Will It Spread? SNL’s Laser Cats 3
Today, we present the first installment of a feature devoted to predicting the future of new shorts with viral potential. For sometimes it’s hard to tell what will or won’t go viral. But other times, it’s all too easy.
Will It Spread? SNL Digital Short: Laser Cats 3
What’s It About: Andy Samberg and Bill Hader pitch Lorne Michaels on the latest installment of Laser Cats (a show combining what everyone in America likes — cats, and lasers). This time in 3-D!
Premiered: April 5, 2008.
Viral Qualities: Andy Samberg wearing something ridiculous, many cats, tiny baby pug dog.
Star Power: Christopher Walken (also wearing something ridiculous), Senator Chris Dodd.
Drawbacks: 5 minutes in length (a bit long for web viewers). No catchy song. Follow-up to two previously existing shorts that may not be familiar to non-regular viewers of SNL, because they also failed to spread (Laser Cats and Laser Cats 2).
Mash-up Potential: Minimal, unless an industrious Sweder decides to do an homage.
Current Viral Status: As of April 7, 2008, 270 ratings on NBC.com, no appearance in Google Trends or Technorati hot lists
Spread-factor (scale of 1-10, 10 being Lazy Sunday): 3. Really very funny (and the pug dog is ridiculously adorable). But won’t go much beyond its initial airing.
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this might sound crazy but i don’t think time is not that much of an issue as it use to be. as long as the content is engaging then the video will do fine. the whole 2 minute rule does not seem to apply anymore. but then again what do i know :)
soloride on April 7th, 2008 at 7:19 pm - Permalink
You forgot to factor in the :15 pre-roll. Ever seen a video with a pre-roll go viral? We should look into that…
Ian Schafer on April 7th, 2008 at 9:00 pm - Permalink
It won’t go viral, because you can’t send it to anybody outside of the United States. And contrary to what the people behind hulu seem to think, there are more people outside of the United States than there are inside.
Brian Hogg on April 7th, 2008 at 10:03 pm - Permalink
I actually think the SNL sketch that has the best chance of going viral from last week’s episode is this sketch featuring about a dozen Christopher Walken impressions:
http://www.whipitoutcomedy.com/2008/04/walken-family.html
Though, that one’s probably not going viral either.
Josh Spector on April 7th, 2008 at 10:42 pm - Permalink
Someone somewhere has a rulebook where the only page says, “Walken=Viral”.
Ian Schafer on April 8th, 2008 at 8:13 am - Permalink
[...] out their post for the rest. Can’t wait for the next [...]
The Viral Prediction Game « MyMediaMusings on April 8th, 2008 at 9:06 am - Permalink
Love it!
Like it matters what anyone thinks.
Enric on April 8th, 2008 at 11:35 pm - Permalink