Here’s Our Interview With the 74-Year-Old Ex-Hollywood Actor Behind the Viral ‘How to Eat a Watermelon’ Video
- Posted on August 17, 2012 at 2:20pm by
Liz Klimas
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Tom Willett’s tutorial on “How to Eat a Watermelon” posted on YouTube earlier this week has gone viral, being picked up by countless blogs and even more well-known websites like the Huffington Post and NBC’s Today show blog.
The video is a bit of comedy by Willett — although he keeps a straight face the whole time, which he said wouldn’t be comedy otherwise. Why it has gained a spike in traction on the Web, Willett can’t say. The video really took off when it was mentioned by a Reddit commenter and picked up by Buzzfeed, although he said in an interview with TheBlaze, “I’m not really sure what those two sites are.”
Watch the video to see what all the hype is about:
Willett would not consider himself tech savvy.
“I’m not all that high tech,” he said, noting how he doesn’t know how to work smartphones or GPS.
But the fact that he has posted more than 400 videos on YouTube with more than 3.2 million views in total and films and edits nearly all of the footage he takes himself may speak to the contrary. He acknowledges the fact that he maintains several websites and has such a presence on YouTube may be a bit of an incongruity considering his age — 74. He has nearly 14,000 subscribers to his Featureman channel.
Willett as one of his characters on YouTube. (Image: YouTube screenshot)
Although his online alter ego may be Featureman, you may actually recognize Tom Willett’s name — or his face — from the television show “Dear John,” a sitcom on NBC that ran from 1988 through 1992.
Born and raised in the Midwest, Willett first knew he had a thing for entertaining when he realized he loved the applause he received at the end of a play in the second grade.
“I found I was a bit of a ham,” he said.
In his early teens, he solidified his ambition to be an entertainer and began working at a gas station to buy a Greyhound bus ticket to Hollywood. Making the cross country trip at age 17, Willett knew no one in Los Angeles when he arrived. That was April of 1956. It wouldn’t be for another two decades, moving to New York City and then to Las Vegas, before he would get his first foot into the film industry as an extra on “The Electric Horseman.”
Willett was self taught at playing piano. (Image: Twitter)
After appearing as an extra in several other films, at age 50, Willett auditioned for “Dear John” and received the role of “Tom,” who was largely silent and was only slated to appear in the pilot episode. But they liked his character enough that he became a regular member of the cast.
“I was amazed all the time that I was on ‘Dear John,’” Willett said. “I kept thinking ‘why are they paying me what I would not only do for free but I would pay them?’”
Willett around the age he would have been on "Dear John." (Image: Featurman Blog)
But like all television shows, they have an end. Although Willett said he made enough from the show, its syndication, and gigs he received after that due to his experience and notoriety, he didn’t stop working.
It was in the early 2000s that Willett said he realized the Web was the place to be. He noted the advantage of new, affordable technology that is still relatively high quality allowing him to make his own a one-man show. Even with the advances though, he says he admires what special effects were like in old-time movies because filmmakers had to work at it.
“I‘m always impressed with people that did amazing tech things at a time when they didn’t really know how to do it,” Willett said noting the ingenuity that had to go into special effects before computer imagery and stock footage.
This is not to say that Willett isn’t a huge fan of stock footage or the shortcuts that technology gives him these days. In fact, one of his favorite videos made by himself uses a tech feature that easily splices two separate conversations and footage together to work in one film. The example he gives is a YouTube video posted of a woman who wanted to date everyone on YouTube. On her end, she filmed her own one-sided conversation. Other people would film the other side of the conversation, as if they were on the date with her and splice the footage together. Then you’d have what looks like a cohesive scene filmed in one place.
Watch Willett in The Great Date:
What Willett says he likes most about his work being on the Web is the comments.
“Any comment adds to the success of the video — whether negative or positive,” he said.
He said the commenters point out things he didn’t think himself would be funny and even add to the hilarity by expounding further on his jokes.
When asked why he continues to film videos of his skits, comedic news broadcasts and songs instead of “retiring,” he said it‘s because he hasn’t changed from the 14 year old who decided to throw all of his ambition into being an entertainer.
Willett records a song in a studio. (Image: YouTube screenshot)
“I’m basically the same person I was when I was 14 — inside. I haven‘t changed what I like and I never do what you’re supposed to do. I do what feels right.”
The watermelon video, for example, makes him especially pleased because he knows he would have liked it just as well when he was 14.
“I found that everything I wanted was basically the idea of what I’m doing on YouTube right now.”
To learn more about Willett, here’s his own self introduction:
Check out “Featureman’s” blog here. See more of Willett’s videos on YouTube here.
