On Saturday Night Live last night, The Lonely Island dudes did a hilarious rap video with intergalactic Star Wars babe (and V for Vendetta star) Natalie Portman, Chris Parnell, and Andy Samberg. OMG! Alert the lawyers! It’s already up on YouTube. Link, another, another All dead.(Thanks, hopey and Manu and others)
Reader comment: Bryan says,
It should be noted that this song/video seems based off of the old Eazy-E song, “No More Questions”.
Reader comment: Robert K. Brown says,
I wanted to forward the SNL video to some friends today and discovered that there was a nastygram left behind at the YouTube links. After some more Googling, I found the above link to the video on SNL’s site. Also thought this note from NBC was indicative of their ignorance on how “borrowed” videos become viral “Now, instead of searching the web for ‘borrowed’ NBC highlights, you can go to the source! We’ve taken your viral favorites and gathered them into one convenient location.” Link.
Reader comment: Jon says
NBC has apparently Nastygrammed YouTube over copies of Natalie Portman’s SNL rap. It’s a smart move on their part, as the free advertising they were getting for an incredibly mediocre show just wasn’t fair.
Reader comment: Anonymous says
I have to point out the irony of the NBC nastygram to youtube over the Natalie Portman video. From the moment Isaw it, I knew the video was cribbed directly from Eazy-E — the reference is made explicit in Natlie’s closing line “no more quesitons.” The song also cops a line from Sir Mix-A-Lot’s song “Posse on Broadway” (“I got a def posse, you got a bunch of dudes…”). Apparently, profiting from this uncredited appropriation is completely fine when NBC does it, but when youtube chooses to post and credit SNL’s work, making it a viral hit and perhaps getting some actual viewers for a faltering show, NBC releases the hounds. Nice, NBC, real nice. If I didn’t love ths video so much, I would say Eazy-E’s estate should nastygram NBC, just to bring the world full circle.