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Weird Al Yankovicis tenacious.

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It took some work, butMandatory Funblew the doors off the industry, becoming Yankovicsfirst No.

1 album and the first comedy album to top the charts since 1963.

He worked even harder to make his childrens show happen.

Yankovic butted heads with the web connection for years until he got an unlikely assist from Bill Clintons FCC.

… We have to have a certain number of educational childrens shows.

Thats really all were looking for right now.

So I said, Were an educational show!

Yankovic said in a2017 interview withRolling Stonewhile recalling his pitch to CBS.

(It would be all three.

The names Odenkirk spat out after a moments thought were Papa Boulie and Baby Boulie, inexplicably.

DirectorPeyton Reedshot all 13 episodes of the show years before going on to direct 2000sBring It Onand MarvelsAnt-Manfilms.

WhenThe Weird Al Showdebuted in 1997, it hit the ground running with Yankovics particular brand of silliness.

The track would eventually appear on Yankovics 1999 albumRunning With Scissors.

There were also occasional nonWeird Al musical performances, including the national television debut of the Barenaked Ladies.

The trio was just beginning to promote the follow-up single to their massive hit MMMBop, Wheres the Love.

It ended up being a show for nobody.

But not for lack of trying.

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