Synopsis

"Weird Al" Yankovic appears as a hopeless contestant on an old-fashioned episode of Jeopardy!, facing a plumber and an architect who both seem vastly more qualified. Host Art Fleming presents categories ranging from television themes to nuclear physics and famous accordion players, but the questions leave Al helpless while his opponents rack up correct answers. His score plunges into negative territory, his podium falls apart, and announcer Don Pardo declares him a complete loser. After being thrown out of the studio, Al lands in Greg Kihn's convertible, whose license plate reads "LOSER."

Factoids & Trivia

• The song parodies "Jeopardy" by the Greg Kihn Band, turning the original song's romantic refrain into a literal game-show disaster.

• The video was filmed on May 24 and 25, 1984, using a set modeled on the original 1964-1975 version of Jeopardy!.

• Art Fleming, who hosted the original Jeopardy!, appears as himself, while former show announcer Don Pardo supplies the video with an especially merciless voice-over.

• Other appearances include Dr. Demento, members of Yankovic's band, Yankovic's parents, and Greg Kihn. Yankovic later confirmed that Kihn is the man who winks from the driver's seat at the end.

• The final car sequence mirrors imagery from Kihn's original "Jeopardy" video. Kihn used a vintage sports car to approximate the vehicle from his video, while the new license plate changes the joke to "LOSER."

• The video arrived shortly before the 1984 revival of Jeopardy!, leading to a popular misconception that Yankovic's hit helped bring the show back. The revival was already being developed before the song and video were released.

• The song reached No. 83 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it one of Yankovic's early charting singles.