Power Rankings: The Worst Catcall Parody Videos

With more than 35 million views, the video of Shoshana Roberts walking through Manhattan and being subjected to dozens and dozens of catcalls from men about her appearance and figure pulled back the curtain on an uglier part of our culture. It also spawned several cringe-inducing parodies by enterprising dudes (mostly dudes, anyway) who wanna hop on the pageview train by offering comparisons between getting catcalled as as a woman alone in New York to, oh, trash-talk you might hear as an unshaven Jets bro walking through Union Square on a Sunday. Here are the worst, from worst to least-worst.

First, the Original:

Published On: Oct 28, 2014
Duration: 1:56
Views (as of 11/9/14): 35,031,931

Opening titles: “Ten hours of silent walking through all areas of Manhattan, wearing jeans and a crewneck t-shirt.”

Highlights:
“What’s up, beautiful? Have a good day!”

“Someone’s acknowledging you for being beautiful! You should say thank you more!”

“Damn.”

“Damn!”

“Too ugly for you?”

Alongside Companion: “Hello, good morning. God bless you. Have a good day, all right?” [Walks silently beside her for five minutes.]

Closing Titles: “100+ instances of verbal street harassment took place within 10 hours, involving people of all backgrounds. This doesn’t include the countless winks, whistles, etc.

“If you want to help, please donate to Hollaback! a non-profit dedicated to ending street harassment.”

Video Credits:
Hollaback!
Creator/Owner/Director: Rob Bliss Creative
Talent: Shoshana B. Roberts

15. “Man Gets Harassed Over 30 Times in 3 Hours Walking in NYC”

Published On: Nov 1, 2014
Duration: 1:58
Views (as of 11/9/14): 76,653

Opening Titles: [Spoken by a man sporting hair of an improbably moussed altitude, standing in what may be his mother’s living room in Queens] “I’m sure all of you have seen the video of a good-looking lady walking around New York City for 10 hours getting [cue scare quotes] ‘harassed.’ We wanted to see if this ‘harassment’ happens to guys as well…”

[The model is buff, and wears a white V-neck and skinny jeans.]

Highlights:
“Oh, my God.”

“Damn.”

Closing Titles: “In less then [sic] 3 hours of Walking he was ‘verbally harassed’ over 30 times.”

[And if you watch carefully, you might see what appears to be an instance of the model checking out a woman he passes.]

Video Credits:
Model Pranksters

14. “10 Hours of Walking in NYC as a Jew”

Published On: Nov 2, 2014
Duration: 1:50
Views (as of 11/9/14): 232,824

Opening Titles: “Ten hours of silent walking through all areas of Manhattan wearing jeans and a crewneck t-shirt (and a windbreaker because it was really cold).”

Highlights:
“Hey, are you Jewish?” [Asked by Chabad impersonator(s)]

[Repeat]

Alongside Companion: “(Same guy has been praying silently alongside him for the past two minutes)”

“(four minutes)”

“(five minutes)”

Closing Titles: “100+ instances of verbal street harassment took place within 10 hours, involving people of one background. This doesn’t include the countless Shemas, lulav shakes, etc.

“If you want to help, please share this video and visit runninglateshow.com for more idiocy.”

Video Credits:
Written and edited by Scott Rogowsky

13. “10 Hours of Walking in Hollywood as a Latina”

Published On: Nov 3, 2014
Duration: 2:14
Views (as of 11/9/14): 14,129

Opening Titles: “Ten hours of walking through Hollywood wearing stretch turquoise jeans (Ross $7.99) and a black blouse.”

[It’s a man. Carrying a small dog.]

Highlights: None

Alongside Companion: A man on crutches.

Closing Titles: “100+ instances of a sassy Latina owning the block occurred within a span of 10 hours.

“If you want to help, stop cat calling. You’re just adding fire to the spice.”

Video Credits:
Video & Editing by Robb Boardman

12. “10 Hours of Walking in NYC as a Fat Man”

Published On: Nov 3, 2014
Duration: 3:19
Views (as of 11/9/14): 15,799

Opening Titles: “Ten hours of silent walking through all areas of Manhattan, wearing ill-fitting jeans and a tight crewneck t-shirt.”

Highlights:
“Damn, bro, you look hungry.”

“Your father and I are worried about you.”

[It’s long because he’s ostensibly out of shape. And hungry. And fat. He’s actually only moderately overweight. Really. Not that fat.]

Closing Titles: “100+ instances of verbal street fat-calling took place over 10 hours, involving people of all backgrounds, although most occurred while our subject was napping on a bench.

“This doesn’t include the consumption of 2 large pizzas, a funnel cake drizzled in chocolate, 3 empanadas, and a large popcorn with extra butter from the AMC theater on 34th street. (He did not see a movie).

“If you want to help, stop making food so damn delicious.”

