YouTube Millionaires: Overboard Humor Salutes “The Trolls Of YouTube”

Welcome to YouTube Millionaires, where we profile channels that have recently crossed the one million subscriber mark. There are channels crossing this threshold every week, and each has a story to tell about YouTube success. Read previous installments of YouTube Millionaires here.

YouTube is full of trolls, but few are more masterful at their craft than Garrett Garcia. The YouTube prankster who make videos on his Overboard Humor channel has gained a following thanks to his signature videos, which often involve reciting inappropriate YouTube comments to complete strangers. Garcia, who is partnered with Fullscreen, recently passed one million YouTube subscribers. Here are his thoughts on his fearless style:

Tubefilter: How does it feel to have one million subscribers? What do you have to say to your fans?

Overboard Humor: Well, one million is a big number, I think, people are having a lot of babies though which mean more subscribers but less food so I’m not sure how I feel about all these people having sex. Either way, its a milestone here on YouTube so breaking that 1mil feels like I made it in a lot of ways. I remember being 16, I think, watching Edbassmaster, Jackvalefilms, and Medicorefilms. I always dreamed of being as big as these guys on YouTube, so in many ways it’s my dream come true!

TF: Where do you think Overboard Humor fits in the YouTube prank community?

OH: I like to think overboardhumor is its own community, kinda away from all other “pranksters.” We are the trolls of YouTube! We encourage, and embrace that funny, weird side of YouTube.

TF: What is the angriest you’ve ever made someone because of a prank?

OH: It’s really hard to say. I’ve been punched only once! I tend to focus on the next video after I’m done. Sometimes I go back and watch my videos and go, “oh ya that guy was so mad that day.” One of my favorites is this guy who yelled out at people to brush their teeth and comb their hair. This was from my “Better Shut Up” video when I go up to stranger and tell them “Better shut up.”

TF: With regard to your deadpan delivery, do you ever struggle to keep yourself from showing too much emotion when filming a video?

OH: I never really thought about that. I’ve had a dry sense of humor with strangers since I can remember. It’s my inner child coming out in a lot of ways. I wouldn’t say it’s a struggle–it’s just what comes natural for me.

TF: As your channel grows more popular, how do you make sure you stay “anonymous” when performing a prank on a stranger?

OH: I’m not exactly trying to stay unknown. I plan to just keep doing what I’m doing for as long as possible. Adaptation is something I love, so I’m sure it won’t be a problem when the time comes.

TF: How often do people simply ignore you or respond in ways that aren’t interesting enough to make it into your videos?

OH: Not too often. I’m very selective. I won’t go up to someone if I don’t think the conversation will be worth putting in the video. I fail maybe 1% or so of the time. I use almost all my footage, which isn’t like most [others] from what I’ve noticed. I’m picky about it.

TF: Your channel description says you “want to make as many people laugh as I can in my life time.” With that in mind, does it ever bother you that you are making some people annoyed in order to make others laugh?

OH: Yes. I care a lot about others so when someone isn’t happy it does bother me. I think sometimes I care too much, actually. I have realized some people get mad no matter what, so I’ve learned to just keep my head up with positive intentions and never stop pushing forward. Comedy has always been largely associated with negative things, and I don’t think overboardhumor breaks any of those rules or tendencies; it is our job as comedians to make the negative things positive and share the humor in the negative with others.

TF: How do you decide which videos to put on your main channel and which ones to put on your secondary channel? In other words, what constitutes a “vlog” vs. a “prank”?

OH: I have a structure for my main-channel, “OG” overboard fans, so I take their YouTube comments to the streets on my main channel. My 2nd channel, well…It’s always been on-and-off and full of random shit. I plan to focus on just my main channel for the future.

TF: What’s next for your channel? Any fun plans?

OH: I want to keep connecting with my fans and using the comments to inspire my videos. I want to take the overboardhumor show across the globe. I want to collaborate with other YouTubers, entertainers, comedians, and artists alike.

My biggest goal is to reach five million subscribers before January 1, 2015. If I do it, can I get another interview? I can see it now: “overboardhumor predicts his future!”

On Deck (channels that will soon reach one million subscribers): Makeup Geek, paulsoaresjr, FunForLouis