Original Air Date: July, 1989. 8:00 A.M.. Original Location: WYTZ 94.7 FM Z-95. Broadcasting from Chicago, Il. Original Interviewer: Brandt Miller and occasionally Wayne Messmer Transcribed by: Marty Lick martyl@emsphone.com Brandt: "Weird Al" Yankovic now joins us in the studio. Welcome to Chicago. Al: Thanks, Brandt. Can I call you Brandt? Is that okay, 'cause like then I can say [deep voice] 'Thanks Brandt'. Brandt: That's perfectly okay. Al: Oh good. Brandt: Your movie opens Friday, UHF. Al: That's right! You did your homework here! I'm impressed. Brandt: Do I get a grade? Do I get a grade? Al: Whoooo Doggie! Brandt: Why did you choose channel 62? Al: [laughs] Well, the number have a very significant- uh, significance. Ya know I'm into numerology and I found out that the six and two when added together is the cube root of two. Brandt: You know it's funny. Someplace you're going to go this promotional tour and you're going to find a town that's got channel 62. That'd be interesting to see. You oughta get on that tv station. Take it over. Al: Okay. Actually, channel 62 has already interviewed me in upstate New York. Brandt: Really? Al: Yeah, they asked me questions like 'Why did you pick channel 62?' Brandt: Oh, okay. Al: It was great. Brandt: [laughs] I'll be okay. Now, Jay Levey is your partner here in crime and he's standing behind you, and Jay's been your manager you said for nine years. Al: Something like that, yeah. But it seems more like nine and a half. It really does. Brandt: And we were talking before we went on the air here that Jay goofed around in high school with a movie camera and stuff. Is it tough to find somebody? Like, I guess you found your manager to get into a movie project like this that is somebody you've worked with for nine years that really turns out to be the guy that really is the person to do a movie project. Do you turn down a lot of stuff? Have a lot of people come to you with ideas and said '"Weird Al" I got a great idea. This is beautiful, beautiful...' Al: Got a wacky, zany, nutty idea. Yeah I get like hundreds of letters a week from people giving me the NEXT BIG idea, and it's very flattering, but unfortunately, I've got enough strange ideas on my own. Brandt: How do you keep your career focused like that? How do you keep the essence of what "Weird Al" is? Al: Ooooh, the essence of Al... Brandt: No, but seriously, wouldn't it be easy if you listened to a lot of people you could drift off and become something that you really aren't. Couldn't ya? Al: I could be next Tiffany or something. Ooooh, that's a scary thought. Brandt: She's an easy target. Al: Yeah, it's very difficult for me to maintain my focus. It's a good thing that I'm centered, that I'm balanced and I kinda feel the moment and ...yeah. Yeah, I know what you mean though. Brandt: No, but it is difficult isn't it? I mean- Al: It's so hard! I wake up screaming, it's so hard. It's tough. Brandt: Wayne said he woke up screaming it was hard this morning too. Wayne: I said that, didn't I? Brandt: Yeah. [everyone laughs] Wayne: Kinda hoped you had forgotten........So... Brandt: So.... Al: So we've reached a little pregnant pause here. Wayne: Yes we have. Brandt: Let's dump these commercials and then we'll take some phone calls. Al: Great. Brandt: We've got some sick folks on the line. If you'd like to talk to "Weird Al" this morning- 591-9470 is our number here at Z-95. [This station doesn't exist anymore. Do not call this number] [Commercials] Brandt: Z-95. "Weird Al" Yankovic is in the studio with me this morning. "Weird Al", are you ready for some phone calls? Al: I can't wait. Brandt: Here we go. Z-95, you're on the air with "Weird Al" Yankovic. What's your question? Caller #1: Hi "Weird Al", this is Adam. I was wondering when's your next album coming out after-. Ya know, I got your last one, and the one before and I loved 'em. When's your next one coming out, buddy? Al: Oooh boy that's hard to say. I'd have to say about eight or nine days. Caller #1: Oh yeah? Al: Yeah, in fact it's called, ironically enough, the "UHF Original Motion Picture Soundtrack and Other Stuff". It's got all sorts of strange- It's got a Rolling Stones polka medley, and it's got parodies of songs by R.E.M. and Fine Young Cannibals, and Tone Loc, and all sorts of stuff you've come to expect from a zany funster like me. Caller #1: So you got some good ones coming out, eh? Al: YEP! Caller #1: That's alright. So I'm- Al: Rush out in a buying frenzy and