Video Credits:
TwoMan Tango
Created by Elon Altman, Izzy Wolfson, and Mike Sause

11. “10 Hours of Walking in Hollywood as a Man”

Published On: Oct 30, 2014
Duration: 1:31
Views (as of 11/9/14): 76,889

Opening Titles: “Ten hours of silent walking through all areas of Hollywood, wearing what I wear every single day”

By “what I wear every single day,” he means: Cowboy hat, sunglasses, cheetah-print banana hammock, and red Converse sneakers.

Highlights: None

Alongside Companion: Pitches a screenplay

Closing Titles: “69 instances took place within 10 hours, involving people of all backgrounds. This doesn’t include the ass grabs, dick flicks, and nipple twists.

“If you want to help, follow me on Instagram, Twitter, and Vine to help end the dick flicks.”

Video Credits:
Stevie Emerson
Nicky Reynolds

10. “10 Hours of Walking in Berlin as a Man”

Published On: Oct 31, 2014
Duration: 1:53
Views (as of 11/9/14): 70,671

Opening Titles: “Ten hours of silent walking through some areas of Berlin, rocking a mildly wrinkled baller suit.

“My iron broke and my Partner is a strong independent woman…My outfit is ‘Ralph level though’!”

[He’s also rocking black dress gloves and shades. Women, clearly plants, hit on him. At the end he admonishes one of his would-be paramours.]

Highlights:
“Hey, did you sit on sugar? ‘Cause you have a sweet ass!”

Closing Titles: “I was a victim in 69 instances of greetings, consisting of ‘Hello, have a great day!’ not including the 17 ‘Hello! How are you!’ greetings, none of which I’ve given consent to.

“A non-consensual ‘Hello’ is a verbal rape. #allrapeisrape

“If you want to help, I wanna take my girl to Rio for New Year’s and am $2,666 short. My Paypal is [email protected] Thanks Papi !!!”

Video Credits:
Tall Creepy Handsome

9. “10 hours walking in Seattle as an Asian”

Published On: Nov 3, 2014
Duration: 2:09
Views (as of 11/9/14): 28,923

Opening Titles: “Ten hours of walking through the streets of Seattle, looking hella Asian.”

Highlights:
“Hey, David! Hey, David!”
“I’m not David.”
“You look just like David. You Asian.”

“Hey, man, you’re late for work.” [Camera cuts to P.F. Chang’s sign above.]

Alongside Companion: “Is that Jackie Chan? Jackie Chan! Jackie, Jackie, Jackie, ah, huh, big fan, Jackie Chan!”

Closing Titles: “During the 10 hours there were over 100 instances of being mistaken for another asian guy, and Lucy Liu for some reason. This doesn’t even include what happened during Narin’s impromptu shift at P.F. Chang’s, and the dry cleaner that he apparently owns.

“If you want to help, no need. Narin just found out that he can add everything to David, Kwan, or Peter’s bar tab.”

Video Credits:
Written By: Narin Vann
Directed By: Joey Cruz and Nolan Culver

8. “10 Hours of Walking in NYC as a Man”

Published On: Oct 29, 2014
Duration: 1:55
Views (as of 11/9/14): ?? [YouTube embed disabled]

Opening Titles: “Ten hours of silent walking through all areas of Manhattan, wearing jeans and a crewneck t-shirt.”

[…starring a white hipster-looking guy, wearing horn-rims and carrying a backpack.]

Highlights:
“Hey, powerful!”

“Hey, you look really desirable, but I’m going to respect your privacy.”

“Hey, man! Take this Chipotle!” [Burrito handed off by a man much fatter than the one in the fat-man parody video.]

Alongside Companion: High-five guy

Closing Titles: “100+ instances of verbal street privilege took place within 10 hours.

“This doesn’t include the countless Bud Light Limes, fist bumps, and small business loans that were offered.

“If you want to help, please do nothing. Leave the patriarchy in place.”

Video Credits:
FunnyOrDie [duh]

7. “10 Hours of Walking in NYC as Batman”

Published On: Nov 5, 2014
Duration: 2:10
Views (as of 11/9/14): 64,718

Opening Titles: “Ten hours of walking through New York City, as a silent guardian, a watchful protector, wearing a kevlar bodysuit and utility belt.”

[Rips codpiece.]

“Damn, I’m on duty to please that booty!”

“I smell guano.”

Alongside Companion: Joker impersonator

Closing Titles: “100+ Instances of Bat Abuse took place within 10 hours, involving people of all criminal backgrounds. This doesn’t include countless gunshots, knife attacks, and other attempts on his life.

“If you want to help, please stop cave spelunking and free bats from all of the zoos. They have feelings and dreams too.”

