Live Internet Television

I was pretty sure that despite the buzz, and despite having loved the SNL classic about something in a box, I didn’t need to be the 8,425,632nd person to watch the latest video from Andy Samberg/thelonelyisland.

I got roped into it by Kara Swisher’s post “Finally, Original Online Video Done Right: Andy Samberg’s Lonely Island and “The Guild” on WSJ’s All Things Digital, though.

This post about professionally-concepted and produced online-only television-like content featured some references to a Microsoft online mini-episode series as well as something called The ‘Bu.

Regrettably, I looked at the Microsoft series first. Knee-jerk Microsoft bashing is boring, but I have to say, it happens for a reason. The episode and Christmas Special were stilted, predictable, and featured a single effective actor. Add some really bad-looking graphics and amateurish cartoon character representations and you have a whole lotta mess.

Contrast that with The ‘Bu — “young, sexy people that live in Malibu call it The ‘Bu, because when you say the entire word, it takes time, and then you wouldn’t be young anymore.” It’s a spoof of Melrose Place and hey! I lived by that show back in the day.

8 episodes in all were produced in January 2006, just about 3 years ago (Swisher didn’t mention that!). The comments are still rolling in (for Episode 1 as recently as 3 hours ago), and this week have mostly featured references to… the latest video from Andy Samburg/thelonelyisland seen so far by 8,425,631 people.

Make that 8,425,632. I had to watch it. And I might have to watch the CW remake of Melrose Place!