SNL Digital Short Nixed Due to Music Clearance Snafu

Andy Samberg by Mary Ellen Matthews/NBC Photo

Andy Samberg's latest (if a bit protracted...) Saturday Night Live digital-short gem, a ballad directed to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has been pulled from NBC.com, the Peacock's official YouTube channel and other sites where it had surfaced, reportedly because it did not clear a musical sample from the group Aphex Twin, says NewTeeVee.com. The clip featured Samberg, with an assist from Maroon 5's Adam Levine, serenading Fred Armisen's (sometimes dress-wearing) dead ringer for the Iranian official.

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Posted by

Matt Webb Mitovich

Oct 2, 2007 11:12 AM

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Aww man... that's too bad. It was pretty funny Saturday night. I love Andy Samberg digital shorts. Armisen was suited up as Ahmadinejad for a good part of the night. Priceless.
Posted by RachelScribbles Oct 2, 2007 11:25 AM Report Abuse

Who is Ahpex Twin? They should be thanking SNL for the publicity.
Posted by mdjones Oct 2, 2007 11:32 AM Report Abuse

I agree RachelScribbles. I thought most of the show was pretty funny, especially that. I am not quite getting why it was pulled though... (maybe I have just not had enough caffeine today.)
Posted by Jayhawks 2008! Oct 2, 2007 11:45 AM Report Abuse

Hey Matt, is this a slow news day? Its almost 12:00 and only one story? C'mon, I need my MWM Today's News: My Take fix!
Posted by RachelScribbles Oct 2, 2007 11:57 AM Report Abuse

jayhawk, if you sample another artist's work without permission, that artist can sue you for copyright infringement and collect beaucoup damages.

The same principle behind unauthorized clips being removed from YouTube. NBC would find itself in an awkward position trying to enforce it's own copyrights if it engaged in the same behavior on it's own Website by infringing someone else's copyright.

Posted by Sheldon

Oct 2, 2007 12:06 PM

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Thanks Sheldon! I think I must have misread Matt's sentence about "the group Aphex Twin." I did not realize or remember that they had sampled another band's work.
Posted by Jayhawks 2008! Oct 2, 2007 12:39 PM Report Abuse

Hey Matt, is this a slow news day? Its almost 12:00 and only one story? C'mon, I need my MWM Today's News: My Take fix! Read again; there's new stuff beneath the updated Britney item.
Posted by Matt Webb Mitovich Oct 2, 2007 12:49 PM Report Abuse

Whew! Thanks. The Britney story was from yesterday so I didn't look at anything below it. Seeing it there made me think that's where today's stories started. I appreciate it!
Posted by RachelScribbles Oct 2, 2007 12:58 PM Report Abuse

I've been listening to this all day. Great video! "And I ran.... I ran so far away."
Posted by Spider-Man Oct 2, 2007 1:07 PM Report Abuse

Who is Ahpex Twin? They should be thanking SNL for the publicity. He, actually. He's a rather influential electronica artist who has been around since the early 90s. Just because people don't get played on Top 40 channels doesn't meant they're not around.
Posted by Dianora Oct 2, 2007 1:08 PM Report Abuse

That's right Dianora... Aphex Twin is a very popular underground band...at least that's the way they started.
Posted by Mandy Girl Oct 2, 2007 2:06 PM Report Abuse

I thought it was the funniest part of SNL this week. I can't believe how much Fred looks like the nut Ahmadinejad.
Posted by CinderAngelkc Oct 2, 2007 3:10 PM Report Abuse

That digital short was so funny! NBC blew it by not getting the rights to the original song. Also, the best part was the great cameo from Jake Gyllenhaal near the end of the video. Should have mentioned that TVGuide!
Posted by Metome Oct 2, 2007 3:27 PM Report Abuse

Personally, I can't wait until "D!ck in a Box 2007". My fingers are crossed that there will be another one that is similar and just as hilarious this year.
Posted by RachelScribbles Oct 2, 2007 3:34 PM Report Abuse

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