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February 10, 2012
 
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Did Weezer rip-off South Park? - VIDEOS

by Jonathan Toomey, posted Jun 6th 2008 2:04PM

The Red AlbumOK, let me start this off by saying that Weezer is one of my favorite bands and that I haven't stopped listening to their new self-titled "red album" since it came out on Tuesday. It's their best stuff in a long time. So what I'm about to say is more of an observation than an accusation.

Alright, so am I nuts, or is there a striking resemblance (or at least some obvious similarities) between the video for Weezer's new single "Pork and Beans" and the South Park episode "Canada on Strike?"

The "Pork and Beans" video is awesome, destined to be a classic right up there with the video they did for "Keep Fishin'" You know, the one where they were the musical guest on The Muppet Show? The new video features an all-star line up of "Internet stars." Tay Zonday, Chris Crocker, Afro Ninja, the Numa Numa kid, dramatic look gopher... and more.

However, so did that South Park episode. It's not that they're "the same," but the rather just the same idea. Just seems a bit odd to me, especially since this interview with the video's director doesn't even mention the South Park ep as having any influence. Call me crazy, but I find that a little hard to believe. It aired two months ago, well within the time frame that the video would have been shot and I'm sure someone saw it. I've posted them both. What does everyone else think? Blatant rip-off or uncredited homage?

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judi

sheesh for a silly little music video, so much controversy! and bah to the trite south park connection, as it seems people are more pissed about the fact that the greatly talently BNL...cough, cough...did it first.
i guess anything to distract from the election.

June 06 2008 at 7:14 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Bash

Congrats Jonathan. You generated clicks.

June 06 2008 at 6:21 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
MrWeen

Weren't The Barenaked Ladies first to come up with this concept? Here is the link to the video that came out over a year ago.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=FoFMRXlNJ6Y

June 06 2008 at 6:06 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
ProgGrrl

I think it's a coincidence...and anyway, both are great. So the more the merrier.

June 06 2008 at 4:41 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jon DunB

Wouldn't surprise me at all. Listen to "Table Top Show" by The Living End and see if you notice any similarities to bass line in "Hash Pipe." http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?i=152980&id=152986&s=143441 ... starts about halfway through the clip in iTunes.

June 06 2008 at 4:11 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Katie

Yeh, this is really more of a coincidence then a ripoff of some sort. Weezer is just catching the last few minutes of the YouTube stars' (these ones, at least) 15 minutes of fame

June 06 2008 at 4:08 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
RC

I don't think it is a ripoff, the Weezer video was a collaborative effort with all the internet "stars" whereas South Park was just making fun of them. The Weezer video is lighthearted and fun and about just being yourself where South Park was more mean-spirited and had them fight to the death.

http://bitsmack.com

June 06 2008 at 3:58 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
keithnl

The whole album might be one big joke, read the onion av club review

http://www.avclub.com/content/music/weezer

June 06 2008 at 3:08 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Aaron

They have a history of this actually. They had the video of them with Muppets just a few months after Saves the Day's "Freakish" video which was basically the exact same thing.

June 06 2008 at 3:00 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jack

See Internet People! - The Meth Minute 39
It from September 05, 2007:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pPCkhYMQgY

Popular internet/youtube videos combined in a video set to music.

June 06 2008 at 2:36 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

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