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UHF

  • 19891989
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 1h 37m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
28K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,859
1,462
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
UHF (1989)
Trailer for UHF
Play trailer1:26
1 Video
99+ Photos
  • Comedy
  • Sci-Fi

An unemployed visionary becomes the manager of a local television station. The station becomes a success, with all sorts of hilarious sight gags and wacky humor.An unemployed visionary becomes the manager of a local television station. The station becomes a success, with all sorts of hilarious sight gags and wacky humor.An unemployed visionary becomes the manager of a local television station. The station becomes a success, with all sorts of hilarious sight gags and wacky humor.

IMDb RATING
6.9/10
28K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,859
1,462
  • Director
    • Jay Levey
  • Writers
    • 'Weird Al' Yankovic
    • Jay Levey
    • Charles Holloway(based on the sketch "Conan the Librarian" by)
  • Stars
    • 'Weird Al' Yankovic
    • Victoria Jackson
    • Kevin McCarthy
Top credits
  • Director
    • Jay Levey
  • Writers
    • 'Weird Al' Yankovic
    • Jay Levey
    • Charles Holloway(based on the sketch "Conan the Librarian" by)
  • Stars
    • 'Weird Al' Yankovic
    • Victoria Jackson
    • Kevin McCarthy
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 239User reviews
    • 46Critic reviews
    • 32Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    UHF
    Trailer 1:26
    UHF

    Photos126

    Michael Richards and 'Weird Al' Yankovic in UHF (1989)
    'Weird Al' Yankovic in UHF (1989)
    'Weird Al' Yankovic in UHF (1989)
    Michael Richards and 'Weird Al' Yankovic in UHF (1989)
    Emo Philips and 'Weird Al' Yankovic in UHF (1989)
    Fran Drescher and 'Weird Al' Yankovic in UHF (1989)
    UHF (1989)
    UHF (1989)
    UHF (1989)
    UHF (1989)
    UHF (1989)
    UHF (1989)

    Top cast

    Edit
    'Weird Al' Yankovic
    'Weird Al' Yankovic
    • George Newmanas George Newman
    Victoria Jackson
    Victoria Jackson
    • Terias Teri
    Kevin McCarthy
    Kevin McCarthy
    • R.J. Fletcheras R.J. Fletcher
    Michael Richards
    Michael Richards
    • Stanley Spadowskias Stanley Spadowski
    David Bowe
    David Bowe
    • Bobas Bob
    Stanley Brock
    Stanley Brock
    • Uncle Harveyas Uncle Harvey
    Anthony Geary
    Anthony Geary
    • Philoas Philo
    Trinidad Silva
    Trinidad Silva
    • Raul Hernandezas Raul Hernandez
    Gedde Watanabe
    Gedde Watanabe
    • Kunias Kuni
    Billy Barty
    Billy Barty
    • Noodlesas Noodles
    John Paragon
    John Paragon
    • Richard Fletcheras Richard Fletcher
    Fran Drescher
    Fran Drescher
    • Pamela Finklesteinas Pamela Finklestein
    Sue Ane Langdon
    Sue Ane Langdon
    • Aunt Estheras Aunt Esther
    David Proval
    David Proval
    • Head Thugas Head Thug
    Grant James
    Grant James
    • Killer Thugas Killer Thug
    Emo Philips
    Emo Philips
    • Joe Earleyas Joe Earley
    Jay Levey
    Jay Levey
    • Gandhias Gandhi
    Brian Routh
    • The Kipper Kidsas The Kipper Kids
    • (as Harry Kipper)
    • Director
      • Jay Levey
    • Writers
      • 'Weird Al' Yankovic
      • Jay Levey
      • Charles Holloway(based on the sketch "Conan the Librarian" by) (uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    George Newman is a daydreamer whose hyperactive imagination keeps him from holding a steady job. His uncle decides George would be the perfect man to manage Channel 62, a television station which is losing money and viewers fast. When George replaces the station's reruns with bizarre programs such as "Stanley Spadowski's Clubhouse", "Wheel of Fish" and "Raul's Wild Kingdom", ratings begin to soar again. Mean-spirited and cynical mogul R.J. Fletcher becomes furious that the UHF station is getting better ratings than his network's programming. Because of gambling debts, the uncle is forced to consider selling the station to Fletcher, who would only too happily shut it down (he cannot legally own two stations in the same town). George and his friends organize a 48-hour telethon to raise the money by selling investment stock from Channel 62 to save the town's new favorite station. —MGM/UA Home Video
    • television station
    • spoof
    • telethon
    • satire
    • janitor
    • 132 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • It's crazy. It's outrageous. It's the television station run by a lunatic!
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Sci-Fi
    • Certificate
      • PG-13
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      For the shot of the Spatula City billboard, the production bought a billboard on a remote stretch of highway. For months afterward, drivers taking the exit would ask nearby businesses about Spatula City. The ad was finally removed after the businesses complained.
    • Goofs
      Since George's uncle valued the station at $75,000, George essentially sells off 100% of the station in the form of stock. If R.J. got intermediaries to quietly buy a controlling interest, he could shut the station down and save some money. As a cutthroat businessman, he should've realized that immediately.
    • Quotes