buy as many copies as you can carry home. Caller #1: Yeah I'll do that. I'll get a bunch of 'em. Al: Okay thanks Adam. Caller #1: Alright thanks a lot. Al: Bye Caller #1: Bye. Brandt: Thanks for Calling. Hi Z-95, you're on the air with "Weird Al" what's your question. Caller #2: Yeah hi Al. I'm an Al-oholic, alright? Al: [laughs] Alright! Caller #2: Alright, I wanna know when you're coming to Rosemont, babe. [Referring to the Rosemont Horizon, a concert venue]. Al: Rosemont, babe. Caller #2: Yeah. Al: Ooooh, I don't know. Is Rosemont on the tour? Jay: I don't think so. Al: Aw man, dang, geez. [general laughter] Hopefully next year when we go out on our world tour we'll try to slide Rosemont in there. Caller #2: Hey you can just come over to my house today and help me do dishes. Al: Uh yeah we'll do lunch. Caller #2: Yeah, alright Al: I'll try to work it into the schedule. Caller #2: Alright, there ya go. Al: Thanks for calling. Caller #2: yeah. Al: Yeah?! [laughs] Keep in touch now. Brandt: Don't be a stranger. Z-95, you're on the air with "Weird Al". What's your question? Caller #3: Yeah I wanna know really how good this movie is. Is it like stupid and good or is it like a real good movie to see? Al: You mean stupid like in the rap sense? Like stupid fresh? Yeah, It's kinda like a stupid fresh kinda- Ya know people are already saying this movie is funnier than "Full Metal Jacket". So, ya know the critics are raving. Just remember, it's cool inside. Caller #3: It's cool inside. Al: It's cool inside. Caller #3: Okay. Al: Okay. Caller #3: Okay. Al: Okay. Caller #3: Bye. Al: Bye. Brandt: I love that, 'is your movie stupid or what?' [laughter] Z-95, you're on the air with "Weird Al" Yankovic. What's your question? [pause] Hello? Al: Hello? Brandt: Hi, what's your question for "Weird Al"? Al: Turn down your radio. Brandt: Turn down your radio. Al: Turn down your radio. Brandt: Stop trying to touch yourself while you listen to your own voice. [Al laughs] I think he's gone. Al: Well, ya know we've got people to see and burritos to eat, so-- Brandt: His eyes have rolled over white on his sharken his jaws. We've got the theme song from "UHF". Al: You do? Brandt: And we're gonna play that in just a moment, but tell us more about the movie. Come on, you've got us dangling on a thread. Al: Oh okay. It's 97 minutes long. It's in color. It's a talkie. Oh what else do you want to know? Brandt: The theme. I mean is it about a UHF television station or what? Al: Oh you want like the plot. I see. Brandt: Yeah. Al: It's the story of a guy...ME! I work myself into the movie. I'm one of those kinda guys. I run a tiny UHF tv station and if you can imagine the kind of show I'd put on the air, that's pretty much what the movie's about. Things like, "Wheel of Fish" and "Name that Stain", "Leave it to Bigfoot". Ya know stuff like that. Brandt: It opens Friday. This is the theme song from UHF. "Weird Al" Yankovic's in the studio. We've got time for a couple more phone calls. If you've got a question for him 591-9470. This is the track that's the title to the movie on Z-95. [UHF is played] Brandt: Z-95, that's the soundtrack..title track to "UHF", the "Weird Al" Yankovic movie. It should be in the record stores in- what'd you say Al about eight or nine days? Al: Any minute now. Go to the record store right now and just wait for it because they're gonna sell out so quick. [mumbles] Brandt: We have more questions. Hi Z-95, you're on the air with "Weird Al". What's your question? Caller #4: Hi, "Weird Al"? Al: Yeah? Caller #4: I just wanted to tell you that I'm your biggest fan in the Chicagoland area. Al: How big are you? Caller #4: [Al laughs when his question is ignored] I'm thirteen going on fourteen. I have- I have your video tape, your book, all your records and tapes. I went to go CD- Al: That's where they are! I've been looking for those things, man! Caller #4: I've seen your sneak preview of your movie- hey babe, I love it! Al: Well, thank you. Caller #4: And I've done lip-syncs of about- I've done about six lip-syncs of your songs and I've won every contest. Al: Well that's great. What's your name? Caller #4: My name's Eric. Al: Eric. Caller #4: And I just want you to know that I'm the biggest fan of yours. And I just- My goal in life is to be just like you. Al: [laughs] Well, your checks in the mail, thanks Eric. Caller #4: Okay thanks a lot "Weird Al". Brandt: Do you guys have some pictures or something we could send him? Yeah, ya know