Cameo, the app that lets users purchase personalized video messages from celebrities, has released its top 20 most successful stars of 2020 — and it’s packed with more than a few surprises.
Cameo shared the rankings with USA Today, listing the stars who sold the most videos to fans last year.
Though the app includes big names like Sarah Jessica Parker and Snoop Dogg, topping the list last year was Ed Brown, a.k.a Big Ed from 90 Day Fiancé — while 2004 American Idol contestant William Hung, Seinfeld Soup Nazi Larry Thomas, and Andy Dick have also been popular picks.
Surprise! Cameo, the app that lets users purchase personalized video messages from celebrities, has released its top 20 most successful stars of 2020
Top seller! TLC reality star Big Ed, who appears on the 90 Day Fiancé franchise — charges $69 per video and sold the most clips in 2020
2: Coming in second was Josh Sussman , 37, who starred as Jacob Ben Israel on Glee and Hugh Normous on Wizards of Waverly Place
The popularity rankings are based on which stars have had the most videos ordered and produced — so it’s not necessarily who has made the most cash.
In fact, one of the determining factors in popularity seems to be the price each star is charging: a too-high price tag relative to demand isn’t likely to yield good results.
That may be part of the reason why TLC reality star Big Ed — who charges $69 per video — was such a runway success last year.
‘Hey, l love my fans you make my day, please let Teddy and I make yours..!’ reads the 56-year-old’s bio. (His dog, Teddy, died in April.)
Big Ed is one of many stars who’ve pulled off five stars on the app, the sum of 1,869 happy reviews.
Coming in second was Josh Sussman, 37, who starred as Jacob Ben Israel on Glee and Hugh Normous on Wizards of Waverly Place.
Charging just $50 per video, Josh says in an intro clip that he loves sending videos for fans to celebrate their birthdays, engagements, ‘and other fun surprises.’
3: Brian Baumgartner , known best as Kevin from The Office, charges $195 and has a five-star rating with 3,538 reviews
4: Larry Thomas, best known as The Soup Nazi from Seinfeld, sells videos for $80 — or $200 and he’ll wear a chef’s coat
5: William Hung, who rose to fame in 2004 for his cringe-worthy but earnest audition on American Idol), charges just $30 a pop for his videos
The price goes up for the number-three-ranked star on the list, but so does the star power: Brian Baumgartner, known best as Kevin from The Office, charges $195 and has a five-star rating with 3,538 reviews.
‘It’s Brian Baumgartner here,’ reads his Cameo bio. ‘I once played an accountant on TV. Excited to be on Cameo and to connect with you! Please include date of birthday/event and for difficult names please provide pronunciation.
Number four is Larry Thomas, who has a lengthy list of iMDB credits to his name — but is certainly best known as The Soup Nazi from Seinfeld.
Larry offers two price points: For a regular ‘fun message’ he charges $80, but for $200 he will don a chef’s coat, recreating his look from the popular sitcom.
William Hung, who rose to fame in 2004 for his cringe-worthy but earnest audition on American Idol), charges just $30 a pop for his videos, which likely accounts in part for his large quantity sold and his 1,835 positive ratings.
6: Actor Fred Stoller — who has appeared in Seinfeld, Everybody Loves Raymond, The Nanny, Handy Manny, Drake & Josh, and Ned’s Declassified — charges $30
7: Whose Line is it Anyway? comedian Colin Mocherie’s videos go for $150 each — and he tells fans that he’ll record birthday wishes, anniversary wishes, or even clips of himself ‘firing someone for you — with a grin’
8: The Sopranos and The Practice alum Ray Abruzzo charges $99 per video
9: Survivor winner Sandra Diaz Twine makes $60 for each video
10: Lee Rosbach, who is better known as Captain Lee from Bravo’s Below Deck, charges $250
Actor Fred Stoller — who has appeared in Seinfeld, Everybody Loves Raymond, The Nanny, Handy Manny, Drake & Josh, and Ned’s Declassified — charges $30 as well, and offers to reenact scenes from shows he’s appeared on over the years.
‘Or I could even say my own words, you can trust me,’ he says — and fans clearly do, as he has a five-star rating with ,1206 reviews.
Meanwhile, Whose Line is it Anyway? comedian Colin Mocherie‘s videos go for $150 each — and he tells fans that he’ll record birthday wishes, anniversary wishes, or even clips of himself ‘firing someone for you — with a grin.’
