Fred Figglehorn

{{Short description|Character}} {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2011}} {{Infobox character | name = Fred Figglehorn | series = [[#Web series|Fred]] | image = Four faces of Fred Figglehorn.jpg | caption = Fred Figglehorn in videos he made in 2008 (top left and right) and 2010, ''Fred: The Movie'', (bottom left) and ''It's Fred!'' (2011) (bottom right) | first = ''Fred on Halloween'' (2006) | last = ''Lucas Defeats Yuksung'' (2014) ''[[List of Annoying Orange episodes#ep837|The Haunted Mirror]]'' (2025) | creator = [[Lucas Cruikshank]] | portrayer = Lucas Cruikshank Jack Coughlan (young; film series) | voice = Lucas Cruikshank | occupation = Student | family = | relatives = | nationality = American | lbl21 = Catchphrase | data21 = ''Hey, it's Fred!'' | lbl22 = Age | data22 = 6 years (YouTube) 15 years (Nickelodeon) }}

'''Frederick Figglehorn''' is a character who appears in the [[YouTube]] web series ''[[#Web series|Fred]]'' (stylized as "FЯED") created by American Internet personality [[Lucas Cruikshank]] from 2006 to 2014 and revived from 2020 to 2021.<ref name="Ind">{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/online/andrew-keen-on-new-media-kids-with-cameras-lead-the-way-in-giving-web-users-their-daily-fred-878508.html|title=Andrew Keen on New Media: Kids with cameras lead the way in giving web users their daily Fred|work=[[The Independent]]|author=Andrew Keen|date=July 28, 2008|access-date=October 26, 2008|location=London|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090219012312/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/online/andrew-keen-on-new-media-kids-with-cameras-lead-the-way-in-giving-web-users-their-daily-fred-878508.html|archive-date=February 19, 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> The characters' initial popularity yielded other spin-off series and a [[Fred (franchise)|media franchise]] with [[Nickelodeon]], including three feature films and a television series.

== History == [[Lucas Cruikshank]] introduced the Fred character in a video on JKL Productions, a channel he started on [[YouTube]] with his cousins, Jon and Katie Smet on June 11, 2006. Cruikshank uploaded several videos testing out different characters. The first ''Fred'' video was uploaded on October 30, 2006, and a few more videos were uploaded throughout 2007.<ref name="partnersproject">{{cite web|title=Lucas Cruikshank aka Fred Exclusive Interview: The Partners Project Episode 19|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLJ7CoXZwkM|publisher=YouTube|access-date=January 2, 2012|author=partnersproject|date=April 21, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130712152557/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLJ7CoXZwkM|archive-date=July 12, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> On April 30, 2008, these videos were moved to the ''Fred'' (often stylized as FЯED) channel, and on May 1 the first official video of the series, titled "Fred on May Day" was released. By April 2009, it became the first YouTube channel to have over one million subscribers.<ref name="BatchBuzz">{{cite web |url=http://www.batchbuzz.com/detailedStoryDefault.php?id=751 |title=BB Suggests: The Best of Web TV |author=Editorial Team |date=November 13, 2008 |access-date=August 7, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720020654/http://www.batchbuzz.com/detailedStoryDefault.php?id=751 |archive-date=July 20, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sarno |first=David |date=April 8, 2009 |title=YouTube's Fred is first online video star to break 1M subscribers |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/blogs/technology-blog/story/2009-04-08/youtubes-fred-is-first-online-video-star-to-break-1m-subscribers |url-access=limited |access-date=July 23, 2023 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref>

[[Zipit Wireless Messenger (Z2)]] sponsored the first season of ''Fred'', with several product placements. [[Walden Media]] hired Cruikshank to promote the film ''[[City of Ember]]'', along with the [[sci-fi]] novel it was based on, cameos from the film's star [[Tim Robbins]] in ''Fred'' episodes, and a mock movie trailer.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB122169004968649685|title=Studios Hope YouTube Tie Sells Movie|last=Sanders|first=Pete|date=September 18, 2008|publisher=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=September 19, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150325020521/http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB122169004968649685|archive-date=March 25, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

Cruikshank made a [[cameo appearance]] as both Fred and himself on [[Nickelodeon]]'s ''[[iCarly]]'' in "iMeet Fred", which originally aired on February 16, 2009.<ref name="bw">{{cite news|last=Albrecht|first=Chris|date=November 18, 2008|title='Fred' Cranks Up the YouTube Views and Ad Dollars|work=[[Business Week]]|url=http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/nov2008/tc20081118_508970.htm|url-status=dead|access-date=July 7, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090512190914/http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/nov2008/tc20081118_508970.htm|archive-date=May 12, 2009}}</ref> The episode has ''iCarly'' facing a huge loss of popularity after Freddie Benson criticizes Fred on-air, resulting in Cruikshank pretending to cancel his own show, and the characters organizing a [[Crossover (fiction)#Television series|crossover episode]] between the two web shows to regain popularity.

