
Russian Teen Becomes Paris Hilton
27
Mythvertising
Faking Chupacabra and Bigfoot for Publicity
26
Bigfoot Captured
Scientists to Reveal Bigfoot and DNA (Proof or Hoax?)
25
Models as First Ladies
Tyra Banks as Michelle Obama in Harper's Bazaar
24
10 Hilarious Olympic Images
Synchronized Silliness?
23
Fashion Designers as Rappers
Karl Lagerfeld, Armani, Versace & More for Harper's Bazaar
22
How to Wear High Waist Jeans
Look to Katie Holmes & Other Celebs
21
Hype Over Celebrity Religion
Lindsay Lohan Converting to Judaism?
20
Olympic Body Taping
Kinesiology Tape Keeps Beijing's Olympians Together
19
Live Bigfoot Reveals
Big Foot Press Conference
18
Eva Mendes Day
Photos and Banned Commercials Set Trend Hunter Record
17
Frenemies
Shannen Doherty & Jennie Garth on EW Cover
16
Little Sisters in the Limelight
Ali Lohan
15
Youth as Wild Animals
Wrangler "We Are Animals" Ads
14
Celebratory Commercials
Visa Congratulates Michael Phelps in Beijing 2008 Olympics
13
Bigfoot Parodies
Bigfoot Photos and Videos Inspiring Comedy
12
Leaked Olympic Opening Ceremony
Watch Before it Happens
11
Hollow Cinderella Wedges
Zoe by Christian Werner
10
49 Pop Culture Revivals
From Shannen Doherty to Shoulder Pads
9
Olympic Cover Spoofs
Michael Phelps in Haute Couture
8
Distracted Media
Megan Fox More Buzzed Than Ellen DeGeneres
7
Cheesy Retro
Reality Star Heidi Montag Shocks in "Overdosin"
6
Beijing Olympic Scandals
9 Year Old Singer Was A Phony
5
Capitalizing on Bigfoot
$1 Million Sasquatch Photo Challenge
4
Caffeinated Soap Bars
Shower Shock
3
Denying Dead
Bernie Mac's Publicist Dispelling Myth of Bernie's Death
2
10 Celebrities Who Fought Breast Cancer
From Christina Applegate to Kylie
1
Olympic Athletes as News Gossip
CNN Roasts Amanda Beard on Michael Phelps
Related Ideas
Naked Celebs For Breast Cancer
Amy Winehouse, Sade & Helena Bonham Carter
Photoshoot Recycling
Megan Fox's FHM UK July 2008 Spread is FHM US 2005
Contradictory Weight Loss
Jennifer Love Hewitt's Weight Loss, Thoughts on Body Image
Extreme Digital Makeovers
The Photoshop Diet
Supermodels Gaining Weight
Will Karolina Kurkova's Controversy Spur Acceptance?
Body Image Double Standards
Advertising Age Suggests Women Want Skinny Models
Celebrity Lesbian Weddings
Portia de Rossi and Ellen DeGeneres to Wed
Natural Boobs
Keira Knightley Rejects Cleavage Airbrushing
Vinegar for Weight Loss
Megan Fox's Diet Secret
Curvier Underwear Models
Eva Mendes for Calvin Klein Seductive Comfort
Fattening Requests
Megan Fox Ordered to Beef Up for Robots
Evidence of Chupacabra
Is the Goat Sucking Animal Real?
Reviving Long, Retro Hair
Heavy Bangs
Mythvertising
Faking Chupacabra and Bigfoot for Publicity
Bigfoot Captured
Scientists to Reveal Bigfoot and DNA (Proof or Hoax?)
Models as First Ladies
Tyra Banks as Michelle Obama in Harper's Bazaar
Unmasking Celebrities
Shakira, Hilton & Jolie Without Plastic Surgery
Banned Celebrity Ads
Eva Mendes for CK Secret Obsession
Fashion Designers as Models
Tom Ford From Head to Toe in Prestige
Top 50 Viral Posts in August
Bigfoot, Chupacabra, Olympics, Sarah Palin Photos and Obama
Retro to Justify Naughty?
