World of Weird Al Yankovic

This is also the first time I've ever seen anybody say that Al, offstage, has to be the funniest person in the room.

You know, even onstage, Al doesn't have to be the funniest guy all the time. One schtick that immediately springs to mind is Rubén doing the hat twirl thing on LAS as Al does the perfect straight man thing and just reacts to it. He's not above letting someone else get laughs.

I have to agree with the idea that this interview can be chalked up as a wasted opportunity and bad journalism; but it has sparked some interesting comments and points of view, so we can appreciate it from that standpoint, if for nothing else.

It seems to me that the interviewers are just basically amateurs and somehow they managed to convince Al to do an interview with them. When Al realized that they were amateurs, he probably realized he had been bamboozled into thinking this would be a REAL interview. So, he just sat it out politely until it was over.

The thing is if you read closely, the interviewers do seem to be very big Al fans. Making the attendance of an Al concert a prerequisite to marriage is evidence enough of that! I don't think they were intending to put Al down in that article at all. I think it's just a case of a star-struck, inexperienced, unprepared fan tyring to interview Al.

As for the comments about the interviewer being just as funny as Al, I really think he was just being sarcastic. It's kind of like how spacedingo thinks he's God's gift to the comedy world.

Hey, at least this was ONE interviewer who DIDN'T ask the same old questions about Michael Jackson, Eminem, and Coolio!

You're right. We've gotta give those guys bonus points for that.

The thing that bugged me the most was the comments about Suzanne. There was no reason to make those comments. Then in the end they tried to make Al look like the bad guy, like Al was just some rich snob that thought he was better than everybody else. I mean, the article has some good qualities to it, but there's enough bad qualities to where I dont like it.

I might be over reacting to this, but Al and his family are like family to me, and I really dont take this kind of criticism easy.

I want to apologize to Al for them!

Then smack them silly!

Anything else has already been said.... "ditto"!

They were jerks! They called themselves "fans". Doesn't that come from "Fanatic?"

Just because it's part of Al's "j.o.b." to give interviews, doesn't mean he has to be "on", right? Look how different he is at the aftershow....hard to believe he's the same guy who sang IAATP! There are times he has a job to do, but it doesn't mean he has to perform.



Everyone is entitled to their opinion.... even if it's WRONG! >:S

Seva @ Feb 25 2005, 08:35 PM wrote: But anyway, please folks tell me how's Al in person, I really need to know right now. Thanks a bunch.

SEVA.

Seva, getting up close to the MAN is very surreal. I had put myself in that scenario in my head over and over before it actually came to be. When it did, it was so unlike I imagined.

As I stood in line with a new WOWAY friend, there was complete comfort, but not calmness. There was the anticipation. We were trying to get our things organized for signing and checking cameras..."where's my silver sharpie?" etc...

We were in a line that guards were trying to push past Al, in an effort to spare him some time, so there was that uneasiness. Al had NOTHING to do with that! Had I not been aware that the celebrity was the one seated at the table, wearing flip-flops, chatting and smiling kindly at the ga-ga-ing fans I might have kept walking looking for the "star".

The only moment I recall as being directly affected by the realization of his greatness was when I opened my mouth. Instead of kind words of appreciation flowing eloquently forth I said, ".........I just LOVE you!" (Charlie Brown head-banger moment....UG!).

To which he simply replied something like, "Thank you".

You know.... Bermuda probably helped put me at ease while waiting too. Not only is Al a complete gentleman, but TBITB seem to be just as genteel. (is that a word?) I've never heard "My pleasure" sound so sincere as when it was uttered by Bermuda and later by Al. He even said "Isn't that lovely" when I gave him a wild printed gift bag. How sincere and unexpected.

I hope you get the opportunity to experience it for yourself!

Those "Journalists" were just losers trying to make their subject look bad because they were idiots. C'mon....screwed up directions? now THAT's professional!

As far as Suzanne needing electric.....I can relate! If it was to pump, so what. What if she needed a bathroom? Sheesh.... she's human, with a baby, and if the interviewers were in the same situation... they'd be looking for electricity too! Oh, I'm just getting madder....! >:S She was probably in pain, and that could have distracted Al a little too. Who knows.

I guess the bottom line is...
Don't blame the subject for your own shortcomings and stupidity. Guess they had a deadline and had to come up with SOMETHING!

Accordion Mom @ Feb 28 2005, 12:45 AM wrote: You know.... Bermuda probably helped put me at ease while waiting too. Not only is Al a complete gentleman, but TBITB seem to be just as genteel. (is that a word?)

Yup, it's a word, and it applies. I've now exchanged at least a sentence with all TBITB, and had several opportunities to actually converse briefly with Steve, and they've all been gentlemen of class. And Steve's funny too, in a dry way.

What a waste of Al's time...all the reader is provided with is the interviewer's paranoid thoughts of Al. I mean, do I care what you think about him? Just the facts, please.

I don't really have a problem with smart-ass journalism, but this was just lame.

Bruce the Duck @ Feb 26 2005, 10:21 PM wrote: It seems to me that the interviewers are just basically amateurs and somehow they managed to convince Al to do an interview with them. When Al realized that they were amateurs, he probably realized he had been bamboozled into thinking this would be a REAL interview. So, he just sat it out politely until it was over.

You know, I have to disagree here. Al's given plenty of interviews to amateurs. I've read a couple of interviews and the behind the story thing where some college kid got to interview Al. Al showed up knowing it was a school deal and he gave them the same courtesy he would a "big time" interviewer. One interview that comes to mind, the guy was so nervouse he ended up telling Al where he had bought his shirt. Like Al cared where some college kid shops for his clothes. (Talk about a head banging moment. The interviewer was mortified) but Al took it in stride and just did the interview as graciously as he always does.