But we’re a digital media news site, and I won’t get in to a discussion here about blondes, beauty pageants, certain regions of the US, our education system, or anything of the sort.  The clip does all of that well enough on its own.  Especially when Saved By the Bell’s AC Slater, the luckiest man in the world for having viewed this spectacle from no fewer than 6 inches, can barely contain himself as he moves the proceedings right along, “Thank you very much, South Carolina.”

Worthy of mention is that in the 3 days since the pageant I’ve been emailed the clip by no fewer than seven friends, all of whom are friends of each other.  Even the most remarkably viral clips we’ve seen in the YouTube Era haven’t come close to that.

So finally, after the seventh friend emailed me today, I decided some kind of speed record had been set and required mention.  I declare a Guinness Book of World Records nomination for the fastest clip the internet has ever seen.

But it also highlights something far more valuable to content owners (like the folks at NBC who broadcasted the show): Is it possible you now recognize the benefit of allowing YouTube to show your stuff?  I’d bet if you asked 1,000 random people last Sunday to name 50 things on television that day, maybe ten would know about the pageant.  Now, after Miss South Carolina’s display, the 2008 pageant is must-see television.  Almost 5 million people (and counting) have watched a 48-second clip of the World’s Smartest Teenager with the proud NBC logo at the bottom.  Water cooler chit-chat will be discussing your show all week. 

Just think about that for a minute.

Scott Goldberg