Eva Mendes for Vogue Italia
Regional Obesity Trends
The Fattest US States + 22 Obesity Trends
Live Bigfoot Reveals
Big Foot Press Conference
Top 100 Olympic Innovations
Olympic Closing Ceremonies Today
Digitally Aged Celebrities
Stars Who Died Young as Seniors
Vintage Aspirations
Megan Fox Wants to Recreate 1930s Cinema - Naked
Accidental Auditions?
Ali Lohan Meeting With Porn Producer Tops Buzz
Little Sisters in the Limelight
Ali Lohan
Celebratory Commercials
Visa Congratulates Michael Phelps in Beijing 2008 Olympics
Bigfoot Parodies
Bigfoot Photos and Videos Inspiring Comedy
Leaked Olympic Opening Ceremony
Watch Before it Happens
Live Celebrity Surgery
Bridgette Neilsen's Plastic Surgery
Love or PR Stunt?
Lindsay Lohan's Lesbian Marriage
Rebel Supermodel Haircuts
Agyness Deyn's "The Aggy"
Organ Protection Fashion 3
The Men of Marc Jacobs
Olympic Covers
Michael Phelps & Ryan Lochte in Men's Journal
49 Pop Culture Revivals
From Shannen Doherty to Shoulder Pads
Female Vice Presidents?
McCain Chooses Sarah Palin
Horizontal Hair Stripes
Contrasting Hair Colors
Judging Political Fashion
Project Runway Chooses Michelle Obama
Transgender Contestants
Isis Tsunami in America's Next Top Model
Historic Olympic Records
Michael Phelps Wins 8 Gold Medals in Beijing
Retro Ankle Boots for Men
Chelsea Boots Return
Cars of 2028
3 Futuristic Volkswagen Concepts
Disturbing Photo Shoots
Janet in New BlackBook
Drinking Blood for Attention
Angelina Jolie Inspires Megan Fox & HBO
Paris for President?
Paris Hilton Responds to McCain Celebrity Ad
Resurrecting Luxury Sportscars
The Tatra 903 Concept
Top 25 Paris Hilton Videos, Posts, Scandals and Innovations
Supercar Designs by Art Students
The Royal College of Art Concept Cars
Fashion Designers As Art Icons
Marc Jacobs as Andy Warhol for Interview Magazine
Fashion Branded Music Videos
Hayden Panettiere in Candie's for "Wake Up Call"
Bringing Back the Fanny Pack
Modern Bum Bags
Retro SuperCar Revivals
BMW M1 Homage
UFO Crash Publicity Stunts
The Potters Field Mystery
24 Innovative Breast Cancer Campaigns
More Than Just Applegate's Chairty…
Post Rehab Editorials
Eva Mendes Sizzles in Interview Magazine
90s TV Show Revivals
90210 To Re-Cast Shannen Doherty
Weekly Buzz
Bigfoot Photos, Press Conference and Chupacabra Videos
36 Ways to Political Celebrity
Obama as a Pop Culture Icon
High-Tech Swim Fins
Lunocet Fins Turn Man Into Michael Phelps
Super Hybrid Cars
Antro Solo is Solar, Human & Gas-Electric
Flannel Shirts Return
Dolce & Gabbana Pre-Fall 2008
Leaked Olympic Rehearsals
China Furious over Footage
Olympic Advertising
Freddy Ads for Italian Athletes
Remixed Retro Virals
Pussycat Doll Redoes Duran Duran's Rio for Caress
Return of the Cone Boobs
Girls Aloud Get Galactic Glam
Early Cancer Detection Going Mainstream
Christina Applegate for Breast Cancer
Celebrity Fashion to Fight Cancer
Gwyneth Paltrow for Key to The Cure
