Bad Channels

Fact and fiction are mingled in this mockumentary about the career of music parodist "Weird Al" Yankovic. In retelling his life story, the film includes several of his music videos, including "Ricky" and "Eat It."

Broadway producer Nickie North, and his press agent Scoop Trimble, land a backer for a new show, but their "angel" requires that they rehearse the show out-of-town and star Clarice Sheldon, an ex-flame whose flickerings have become unwelcome. North and Trimble establish the company on the way-out-of-town Bingham farm but are unaware the site contains a hazard...Patience Bingham, the farmer's daughter. Patience falls in love with the company's leading man, Dennis Crane, whom North was relying on to keep temperamental Clarice in line. Despite spending night-after-night going from nightclub-to-nightclub in New York City, playwright Victor Walsh hasn't found a suitable scenario-idea in any of them for a play. Trimble corrals Walsh and brings him to the farm but the quietness and fresh air are keeping the muse away...until Trimble imports some NYC noises and odors. Just as it appears that the show will go on, Clarice has discovered that her sugar-daddy angel has flown off with some new doll, and she deserts the show and goes in pursuit. But North discovers that the farmer's daughter knows the lines. Is a star about to be born?

In Tel Aviv, six friends who are appalled by the Israeli entry in the UniverSong competition record their own song on a mobile phone, then are shocked to learn their recording is selected as Israel's entry for next year's competition.

A young man moves to New York to strike it big in the music business.

In this made for Showtime television spoof of Madonna's Madonna: Truth or Dare (1991) documentary, comedienne Julie Brown portrays Medusa, an egocentric, hyper-sexual (and not particularly talented) pop star on an international five-day world tour, "The Blonde Leading the Blonde" show. Brown painstakingly duplicates costumes, sets and hairstyles while spoofing Madonna's seeming self-obsession. Madonna visits the cemetery where her mother is buried; Medusa visits the pet cemetery where her dog Buster is laid to rest. (Or is it "Boomer"?). Madonna performs fellatio on a bottle, at the dare of a friend; Medusa does it on a watermelon. And so on...

In the 1890s, Trottie True moves from bit theatre parts to stardom, and from balloonist Sid Skinner to more prominent men. She later wonders if Sid wasn't better after all, and seeks to find out.