Underground internet stars/TV hosts Rhett and Link made this awesomely memorable commercial for Chuck Testa’s taxidermy business, and it became so popular that “Nope, Chuck Testa!” became a meme of its own. Now underground internet stars/respected musicians the Gregory Brothers have applied their Auto-tune magic to the commercial, and I’m guessing the turnaround was a little bit longer than usual because they got the kids from the “Kids react to _____” videos to sing the chorus. So, to recap: this is a video produced by internet stars and starring a second group of internet stars based on a video created by a third group of internet stars that itself created a new internet star.

I like it better when TV news has nothing to do with the internet.

Here’s video of the best montage from last night’s Oscars telecast: the unintentional musicals created by the Gregory Brothers of Autotune the News fame. In the words of James Franco: “Congratulations, nerds.”

And a note to anyone who has autotune and wants to make viral videos: be more like the Gregory Brothers, and less like the guy who aututuned Kirk Douglas’s speech last night:

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Well, this was inevitable: the auto-tuned remix of CBS-2 reporter Serene Branson’s inexplicable brush with aphasia (that’s a fancy word meanin’ she ain’t use words good). And for those of you nancy-pants pollyannas who are worried about Branson’s health: relax, she’s fine.

Reports that she had been hospitalized and possibly suffered a stroke quickly surfaced, but CBS2 denied them, saying that Branson was checked on by an EMT team and was taken home by a friend.

On Monday night, anchors for KCAL-9 reiterated that statement. They said Branson had suffered from “health related problems” but that she is feeling better. They also said that Branson “followed up with a visit to the doctor for medical tests” and hopes to be back on the air soon. [HuffPo]

I’ll admit that I chuckled a little at this remix, but the original video doesn’t make me laugh any more. After she stumbles through the first couple sentences, there’s a look of absolute terror on her face when she says “dareson” — a realization that she can’t form words — and it actually makes me feel sympathy. I’m gonna have to go back to the manufacturer to have that bug taken out. I assure you that the next model of Warming Glow blogger will be more reliably heartless.

p.s. Hey CBS, good call on pulling all YouTube videos:

(image via)

Antoine Dodson, the Alabama man who went from colorful interview to viral star, performed his popular “Bed Intruder” song with Michael Gregory of Auto-Tune the News last night at the BET Awards. It’s enjoyable partly because it’s such a catchy song, partly because Dodson is such a great story (he was able to move his family out of the projects thanks to the song), but mostly because Michael Gregory has to be whitest person to ever appear on BET.

The thin frame, the baggy clothes, the shaggy hair and thick-framed glasses while singing falsetto and playing the keyboard… it’s incredible. It’s like a perfect cocktail of non-threatening white person characteristics. The only way he could be less intimidating is if he had leukemia and a wheelchair.

[TV Squad via Urlesque]

Matt posted the original video of the “Backin’ up backin’ up” lady on Thursday, and by late Friday afternoon the geniuses behind “Auto-Tune the News” had already gussied the clip up. I won’t lie to you, I watched this clip pretty much non-stop this weekend. As far as I’m concerned, this is easily their finest work. Yes, “Bed Intruder” was hilarious, but that had as much to do with the comedic goldmine that is Antoine Dodson. This song may be the single catchiest tune I’ve ever heard. Seriously, if you’re not singing “backin’ up backin’ up, ’cause my daddy taught me good,” to yourself all day, then you’re a robot.

And yes, I know I’m really stretching here.  As Matt said, the original video was a web clip, not something from TV.  So this clip that I posted to a TV blog is a web video parodying another web video.  I’m really encroaching on Gamma Squad’s turf here.  But it was either this or a post about Kara DioGuardi leaving “American Idol,” leaving Randy Jackson as the only returning judgzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.  Sorry, I nodded off there.  Where was I?  Oh yeah, I’m backin’ up, backin’ up, backin’ up, backin’ up…

[via The Daily What]