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RiffTrax- comedian Weird Al Yankovic

"Weird Al" Yankovic

Alfred "Weird Al" Yankovic (born October 23, 1959) is an American musician who specializes in novelty songs and parodies. He is also a director, writer, and actor for films and television. Over the course of his more than 30-year career, he has amassed 30 Gold and Platinum albums, 7 Gold and Platinum-certified home videos and 3 Grammy Awards (with 11 nominations).

Al has contributed some of his recent popular music to play during the various RiffTrax Live! show events and was a guest-riffer on Jurassic Park. The music video for his 2014 song "Foil" features an appearance by Patton Oswalt.

In 2019, Jonah Ray released an album of "Weird Al" covers, You Can't Call Me Al.

Biography[]

Al Yankovic first came to national prominence in 1979 when he recorded "My Bologna" (a spoof of The Knack's "My Sharona") in the bathroom across the hall from his college campus radio station where he had a weekly DJ shift. A devoteé of musical satirists Spike Jones, Tom Lehrer, Allan Sherman and Stan Freberg, Yankovic's budding career took off when the song became a sensation on the radio program "The Dr. Demento Show." A few years later, Al landed his first recording contract and has since created an extensive catalogue of music and videos, including the hits "Eat It", "Like A Surgeon", "Amish Paradise", and "White and Nerdy."

Some of his parody songs reference specific media properties, including The Beverly Hillbillies, Gilligan's Island ("Isle Thing"), and Star Wars ("Yoda" and "The Saga Begins").

Film and Television[]

Al created his own television specials for MTV (AL-TV), Showtime and the Disney Channel, among others. His 1989 feature film UHF (which he co-wrote and starred in) was not a box office success, but became a best-selling DVD upon its release in 2002. His CBS network series The Weird Al Show reached cult-classic status and was later released on DVD. Al has been featured on numerous TV shows and specials, and his profile on VH1's Behind the Music remains one of the most popular installments of the series.

Al has also voiced characters on several animated series, including The Simpsons (as himself), and The Brak Show (a spin-off of Space Ghost Coast to Coast, on which he appeared as a guest).

Discography[]

Studio Albums[]

  1. "Weird Al" Yankovic
  2. In 3-D
  3. Dare to Be Stupid
  4. Polka Party
  5. Even Worse
  6. UHF - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack and Other Stuff
  7. Off the Deep End
  8. Alapalooza
  9. Bad Hair Day
  10. Running with Scissors
  11. Poodle Hat
  12. Straight Outta Lynwood
  13. Alpocalypse
  14. Mandatory Fun

Collaboration Albums[]

  1. Peter and the Wolf

Filmography[]

Film:

  • 1985: The Compleat Al
  • 1988: Tapeheads
  • 1988: The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!
  • 1989: UHF
  • 1991: The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear
  • 1992: The "Weird Al" Yankovic Video Library
  • 1993: Alapalooza: The Videos
  • 1993: "Weird Al" Yankovic: The Ultimate Collection
  • 1994: The Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult
  • 1996: Spy Hard
  • 1996: Bad Hair Day: The Videos
  • 1997: Safety Patrol
  • 1998: "Weird Al" Yankovic: The Videos
  • 1998: Desperation Boulevard
  • 1999: "Weird Al" Yankovic Live!
  • 2003: Haunted Lighthouse
  • 2003: "Weird Al" Yankovic: The Ultimate Video Collection
  • 2006: The Weird Al Show - The Complete Series
  • 2008: Nerdcore Rising
  • 2009: Halloween II
  • 2011: "Weird Al" Yankovic Live! - The Alpocalypse Tour
  • 2011: Alpocalypse HD
  • 2015: Batman vs. Robin

Television: 

  • 1994: Wheel of Fortune
  • 1994: Rock & Roll Jeoprady!
  • 1997: The Weird Al Show
  • 2006: Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
  • 2011: Adventure Time
  • 2011: How I Met Your Mother
  • 2012: The High Fructose Adventures of Annoying Orange
  • 2014: My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic
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