In December 2009, Cruikshank filmed ''[[Fred: The Movie]]'', which aired on [[Nickelodeon]] on September 18, 2010. Nickelodeon created a franchise surrounding the character,<ref name="nytimes1">{{cite news |url=http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/24/fred-the-movie-lands-on-nickelodeon/ |work=The New York Times |title='Fred: The Movie' Lands on Nickelodeon - Media Decoder Blog - NYTimes.com |first=Brooks |last=Barnes |date=March 24, 2010 |access-date=March 25, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100325005358/http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/24/fred-the-movie-lands-on-nickelodeon/ |archive-date=March 25, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Cruikshank|first=Lucas|title=Tweet 40139239941210112|url=https://www.twitter.com/LucasCruikshank/status/40139239941210112|publisher=Twitter|access-date=March 6, 2011|date=February 22, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130922072502/https://twitter.com/LucasCruikshank/status/40139239941210112|archive-date=September 22, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Cruikshank|first=Lucas|title=Tweet 43282065155829760|url=https://www.twitter.com/LucasCruikshank/status/43282065155829760|publisher=Twitter|access-date=March 6, 2011|date=March 3, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130922160357/https://twitter.com/LucasCruikshank/status/43282065155829760|archive-date=September 22, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> with the sequel, ''[[Fred 2: Night of the Living Fred]]'', airing on October 22, 2011. In 2012, ''[[Fred (TV series)|Fred: The Show]]'' aired, consisting of 24 11-minute episodes; a third movie, ''[[Fred 3: Camp Fred]]'', premiered that year.

In June 2010, Fred appeared on the ''[[Annoying Orange]]'' web series. In October and November 2011, [[Ari Gold (filmmaker)|Ari Gold]] cameos in ''Fred'' as Power, from the film ''[[Adventures of Power]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lucas Gets Kidnapped!|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iB2OEKn7i-Y|publisher=YouTube|access-date=January 2, 2012|author=lucas|date=October 27, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120123211956/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iB2OEKn7i-Y|archive-date=January 23, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> Fred also made a crossover video with Annoying Orange called "Fred Goes Grocery Shopping feat. Annoying Orange" in June 2010, which has gotten over 96 million views as of March 2026.<ref> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjVKYzy4ek8 Fred goes grocery shopping feat annoying orange</ref> However, the grocery store the Fred went to in the video (Joe and Al's Your Family Grocery) closed down sometime in 2011,<ref> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1pTDv4pM9I&list=RDz1pTDv4pM9I Joe & Al's Grocery, Jingle Full Sing: "Joe & Al's Grocery was a family-owned grocery store serving the community of Columbus, Nebraska from 1968 through 2011, 43 years." </ref> and now the local store is mostly known due to the viral YouTube video.

Leading up to the second films' release, a new series ''Figgle Chat'' premiered on the channel in which Fred interviewed various stars such as [[Iman Crosson|Alphacat]], [[Wilmer Valderrama]], and [[iJustine]] among others. Additionally, an animated series titled, ''It's Fred!'', joined the channel. Each episode followed Fred's various schemes to win Judy's affection while attending School. While unrelated to the film series, [[Jake Weary]] reprised his role as Kevin. Both series ended in 2011 and 2012 respectively.

The last video in the Fred franchise was an appearance by Cruikshank in the video “Lucas Defeats Yuksung”, an episode of “The New Fred”. Cruikshank made one final appearance in a promo for the new era of the channel in which users could send in their own videos before selling off the channel, making few appearances from then on. The channel made its final upload in 2015.

In 2020, Cruikshank created a [[TikTok]] channel based on Fred named HeyItsFred, reviving the character,<ref>{{Cite web |title=TikTok |url=https://www.tiktok.com/@heyitsfred?_t=8XrJ2UXIl2o&_r=1 |access-date=2022-12-03 |website=www.tiktok.com}}</ref> although it has been inactive since 2021.

