About The Frogman
I am Benjamin Grelle, also known as “The Frogman.” I am a comedian, blogger, photographer, and corgi-owner. You can call me Froggie.
I am disabled and live with my parents. I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and narcolepsy. They work together to make me very, very tired.
I am trying to find doctors or medicines that can help me, but in the last decade have had little success finding answers to get well. I spend most of my time in bed to conserve energy. I have adapted my life to be able to work and run my sites from bed.
Before all of this I had dreamed of entertaining the masses. To be some sort of comedic entity in the fabric of society. But I have found society unwilling to come to my parent’s basement to be entertained. Fortunately, I have a virtual means by which to entertain these masses.
Becoming The Frogman:
I started doing comedy in junior high, writing as “Bob the Frog” for a school newsletter. It was the first step towards my plan of being a comedian.
I started to get tired when I was 18. This was the beginning of my struggle with chronic illnesses. Nevertheless, I secretly started doing standup comedy at local clubs (something they never tell you is that while you first start out as a standup comedian… most people kind of stink. Hence, the secrecy).
Eventually I got too sick and couldn’t do it anymore. Then years of weird medical procedures began. I tried all sorts of medications and diets (yes, I tried that one. And that one. And that one, too). I even had shock therapy with the hopes of rebooting my brain, but mostly that was just a series of expensive naps that made me forget things. Unfortunately, nothing prevented my health’s decline.
I met my best friend Tru, who managed to convince me to join tumblr. Even though he passed away a few years ago, it’s really thanks to him I have found a way to pursue comedy despite my illnesses. Read more about Tru.
Accomplishments:
My blog has caught the attention of Steve Martin and Damon Lindelof (LOST producer). I have been listed in Buzzfeed’s top 90 tumblrs, and Otis was named the #1 Most Influential Corgi. My content has made the front page of reddit many times.
George Takei posted one of my originals on his Facebook page! So did Larry the Cable Guy, but I’m not sure how I feel about that. Wil Wheaton and John Green are both followers and tumblr friends—and Wil Wheaton even did a collaboration with me awhile back.
Plus, my mom thinks I’m cool.
So that is my story. I hope you enjoy my blog and come back often.
