'Weird Al' Yankovic in Film

'Weird Al' Yankovic. A hero to geeks everywhere, a source of mild amusement for normies, and an annoyance to folks suffering from a crippling lack of humor. Producing comedy songs that include both parodies and original tunes, fancying the accordion and bizarre hairstyles, mocking celebrities and fads alike -- these are the mainstays of his work. However, Weird Al's presence has been felt over time in the world of movies, through his music and appearances, and we at MRFH would like to send this great goofy guy with a well-deserved tribute.

Al as a kid "This is the Life" More than meets the eye Yankovic and Richards in UHF Naked Gun 2 1/2 "Jurassic Park" "Gump" Theme from "Spy Hard" "The Saga Begins" Pokamon 2000 Weird Al in "9 Mile"

1959

Al Yankovic is born. He graduates as Valedictorian at the age of 16.

1979

Writes the parody tune "My Bologna", which, with the aid of the Dr. Demento show, would help propel him into the spotlight in a couple years.

1984

Michael Keaton's so-so comedy Johnny Dangerously features the theme song "This is the Life" by Weird Al (who also produces a music video to go with it). Sample lyrics: I buy a dozen cars when I'm in the mood / I hire somebody to chew my food / I'm an upwardly mobile dude / This is the life.

Weird Al's second album "Weird Al Yankovic in 3-D" starts his trend of movie-music tie-in's. He envisions a twelfth sequel to Sly Stallone's boxing career in "Theme from Rocky XIII" (It's the rye or the kaiser / it's the thrill of one bite) and creates a terrific send-up of cheesy slasher flicks in "Nature Trail To Hell".

1985

He's short. He's green. But he's oh-so-wise. No, we're not talking about Kermit! It's "Yoda", the smash hit track that every kid in the country was dancing to in the mid-80's. If they were slightly unstable individuals. "Dare to be Stupid", Al's third album, was all about this Star Wars tribute to our favorite cryptic Dagobahian.

1986

In perhaps the most non sequitur connection ever between music and film, Transformers: The Movie features a scene where robots dance and party to Weird Al's Devo-ish "Dare To Be Stupid". An Oscar nomination quickly follows.

1988

Blink! And you just happened to miss Weird Al's cameo in Tapeheads, as the guy trying to avoid John Cusack.

Don't blink! Yankovic gets a much bigger cameo as the guy coming off an airplane in Naked Gun to dozens of adoring fans. "Uh, Frank, they're not here for you. Weird Al Yankovic is on that plane."

1989

Weird Al stars in UHF, his first and (so far) only major motion picture role. This quirky comedy, about an underdog TV station and the various weird shows and movies it parodies, bombed at the box office. While the critical and box office failure disappointed Al -- he took a couple years off from even making albums -- fans soon discovered the movie and supported it until it grew into an underground cult success. Weird Al also helped to write the script and provided many of the songs used in the film (while simultaneously releasing "UHF" the album). UHF is also notable in that it starred a pre-Seinfeld Michael Richards, SNL's Victoria Jackson, and (shudder) Fran Drescher. UHF spoofed many movies, including Raiders of the Lost Ark, Conan the Barbarian, Star Wars, Shaft, Ghandi, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, The Shining and Rambo.

1991

Continuing his relationship with the Naked Gun trilogy, Weird Al appears as "Police Station Thug" in Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear. He's seen holding cops hostage with a gun, saying "Okay pigs, say your prayers!", just as Drebin walks in and accidentally knocks him out with the door. A second Oscar nomination for Al, robbed unjustly by Pauly Shore's role in Not Without My Pancreas.

1993

"Alapalooza" features the claymation video "Jurassic Park", spoofing some film or another. We don't remember what it is. And we're too lazy to look it up.

1994

Finally! The Oscars! Weird Al appears in Naked Gun 33 1/3 as an Academy Awards presenter (along with Vanna White), but his big moment is stolen when Drebin knocks him unconscious and takes his place on stage.

1996

Created the James Bond spoof intro sequence for the Leslie Nielsen flick Spy Hard. At the point where his name flashes in the credits, Al gives a smug nod and smile for the viewers. Oh yeah.

For his album "Bad Hair Day", Weird Al mocks Forrest Gump in "Gump". Would you like a cho-co-late?

1998

Weird Al had a role in Disney's Safety Patrol, a little-known film helmed by cult director Savage Steve Holland (Better Off Dead). Al and his band perform a couple songs at a concert toward the end of the movie, which also sports a gigantic Weird Al parade balloon (which the band kept and brought with them on tour).

1999

Al does a small cameo in Desperation Blvd. Yeah, we never heard of it either.

"Running With Scissors", the album where Al finally shaved his moustache and lost his glasses for a new century, he writes perhaps the most popular of his movie tunes, "The Saga Begins". While it's source material is dubious -- The Phantom Menace? -- the fact that he goes through the entire plot to the tune of "American Pie" is nothing short of genius. With plenty of sugar.

2000

Hitting either a cultural high or low point, Weird Al records a catchy song for the Pokemon: The Movie 2000 called "Polkamon". It includes this memorable verse: It's time to Polka / For Ponyta and Pidgey too / Come on, put on your lederhosen / And try not to step on little Pikachu.

2003

Weird Al's latest opus, "Poodle Hat", has the unofficial sequel to "The Saga Begins" with "Ode to a Superhero", wherein Al fawns over Spider-Man. Favorite line? "With great power comes great responsibility" / That's the catch phrase of old Uncle Ben / If you missed it, don't worry, they'll say the line / Again and again and again.