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Sicialian Eyeball
Posted on August 20, 2012 at 8:03am???? I thought first you have to steal it with a 6 pack of Colt45s. Is this not PC?
Report Post »OuttheSocialist
Posted on August 19, 2012 at 8:33pmWorthless video. Watermelons should be eaten in slices allowing the juices to be smeared on your face from cheek to cheek. This helps with your complexion and restores some of your youthfulness back. Keep away from the marshmallows, very bad idea. Full of sugar and rots out your brain. Old people use that trick and all it does, is it makes you look old and feel old. Peanut butter is just plain weird. Salt is an excellent condiment to put on your watermelon. Because the combination of the water in watermelon with the salt can be more easily adsorbed into your body because you need both.
Report Post »The only thing this guy got right was the rejection of the fork. Only a homosexual would use a fork.
To get a more healthful effect from eating watermelon though is to start with a really big one. Cut off one end, showing enough red meat about the same diameter as your head. Start eating it with your mouth and digging at with your hands till your can get your whole head in it. Eat till their is no more. Works wonders for the hair. I have red hair still and I‘m in my 50s and I still look like I’m in my late 30s. And I owe it all to the way I eat my watermelon.
Nisan 5702
Posted on August 19, 2012 at 5:28pmOh, BS !!!
Report Post »This is the worst idea of farm life. City boys and their penchant for self-destruction.
Diabetic Death Sentence !!!
High Numbers and head-aches off the charts.
One way to screw-up God‘s good gift with ’Add-ons’.
Marshmallows and peanut butter ….
OH crap call EMS …… !!!
CHUBADAMS
Posted on August 19, 2012 at 5:23pmI tried this at home but it didn’t work out the same way as the video, the hole I made did not measure out to 1 15/16th of an inch. I think that is why the marshmallows didn’t taste right.
Report Post »sailorV
Posted on August 19, 2012 at 1:55amNow there’s some everyday knowledge you can actually use. Mesmerizing.
Report Post »SammyStutsfruckle
Posted on August 18, 2012 at 10:34pmHonor the old folks. We can still learn quite a bit.
Report Post »Voice1percent
Posted on August 18, 2012 at 11:14amLevity, I love it. Seems like the libs in these comments section are crying sour grapes anyway. Can anyone offer a Youtube vid on why libs are such humorless people? Unless of course they are discussing their own petty prejudices which they tend to find endlessly entertaining and full of humor. Sick people these libs…….. I find Ann Coulter’s book connecting libs and demons rather discriptive…but I digress, we were discussing watermelon.
Report Post »MrHoggLegg
Posted on August 18, 2012 at 4:46pmRush Limbaugh said 20 years ago ✡ ‘Liberals (Progressives) are People whom are Miserable because Conservatives were so Happy about Life! ✡ And the Only Way Liberals (Progressives) can attain Happiness is to Make Happy People as Miserable as they (Progressives) are!’
Report Post »Pyronaught
Posted on August 18, 2012 at 10:02pmLiberals are completely incapable of humor that does not involve vulgarity or depravity. Try and find a stand-up comedian that doesn’t use swear words for 80% of his dialog. You can’t do it. The only type of humor liberals understand must involve sex, bodily functions, drugs, crime or bashing religion.
Report Post »lamarlamar
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 10:02pmThis guy is a stoner!!!
Report Post »Meyvn
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 9:25pmThe melon vid was decent.
Report Post »jcizarter
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 9:05pmMarshmallows are made out of pigs feet, yuck.
Report Post »TEARS FOR AMERICA
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 8:02pmI love you, Mr. Willett!
Report Post »rusooperman
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 5:18pmWatermelon, peanut butter, and marshmallows…Clearly RACIST CODE!!!
Report Post »LuvsYeshua
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 5:33pmThis one is way better…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-eitsutpOc
Report Post »Nisan 5702
Posted on August 19, 2012 at 6:02pmTO: LuvsYeshua
I saw the video !!!
Report Post »It’s no wonder “people of Color” don’t get any respect.
This step & fetch-it bullsh’t is dead.
No person of color can get ahead articulating like this. I won’t let my children do it.
It irritates the ears of everyone of ANY color.
Knowing what he‘s saying isn’t the object just another extra gift.
Do you really think this is the inheritance of people of color.
I worked my ass off ‘NOT’ to articulate like this.
I can walk into any association or group and be understood without putting on any aire.
Imitators of this BS is racist as you can get !!!
loneindividual
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 5:13pmI lost my mind I laughed so hard
Report Post »grayling646
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 4:18pmI kept waiting on him to break out a bottle of Vodka.
