When Conan O’Brien joked about a Web site run by a manatee mascot that appeared in a sketch, NBC quickly created HornyManatee.com and got millions of visitors.

And of course everyone has heard about viral sites tied to movies and the complicated web of sites tied into the mythology of “Lost” (well, people who watch the show anyway).

But CBS’ “How I Met Your Mother” has taken the fake Web site to a whole new level, with more than six mock sites, including a MySpace page for the alter ego of one of the show’s characters. And in the process they managed to create a musical superstar.

The character, Robin Sparkles, grew out of an episode where the show’s Robin Scherbatsky (Colbie Smulders) was exposed as an ’80s Canadian pop star.
Series creators Carter Bays and Craig Thomas went all the way with the gag, creating a pair of music videos and posting them to YouTube. The first, “Let’s Go to the Mall,” has been viewed by more than 430,000 people.

The clips are sheer comic genius and have prompted calls for a full-length album, with some fans even clamoring for a tour.

And here, in all their cheesey glory, are “Let’s Go to the Mall” and “Sandcastles in the Sand.”

Let’s Go To The Mall

Robin Sparkles – Sandcastles in the Sand

Thursday, March 12
Rascal Flatts – “The Ellen DeGeneres Show”
Natasha Leggero, Chris Franjola, Brad Wollack – “Chelsea Lately”
Bif Naked – “The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos”
T.I. – “The Bonnie Hunt Show”
Heather Headley – “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno”
Tracy Morgan – “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon”
Pendulum – “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
Sara Bareilles – “Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson”
Delta Spirit – “Last Call with Carson Daly”

Friday, March 13
Larry the Cable Guy, Kelly Clarkson – “Live with Regis and Kelly”
Russell Brand, Donnell Rawlings – “Chelsea Lately”
Howie Mandel, Rush – “The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos”
Cursive – “Late Show with David Letterman”
Randy Travis – “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno”
Trace Adkins – “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon”
The Dream – “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
Mike Birbiglia – “Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson”

Saturday, March 14
Los Lonely Boys, The Gourds – “Austin City Limits” – rerun
Kelly Clarkson – “Saturday Night Live”