Al Yankovic found a love for comedy and all things weird as a teenager. At the time, he was not only influenced by the many sounds of rock and roll in the 1970s, but he was also intrigued by different forms of comedy, whether it be the acclaimed classic Monty Python or albums by comedian George Carlin, according to The New York Times. During this time, he started writing his own comedy songs, which were accompanied by instruments like the accordion. Eager to break through to the world that inspired him so much, he sent his songs to radio host Dr. Demento, known for his unique taste in music and comedy, as reported by NPR. Demento gave Yankovic a chance and played his songs on the radio, leading the bright-eyed teenager to go to college and try to follow his dreams along the way.
Yankovic worked his way through small comedy gigs and started seriously working as a musical comedian in 1980 following the success of his song "Another One Rides the Bus," a parody of the popular song "Another One Bites the Dust" by Queen. Over his career, the comedian has released 14 albums, has starred in several films, and even had his own TV show on CBS called "The Weird Al Show."