Keyboard Cat

2007

Date: 7 June 2007 upload, viral remix 22 May 2009 · Place: Spokane, Washington · Figures: Charlie Schmidt, original footage shot 1984 · Fatso, the cat (d. 1987) · Brad O'Farrell, remix curator · Tags: Outro Format, Video Mashup 01. Footage From 1984 Charlie Schmidt films his orange tabby Fatso in 1984 wearing a blue t-shirt, paws guided by Schmidt's hands beneath the keyboard, appearing to play a cheerful upbeat melody. The cat dies in 1987. Schmidt uploads the digitized footage to YouTube on 7 June 2007 with the title Cool Cat. The clip languishes until 22 May 2009 when Brad O'Farrell remixes it as a coda to a video of a stage performer falling. The remix popularizes the play him off, keyboard cat outro format. 02. The Universal Failure Outro Through 2009 and 2010 Keyboard Cat is appended to clips of public failures, blooper reels, and political stumbles. The format becomes the default video punchline of the era, deployed on Letterman, Stephen Colbert, and SportsCenter. Fatso's licensing rights generate steady income for Schmidt for the next decade. A successor cat, Bento, performs the role from 2010 until his death in 2018. Sources • KnowYourMeme, 'Keyboard Cat' • Charlie Schmidt, original YouTube upload (youtube.com/watch?v=J---aiyznGQ) • Brad O'Farrell, 'Play him off, keyboard cat' remix (May 2009)