Rounding out the top ten are The Sopranos and The Practice alum Ray Abruzzo (who charges $99), Survivor winner Sandra Diaz Twine (who charges $60), and Lee Rosbach, who is better known as Captain Lee from Bravo’s Below Deck (who charges $250).
‘I am really stoked to be on Cameo,’ Captain Lee tells visitors to his page, where he has 1,137 reviews and a five-star rating. ‘So if you need a shoutout, friends need a shoutout, give me a holler, and lets get this thing started.’
11: Charging $199 per video, Michael Rappaport is known for roles in True Romance, Higher Learning, Metro, Cop Land, Deep Blue Sea, The 6th Day, Dr. Dolittle 2, Big Fan, and The Heat
12: Carson Kressley of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy fame sells $69 videos, telling fans: ‘I am now on Cameo, I’m part of the fameo’
13: Jesse Metcalfe — who starred in John Tucker Must Die and rose to fame on Desperate Housewives — charges $159
Surprisingly, it seems that many of the most recognizable names are in the bottom half of the top 20.
Making the list there is Michael Rappaport, known for roles in True Romance, Higher Learning, Metro, Cop Land, Deep Blue Sea, The 6th Day, Dr. Dolittle 2, Big Fan, and The Heat.
‘I’m happy to be on Cameo, I’m excited to talk to some people, talk some s***, and do what I do,’ says the star, who charges $199 per message has a 5-star rating with 1,663 reviews.
Carson Kressley of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy fame sells $69 videos, telling fans: ‘I am now on Cameo, I’m part of the fameo… if you want to send your friend a message from little old moi, hit me up.’
Jesse Metcalfe — who starred in John Tucker Must Die and rose to fame on Desperate Housewives — charges $159.
‘I’m new here to Cameo so if you want a personalized message from me, check out my profile,’ he said in an intro video uploaded last year.
14: Also making the cut is James Marsters, who played Spike on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and charges just $50 per video
15: Hairspray star Nikki Blonsky charges just $40 and says: ‘I love all my fans and I love making them smile so let’s make a cameo and make your loved ones smile with a Cameo from me!’
16: The top-20 star who charges the most is The Challenge’s TJ Lavin , who makes a whopping $275 per video
17: The Real Housewives of New York City star Luann De Lesseps charges $125 per video
Also making the cut is James Marsters, who played Spike on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and charges just $50 per video — and has racked up 2,026 reviews from satisfied fans.
Hairspray star Nikki Blonsky charges just $40 and says: ‘I love all my fans and I love making them smile so let’s make a cameo and make your loved ones smile with a Cameo from me!’
The top-20 star who charges the most is The Challenge’s TJ Lavin, who makes a whopping $275 per video.
‘Good times only please unless we’re gonna smash someone as a joke!’ writes the host, who offers birthday shoutouts and anniversary well-wishes.
The Real Housewives of New York City star Luann De Lesseps charges $125 per video. On her page, she gives fans a taste of what she has to offer, singing the chorus from her song ‘Money Can’t Buy You Class’ — but adding that it can buy you a Cameo.
18: Joining her cast mate Brian Baumgartner, Kate Flannery is also on Cameo offering $190 videos, a portion of which she donates to charity
19: Comedian Andy Dick promises fans that his $99 videos will be long — and, of course, full of personality
20: Finally making the top 20 is iCarly star Ryan Ochoa , who charges $99.
Joining her cast mate Brian Baumgartner, Kate Flannery is also on Cameo offering $190 videos, a portion of which she donates to charity.
‘OK, let’s do this,’ she says in an intro video before adding, ‘That’s what she said.’
Comedian Andy Dick promises fans that his $99 videos will be long — and, of course, full of personality.
‘Now, with me, you’re gonna get that Andy Dick flair, pizzaz. Things can get crude if need be, and that’s what you need,” he said.
‘I love doing Cameos for people. I feel like I get to know each person that I do one for. I take my time, and I make them very personal, funny, weird, raunchy, heartfelt, or all of the above. ENJOY!’
Finally making the top 20 is iCarly star Ryan Ochoa, who charges $99.
‘Years ago, I made a promise to you all that we were gonna have the most special, strong, and the most personal connection there is,’ he says.
‘Which is after many messages, many requests, and now you guys just simply asking me for this — I know that Cameo is the way we take this connection to the next level.
‘Whether with a camera or on stage with a mic, I was born to entertain and inspire others along the way, making sure the world will always “DREAM, WISH, BELIEVE!”’