Homeless man was Bozo the Clown! His father, Vance Sr, was the original voice of Bozo on radio & records. Vance Jr was the first to portray the character live.He was 70 years old when UHF was filmed, and died two years later from cancer.
And from here I thought the fish story was the craziest, with the studio keeping the fish on set with the lights on, resulting in the room smelling like rotten fish. I guess that could be the second craziest while the auditions for the homeless man being the first.
You don't need to get "permission" to make parodies or covers. That's a common misconception. You only need to get samples and interpolation cleared. Weird Al always gets permission because he chooses to, not because he's required to. So he could've parodied Prince. But Al said Prince didn't want it, so he just respected his wishes.
If it's any consolation, Al would later strike back at Siskel and Ebert in this song: czcams.com/video/BHDGVoheNVg/video.html At about the 1:27 mark, he tells them to go sit on their thumbs.
Yeah, the movies out at the time were incredibly successful. Indiana Jones? Batman? It's an awesome movie, but would have been hard to market and the competition was just too immense. Glad it finally got the respect it deserves!
I wanna say a someone who was alive and a huge Weird Al Fan when this movie came out, that the film's cult status was due largely to the fact that it was aired on movie networks like Showtime and HBO throughout the 90s. As a kid we recorded it on tape and watched the crap out of it. I have that movie damn near memorized word for word. For my 18th birthday in 1996 my best friend got me one of the last new VHS copies of the movie ever made, and I still have it. One of those classic relics of a bygone era.
One of the best movies ever! I had a pirated VHS copy way back in 1990, but now have a pirated MP4. To be fair, I have purchased both the VHS and DVD more than once.
Great video essay on Weird Al's UHF movie. I admit i didn't get that movie when i first saw it as a kid, but i learned to appreciate it rewatching it later.
UHF inspired my brother and i from childhood, writing/choreographing/filming our own short parody videos on Betamax (in the first generation of home video camcorders where you carried the entire machine on a strap over your shoulder and it weighed about 18 lbs). The low-budget aspect of this movie was part of its appeal to us--it showed us that strong material holds its own against even a visibly cheap budget. The shoestring aesthetic made it attainable and 'acceptable'. Weird Al was (and still is) a hero to creative nerdy kids for literal generations... my own children included. :)
I saw this in a theater as a kid. The theater was about as full as I normally saw. And believe me, as a child and after, I’ve been the only person in a theater . I was surprised to learn much later in life that the movie was a bomb. It was a favorite for me and pretty much everyone I showed the vhs to.
That is what it means it comes from television stations back in the day before cable. We had VHF and UHF. VHF was your major networks and UHF was your local affiliates. Back when televisions had big round dials you had to turn to get to a channel. And long metal sticks you had to adjust to get a better picture.
@@stephenthomas1492 yes and vhf is very high frequency. Channels 2-13 were vhf and 14-72 was uhf. That's why the station is called U62. There was also only 4 channels available on vhf, ABC NBC CBS & PBS and about 6 or 7 on uhf depending on the market
I'm glad that my mom and I are some of that 6.1 mil box office take. I was 9 at the time, and I loved seeing that film on the big screen. Al is a national treasure :)
I saw this in theatres in 89 and I loved it. It was my favourite movie of that summer. It was a long haul waiting for it to come on video which finally got released in January of 1990.
Once again, thank you so much for letting me edit "The Complete History of UHF". I enjoyed clips of the film when I was in High School, then watched it when it was on Netflix. And finally, after re-watching the film for the review, I liked it so much that I couldn't help but to include funny dialogue bits throughout the video. One thing that I learned from this video was that George McFly was almost in the movie.
I thought of an idea for a sequel where George has to close U62 due to the world of television moving on to HDTV. In order to keep everyone there working, he begins an internet channel called You62. The gags could all be spoofs of different types of CZcams/TikTok content.
I am totally Bob in that bar scene; I'll be the friend that looks at you judgingly when you order a blueberry daiquiri and then say "hey I didn't get an umbrella"
This movie is definitely in my top 3 favorite movies. It was one of the things that helped cheer me up after my ex broke up with me in late 2021. Just a very funny fun movie that I can watch at any time.
