But here’s where one of YouTube’s most interesting conventions comes in: The “response” video.

If you’re a cynic, you’d argue that creating a response video to a popular clip is just a crude attempt to piggyback your way to exposure. And sure enough, “David’s” clip has 26 responses, and most of them aren’t terribly interesting.

Except for this one, from the reliably funny guys behind Chad Vader. Which is why it has nearly nine million views of its own:

Bonus parody, which hasn’t actually been labeled a response, from the excellent people at the Upright Citizens Brigade (if you live in New York and haven’t been to one of its Sunday night Asssscat shows, you’re doing something wrong):

“We see what’s going on at YouTube,” Jeffrey Ulin, senior director for distribution and business affairs at Lucasfilm, told The Wall Street Journal. “We see what’s going on out there on the Web generally. And we wanted fans to come to Starwars.com as the center of fan activity … [this is all] part of keeping the love of ‘Star Wars’ and the franchise alive.”

And revenue as well, of course. Ultimately, these mash-ups will feature advertisements that, given the size and fanaticism of the “Star Wars” fan base, will almost certainly rope in some high-profile sponsors. That said, sitting through a vapid preroll advertisement would certainly be worth the price of admission to an episode of Chad Vader, Day Shift Manager populated with some of Star Wars’ original cast members….