Abandoning Nostalgia
Tori Spelling Rejects 90210
Political Fashion Statement
Michelle Obama's "The View" Dress Hot Seller
Mini Green Supercars
Ignacio Garcia M-112
Low Emission Auto Design
Three Wheeled Compact from Berlin
Monowheel Cars
Audi Snook Concept
Fashion Show Spoofs
Westood's Gypsy in McQueen's Mankini
Fashion Designers as Saints
Kevin Ledo's Portraits
Controversial 2008 Beijing Olympics Ads
Benetton: Tibet vs China, 'Victims'
Fashion Designers as Actors
Tom Ford Spoofs 'In Treatment'
Career Revivals Through Dance
Season 7 "Dancing With The Stars" Cast
Urban Cars of 2020
City Transport Cell
Eco Cars Without Doors
Peugeot M-Please-V
Hemp Cars
Lotus Uses Hemp for Eco Friendly Body Panels
Reviving Olympic Sports
NBC Stalks Michael Phelps With New Championships Coverage
Britney Spears Comebacks (Take 2)
VMA's Released Promo Spot
Nose Job Parties
Pick Your Nose Cups
Serero Eiffel Tower Extension (UPDATE)
Le Grande Hoax
Retro Plots
Swingtown Showcases Swingers of the 1970s (Your Parents)
Cars of 2045
The Vortex Concept
Polka Dot Dresses
Betsey Johnson Brings Back 90s
2008 Beijing Olympics Online
How to Watch the Olympics on the Web (Illegally?)
Retro Mini Dresses
Fashion Staple of the 60s Returns
43 Positive Things About the 2008 Beijing Olympics
Ridiculously High Waist Lines
Full-Cover Body Pants
Mega Compact Eco Cars
Capca
Spinning Cars
NASA Concept Can Drive Sideways
Gay Wedding Trumps Bigfoot and Olympic Gold
Ellen and Portia Are Buzzing
Cult TV Spin-Offs
New 90210 Promo
Patterns Instead of Cleavage
Santogold's 'Lights Out' Music Video
Luxury Safety Hazards
Porsche 9ff GT9 Built Just For Speed
Cubic Concept Cars
Scion Hako
Futuristic Go-Carts
Florian Dobe Concept
35 Retro Gadget Revivals
From The Boombox to the Rotary Phone
Ultra-Light Eco Cars
Toyota 1/X Concept
Cult Classic Movie Remakes
The Rocky Horror Picture Show by MTV
Unlimited Plastic Surgery Packages
Hamptons Luxury Recovery For Just $500K
Very Green Crossover Cars
Mazda Kazamai
Eco-Friendly Super Cars
Aston Martin Vantage GT2 Unveiled
Beijing Olympics Covered by Citizen Journalists
GroundReport in China
Econobox Comeback
Gas Prices Drive Demand For Retro Eco-Cars
Futuristic Supercars
Bertone B.A.T. 11
The Celeb Lesbian Fascination
Britney Spears As "Faster Pussycat" Lesbian Killer
Bunny Backpacks
Can Prada Revive the 90s?
Viral Retro Remixing
15 Michael Jackson "Thriller" Remakes
Super Skinny Eco Cars
Space Efficient Vehicles
Reviving Killer Sitcoms
'Friends' the Movie To Star Jennifer Aniston & Co.
Return of the Jumpsuit
Marc Jacobs and Fendi Putting Stars in One Piece Suits
$5 Million Vintage Prototypes
Jaguar E2A at Bonhams & Butterfields Auction
$10 Million Green Car
X Prize Challenge
Floppy Disk Bracelets
Bringing the 80s Back
Celebrity Shoe Auction
De-Feet Lung Cancer Campaign
Vinyl Records Making a Comeback
36% Rise in Sales
180+ Olympic Innovations
Trend Hunter Kicks Off New Category