This movie is actually a pretty big staple. Years ago, i was meant to go see Weird Al live, and it wouldve been a big middle school graduation thing for me and my parents. But i had pneumonia the day of, so we couldnt go. Sucks because that day i was feeling good enough to have half a happy meal. We got to the hotel and like a few hours later i just couldnt do it. So we went home, and watched UHF instead. Good stuff either way!
I live not too far from the old Kensington Galleria (which is now a call center) where much of the movie was filmed. I've done full location tours around town, too. Got to meet Al a few years ago when he was in town for an anniversary showing of the movie. Absolute class act in every way. Still to this day one of my all time favorites.
Still remember seeing this in the theater when I was 13. Loved it, and still enjoy it today. Weird how Uncle Harvey's house was not Los Angeles, but was in Tulsa OK.
Great video. I just have to add, having lived through the times in question and even worked in a video rental store, post-1996 there was no great shortage of UHF on VHS. Everyone who wanted a copy had one, either official or taped, and I recall seeing it on plenty of rental and sale shelves up until the release of the DVD. It wasn't like "Oh, I can finally watch UHF again", it was more like "Ooh, I can get the widescreen copy, and OMG there's a commentary by Al!"
As a young Weird Al fan I heard of this movie on reputation and really wanted to see it but didn't have the opportunity until it was on a streaming service. Absolutely loved it. It probably would have been right up my alley for comedies as a kid.
Oh, perfect timing. They say I'll be stuck in this closet with Vanna White for the next half hour anyway, so we might as well watch a video. See, Vanna? I told you it would all wor- .. oh, there she goes to flip the letter C..
One of the other vids I watched about this movie (think it was Jo Blo?) said that the mall where they filmed the Wheel Of Fish scene was not air conditioned.That,along with the heat from lighting,caused the fish to spoil RAPIDLY.Said it smelled really bad.Also,Stallone was interested in playing a role in the film,but had a prior commitment.At any rate,UHF is one of my favorite movies,but then I've always been a fan of Weird Al.
Just had to talk about one of if not my favorite artists of all time. Too bad I know all this stuff Already. I basically grew up with guys music and following his career even back from the Dr Demento Days. One day I'll cover this topic in pain steaking length as growing up to weird al was a lot different then simply looking back at his career. Oh.. on that note. Glad you got monetization back.. me and Ian were worried for the future of this channel.
Love this movie and still use a few quotes from it. It's crazy to see that Richards and McCarthy were the exact opposite of their on-screen characters. Guess that's not too surprising with Kramer after Seinfeld.
I find the part with the "Not Extras" fascinating. SAG rules have simultaneously made things better and worse for a lot of media things. It was to the point that I couldn't appear in a class mates student film because he was a SAG registered filmmaker and I am not a SAG actor.
I think some of his original songs would be brilliant to be adapted into movies such as 'Attack of the Radioactive Hamsters from the planet near Mars."
A movie about the making of this movie would be the greatest meta comedy movie ever. Just the plain and adorable ineptitude of Orion execs. Giving the movie way more credit than it had makes for pure anti Hollywood comedy gold.
I saw this in the theater upon release. My wife runs a Weird Al podcast (Beer'd Al Podcast) so he's a big deal in our house. Edit- the "documentary" that's mentioned for no reason whatsoever at the 4:14 mark has been proven false multiple times since it's release. I'd recommend doing research on that in the future before making mention of it in reference to an innocent man.
Glad you liked the video! Yes, I'm aware the documentary has its issues. I was merely saying that since then (as many still believe it), his reputation still hasn't recovered.
