Keyboard Cat became internet’s original “play-off” meme when 1984 video of cat “playing” keyboard was repurposed to mock failures, spawning “play him off, Keyboard Cat” format that dominated 2009-2011 YouTube.
The Original Video
1984: Charlie Schmidt filmed his cat “Fatso” wearing baby clothes, appearing to play keyboard (Schmidt’s hands hidden below frame). The campy 54-second video captured cat’s serious expression while “performing.”
June 2007: Schmidt uploaded vintage footage to YouTube titled “charlie schmidt’s cat playing piano.”
The video sat relatively unnoticed until 2009.
The Viral Moment
February 2009: Blogger Brad O’Farrell created “Play Him Off, Keyboard Cat”—video of man falling down stairs, cut to Keyboard Cat “playing him off” like old vaudeville hook removing bad performers.
The format clicked. Within weeks, thousands of “Keyboard Cat” videos appeared:
- Epic fails → Keyboard Cat
- Political gaffes → Keyboard Cat
- Sports bloopers → Keyboard Cat
- Any embarrassment → Keyboard Cat
The Format
Standard Keyboard Cat video structure:
- Clip of failure/embarrassment/mishap
- Hard cut to Keyboard Cat
- “Play him off, Keyboard Cat” caption
- Cat “plays” while failure video ends
The format was endlessly remixable, required minimal editing, and worked for any fail.
The Peak
2009: Keyboard Cat dominated YouTube
2010: Mainstream coverage (CNN, Today Show)
2011: Commercial appearances, brand deals
Peak views: Original + remixes reached 200M+ combined
Keyboard Cat was internet’s first major meme format requiring video editing.
The Commercial Success
Schmidt monetized Keyboard Cat:
- Wonderful Pistachios ad (2009 Super Bowl): Keyboard Cat commercial
- Merchandise: T-shirts, plush toys
- Licensing: TV shows, advertisements
- Public appearances: Schmidt brought cat to events
The meme became business—early example of viral monetization.
The Cat’s Death
Fatso (original Keyboard Cat) died 1987—video was 23 years old when it went viral.
Schmidt adopted new cat “Bento” to continue Keyboard Cat legacy at events. The meme outlived its star.
The Cultural Impact
Keyboard Cat established meme video format:
- Reaction video template
- “Play off” became phrase
- Fails + music = comedy gold
- Vintage footage could go viral decades later
Later memes (“Curb Your Enthusiasm” theme, “To Be Continued”) followed Keyboard Cat’s template.
The Copycats
Keyboard Cat spawned imitators:
- Other animal musicians: Dogs on pianos, etc.
- “Play him off” variations: Different musical animals
- Remix culture: Keyboard Cat playing different songs
None achieved original’s success.
The Celebrity Encounters
Keyboard Cat “played off”:
- Politicians (Obama, McCain gaffes)
- Celebrities (awards show mishaps)
- Athletes (sports fails)
- News anchors (on-air blunders)
The democratic mockery spared no one.
The Technical Innovation
Keyboard Cat required editing skill beyond earlier memes:
- Video cutting/splicing
- Timing comedic beats
- Audio mixing
This raised bar for meme participation—not just screenshot/caption but video production.
The Decline
2012+: Keyboard Cat faded as:
- Format became overused
- Other memes emerged (Harlem Shake, etc.)
- YouTube algorithm changed (favored longer videos)
- Attention moved to new platforms (Vine, Instagram)
The peak lasted ~3 years before exhaustion.
The Legacy Format
“Play off” format survived Keyboard Cat:
- “Curb Your Enthusiasm” theme: Awkward moments + Larry David music
- “To Be Continued”: JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure arrow freeze
- “You Died”: Dark Souls game over screen
- “Record Scratch”: “Yep, that’s me” freeze frames
Keyboard Cat pioneered reaction video template.
The Nostalgia
By 2023, Keyboard Cat was:
- Classic meme reference
- Symbol of 2009 internet
- Early YouTube’s creative peak
- Original “play off” meme
Younger internet users knew format without recognizing origin.
The Lesson
Keyboard Cat proved:
- Old content can go viral decades later
- Simple concepts work best
- Editing access democratizes comedy
- Meme formats more durable than specific memes
- Monetization possible if you own footage
Schmidt turned 1984 home video into mini-empire—Internet’s original success story.
Source: YouTube view data, Charlie Schmidt interviews, Know Your Meme documentation