PITTSBURGH — A punk-themed YouTube show called “Huff Ones” where guests inhale volatile substances is gaining popularity despite warnings from health officials, according to sources.
“I saw how popular ‘Hot Ones’ got, and I figured, shit, I could do that,” said Will “Boner” Bonelli while filling a paper bag with air freshener. “I happened to come up with an angle that appealed to the demographic I wanted to reach. The format is simple: I bring on someone from a band or the local scene and interview them while they huff harder and harder shit. We start with rubber cement and work our way up through whippits, duster, starting fluid, gasoline, et cetera. Very few of my guests get all the way to xenon.”
Glenn Hemphill, singer for local punk band Greasy Thief, appeared on one of the most popular episodes of the show.
“I have very little memory of even being on the show,” said Hemphill while reviewing video of his appearance. “You can see my eyes glaze over right after I take a lungful of Carbona. Then Boner asks me about our newest record and I fall out of my chair. When I get up, I do a hit of butane and that seems to right the ship enough that I’m able to carry on with the interview. Overall, I’d say it was a positive experience—we got at least a dozen more followers on Bandcamp. I did have a hard time explaining why my beard was covered in silver spray paint to my boss the next day, though.”
Other shows have tried to capitalize on the success of “Hot Ones,” according to longtime TV producer Hank Spector.
“Any time we see a cultural phenomenon like that, there will always be a bunch of copycats trying to ride on its coattails,” explained Spector. “For instance, there’s an upcoming program for Peacock where celebrity guests answer questions while different types of insects sting and bite them. Then there’s the ill-advised ‘Shot Ones,’ which involves guests being shot with progressively more dangerous projectiles. It starts with a BB gun and eventually escalates to rubber bullets. It’s a really sadistic concept—I wish I’d come up with it!”
At press time, production of “Huff Ones” had been shut down after a guest absent-mindedly lit a cigarette on the fume-filled set.