June 29, 2006
YOU CAN'T BEAT 'EM...:
NBC, YouTube Strike Deal on Channel (Andrew Salomon, June 28, 2006, Backstage)
NBC announced on Tuesday it is partnering with YouTube.com to create a channel on the site for rebroadcasts of the network's shows as well as original programming, another sign that websites for user-generated content have entered the world of mainstream media. [...]Posted by Orrin Judd at June 29, 2006 10:16 AMLike a screwball romantic comedy from the 1940s, what started out as a rancorous feud over trivial matters ended up being a marriage of sorts: six months ago, NBC threatened legal action against YouTube when one its users uploaded a Saturday Night Live skit, "Lazy Sunday."
Julie Suppan, the senior director of marketing at YouTube, told OMMA magazine a few months ago that her company tried to head off the confrontation by forming a partnership with the network. YouTube didn't hear back from its officials until February, when they issued a legal warning.
"Lazy Sunday" aka the "Chronic--what?--cles of Narnia" is likely the only really funny thing on SNL the last decade. NBC should've paid YouTube for the free publicity.
Posted by: Jim in Chicago at June 29, 2006 10:33 AMJim,
You didn't see the Taco Town clip from SNL? That makes it TWO funny skits in one year. I think that's a modern record. Go check it out...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEF-3PiQdq0&search=taco%20town
Posted by: Patrick H at June 29, 2006 11:43 AMJim --
NBC pretty much admitted that last night when they did a segment about the YouTube deal on the Nightly News. They also said twice as many people have watched the Connie Chung musical self-immolation on YouTube than actually tuned into the show on MSNBC, which probably explains why the deal was made.
Posted by: John at June 29, 2006 12:04 PMDoppelganger is also really good -
SNL makes really funny digital shorts these days - but their live skits have become unwatchable. With exception to Christopher Walken skits, all the net-circulated clips that become internet memes are digital shorts written by the younger staff. I think its time for the show change formats.
Posted by: Shelton at June 29, 2006 12:04 PMTina Fey is leaving both the cast and as head writer, so I'm in hopes the quality of the skits will bump up a notch or two next season (Tina's an example of someone with a certain amount of talent who is praised to the high heavens thanks to her ability to network with the right types of people and climbs to a level above her capabilities. We'll see how her prime-time show does this fall).
Posted by: John at June 29, 2006 4:28 PMFey's prime time sitcom stars Alec Baldwin whose shameful political rantings and impressive lack of talent, looks, and intelligence have made him radioactive on the big screen, so naturally the prescient moonbats in television programming think he’ll draw viewers to the little screen.
I predict that after months of flogging and hype, the show will follow the lady president into the dustbin of television history.