“Weird Al” Yankovic’s Comedy Epic ‘UHF’ Ready To Air In 4K From Shout! Studios
by David Lewis
UHF in UHD? The future is now.
Shout! Studios’ upcoming 4K release of “Weird Al” Yankovic‘s feature film UHF is set to arrive in July, and boy-oh-boy, are we gonna have big fun today.
In the 1989 cult classic, Yankovic plays George Newman, a nice guy with an uncontrollable imagination who just can’t keep a job. Plot machinations turn him into the manager of a tiny TV station that’s on its last legs and is about to be swallowed up by a big time rival. But George and his pals have a few ideas for new programming like “Wheel of Fish” and “The Volcano Worshipper’s Hour” that shockingly result in big ratings. The silly set-up allows Yankovic, a pre-Seinfeld Michael Richards, and director Jay Levey to lovingly spoof everything from commercials, game shows, and music videos to films as wide-ranging as Raiders of the Lost Ark, Gone With the Wind, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, Conan the Barbarian, and Gandhi.
It also stars Kevin McCarthy, Fran Drescher, Gedde Watanabe, Billy Barty, Victoria Jackson, and David Bowe.
UHF will presented for the first time in 4K from a new scan of the original 35mm negative. Like previous home releases, the 35th Anniversary Edition will be loaded with special features including an audio commentary with Yankovic and Levey, plus a 2014 San Diego Comic-Con panel, deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes footage, a music video, Easter eggs, and more.
But that’s not all. There will also be several deluxe editions available from Shout’s website, which will include such goodies as two posters, a “Weird Al” prism sticker, a new scratch-n-sniff card offering odors from the film (Twinkie wiener sandwich, anyone?), a stress squeezer, a Spatula City fridge magnet (“C’mon, kids! Let’s go!”) and an enamel pin set.
The two-disc 4K UHD and Blu-ray set of UHF will be available July 2nd from Shout! Studios.