== Web series == {{Infobox television |italic_title=no |name= Fred |image= Fred title card.jpg |caption= Title card |genre=[[Television comedy|Comedy]] |creator= [[Lucas Cruikshank]] |writer= Lucas Cruikshank |starring= Lucas Cruikshank |voices= |country= United States |language= English |num_seasons= 4 |num_episodes= 48 |editor= Lucas Cruikshank |company=[[Collective Digital Studio|The Collective]] [[Varsity Pictures]] (2007–2011) |location= [[Columbus, Nebraska]] |network= JKL Productions (pre-series) Fred (seasons 1–5) [[YouTube]] |first_aired= {{start date|2006|10|30}} |last_aired= {{end date|2011|2|23}} |related= ''Figgle Chat'' ''It's Fred'' ''[[Fred: The Movie]]'' ''[[Fred 2: Night of the Living Fred]]'' ''[[Fred: The Show]]'' ''[[Fred 3: Camp Fred]]'' }} '''''Fred''''' (often stylized as '''''FЯED''''') is a [[web series]] created and portrayed by Lucas Cruikshank. The series follows Fred Figglehorn, a six-year-old boy who lives with his mother who is a recovering [[Drug addict|drug-addict]], and as a result, has been the victim of [[child abuse]]. His father, a former [[rock music]]ian, is awaiting [[Capital punishment|execution]] in the state [[Prison|penitentiary]]. Fred requires [[medication]] to behave like a "normal kid", and it is implied that he will die if he does not take it. In the video "Fred's Mom is Missing", Fred discovers that his mom is suddenly gone, prompting his grandma to move in and watch over him until she returns. Fred's mom would eventually return to the series, having gone to [[Drug rehabilitation|rehab]], two months later in "Fred's Mom Returns".

The series uses a [[floating timeline]], meaning it is always taking place in the current year, and Fred is perpetually six years old and in [[kindergarten]]. The videos primarily consist of the character [[Fourth wall|speaking to the audience]] about what is happening in his life. Fred has a high-pitched voice and is hyperactive, achieved by speeding up the footage.<ref name="partnersproject"/> Cruikshank has described the channel as "programming for kids by kids"<ref name="Ind"/> as a parody of people who "think that everyone is so interested in them". He believes that viewers either "automatically love Fred or automatically hate Fred, there is no in-between".<ref name="cnn">{{cite news|last=Brook|first=Anderson|title=The Teen Behind Fred.|work=[[YouTube]]|publisher=CNN|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bi57YE9jon4|url-status=dead|access-date=August 7, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080912233840/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bi57YE9jon4|archive-date=September 12, 2008}}</ref>

Fred is the only major character physically seen in the series. In the event that Fred ever interacted with another person, Cruikshank would voice them off-screen. Some of the characters included Kevin, a bully in his neighborhood who he frequently describes as overweight; Judy, a snobbish girl that he has a crush on despite being in a relationship with Kevin; his Mom and Dad; Bertha, a local girl who he is friends with; and his Grandma. In 2010, the format of the videos changed in which Fred filmed in a public environment and interacted with a larger number of people. Some notable guests during this time included [[Annoying Orange]] and [[Weezer]].

An arc that persisted through the series was a feud that Fred had with the original owner of his YouTube channel. In the episode "Fred on May Day", Fred stated that he acquired his YouTube channel by pestering their HQ. In subsequent videos, Fred would update his viewers with messages he would be receiving from the original channel owner, in which they threatened to hurt him and that they knew his location. This would culminate with the episode "Fred Gets Kidnapped by Claudio" in which a man named Claudio Gregory (also portrayed by Cruikshank), imprisons Fred in a [[Dog crate]] while he temporarily took over the channel. In the episode "Lucas Defeats Yuksung", it is revealed that Claudio was the original channel owner, and as an act of revenge towards Fred for stealing his fame, he partnered with Yuksang to produce Fred videos worse than the originals so the channel would lose its popularity. However, he reforms after Fred and Lucas offer to be his friend.

