Weird Al Yankovic

The comedic singer-songwriter recently released his 10th album, "Running With Scissors." Survival skills: Since I'm kind of a workaholic, I sleep as much as I can on the weekend. When I do go out, it's usually for basic things like food because I'm a bachelor and I live alone. I don't do a lot of cooking. If it requires more than one step, I generally don't bother. If you have to open the can and heat it up, that's a bit too much work for me.

Join actor-comedian Harry Shearer ("The Simpsons," "Le Show") and his wife, singer-songwriter and humorist Judith Owen, for an irreverent night of holiday laughs and catchy music that will have you singing along. Special guests include Richard Thompson, Julia Fordham, "Weird Al" Yankovic, C.J. Vanston, Jane Lynch and more. Largo, 366 N. La Cienega Blvd., L.A. Fri. 8 p.m. $50. (310) 855-0350; http://www.largo-la.com. For the Record : An earlier version of this item indicated that Katey Sagal, Michael McKean and Annette O'Toole would be part of this show.

With pop culture generations turning over about every three weeks, what's a parodist to do? That was a dilemma played out on the Greek Theatre stage Sunday by Weird Al Yankovic, who has been skewering pop culture for a full 20 years now. Even "Star Wars" jokes such as his recent "The Saga Begins" (to the tune of "American Pie") would seem to have a shelf life of mere months.

"Weird Al" Yankovic: A profile of "Weird Al" Yankovic in the Nov. 10 Calendar section said the satirist released his "Straight Outta Lynwood" album in 1996. The parody album hit stores in 2006.

"Weird Al" Yankovic will bring his musical bazaar of the bizarre to the Performing Arts Center in Oxnard for a Tuesday night laugh riot and rock show, filled with his extensive repertoire of hilarious parodies plus lots of originals. Some of Yankovic's more amusing efforts include "My Bologna," "Another One Rides the Bus," "Eat It," "Smells Like Nirvana" and "The Saga Begins" done to the tune of "American Pie." The formula is simple: Other people write the songs, then Yankovic makes them funny.

"Weird Al" Yankovic: A profile of "Weird Al" Yankovic in the Nov. 10 Calendar section said the satirist released his "Straight Outta Lynwood" album in 1996. The parody album hit stores in 2006.

Is parodist Weird Al Yankovic in hot water with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, which routinely takes action to prevent unauthorized use of Oscar's image? In his offbeat comedy, "UHF," due out Friday from Orion Pictures, Weird Al does an Indiana Jones "Raiders" send-up in one sequence--scheming to steal a prop Oscar. Academy exec administrator Bruce Davis said the organization would wait until the film's release before considering legal action.

Great idea for a new song by Weird Al Yankovic (to the tune of "I Shot the Sheriff"): I sent an OllieGram-- (But I did not shoot Gene Hasenfus down) I armed the contras-- (We pretended it was self-defense) I dealt with Iran-- (Now they claim it was a Capitol offense) I sent an OllieGram-- (But I would not shoot the President down) And so on. Give 'em hell, Ollie! You're the best thing going since Crystal beat up Alexis on "Dynasty" (at least, the first time)

Despite the apparently accidental death of his parents last week, Weird Al Yankovic said Monday that his current concert tour will continue. "Going up on stage in front of thousands of supportive fans is a cathartic and somewhat therapeutic experience for me right now," the song parodist explained in a statement released by his record company. "I don't know if I can say that the concerts really take my mind off of the tragedy, but at least they give me a break from sobbing all the time."

For "Weird Al" Yankovic, life is certainly good. After 13 albums and 30 years in the business of musical satire, he's just released the bestselling record of his career. It's not exactly what the 14-year-old Alfred Matthew, writing goofy ditties on the accordion in his Lynwood bedroom back in the mid-1970s, might have imagined. "As a kid, I certainly never thought I would get to spend my life doing something fun," reflects Yankovic, 52, sitting in the splendor of his Hollywood Hills home, where he lives with his wife and daughter.

He didn't perform at Michael Jackson's funeral. He's more likely to play the Orange County Fair than the Staples Center. And he's commonly viewed as a quirky pop music footnote. No matter. At a Holiday Inn in Costa Mesa, more than 100 of his most ardent fans will gather to pay tribute to "Weird Al" Yankovic. Although it doesn't attract Comic-Con-size crowds, the day-long Al Fest offers immersion into the not-so-weird world of "Weird Al" fandom.

Workers carefully placed fake flowers in front of the Budweiser vendor. Others painted tables black and glued twine on the edges to give them a western look. Chicken Charlie, purveyor of fried delicacies, prepared to debut deep-fried pizza bites. But in the last-minute scramble to ready the Orange County Fairgrounds for its biggest event of the year, the 119th annual O.C. Fair that opens today, one attraction was on everyone's mind: Al's Brain, a $2.

Despite the apparently accidental death of his parents last week, Weird Al Yankovic said Monday that his current concert tour will continue. "Going up on stage in front of thousands of supportive fans is a cathartic and somewhat therapeutic experience for me right now," the song parodist explained in a statement released by his record company. "I don't know if I can say that the concerts really take my mind off of the tragedy, but at least they give me a break from sobbing all the time."

The parents of Grammy-winning recording artist "Weird Al" Yankovic were found dead in their home, apparent victims of carbon monoxide poisoning, officials said. The bodies of Nick Yankovic, 86, and his wife, Mary, 81, were discovered about 1 p.m. Friday by members of the family, said Sheriff's Sgt. Conrad Grayson, a fire investigator. The relatives went to the house because they had not seen the couple in a while and were concerned.

If you call the Christian parody band ApologetiX a novelty act, you're about five centuries behind the times. Martin Luther, the 16th century church reformer, was the "Weird Al" Yankovic of his day--minus the humor. The father of the Reformation took scores of popular songs--hits of the 1500s--and rewrote the lyrics to reflect biblical themes. His goal: to create hymns that Protestant congregations could sing lustily from the pews, something not done in the Catholic Church at the time.

A man who lured investors with tales of hefty profits from ostrich farms, then used more than $1 million of their money to take vacations and produce a "Weird Al" Yankovic concert, pleaded guilty Wednesday to fraud charges. Howard Irving Freiberg, who publicized his ostrich meat plans with public appearances, including one on Tammy Faye Bakker's talk show, entered the plea on the second day of his trial in federal court in Los Angeles.

Eric B., formerly half of the key '80s rap team Eric B. & Rakim, has taken the role of vice president of Street Life Records, the urban label of All American Music (home of Weird Al Yankovic). The former rapper's primary duties will be signing acts. First on his roster is Craig Mack, whose 1995 "Project: Funk Da World" was produced by Sean (Puffy) Combs and was nominated for a Grammy last year.

A man who lured investors with tales of hefty profits from ostrich farms, then used more than $1 million of their money to take vacations and produce a "Weird Al" Yankovic concert, pleaded guilty Wednesday to fraud charges. Howard Irving Freiberg, who publicized his ostrich meat plans with public appearances, including one on Tammy Faye Bakker's talk show, entered the plea on the second day of his trial in federal court in Los Angeles.

"Weird Al" Yankovic will bring his musical bazaar of the bizarre to the Performing Arts Center in Oxnard for a Tuesday night laugh riot and rock show, filled with his extensive repertoire of hilarious parodies plus lots of originals. Some of Yankovic's more amusing efforts include "My Bologna," "Another One Rides the Bus," "Eat It," "Smells Like Nirvana" and "The Saga Begins" done to the tune of "American Pie." The formula is simple: Other people write the songs, then Yankovic makes them funny.