It just gets weirder and weirder

Best known for his song parodies, 'Weird Al' Yankovic also wrote and starred in the cult classic film, "UHF" in 1989.

Yankovic graduated as the valedictorian of his high school class in his hometown of Lynwood, Calif. After high school, Yankovic attended the California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo to study architecture. In college he began his own radio show where he coined the name "Weird Al".

Yankovic stars as George Newman, an imaginative man who just can't hold down a job. When his uncle wins a near-bankrupt television station in a poker game, he asks George to be station manager.

To say the least, George taking over the station gets interesting after a few days. He starts putting his own programs on the air which station viewers eventually begin to love. Unfortunately, George finds out he only has two days to raise $75,000 to save the station from shutting down.

While George is dealing with all of this at his station, he is also trying to keep a steady relationship with his girlfriend Teri, played by Saturday Night Live alumna Victoria Jackson. Fran Drescher and Michael Richards ("Seinfeld"), also star in "UHF."

Richards easily steals his scenes playing dimwited janitor Stanley. Stanley is looked down upon for not being the brightest person, but his good heart and simplistic attitude make him and his television show a hit sensation on station 62.

"UHF" is basically a movie version of Yankovic's music. Yankovic has recorded song parodies like "Amish Paradise," spoofing Coolio's "Gangsta's Paradise," and more recently released "White and Nerdy," a take-off of Chamillionaire's "Ridin'." In "UHF," he does the same thing, but more visually than musically.

"UHF" is full of movie parodies. The opening credits alone are a parody of "Raiders of the Lost Ark" where Yankovic plays Indiana Jones. There are also some funny spoofs like a trailer for "Gandhi 2," "Conan the Librarian," "Rambo" and "Gone with the Wind."

Throughout the film, George thinks up new shows for station 62.

He creates "Uncle Nutzy's Clubhouse" for kids, "Wheel of Fish" hosted by George's karate instructor neighbor, "Secrets of the Universe" with one of the strange station workers, Philo, and "Raul's Wild Kingdom," where host Raul not only teaches the audience about animals, he also thinks he can teach poodles how to fly.

A television station must have commercials, too. Some commercial shown on the station include "Spatula City," where there are spatulas for every occasion, and "Plots-R-Us," where there is always plenty of parking- and don't forget to try the new salad bar!

Unfortunately, Yankovic's comedy is not for everyone. There are definitely a few good chuckles and Richards' character is great, but overall it was just O.K. If you like his past comedic records or his television show, "The Weird Al Show," then this movie might be for you. Otherwise, I wouldn't reccomend it.

Lindsay Ladd can be contacted at lladd@keenequinox.com.