It is a sign of the times when more than a million hits on YouTube can catapult a man dressed as a teenager into a household name.
The Ohio Union Activities Board hosted “Shoes, Muffins and Liam Sullivan” Monday at Hitchcock Hall. Sullivan, 35, is the man behind some of the most-watched the comedic videos on YouTube, including “Shoes,” “Let Me Borrow that Top” and “Muffins.”
Andy Gottesman/The LanternLiam Sullivan, or “Kelly,” famous for his YouTube video “Shoes,” tells his funny story to fans at Hitchcock Hall on Monday night. Sullivan, originally from Massachusetts, dropped out of college to pursue an acting career 10 years ago in Los Angeles, and found it was just as competitive as people say, he said.
“I felt like there was a lot riding on it and I was taking a big risk and I really had to make it work. Otherwise, I didn’t have a degree, and I couldn’t get a real job,” Sullivan said. “But I didn’t want a real job, I wanted this job.”
After doing small jobs in L.A., one of his favorites being a Skittles commercial, he started developing a plethora of characters. His first and main character, Kelly, came to him when he was driving his car, he said.
“I was just kind of playing around with my voice because I’m like four [years old],” he said.
When Kelly was created, Sullivan had been trying his hand at stand-up comedy, but found it was not for him. Instead, he decided to commit to his characters and create a live show around Kelly. “Shoes,” Sullivan’s first attempt to make Kelly a famous character, came to him as he was walking down the street looking at his shoes.
“I started peeing my pants laughing and I ran home and I just wrote the song in like 15 minutes,” Sullivan said.
“Let Me Borrow That Top” was inspired by his childhood when he watched his sister talk about clothes with her friends. Other characters created and played by Sullivan, such as Mother Grandma, were inspired by his family members as well, he said.
With help from his friend, Ken, who mixed the beats for the songs, Sullivan started performing his live show starring Kelly. Although Kelly was getting more laughs than his stand-up show, Sullivan’s big break didn’t come until YouTube became one of the most popular links on the Internet.
“I started doing videos about … four or five years ago before YouTube was invented,” Sullivan said.
After Sullivan decided to post “Shoes” on his Web site, a fan posted the video on YouTube without him knowing or realizing what YouTube was, he said.
“Shoes” was named one of the top 10 videos of 2006 by YouTube and has won a People’s Choice Award for “Favorite User Generated Video” in 2007, according to www.liamshow.com.
After sharing how he met his fiancée Ilana when he was dressed as Kelly, he told of his past relationships through the video titled “Project Boyfriend,” which is not available on the Internet. The video features the unstable relationship of a woman who wants to change everything about her boyfriend, who is only interested in her breasts.
He continued on the topic of his love life by showing his video, “Dr. Ulee,” where a couple goes to a strange sex therapist.
“I understand that it can be kind of a harrowing experience,” he said regarding a visit to a sex therapist. “What would that be like if you went to a really bad sex therapist?”
After showing “Dr. Ulee,” Sullivan came out from the corner of the stage transformed into Kelly, who was dressed in striped leggings, high-heels, a skirt and her signature blonde wig. Kelly interacted with the crowd and provided commentary during the videos, “Muffins,” “Text Message Break-up,” “Let Me Borrow That Top” and “Shoes.”
Sullivan’s fans enjoyed how he told personal stories of his life that corresponded with his videos.
“I liked the videos that he never showed online,” said Jordan McFall, a freshman in exploration.
Sullivan is currently on a U.S. tour with Margaret Cho. He is the opening act for her stand-up tour, “Beautiful.”
Kristen Duwe can be reached at [email protected].