It’s sad that most people I know don’t just hate his music, but genuinely just see him as hackney, cliche, and untalented. I understand bands like Rush, or Tenacious D have very polarizing reviews, but I think it’s a shame how people see most comedic music and art as either fake, derivative, or lacking in creativity and effort. Either way, I’m glad my parents raised me on UHF, Big Daddy, and Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure as my favorite childhood movies. Al and JB have inspired me in a way that not every song or project needs to be ultra professional and serious, but that art in it of itself should be fulfilling however you want to portray it, and I think that’s amazing. Comedy in music forever. ❤
The full title of the album was "UHF Soundtrack & Other Stuff." It's a shame the film's failure hurt the sales of the album, because the "other stuff" on it was really good. Parodies of Tone-Loc, FYC, and REM, and a Rolling Stones polka medley.
I saw this movie the day it reached home video when I got my parents to rent it for me. I loved it but my parents hated it. Today I own the dvd and still love it and my parents still hate it
The craziest thing is the homeless man being the most auditioned person
Homeless man was Bozo the Clown! His father, Vance Sr, was the original voice of Bozo on radio & records. Vance Jr was the first to portray the character live.He was 70 years old when UHF was filmed, and died two years later from cancer.
@@NickelAntonius Pinto Colvig, Vance's father, was best known as the voice of Goofy for Walt Disney
And from here I thought the fish story was the craziest, with the studio keeping the fish on set with the lights on, resulting in the room smelling like rotten fish. I guess that could be the second craziest while the auditions for the homeless man being the first.
@baileymaloney3595 yeah I forgot that part. That was a pretty crazy part
Yes for sure, but it sounds like there were only a few roles that had a more open casting call instead of hand pick couple choices 🤔😁
"Badgers? We don't need no stinking badgers!"
You don't need to get "permission" to make parodies or covers. That's a common misconception. You only need to get samples and interpolation cleared. Weird Al always gets permission because he chooses to, not because he's required to. So he could've parodied Prince. But Al said Prince didn't want it, so he just respected his wishes.
Weird Al is an amazing celebrity. All without any serious controversy.
@@KawikaProductions he's super religious and has never sweared in his life.
@@I_WANT_MY_SLAWReally? I had no idea. What faith is he?
That's what led to a big misunderstanding with Coolio on Amish paradise. He said no but al was told he said OK and when it came out coolio was mad af
The same with springsteen.... he said no to weird al several times.. the songs al wanted to do was
Parodies of growing up
I'm on fire
Tunnel of love
Don’t think I’ll ever forgive the fact that people let this film bomb back then .
If it's any consolation, Al would later strike back at Siskel and Ebert in this song: czcams.com/video/BHDGVoheNVg/video.html
At about the 1:27 mark, he tells them to go sit on their thumbs.
It had to compete with Batman. That was the absolute death knell for it right there.
Yeah, the movies out at the time were incredibly successful. Indiana Jones? Batman? It's an awesome movie, but would have been hard to market and the competition was just too immense. Glad it finally got the respect it deserves!
🎶 Don’t change the channel, Don’t touch that dial! We got it all on UHF! 🎶
If I had a ton of money, I'd open up a Spatula City. I mean, that just adds some beauty in this weary world.
Take off your sneakers and stick around for a while
I wanna say a someone who was alive and a huge Weird Al Fan when this movie came out, that the film's cult status was due largely to the fact that it was aired on movie networks like Showtime and HBO throughout the 90s. As a kid we recorded it on tape and watched the crap out of it. I have that movie damn near memorized word for word.
For my 18th birthday in 1996 my best friend got me one of the last new VHS copies of the movie ever made, and I still have it. One of those classic relics of a bygone era.
YES! We taped it off of HBO and then rewatched it every day on summer break that year. (Weekend at Bernie's was another one of those.)
We have family quote-alongs to this movie every time my kids and i get together! It's as quotable as Python.
UHF is a masterpiece.
"Don't change the Channel!...Don't touch that Dial!...We got it all on UHF!"
I first saw UHF as part of a movie night in a college club I was in. Loved it. Absolutely loved it.
One of the best movies ever! I had a pirated VHS copy way back in 1990, but now have a pirated MP4.
To be fair, I have purchased both the VHS and DVD more than once.
Great video essay on Weird Al's UHF movie. I admit i didn't get that movie when i first saw it as a kid, but i learned to appreciate it rewatching it later.