Video Credits:
The Super Zeros

6. “10 Hours of Walking in Dublin City as a Woman”

Published On: Nov 3, 2014
Duration: 2:03
Views (as of 11/9/14): 183,906

Opening Titles: “Ten hours of walking through all areas of Dublin, wearing a furry jacket and a pink shirt”

[Substitute Irish dude in drag for Latino dude in drag. Add spontaneity and production values, and serve.]

Highlights:
“Ooh, it’s a big umbrella! Want to put me under it? No? Fuck ya, then.”

“Anything for me, Mr. Postman?”

“Perverts!”

Alongside Companion: An innocent-looking fellow she accosts, walks next to, and harasses, then calls a pervert.

Closing Titles: “100 + instances of verbal harassment took place within 10 hours, involving people of all backgrounds. This doesn’t include the countless winks, whistles etc”

Video Credits:
@YouthNation

5. “10 Hours of Walking in NYC as a Woman in Hijab”

Published On: Nov 6, 2014
Duration: 3:59
Views (as of 11/9/14): 666,715

Opening Titles: [spoken] “…In this version we’re gonna have my friend walk for five hours in casual clothing and walk another five hours in hijab, which is the Muslim garb.”

“5 hours of silent walking through areas of Manhattan, wearing jeans, a t-shirt and a cardigan”

[Those familiar with the original won’t be surprised by the first half. At one point, after a man walks next to her for several blocks, the filmmakers say, they intervened.]

“5 hours of silent walking through areas of Manhattan, with full covering Hijab (Burka)”

[Crickets]

[Same woman appears to be invisible while wearing the burka.]

Closing Titles: “What do you think?

“You be the judge.”

Video Credits:
Are We Famous Now
Vanessa Bontea
Adam Saleh
Magid

4. “3 Hours of Harassment as a Tiny Man”

Published On: Nov 6, 2014
Duration: 2:15
Views (as of 11/9/14): 36,563

Opening Titles: None. The intro is spoken by the videographer, a “prank video” specialist who introduces his friend, three-foot-tall actor and comedian Andre H. Arruda, who explains, “I always get the weirdest reactions from people, and I’ve always wanted to…show my friends what the hell happens to me when I just do everyday things.”

Highlights:
“Leprechaun.”

“Mini-Me.”

“Can you tie my shoes, man?”

Alongside Companion: None

Closing Titles: “Just 3 hours of filming…over 100 verbal street harassment’s [sic] and 100’s of uncomfortable stares”

Video Credits:
KeyForkTV
Andre H. Arruda
@antigiant

3. “10 hours walking in Skyrim as a woman in skimpy armor”

Published On: Oct 30, 2014
Duration: 1:20
Views (as of 11/9/14): 2,011,931

Opening Titles: “Ten hours of silent walking through all areas of Skyrim, wearing skimpy armor and HDT bouncing breast.”

[HDT stands for Halo Dream Team.]

Highlights:
“Trouble?”

“Can I help you?”

“Well met, traveler!”

“You should see me when you get bored, stranger.”

Closing Titles: “In 10 hours walking 100+ instances of phisical [sic] abuse by totally stranger NPCs and creatures of all sizes, races and levels. This does not include the dragon shouting.”

[An NPC is a non-player character.]

Video Credits:
@Skyrim_watch

2. “10 Hours of Walking in Dublin as a Woman”

Published On: Nov 5, 2014
Duration: 1:23
Views (as of 11/9/14): 54,292

Opening Titles: “Ten hours of silent walking through some areas of Dublin City, with no intention of buying anything”

[Substitute woman in coat for Irish dude in drag. Have her walk through produce market where people are hawking stuff.]

Highlights:

“Seedless grapes now a euro.”

“All the bananas there for one euro.”

“Magic balls are only three euros.”

Alongside Companion: “(Same guy has been standing silently beside her for the last 2 minutes) (4 minutes) (5 minutes)”

[With a sandwich board advertising a bar. You get the feeling he really has been standing there.]

Closing Titles: “100+ instances of verbal fruit and vegetable mongering took place within 10 hours, mainly involving older women. This doesn’t include the multi-packs, loom bands, bags of tayto, cherries, toy dogs, etc.

“If you want to help, don’t worry about it and enjoy the authentic sound of these people advertising their wares.”

Video Credits:
Produced by Creative Nation

1. “5 Hours of Walking in NYC as a Jets Fan”

Published On: Nov 7, 2014
Duration: 1:12
Views (as of 11/9/14): 197,591

Opening Titles: “Five hours of silent walking through one area of Manhattan, wearing a NY Jets t-shirt and hat.”

Highlights:
“Butt fumble.”

“Root for a real New York team.”

“You should be ashamed.”

Closing Titles: None

Video Credits:
Jets Fan: Jay Nog
Written by Jay Nog and Nick Stevens
Camera Man: Jeff Cerulli

See also:
Hidden-Camera Actress Who Was the Subject of Catcalls Is a Sexual-Assault Survivor