The Chuck Norris Facts Internet Phenomena
How Facts About Chuck Norris Made a Movie Star Into a Web Icon
Nov 17, 2008
Once Chuck Norris was a shining, testosterone-laden star of the movie screen. His movies had entertained millions looking for a good explosion or roundhouse kick. However, for the past three years, Chuck Norris has become the star of something else: The Internet.
The Creation of the Chuck Norris Facts List
Chuck Norris facts began filtering through the Internet around the beginning of 2005 as an offshoot of the Vin Diesel Fact Generator. Once the domain of internet message boards, they shot across the Internet Stratosphere after a clever gamer created a Chuck Norris Fact Generator as a World of Warcraft add on. Entrenched in the gaming community, Chuck Norris Facts went on to conquer popular culture and become the darling of hipsters everywhere.
The facts were most likely inspired by Conan O’Brien. O’Brien often had a routine of his television show involving a “Walker Texas Ranger Lever,” a machine that would show random clips of Norris from his show.
“Why Chuck Norris?” and His Opinion on the Joke
So one may ask “Why Chuck Norris?” Much of Internet Phenomena become popular as ironic appreciation, for example, “the Rickroll” (posting a fake link on a message board loading to a video of Rick Astley.) Chuck Norris’s movies are well known for being poorly acted, supplemented by high testosterone action. As such, he was a prime target for this ironic adoration, which apparently has morphed into iconic adoration.
Chuck Norris, for his part, has become a fan of Chuck Norris Facts. According to his website Chuck Norris.com, Norris was surprised and flattered by the facts and finds some of them amusing. Since then he has gone on to participate in the satire through a 2007 Mountain Dew commercial.
Ten Favorite Chuck Norris Facts
- Chuck Norris is the only man to ever defeat a brick wall in a game of tennis.
- Crop circles are Chuck Norris' way of telling the world that sometimes corn needs to lie down.
- There is no theory of evolution, just a list of creatures Chuck Norris allows to live.
- Chuck Norris drives an ice cream truck covered in human skulls.
- Someone once videotaped Chuck Norris getting pissed off. It was called Walker: Texas Chain Saw Massacre.
- A Handicapped parking sign does not signify that this spot is for handicapped people. It is actually in fact a warning, that the spot belongs to Chuck Norris and that you will be handicapped if you park there.
- Chuck Norris once shot down a Russian fighter plane with his finger, by yelling, "Bang!"
- Chuck Norris doesn't shower, he only takes blood baths.
- There are no steroids in baseball. Just players Chuck Norris has breathed on.
- Faster than a speeding bullet ... more powerful than a locomotive ... able to leap tall buildings in a single bound... yes, these are some of Chuck Norris's warm-up exercises.
Selected Chuck Norris Movies
The Wrecking Crew - 1969 (appeared in)
Return Of The Dragon - 1973 (feature film debut)
Breaker! Breaker! - 1976
Good Guys Wear Black - 1977
A Force Of One - 1978
The Octagon - 1979
An Eye For An Eye - 1980
Silent Rage - 1981
Forced Vengeance - 1981
Lone Wolf McQuade - 1982
Missing In Action - 1984
Missing In Action II: The Beginning - 1985
Code Of Silence - 1985
Invasion USA - 1985
Delta Force - 1986
Firewalker - 1986
Braddock: Missing In Action III - 1987
Hero And The Terror - 1988
Delta Force 2: Operation Stranglehold - 1990
The Hitman - 1991
Sidekicks - 1993
Hellbound - 1994
Top Dog - 1995
Forrest Warrior - 1995 (released on video only)
Walker, Texas Ranger - 1993 to 2001 (Television Show)
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