Fall into the rabbit hole of old TV shows on YouTube

It's never been so easy to recall your favorite old TV shows. Video-sharing sites are often swept clean of large clips from current programs, but there's less copyright concern over the shows and sitcoms of yesteryear.

The result is something like a repository of nostalgia for canceled or old television shows where fans congregate to reminisce and share favorite moments. MySpace recently unveiled its Minisode Network featuring 3-5 minute versions of campy shows like "Diff'rent Strokes."

But on YouTube, small, organic cults have developed. You might dip in for one video, but you'll likely soon be led to more clips and down a rabbit hole of ever vibrant fandom. The best of them:

— "Arrested Development": A search for "Arrested Development" turns up nearly 2,000 hits on YouTube. The one-camera sitcom, which ran on Fox for three seasons before being canceled last year, was acclaimed for its manic absurdity and has seemed to only get better since. The show's many running gags are perfect for video compilations — like those featuring all the chicken dances, highlights of Gob (Will Arnett) or the stint by Tobias (David Cross) as Mrs. Featherbottom, his rather pathetic Mrs. Doubtfire impression. Behold the greatest prat fall of all time: http://tinyurl.com/228zmm.

— "The Tonight Show": For many, Johnny Carson was before their time, but YouTube has brought him to a younger audience. Exhibit A is the classic "Copper Clappers" skit with Jack Webb from 1968, which may be the greatest feat of alliteration ever accomplished. Also to be mined are clips of Carson's Carnac the Magnificent, his Art Fern and the Tea Time Movie, and any skit in which a joke bombs, like in this clip, where Carson burns the evidence: http://tinyurl.com/33uk7b.

— "Seinfeld": Before the finale of "Seinfeld" aired in 1998, NBC broadcast a brilliant hour-long clip show that many considered better than the sitcom's last episode. On the Web, amateur editors have spliced together a number of similarly excellent highlight reels. Brought together are the finest moments of Frank Costanza (Jerry Stiller), clips of the pseudo-holiday Festivus and the often forgotten Mr. Bookman, the library detective played by Philip Baker Hall, who in one scene just about stole the show.

— "Inside the NBA": TNT's basketball program may be a reach in comparison to the above shows, but a reasonable case could be made for Charles Barkley being one of the funniest personalities on TV. "Inside the NBA," which runs several times a week during the Nationial Basketball Association season, features Barkley, Kenny Smith and Ernie Johnson — an unlikely mix to yield chemistry that'd make any news program jealous. Shot live, "Inside the NBA" isn't intended to be catalogued and saved. Nevertheless, clips can be found all over YouTube, like Barkley's spiel on Chris Webber and Tyra Banks in this video: http://tinyurl.com/yvrjry.

Video of the Week: "Good Cop, Baby Cop"

The newest star of the Web is Pearl McKay, the 2-year-old daughter of comedian and director Adam McKay. Pearl first starred in "The Landlord," a video by McKay and Will Ferrell that caused a minor sensation and helped launch the video Web site FunnyorDie.com. As Ferrell's demanding, boozing landlord, she demanded Ferrell's money so that she could "get my drink on." Now, she's back and she's taking names. In "Good Cop, Baby Cop" (http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/33f2687080), she's brought in to elicit a confession from Ferrell, whom she leaves in tears. It's to be Pearl's last video, though; the video ends with a title card announcing her "baby retirement."

Download This: Elvis Costello, "The First 10 Years Podcast Series"

Elvis Costello is recounting the beginning of his career in this remarkable podcast series, which is now up to three episodes. Varying in length from six to 14 minutes, the podcasts are available for free on iTunes and will run until early August. It's meant as promotion for Costello's new "The Best of Elvis Costello: The First 10 Years," but Costello's musings are worth a listen with or without the album.