Iconic “Weird Al” Yankovic Award Show Moments

"Weird Al" Yankovic's award show moments are a testament to his ability to blend humor and music, making him a beloved figure both in and out of the music industry.

"Weird Al" Yankovic made his mark on the Grammy stage in 1984 when he won his first Grammy for Best Comedy Recording for "Eat It," his parody of Michael Jackson's "Beat It." His acceptance speech was filled with his characteristic humor, thanking Michael Jackson for "being weird enough to write songs that are ripe for parody."

At the 1989 VMAs, "Weird Al" stole the show with his unexpected red carpet arrival dressed as Michael Jackson from his "Bad" video, complete with a white glove and all. His humorous take on the King of Pop's iconic look had both fans and celebrities laughing.

In a memorable AMA moment, "Weird Al" performed a medley of his parodies, including "Amish Paradise" and "Gump." His performance was accompanied by elaborate props and costumes, demonstrating his knack for combining comedy and music in an engaging live show.

"Weird Al" Yankovic's album "Poodle Hat" was nominated for Best Comedy Album at the 2004 Grammys. During the red carpet interviews, he humorously pretended to be overwhelmed by the paparazzi, making exaggerated poses and jokingly claiming he couldn't handle the fame, much to the delight of fans and interviewers.

Though not an award show, "Weird Al's" Hollywood Walk of Fame induction ceremony in 2018 was iconic. He used his speech to hilariously advise future honorees to "please, please don’t pickaxe my star," referencing the then-recent vandalism of other stars on the Walk of Fame. His blend of sincerity and humor perfectly captured his unique persona.

"Weird Al" made a surprise appearance at the 2019 Emmys during a musical number, where he humorously "hacked" the show’s theme songs, adding his own lyrics to popular TV show intros. His unexpected performance added a comedic twist to the typically formal event, earning laughter and applause from the audience.

Soundtracks are a magical thing. They can make or break a moment in a movie or TV scene and add a new level of emotion.

Sometimes, movies and TV shows will look to modern songs to soundtrack a scene. However, there are plenty of examples of a film or a show going back in time to find a song that perfectly complements a moment. Oftentimes, using a more seasoned song, as opposed to a newer track, can help make a moment even more memorable.

A great example of this is the use of The Knack's "My Sharona" in 1994's Reality Bites. Oh, you’ve never whimsically danced in the food mart of a gas station? Then you never really have lived! Sometimes, you just have to dance in public with your friends.

Who can forget the use of "Miserlou" in Pulp Fiction? Can you imagine the opening credits of Quentin Tarantino's hit without this Dick Dale classic? Exactly.

Tarantino really enjoys showcasing classic tunes in his movies. His inclusion of the Stealers Wheel's song "Stuck in the Middle With You" in Reservoir Dogs helped introduce the one-hit wonder to a whole new audience. Sure, it was used during an incredibly grizzly scene, but it's proof of how effective music moments like these are.

John Hughes often liked to highlight artists of the day in his many classic movies, but in Ferris Bueller's Day Off, he went back to the '60s for this magic moment. In perhaps the greatest lip sync performance outside of RuPaul's Drag Race, Matthew Broderick’s Ferris Bueller transforms Chicago’s Von Steuben Day Parade into the party of the year with some help from Wayne Newton and The Beatles.

From iconic films to contemporary series, here are nine songs that got a second life in modern movies and TV shows.

Season four of Stranger Things was very good to Kate Bush. After the Netflix series used her 1985 song in the show, it became a sensation in the summer of 2022. The track eventually peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in July. Additionally, CBS News reported Bush earned a whopping $2.3 million in streaming royalties between May 27 and June 23.

Season four of Stranger Things was also very good to Metallica. Their classic track "Master of Puppets" was featured in the season finale of the Netflix show and helped introduce the band to a whole new slate of fans. Thanks to its use in the show, "Master of Puppets entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart for the first time since its initial release in 1986. The track would peak at number 35.

Nearly any song from the Guardians of the Galaxy soundtrack could’ve made this list. However, it’s difficult not to highlight this Redbone tune that plays during the opening credits. The soundtrack would go on to top the Billboard 200 chart and sell over one million copies. (Seriously, this soundtrack is an absolute banger. Way to make this happen, director James Gunn!

To this day, it’s hard setting an alarm clock at 6:00 AM without thinking about Sonny & Cher. Sure, Bill Murray's character, Phil Connors, went partially crazy after reliving the same day over and over again. There's a good chance this song got old very quick. But, for the rest of us, it's just a good time.

Cheesy? Yes. A memorable way to pick up a woman at a bar? Also, yes. Even though Maverick initially “crashed and burned” while singing this Righteous Brothers classic with the help of his fellow naval aviators, he still got the girl in the end. 

Four years later, The Righteous Brothers were provided the soundtrack to another memorable movie moment. This time it was the infamous pottery wheel scene from Ghost. The song and scene were so popular that "Unchained Melody" reentered the Billboard Hot 100 and would peak at number 13. It's understandable why. Just relieve the magic below.

Not only did this instrumental from The Champs soundtrack this hilarious moment, it gave the world that dance we’ve all done. Perhaps you did it while drinking tequila. Seriously, this whole moment shouldn't work at all. That's just another example of just how wonderful Pee-Wee Herman was.

“Who needs reasons when you’ve got heroin?” Trainspotting doesn’t waste any time cutting to the chase, and it does so all while being soundtracked by this Iggy Pop classic. With the exception of "Stuck in the Middle of You," this might be the darkest example on this list.

Surely, this list wouldn’t be complete without “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Thanks to its use in Wayne’s World, “Bohemian Rhapsody” re-entered the Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at number two, seven spots higher than when it was originally released. If you've made it this far, there's a good chance you created this scene in the car with your friends, too.