== Discography ==

===Albums=== {| class="wikitable" |+ List of albums, with details and chart positions |- ! scope="col" rowspan="2"|Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album details ! scope="col" colspan="3"|Peak chart positions |- ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%"|[[Top Comedy Albums|US Comedy]] <ref name = "Allmusic awards">{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/fred-figglehorn-mn0002407548/awards|title=Fred Figglehorn Awards|work=[[Allmusic]]|publisher=[[Rovi Corporation]]|access-date=May 10, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160124105032/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/fred-figglehorn-mn0002407548/awards|archive-date=January 24, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%"|[[Top Heatseekers|US Heat]] <ref name = "Allmusic awards"/> |- | scope="row"|''Who's Ready to Party?'' | *Released: September 17, 2010 (United States)<ref>{{Cite web|title=''Who's Ready to Party?'' by Fred Figglehorn - Download ''Who's Ready to Party?'' on iTunes|website=[[iTunes]] |url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/whos-ready-to-party/id387956541|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100924025537/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/whos-ready-to-party/id387956541|archive-date=September 24, 2010|access-date=May 11, 2014}}</ref> *{{nowrap|Labels: Collective Records}} *Formats: Digital download, compact disc | style="text-align:center;"| 1  | style="text-align:center;"| 29  |}

===Extended plays=== {| class="wikitable" |+ List of albums, with details and chart positions |- ! scope="col" rowspan="2"|Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album details ! scope="col" colspan="3"|Peak chart positions |- ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%"|[[Top Comedy Albums|US Comedy]] <ref name="Allmusic awards"/> ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%"|[[Top Heatseekers|US Heat]] <ref name = "Allmusic awards"/> ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%"|[[Top Holiday Albums|US Holiday]] <ref name = "Allmusic awards"/> |- | scope="row" align="left"|''It's Hackin' Christmas with Fred'' | *Released: November 10, 2009 (United States)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.pynkcelebrity.com/archives/21178 |title=YouTube Sensation Fred Releases Christmas Album and Premiers Music Video « Pynk Celebrity |access-date=November 26, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091113145510/http://www.pynkcelebrity.com/archives/21178 |archive-date=November 13, 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> *{{nowrap|Label: Self-released}} *Formats: [[music download|Digital download]] | style="text-align:center;"| 8  | style="text-align:center;"| 24  | style="text-align:center;"| 13  |}

===Charted songs=== {| class="wikitable" |- |+ List of charted songs, with peak positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:20em;"|Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2"|Year ! scope="col" colspan="2"|Peak positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:200px;"|Album |- ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%"|[[Billboard charts|US Comedy]] <ref>* "Christmas Cash" and "I Wanna Be a Celebrity": {{cite magazine|title=Comedy Digital Tracks: Oct 2, 2010|url=https://www.billboard.com/biz/charts/2010-10-02/comedy-digital-tracks|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150717053952/http://www.billboard.com/biz/charts/2010-10-02/comedy-digital-tracks|archive-date=July 17, 2015|access-date=May 10, 2014|magazine=Billboard}} * "Christmas is Creepy": {{cite magazine|title=Comedy Digital Tracks: Jan 1, 2011|url=https://www.billboard.com/biz/charts/2011-01-01/comedy-digital-tracks|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150717054019/http://www.billboard.com/biz/charts/2011-01-01/comedy-digital-tracks|archive-date=July 17, 2015|access-date=May 10, 2014|magazine=Billboard}} </ref> ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%"|[[Billboard charts|US Holiday]] <ref>{{cite magazine|title=Holiday Digital Songs: Oct 09, 2012|url=https://www.billboard.com/biz/charts/2010-10-09/holiday-seasonal-digital-songs|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150614202426/http://www.billboard.com/biz/charts/2010-10-09/holiday-seasonal-digital-songs|archive-date=June 14, 2015|access-date=May 10, 2014|magazine=Billboard}}</ref> |- |"Christmas Cash" |rowspan=3|2009 | style="text-align:center;"| 22  | style="text-align:center;"| 5  |rowspan=3|''It's Hackin' Christmas with Fred'' |- |"Christmas is Creepy" | style="text-align:center;"| 9  | style="text-align:center;"| 1  |- |"Fred's 12 Days of Christmas" | style="text-align:center;"| –  | style="text-align:center;"| 28  |- |"I Wanna Be a Celebrity" |2010 | style="text-align:center;"| 11  | style="text-align:center;"| –  |''Who's Ready to Party'' |- | colspan="5" style="text-align:center; font-size:8pt;"| "—" denotes the song did not chart. |}

