I came across this:

Coldplay have revealed the inspiration behind the surreal new music video for their new single and current [V] Ripe clip, 'The Hardest Part'. Of course, the hardest part for viewers is understanding the band's motivation of using footage of a scantily-clad geriatric dancer and a buffed mullet-boy. There's no doubt the video has generated more discussion and laughs than any previous Coldplay video and already lapped the world several times over via email. In an interview with the clip's director Mary Wigmore in the band's e-zine, she reveals the original dance routine by Spencer and Barbara was taken from a morning talk show called 'Attitudes' filmed in Miami, Florida in 1990. The band were then blue-screened in as the house band, with great care taken to replicate the original talk show camera angles. Similar plants were brought in and huge fans used to recreate the wind effect. According to Wigmore, Barbara passed away several years ago, but Gene still resides in California. Wigmore had been sitting on the video footage (not literally) for over five years, waiting for the perfect opportunity to use it. While it may have viewers scratching their heads as they watch captivated, Coldplay, by all reports, were thrilled with the result. "They were very enthusiastic about the idea from the beginning," says Wigmore

http://www.asrproevents.com/proevents.htm
I'm not sure how reliable the source but it sounds legit.
Pretty wild either way you look at it though..