We Got it All: ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic’s ‘UHF’ Turns 30

July 21, 2019

“Weird Al” Yankovic’s comedy movie UHF was originally released on July 21, 1989, making the film officially 30 years old. While the prominent movie critics of the ’80s weren’t very kind to the release, the film has since become a cult classic and is still fondly remembered by many to this day.

Now, three decades past its original release, we take a look back at UHF and some of its aspects which made it so great!

The Premise

In the 1980s, “Weird Al” Yankovic had established himself as a master of song parodies. This made him famous as a musician, leading to the parodist and his manager, Jay Levey, looking to extend the artist’s unique brand of comedy into film. Much in the way Yankovic would take popular songs and alter the words, the idea was for Yankovic to star in a movie where he could spoof films and TV shows as well.

From that idea, the concept of UHF was born. Yankovic’s character, George Newman, is an imaginative dimwit who lands a job as the manager of Channel 62, a dying UHF television station. Considering the channel’s current slate of boring programming, George looks to save the station by introducing a variety of interesting new TV shows. Some of his genius ideas include the game show Wheel of Fish, where contestants spin an actual wheel of fish to win fishy prizes; Raul’s Wild Kingdom, featuring an eccentric animal owner who clearly shouldn’t be allowed to have pets; and The Secrets of the Universe, which teaches science to children by explaining how to make plutonium out of common household items.

Despite George’s ambitions, he struggles greatly with raising the channel’s viewership. His depression presents itself while hosting his own children’s show, Uncle Nutzy’s Clubhouse, which sees him telling the children how miserable his life has become. George then walks off the set, letting the station’s janitor Stanley Spadowski (Michael Richards) take over – and, just like that, Stanley Spadowski’s Clubhouse becomes the most popular show on television. But will it be enough to save the channel?

The Parodies

It’s worth noting George is a daydreamer, constantly imagining himself in wild situations. This allows for the inclusion of many other film and TV parodies as well, which wouldn’t work in the context of the story. This becomes clear in the opening scene of the movie, which spoofs Raiders of the Lost Ark. Wearing Indiana Jones getup, Yankovic grabs a golden idol before being chased literally all across the planet by a giant, rolling sphere, which finally flattens him like a hamburger patty.

Other films are spoofed as well by way of fake movie trailers shown on Channel 62. One of the most memorable is the trailer for Gandhi II, which puts an action movie twist on the original biopic. Whether he’s canoodling with women or taking on gangsters with a machine gun, Gandhi is clearly out for some vengeance this time around. Meanwhile, a parody trailer for Conan the Librarian also heavily entertains by depicting the Arnold Schwarzenegger character slicing library patrons in half.

The best movie parody of them all in the film is probably when George is tasked with rescuing Stanley from the henchmen of a competing VHF TV station. Despite the seriousness of the situation and the very real danger, George is only able to save his friend by first envisioning himself as a bespectacled-and-mustachioed version of John Rambo – a man literally able to catch a bullet with his teeth before chewing on it and spitting it into an attacking soldier.

The Cast

Every good comedy needs a great cast, and Yankovic definitely had some hilarious names alongside him in UHF. George’s best buddy Bob, played by David Bowe (The Cable Guy), is the perfect straight man to Yankovic’s wacky George. Saturday Night Live star Victoria Jackson is also perfectly cast as George’s girlfriend Teri, beating out Ellen DeGeneres and Jennifer Tilly for the part. In what is probably her most likable role, The Nanny‘s Fran Drescher also appears in the movie as Pamela Finklestein, an anchor hired for Channel 62.

Every hero needs a villain, and in UHF, the latter would be rival network manager R.J. Fletcher. Veteran actor Kevin McCarthy plays the role, and if you’ve seen the film, you couldn’t argue with the choice. The actor had been appearing in films since the ’40s, starring in movies like Death of a Salesman and Invasion of the Body Snatchers, but his villainous role as Fletcher in UHF is among his most memorable portrayals.

Still, perhaps the standout performance of Yankovic’s co-stars is from Michael Richards, best known for playing Cosmo Kramer on Seinfeld. While clearly not very bright, Richards’ character Stanley is hilariously lovable and impossible not to like. Keep in mind, Stanley’s the kind of guy who insists on remaining the janitor of the station even after becoming a TV star. Even if he’s blasting some poor kid in the face with a fire hose to offer him a “drink” from it, Stanley Spadowski is undoubtedly awesome.

The Music

At heart, Yankovic is a musician, and the parodist did manage to get some new music (at the time) into the film. He does the film’s official theme song which plays during the credits, with a catchy chorus declaring, “We got it all on UHF!” The song is featured on the film’s soundtrack and also has its own music video.

Of course, Yankovic was able to work a parody music video into UHF as well. There’s a scene where George Newman is falling asleep in the station, and slips right into dream debuting a new song from Al. A parody of “Money for Nothing” by Dire Straits, Yankovic’s version instead focuses on the Beverly Hillbillies. The video itself directly spoofs the official one from Dire Straits, even showing Yankovic singing on stage looking like Mark Knopfler.

The Legacy

“Weird Al” has entertained the idea of a UHF sequel, but there have never been any official plans put in motion. The era of UHF television coming to an end soon after the release of the movie would have meant any potential follow-up would have to adapt with the times. It’s not hard to picture George Newman now trying to launch a website or a YouTube channel in a new film, but it doesn’t seem likely to ever happen. In a 2014 interview with MTV, Yankovic described UHF as a “product of its era,” noting he doesn’t know if it would have the same impact if released these days.

Still, on its own, UHF is a still fondly remembered by those who loved it. The critics at the time weren’t too kind to the film, but it’s one that played in this writer’s house on repeat for years. It still holds up and is always worth a revisit, and even after 30 years, UHF has still got it all. You can pick up the awesome 25th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray and DVD of the film from Shout! Factory.