The Associated Press Doesn't Get Online Video

Ugh! Lists. America loves them.

Me too, I just wish they didn’t all come out in December. We’re not even halfway through the month and I think we’ve had enough already (Note: We’ll probably be posting at least one or two lists soon, don’t you worry).

Someone needs to synthesize and rank all of them into one Top 10 List of Top 10 Lists. That way, I don’t have to have constant battles with my self-control about clicking through Amazon, Salon, AND New York Magazine‘s List of Books. If their list it’s on The Ultimate List of Best Lists then consider it read, and if not, better luck next year.

If such a list of lists did exist I’ll tell you what definitely wouldn’t be on it: The AP’s Top 10 Viral Videos of 2008

Here’s the rundown:

1. Tina Fey As Sarah Palin
2. The Real Palin
3. Christian the Lion
4. Will.i.am’s Yes We Can
5. Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog
6. Paris Hilton Responds to McCain Ad
7. Sarah Silverman and Matt Damon (that’s A.P. talk for “I’m Fucking Matt Damon”)
8. Puppy Cam
9. Frozen Grand Central
10. Late-night Hosts Brawl

I share Gabe’s frustration. In one of the maybe handful of times per year that the AP reserves to give the content side of online video some legitimate attention, it would be nice if it actually gave the content side of online video some legitimate attention. Half of the honorees listed above aren’t even viral videos. Yes, it’s hard to say what constitutes a viral video, but it’s not the real Sarah Palin, nor is it a 42-minute online series created by Joss Whedon. And it’s definitely not when a television clip goes viral on the internet. That’s what’s called a “popular television clip.”

At least I think that’s right. But then is Lazy Sunday a viral video? It looks/feels like a viral video. Hmmmm…semantics are hard! But we can debate about the Viral Video Myth some other time. Regardless of the outcome, the above list is lame and ill-conceived.

AP, you should know better. You let TIME Magazine beat you on this one. Their much more appropriately chosen viral video list below:

1. Where the Hell is Matt?
2. Spaghetti Western
3. Christian the Lion
4. Hamster on a Piano Eating Popcorn
5. Obama’s Loss Traced to Nonvoter
6. Super Mario Rescues the Princess
7. Pretend You Give a Shit About the Election
8. Star Wars According to a 3 Year-Old
9. Spoof of T.I.’s Whatever You Like
10. MadTV No Frills Airlines