Report Post »Shasta
Posted on August 19, 2012 at 4:19pmMe too. I have not had anything to drink in a long while, but this vid almost had me heading to the liquor store just at the thought of it.
Report Post »Tom K
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 3:47pmIf he keeps eating like that, he will live to be 174 years young ! Yumm !
Report Post »freestaterev
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 3:43pmNow he needs to get angry at the Watermelon like the “Winnebago Man”- that would be awesome! Sounds like a nice guy…
Report Post »Obamujahadeen
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 3:31pmI like this guy, I like his gumption, and he was in some OK movies, I remember him, the show I didn’t see once.
However.. I only lasted 1:42 of that thing and while ‘cute’ perhaps, my time’s just too valuable for stuff like that which is why Youtube is so popular. We have far too many Americans and non Americans in America sitting around doing nothing to the extent they can sit and watch someone talk about the correct way in his opinion [which I agree with] to eat A Watermelon.
Firstly, I‘m waiting for the the Van Jones Black Panther Obamabots to cry ’racism’ for a white guy doing this!!!
Secondly to the ‘bots who say “well you‘re commenting on it at length’“ my answer is ”I’m a graphic designer working full time at this same time who types 110 words a minute and spent 50 seconds thinking and typing this and 1:40 on a 9 minute video. Got you beat by 9 minutes I bet. So bite me. :)
Report Post »TexasHunter
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 3:59pmThis only took 3 seconds. Got ya beat chump :)
Report Post »grayling646
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 4:11pmYour employer/contractor is paying you to review The Blaze or You Tube videos. In your attempt to justify yourself you seemed to forget about that.
Report Post »grayling646
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 4:12pm“ISN’T paying you…”
Report Post »Guitarcarl
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 4:22pmPeople condemn what they don’t understand. He’s having a little fun, that’s valuable. I bet you’re boring at a party.
Report Post »cranberry
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 3:22pmI just can’t. I got through 2 minutes and had to get out…… Did anybody? watch all 9 minutes? I’d rather scrub a toilet….
Report Post »brezzeone
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 4:19pmI know what you mean. I stopped after the the second spoon. I am wonder what he is going to do to that watermelon later ?
Report Post »midwesthippie
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 6:50pm…was waiting for a punchline…
Report Post »mary12153
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 3:13pmNot amused….
Report Post »kevinthewriter
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 2:55pmUh…I don’t get it. Did I miss the punch line? No wonder the people of this country are getting dumber by the minute. We waste our time on foolishness, basking in the glow of the normalcy bias.
Report Post »EspaldaMojada
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 3:44pmBlaze,
You must really be hard up. This is stupid. I could send videos of many things more interesting. I thought at least this would explain Obama. All it explains is the stupidity of potential voters. I was hoping the Blaze folks were at least double digit IQs.
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 3:47pmVery subtle humor. The Great Date was better.
Report Post »grayling646
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 4:15pmHey, Kevin:
Kinda like people who waste their time commenting about stories on sites like this?
Report Post »JUSTANOTHEROPINION
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 2:51pmThank God it ended when it did, I was on the very edge of the ledge and about to jump. Argh…………
Report Post »LeadNotFollow
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 2:43pm…
Report Post »I know Mr. Willett meant this video as comedy, but I love watermelon, marshmallows, peanut butter, and chocolate milk.
I’ve got to try them together. He gave me a serious case of the munchies.
Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 2:35pmI want 9 minutes of my life back please.
Report Post »RedGrandma
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 3:21pmActually, that’s 9 minutes 52 seconds down the rat hole of wasted life.
Report Post »Totally Domestic
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 9:49pmMe too! I demand a refund Glenn!!!!!
Report Post »(all 9 min and 53 sec)
team1blazer
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 2:27pmIf THIS went viral, all I can say is that WAY too many people have Way too much time on their hands.
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 3:57pmMe, too. I want someone to explain how it went “viral.” I am NOT a YouTuber, I don’t sit around watching YouTube, but I won’t bash someone whose passion is to entertain. At least he is trying to entertain, which is more than I can say for the four big network channels with their “Reality” TV. Reality TV is not entertainment, it is watching someone else work, or be a drama queen, like a bunch of voyeurs. Reality TV sucks.
Report Post »SCREW-WINDOWS
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 4:47pmIt’s the headline that sells.
Report Post »huey6367
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 2:27pmOK, who jumped up and down and said that his “How to eat a Watermelon” video was racist? Who was it? Was it a liberal? I bet it was.
Report Post »Exrepublisheep
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 3:00pmLife…get one.
Report Post »