It can be as simple as this: “Annoying Orange”

Are you familiar with this?

This is Annoying Orange and is featured in today’s NYT:

LOS ANGELES — There is little doubt that Dane Boedigheimer has created an online sensation that struck a pop cultural nerve. The “Annoying Orange” Web videos that he’s been rolling out for the last two years have racked up more than 800 million views on You Tube, where the threshold for a runaway hit is about 50 million.

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“Annoying Orange” is about to become ubiquitous at the mall. The Collective plans to announce on Monday that it has secured a wide-ranging merchandise deal for the fruit. Themed T-shirts will arrive at Penney’s stores nationwide in October; Toys “R” Us will “prominently position” talking plush Oranges and related backpack adornments, among other items, in its stores, according to Richard Barry, a vice president of the chain.

“We think the irreverent humor is right on trend,” Mr. Barry said.

800 million views. Shot a TV pilot. Merchandising. And what sort of extensive creative permutations did Boedigheimer go through to the inspiration that led to Annoying Orange?

Mr. Boedigheimer got the idea for “Annoying Orange” one night in 2009 when he was lying in bed. He started thinking about a piece of fruit that could talk and got the giggles. His dog, Cuddles, looked at him as if he were crazy, “but I couldn’t get it out of my head,” Mr. Boedigheimer said.

The next day, he bought an orange at a Food 4 Less supermarket and went to work in his kitchen, taping a segment with a Sony video camera and using software like Final Cut Pro to make a clip for YouTube. Working with friends, Mr. Boedigheimer has since made more than 90 videos, uploading a new one on YouTube every Friday.

“People respond because it’s simple and silly,” he said. “That, and people like to see talking food get hacked in half. Everybody needs a good kersplat once in a while.”

Lying in bed. Had an idea about a talking piece of fruit.

Ideas are everywhere. We just have to be open to them.

For more of the NYT article, go here.