# Parodying YouTube Stars ‘Fred at 40' Shows Middle-Aged Men Can Inhale Helium Too By Marissa Brassfield | Published 2009-06-07 | Pop Culture Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fred-at-40 References: [youtube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMo1Vox9KqI) & [mediocrefilms](http://www.mediocrefilms.com/) 'Fred at 40' is the latest [parody](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/satirifyme) to hit [YouTube](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mrbeast-lab-the-descent). Greg Benson stars as a middle-aged Fred—helium voice and all. Old Fred still has his high-pitched, hyperactive delivery, but the issues he's facing have changed. Check out the video above to see Greg Benson in 'Fred at 40' in all his viral glory. Is helium the new (old) Auto-Tune? **Implications** - When a video goes viral, sometimes there is no rhyme or reason behind its success. With that being said, it's definitely a smart move for companies looking to capture the attention of a wide audience to take the factors behind a [viral video's](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ceraves-hey-its-me) fame into account when devising their marketing strategies. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.2/10 - Popularity: 34% | Activity: 84% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Pop Culture](https://www.trendhunter.com/popculture) > [Media](https://www.trendhunter.com/media) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Parody Videos:** Creating parody videos based on popular trends or personalities can attract a wide audience and generate viral success. - **Viral Marketing:** Analyzing the factors behind viral video success can inform marketing strategies and help companies capture a wide audience. - **Youtube Parodies:** Producing parodies of YouTube stars or popular videos can be a creative way to engage with the online community. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Entertainment:** The entertainment industry can capitalize on parody videos to attract viewers and generate buzz for their content. - **Marketing:** Marketing professionals can study viral videos to understand key elements for successful campaigns and engage with a wide audience. - **Online Content Creation:** Creators can leverage the popularity of YouTube parodies to engage with their audience and expand their reach. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Gen Alpha Animated Toy Promotions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mrbeast-lab-the-descent.md) - [Viral Face Generators](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/crazyface.md) - [Comedic Christmas Parodies](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/reinfell-ad.md) - [Canadian Creator-Approved Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-hacksmith.md) - [Branded Short Talk Shows](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/progressives-dr-rick.md) - [Personalized Cartoon Videos](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cameo.md) - [Viral Video Content Toys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/skibidi-toilet.md) - [Layered Online Content Reports](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/creative-maximalism.md) - [Nostalgic Long-Form Infomercials](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mint-mobile-mintfomercial.md)