UHF inspired my brother and i from childhood, writing/choreographing/filming our own short parody videos on Betamax (in the first generation of home video camcorders where you carried the entire machine on a strap over your shoulder and it weighed about 18 lbs). The low-budget aspect of this movie was part of its appeal to us--it showed us that strong material holds its own against even a visibly cheap budget. The shoestring aesthetic made it attainable and 'acceptable'. Weird Al was (and still is) a hero to creative nerdy kids for literal generations... my own children included. :)
Did you know: Mr. Frying Pan was banned in war for being “too brutal”?
A great movie, very funny...AND it had heart, too. Mocks the entertainment media as well! ❤
Two words: Spatula City. (The rest of the flick is great as well, particularly the *real* Kevin McCarthy.)
Hey kids..... where do you wanna go?
i recallspatulla city poster was left up for a while and people actually looking for it even after movie disappeard....
I recently watched an episode of Archer and Pam was playing strip solitaire. We know where the writers got that idea from!
@@lucyfuir6386 "I wanna go home!" "Shut up, you little weasel!"
I saw this in a theater as a kid. The theater was about as full as I normally saw. And believe me, as a child and after, I’ve been the only person in a theater . I was surprised to learn much later in life that the movie was a bomb. It was a favorite for me and pretty much everyone I showed the vhs to.
weird al is a national treasure just like you trevey honey!
It´s here! Despite CZcamss Attempt to keep it from happening
our man trevor finally came back with another masterpiece of a video! i’m so proud of you, man! keep up the amazing work that you always do! ❤️
“NOTHING! ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!!”
Also, Media Mementos lives on!!
STUPID
REHHHHHD Snappaaaaer
@@cwhit2575 good choice weavah
Wow, though, this is not to be confused with “ultra high frequency”, as its initials is UHF.
That is what it means it comes from television stations back in the day before cable. We had VHF and UHF. VHF was your major networks and UHF was your local affiliates. Back when televisions had big round dials you had to turn to get to a channel. And long metal sticks you had to adjust to get a better picture.
What? That's LITERALLY what it means.
@@stephenthomas1492 yes and vhf is very high frequency. Channels 2-13 were vhf and 14-72 was uhf. That's why the station is called U62. There was also only 4 channels available on vhf, ABC NBC CBS & PBS and about 6 or 7 on uhf depending on the market
As a fan of Weird Al & has watched your video on The Weird Al Show's poor treatment, this is definitely up my alley!
I quote this movie at least twice a day for the last 35 years. It's nice to see people are starting to get my references lol
I still have that DVD reprint they released in the 2000s. It's fantastic.
Sweet victory for Media Mementos!
Given that I am a fan of Weird Al as well, I think I should check UHF out.
I'm glad that my mom and I are some of that 6.1 mil box office take. I was 9 at the time, and I loved seeing that film on the big screen. Al is a national treasure :)
I saw this in theatres in 89 and I loved it. It was my favourite movie of that summer. It was a long haul waiting for it to come on video which finally got released in January of 1990.
I miss that movie theaters would run older movies for a long time back then. Back to the Future was in our theaters for around five years straight.
Thankfully, they didn't cut Trinidad Silva's scenes. I laughed till I cried when I saw the Raul's Wild Kingdom scene.
Once again, thank you so much for letting me edit "The Complete History of UHF". I enjoyed clips of the film when I was in High School, then watched it when it was on Netflix. And finally, after re-watching the film for the review, I liked it so much that I couldn't help but to include funny dialogue bits throughout the video.
One thing that I learned from this video was that George McFly was almost in the movie.
I thought of an idea for a sequel where George has to close U62 due to the world of television moving on to HDTV. In order to keep everyone there working, he begins an internet channel called You62. The gags could all be spoofs of different types of CZcams/TikTok content.
Yeah, but they'd have to recast Stanley because no one wants to hire Michael Richards.
