Synopsis

"Weird Al" Yankovic performs a deadpan parody of the Crash Test Dummies' "Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm," turning three notorious early-1990s news stories into miniature stage productions. The video presents the Singapore caning of Michael Fay, the attack on figure skater Nancy Kerrigan, and Lorena Bobbitt's assault on her husband with theatrical sets, exaggerated performances, and a mock-serious audience. Yankovic appears in the role of Brad Roberts, while his band impersonates the Crash Test Dummies.

Factoids & Trivia

• The video closely imitates the visual concept of the original "Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm" video, replacing its stories about unusual children with tabloid headlines.

• Filming took place on August 29 and 31, 1994. The school sequences were shot at Longfellow Elementary School Auditorium in Pasadena, California, while the ice-rink material was filmed at a rink in Paramount, California.

• The production ran beyond its scheduled time and became unusually expensive. Yankovic later joked that the budget could have covered the recording of two albums.

• Cameos include Doug Llewelyn from "The People's Court," radio personality Dr. Demento, and comedian Judy Tenuta, who appears as Lorena Bobbitt.

• The cast portraying the news subjects includes performers playing Michael Fay, Tonya Harding, Nancy Kerrigan, and John Bobbitt.

• Keyboardist Ruben Valtierra makes his on-screen debut with Yankovic in the video, appearing in drag as Crash Test Dummies keyboardist Ellen Reid.

• Yankovic temporarily straightened his normally curly hair to resemble Crash Test Dummies singer Brad Roberts.

• "Headline News" was released in 1994 as the new promotional song for the compilation box set "Permanent Record: Al in the Box," rather than as part of a regular studio album.