Or buddy tragedy…too early to tell.

NBC has gone from big-timing the folks at YouTube to paying them big bucks — or at least raising the startup’s profile. Here’s the deal via Forbes:

Judging by the “Top Favorites” section on Sequoia Capital-funded video-sharing site YouTube, Internet users like watching students performing robot dances, teenagers playing electric guitar versions of Pachelbel’s Canon, half-witted dogs scratching themselves and the pratfalls of small Mexican boys. So beware any corporation looking to seed the site with promotional content; regular “Tubers” will reject the clips if they appear to be a shameless attempt to gatecrash their frat party.

General Electric unit NBC, which has hectored the video site over copyright issues in the past, announced Tuesday it would use YouTube to promote its fall television lineup in a partnership that draws attention to the Internet’s growing role in generating buzz around traditional media content. The AP reports that the agreement includes an integrated, cross-promotional advertising relationship on the YouTube service and significant on-air promotion provided by NBC.

Alas, “Tubers”–no couch-potato jibe intended–are still not likely to find legit clips of Lazy Sunday, the Saturday Night Live parody rap that circulated widely on YouTube and other sites before NBC Universal’s legal eagles asked for its removal. The deal will instead highlight promos made by or for NBC, including clips from new programs or old ones such as The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, behind-the-scenes interviews and other features largely exclusive to the Internet.

Great! We’ve been looking for a place to watch Leno commercials online. We can’t get enough of that guy. Funny stuff!

(Image from Celebopedia)