I am totally Bob in that bar scene; I'll be the friend that looks at you judgingly when you order a blueberry daiquiri and then say "hey I didn't get an umbrella"
Victory is Media Mementos
This movie is definitely in my top 3 favorite movies. It was one of the things that helped cheer me up after my ex broke up with me in late 2021. Just a very funny fun movie that I can watch at any time.
The 2000s-era DVD release is one of my most prized possessions. Such a great movie.
I never would I have thought that weird al out of all people would have their own movie
I'm truly amazed you managed to stuff so much history into a mere 30 minute video.
Recovery thanks to the YT overturn!
This movie is actually a pretty big staple. Years ago, i was meant to go see Weird Al live, and it wouldve been a big middle school graduation thing for me and my parents. But i had pneumonia the day of, so we couldnt go. Sucks because that day i was feeling good enough to have half a happy meal. We got to the hotel and like a few hours later i just couldnt do it. So we went home, and watched UHF instead. Good stuff either way!
I live not too far from the old Kensington Galleria (which is now a call center) where much of the movie was filmed. I've done full location tours around town, too. Got to meet Al a few years ago when he was in town for an anniversary showing of the movie. Absolute class act in every way. Still to this day one of my all time favorites.
Still remember seeing this in the theater when I was 13. Loved it, and still enjoy it today. Weird how Uncle Harvey's house was not Los Angeles, but was in Tulsa OK.
Casting Kevin McCarthy as the villain was incredibly meta
Said it once and I'll say it again, some movies are like a fine wine, takes some time to age before they're truly appreciated.
Great video. I just have to add, having lived through the times in question and even worked in a video rental store, post-1996 there was no great shortage of UHF on VHS. Everyone who wanted a copy had one, either official or taped, and I recall seeing it on plenty of rental and sale shelves up until the release of the DVD. It wasn't like "Oh, I can finally watch UHF again", it was more like "Ooh, I can get the widescreen copy, and OMG there's a commentary by Al!"
Definitely one of my favorite movies ever.
If it weren't for that movie, my poodle would never have learned to soar the skies.
As a young Weird Al fan I heard of this movie on reputation and really wanted to see it but didn't have the opportunity until it was on a streaming service. Absolutely loved it. It probably would have been right up my alley for comedies as a kid.
This is going to be a good one
Oh, perfect timing. They say I'll be stuck in this closet with Vanna White for the next half hour anyway, so we might as well watch a video. See, Vanna? I told you it would all wor- .. oh, there she goes to flip the letter C..
We’ve Won!
One of the other vids I watched about this movie (think it was Jo Blo?) said that the mall where they filmed the Wheel Of Fish scene was not air conditioned.That,along with the heat from lighting,caused the fish to spoil RAPIDLY.Said it smelled really bad.Also,Stallone was interested in playing a role in the film,but had a prior commitment.At any rate,UHF is one of my favorite movies,but then I've always been a fan of Weird Al.
One Christmas, in their Xmas morning stockings, everyone got a spatula from “Spatula City”. One could say our family was in to “UHF”! 🤪
I actually chose to see this *before* seeing Batman that summer, because I was/am a big Weird Al fan.
“Spatula City” really cracked me up at the time.
If there’s ever another Weird Al movie, we can call it a trilogy!
Well I mean The Compleat Al exists and that’s feature length
I made my parents take me to this in the theater three times and only peed myself twice.
Just had to talk about one of if not my favorite artists of all time. Too bad I know all this stuff Already. I basically grew up with guys music and following his career even back from the Dr Demento Days. One day I'll cover this topic in pain steaking length as growing up to weird al was a lot different then simply looking back at his career. Oh.. on that note. Glad you got monetization back.. me and Ian were worried for the future of this channel.
Literally one of my favorite movies.
25:38 - that's not Kevin McCarthy. That's Stan Freberg.
The UHF soundtrack is the best of his albums.
I maintain that this film would've been a hit if it was released in the spring.
Love this movie and still use a few quotes from it. It's crazy to see that Richards and McCarthy were the exact opposite of their on-screen characters. Guess that's not too surprising with Kramer after Seinfeld.
Can't forget "The Complete Al" movie as well.