== Films == {{Main|Fred (franchise)}}

=== ''Fred: The Movie'' === {{Main|Fred: The Movie}}

''Fred: The Movie'' is a 2010 film based on the [[YouTube]] series about Fred Figglehorn. It features [[Lucas Cruikshank]] as Fred, [[Pixie Lott]] as Judy, [[Jennette McCurdy]] as Bertha, [[Jake Weary]] as Kevin Cen, [[John Cena]] as Fred's imaginary dad, and [[Siobhan Fallon Hogan]] as Fred's mom. It follows the character as he tries to track down his crush, Judy after she moves away. It is written by [[David A. Goodman]], directed by Clay Weiner, and produced by [[Brian Robbins]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Barnes|first=Brooks|date=December 7, 2009|title=A High-Pitched Whine Brings to the Movies: Bigger Screen for a High-Pitched Whine|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://nytimes.com/2009/12/08/movies/08fred.html|url-status=live|access-date=January 21, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927204551/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/08/movies/08fred.html|archive-date=September 27, 2012}}</ref> Filming began November 9, 2009, and wrapped up December 20, 2009.<ref name="ct1">{{cite news |url=http://www.californiachronicle.com/articles/yb/139368128 |title=Cruikshank's YouTube character to hit silver screen |last=Sanchez |first=Adrian |date=December 28, 2009 |publisher=[[List of newspapers in Nebraska|Columbus Telegram]] |access-date=December 28, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327084718/http://www.californiachronicle.com/articles/yb/139368128 |archive-date=March 27, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The movie premiered on [[Nickelodeon (TV channel)|Nickelodeon]] on September 18, 2010, and the DVD was released October 5, 2010<ref name="nytimes1"/> as well as streaming media such as [[Netflix]].

=== ''Fred 2: Night of the Living Fred'' === {{Main|Fred 2: Night of the Living Fred}}

''Fred 2: Night of the Living Fred'' is a 2011 [[Halloween]]-themed sequel to ''Fred: The Movie''. It first aired on October 22, 2011. After Fred has broken up with Judy, he meets Kevin Cen's sister Talia, and becomes convinced that his new neighbor is a vampire. The Judy character does not appear, and Jennette McCurdy was replaced by [[Daniella Monet]] in the role of Bertha.

=== ''Fred 3: Camp Fred'' === {{Main|Fred 3: Camp Fred}}

In late 2011, a third Fred movie was announced. ''Fred 3: Camp Fred'' premiered July 28, 2012, on Nickelodeon,<ref>{{cite news|title="Fred 3: Camp Fred," Premieres|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2012/07/12/fred-3-camp-fred-premieres-on-saturday-july-28-at-8-pm-et-pt-on-nickelodeon-742013/20120712nickelodeon01/|access-date=August 7, 2012|newspaper=The Futon Critic|date=July 12, 2012}}</ref> which also aired ''[[Fred (TV series)|Fred: The Show]]'', a series of 24 11-minute-long episodes,<ref name="Fred 3">{{cite web|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|title=Nickelodeon Greenlights Third 'Fred' Movie, Picks Up 20-Episode 'Fred' Series|url=https://deadline.com/2011/12/nickelodeon-greenlights-third-fred-movie-picks-up-20-episode-fred-series-200079/|publisher=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=December 2, 2011|date=December 1, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111203031926/http://www.deadline.com/2011/12/nickelodeon-greenlights-third-fred-movie-picks-up-20-episode-fred-series/|archive-date=December 3, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> in 2012. For summer, Fred attends Camp Iwannapeepee, where he meets several different characters, and must compete against Kevin Cen's camp.

==TV series== ===''Fred: The Show''=== {{Main|Fred: The Show}}

In 2012, Fred became the protagonist in his own [[Fred (TV series)|TV series]], which ran between January and August 2012. The series received dismal reviews, particularly for Fred's childish attitude and annoying voice, and ratings continued to plummet until the show was axed, after which Cruikshank severed ties with Nickelodeon, and Fred was retired.

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == * {{IMDb title|1234506|Fred}} * {{YouTube|user=Fred|FRED}} * {{Official website|http://fredfigglehorn.com/|Fred's official website}} * {{YouTube|user=jklproduction|jklproduction}} {{pp-move|small=yes}}

{{Fred (film series)}} {{Authority control}} [[Category:Culture of the United States]] [[Category:2006 web series debuts]] [[Category:2011 web series endings]] [[Category:Child characters in television|Figglehorn, Fred]] [[Category:Fictional characters from Nebraska]] [[Category:2000s viral videos]] [[Category:YouTube channels closed in 2015]] [[Category:YouTube channels launched in 2006]] [[Category:YouTube original programming]] [[Category:2006 in Internet culture]] [[Category:Fictional characters introduced in 2006]] [[Category:Web series characters]] [[Category:Number-one YouTube channels in subscribers]] [[Category:Fictional victims of child abuse]] [[Category:Internet memes introduced in 2006]]