      [On the game show, "Wheel of Fish", Phyllis Weaver has just spun the wheel and landed on a red snapper]

      Kuni: Ahhh, a red snapper. Mmmmm, very tasty. Okay, Weaver, listen carefully. You can hold on to your red snapper...

      [Hiro-san emerges, carrying a table with a box]

      Kuni: ...or you can go for what's in the box that Hiro-san is bringing down the aisle right now! What's it gonna be?

      [Phyllis Weaver has difficulty in choosing as the audience point to the box]

      Phyllis Weaver: I'll take the box. The box!

      [the audience applauses]

      Kuni: You took the box? Let's see what's in the box!

      [Hiro-san opens the box; the audience gasps. There is a silence]

      Kuni: Nothing! Absolutely nothing! STUPID! You're so STU-PIIIIIIIIIIID!

    • Crazy credits
      The film is dedicated to the memory of Trinidad Silva who died in an auto accident during filming. See also note under Alternate Versions.
    • Alternate versions
      The Comedy Central version deletes quite a little out of such a short film - mainly bits related to animal cruelty, such as much of the "Raul's Wild Kingdom" scene (involving teaching poodles how to fly) and the punchline of car commercial (the owner threatens to club a baby seal if buyers don't come). Among other bits deleted: a scene regarding gun nuts; part of the scene where Emo Phillips loses a finger in a saw; most of the first "Uncle Nutzy's Clubhouse" scene (probably because the final punchline involves a guy eating dog treats by accident); the part of the "Conan the Librarian" sequence where a guy says he has an overdue library book, and Conan bloodlessly cuts him in half with his sword; a sequence with an elderly lady who knees R.J. Fletcher in the crotch.
    • Connections
      Edited into 'Weird Al' Yankovic: The Videos (1996)
    • Soundtracks
      UHF
      Written and Performed by 'Weird Al' Yankovic

      Published by Holy Moley Music

    User reviews239

    Review
    Top review
    A disturbing peek into the mind of one of the world's wackiest entertainer: "Weird Al" Yankovic.
    Michael Richards battling a gang of mobsters with a mop and a staplegun. A clown being smashed with a frying pan, then force-fed dog biscuits. Emo Phillips accidently slicing off his thumb with a tablesaw. And Fran Drescher. Yup, I think it's safe to say that this movie has everything, folks!

    "Weird Al" Yankovic's first (and only) movie is everything you would expect from this underappreciated comic genius. It has the same goofy charm as a Weird Al record, and works as an effective visual representation of what Al's music is all about. As you would expect, UHF contains plenty of movie parodies, all of which are spot-on and generally harmless. Die-hard fans can also look forward to seeing a wide array of "Al-isms" like Twinkie-Wiener Sandwiches, detailed rants about bizarre nonsense, usage of the word "weasel", et cetera.

    Casual viewers will find the good (U-62) vs. evil (Channel 8) story a bit ho-hum and the humor a little too... Well, a little too weird. But let's face it: this film wasn't made to tell a captivating love story or to inspire us with biting social commentary. It's an excuse for using a new medium to show Al doing what Al does best: being himself. And, as all of us devoted fans can agree, we couldn't possibly ask for anything more! LONG LIVE MR. YANKOVIC!
    helpful•30
    5
    • Cowman
    • Jul 3, 2003

    FAQ4

    • Is "UHF" based on a book?
    • What does "UHF" stand for?
    • How does the film begin?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 21, 1989 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • MGM
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Vidiot from UHF
    • Filming locations
      • 2570 South Harvard Avenue - Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
    • Production companies
      • Cinecorp SAC
      • Imaginary Entertainment
      • Orion Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $5,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $6,157,157
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $2,251,831
      • Jul 23, 1989
    • Gross worldwide
      • $6,157,157
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 37 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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    Mar 2Rollingstone.com

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