what? Hold on Eric. Caller #4: Okay I will. Brandt: Hold on, Hold on. We'll take care of that when we get off the air. Hi Z-95, you're on the air. Caller #5: Hi Al. Al: Hi, who's this? Caller #5: Melissa. Al: Hi Martha. Caller #5: MELISSA! Al: Oh Melissa! Excuse me Melissa! I'm sorry! How can I make it up to you?! Caller #5: That's okay. Al: Okay. Caller #5: Don't worry about it. I wanna ask you, you know how like you go re-do other people's songs and change lyrics how you need permission to do it. I was wondering, in the video for "UHF", did you need permission like from Prince and Axl Rose to like to do imitations and.... Al: No I didn't 'cause I wasn't using any of their music. So like in the case of Prince ya know there's no copyright infringement if you have a whimpy mustache. I mean he doesn't own the rights to that. So it was a big thrill for me because Prince has never allowed me to do any of his songs, so when I decided to do the "UHF" video and ya know have one of my own songs except I'm like being other people singing them it was great because I got to do people like Prince that wouldn't let me do their songs... Caller #5: Do you think Axl Rose will ever let you do one of Guns n Roses songs? Al: I don't know. I haven't asked him yet. Maybe. Caller #5: I think you should because I thought your imitation of him was the best. Al: [laughs] Well thank you. Caller #5: I just about died when I saw it. That was really great. Al: Well thanks. Brandt: Alright Melissa, thanks for calling. Caller #5: Okay thanks b-bye. Brandt: b-bye. Hi Z-95, you're on the air with "Weird Al". What's your question? Caller #6: Hi I saw the movie Friday and I also saw previews of it. I saw a scene in the preview that weren't in the movie. Al: Like what? Caller #6: Like the one where you twisted your head around like in Exorcist. Al: That's in the movie. You must've- That's in the first five minutes. You probably showed up late to the movie. Caller #6: Oh. Al: Am I right?! Caller #6: Yeah. I went to- Al: Yeah! Yeah! Whew! Another trouble- another problem solved. Caller #6: Thank you so much. Al: See, now you have to see the movie again. Caller #6: Yeah I know. Al: That was the best part. Caller #6: Okay. Do I get a signed picture too? Brandt: Yeah, hang on. Caller #6: Okay. Brandt: Hang on a second here. Hi Z-95, you're on the air with "Weird Al". What's your question? Caller #7: I was wondering, I had seen some previews of the show and it looks really good. I seen it a few months ago. And I know it's coming out like now, but how long did it take to- how long did it take to make? Al: It took a long time. We started- Jay and I started writing the movie around 1985/'86. We shot it last summer in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It took about half a year or so to edit it. So it's taken a long long time. It's not like making a music video where it takes a few weeks and it's on MTV. It's been a long project. Caller #7: Was it a lot of fun though? Al: Yeah, it was great. Caller #7: Oh that's good. Al: Yeah, I'm hoping to make "UHF 2", three, four, five and six. But not seven! I think "UHF 7" would be pushing it a little, don't you think?. Caller #7: Yeah, I think so. Al: Yeah, good idea. Brandt: And all of them in Tulsa too. That's gotta be a great place to spend a few months. Do you get to the tower? Al: The Tulsa Tower? Oh, the Oral Roberts Tower. Brandt: Yeah. Al: No, but I could see it from my hotel window. It was very inspirational. Brandt: Alright thanks for calling. Caller #7: Thank you. Brandt: Hold on the line. We'll get you a picture too. Caller #7: Alright. Brandt: Alright. "Weird Al", the movie opens Friday and it's at, gosh, theatres all over. So you'll be able to- I don't know. I can't tell all the locations. Hundreds of them. Al: Hundreds. Brandt: But, continued success with you and hopefully this will be a big one for you. Al: Well Thanks. Brandt: And your manager is starting to drool over there [laughter]. That's always a real good sign. Okay "Weird Al" Yankovic, anytime you're in town too, for godssake please just come on in here? Al: Can I just stay here? Brandt: Yeah you can stay here. Stick around. Al: Can I sleep here? Brandt: Certainly. I wouldn't sleep in that corner though because we had a dog in here that urinated on the carpet. Al: Oh, okay. Brandt: It has a tendency to soak it up a bit, but stay as long as you want to. [Brandt then asks Wayne to do the traffic report, thus ending the interview].