I find the part with the "Not Extras" fascinating. SAG rules have simultaneously made things better and worse for a lot of media things. It was to the point that I couldn't appear in a class mates student film because he was a SAG registered filmmaker and I am not a SAG actor.
I think some of his original songs would be brilliant to be adapted into movies such as 'Attack of the Radioactive Hamsters from the planet near Mars."
I love UHF my dad rented from blockbuster and we never returned it!
A movie about the making of this movie would be the greatest meta comedy movie ever. Just the plain and adorable ineptitude of Orion execs. Giving the movie way more credit than it had makes for pure anti Hollywood comedy gold.
Fun Fact. Mike Judge named the burger joint "Burger World" on Beavis and Butthead in homage to this film.
So glad this got to come out!
25:12 i think of this EVERY time i watch an orion movie and hear that theme!
Gandi ! the non violence has stopped. and he also likes to have a good time.
The only thing I know about this movie was the _Indiana Jones_ spoof scene.
Gandhi II : No more Mr. Nice Guy.
Still waiting for this movie!
25:38 - That's footage of Stan Freberg on the Weird Al show...Kevin McCarthy was in an episode but that's not him.
I saw it at the theater and loved it I loved it so much I bought a copy on DVD
I saw this in the theater upon release. My wife runs a Weird Al podcast (Beer'd Al Podcast) so he's a big deal in our house.
Edit- the "documentary" that's mentioned for no reason whatsoever at the 4:14 mark has been proven false multiple times since it's release. I'd recommend doing research on that in the future before making mention of it in reference to an innocent man.
Glad you liked the video! Yes, I'm aware the documentary has its issues. I was merely saying that since then (as many still believe it), his reputation still hasn't recovered.
Actually saw this for the first time close to a year ago. I thought it was great
I did not know Wierd Al but this movie made me notice his talent!
Amazing video, love weird Al
*Now you need to do a video on MST3K*
Best cult comedy movies of the 80’s.
I love the movie. I saw it in theaters then rented the hell outta it when released on video.
#LongLoveMenentos
25:39 I should note that’s not Kevin McCarthy, that’s actually Stan Freberg
It’s sad that most people I know don’t just hate his music, but genuinely just see him as hackney, cliche, and untalented. I understand bands like Rush, or Tenacious D have very polarizing reviews, but I think it’s a shame how people see most comedic music and art as either fake, derivative, or lacking in creativity and effort.
Either way, I’m glad my parents raised me on UHF, Big Daddy, and Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure as my favorite childhood movies. Al and JB have inspired me in a way that not every song or project needs to be ultra professional and serious, but that art in it of itself should be fulfilling however you want to portray it, and I think that’s amazing. Comedy in music forever. ❤
I think hacky fits better in this context, but auto corrects to hackney
I'm a simple person, I see Weird Al, I sub to the channel.
I saw this movie in the theaters the day it came out because I am a huge weird al fan. I own it on DVD and I watch it still
❤ 🎉 thank u so much! Great 2 know about Victoria Jackson helping
You get to drink from the FIREHOSE
never seen UHF but damn if i wont watch media mementos!!
The full title of the album was "UHF Soundtrack & Other Stuff." It's a shame the film's failure hurt the sales of the album, because the "other stuff" on it was really good. Parodies of Tone-Loc, FYC, and REM, and a Rolling Stones polka medley.
W Mementos
I was renting this on VHS in 1990 waaaaaaaay before it was a cult classic. lol
does this mean Media Mementos is back
Really curious where u the information from this video comes from. It's amazing!
victory for media mementos
I saw this movie the day it reached home video when I got my parents to rent it for me. I loved it but my parents hated it. Today I own the dvd and still love it and my parents still hate it
25:38 That's Stan Freberg, not Kevin McCarthy.
I really like it I thought it was hilarious, but it's too bad it came in the middle of summer with the big guns summer hits.
I saw it all on UHF!
uhf is one of the best movies ever,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Umm actually there are THREE Weird Al movies. You forgot The Compleat Al.
I actually saw it in the theater. I was the only person there. 😂