Movement launched to get Weird Al on Super Bowl half-time stage

What would Weird Al look like on a Super Bowl half-time stage? (AP Photo)

After a New York Daily Mail article pointed out the dwindling number of massive world-class rock acts available and of appropriate caliber to play the Super Bowl half-time show, the movement to get Weird Al Yankovic on stage is picking up steam.

Bean from the Kevin & Bean Show at KROQ in Los Angeles said the parody song artist told a member of his show’s staff he would be willing if the NFL approached him with the opportunity.

“He said I wouldn’t turn it down if they asked me to do it, and I’d be almost as funny as Madonna was,” said Bean, in an appearance on 97.3 KIRO FM’s Ross and Burbank Show.

Listen to Movement launched to get Weird Al on Super Bowl half-time stage

Kevin & Bean suggested the artist for the super-slot last year, after the Black Eyed Peas performance. Once they saw their idea seconded in The New York Daily Mail piece after this year’s Super Bowl, they thought they had a strong platform to move the idea forward.

“We [Kevin & Bean and New York Daily Mail’s Julian Garcia] agreed to join forces. He’s got the East Coast covered. We’ve got the West Coast covered, and now there are petitions online. There’s a twitter campaign,” said Bean. “People are really talking this up.”

Bean said he thinks a Weird Al half-time show would bring in great ratings.

“Who would miss that?” said Bean. “For curiosity sake alone it would be so different to see Weird Al on a network program like that.”

Luke Burbank said he’s been super impressed with how Weird Al has retained his relevance across decades.

“I have little brothers. I have one brother who I’m actually 20-years-older than and they love Weird Al the way that I loved Weird Al when I was their age,” said Burbank.

“He had an album out last year called Alpocolypse that was his highest charted record ever,” said Bean. “That’s one of the things that is great about Al is this isn’t like digging up an oldies act. You’ve got somebody who by virtue of the job that he does, which is parodying the pop hits of today, is always contemporary.”

The NFL reportedly said it won’t be swayed by fan pressure.

“The NFL is notoriously tight lipped. They’ve gone out of their way to say ‘We don’t respond to pressure by petition or anything like that,’ and they don’t reveal who they’re discussing for a half-time show,” said Bean adding he’s determined to keep the movement going.
“I’d just like to keep it going and see if it can get some momentum.”

By JAMIE GRISWOLD, MyNorthwest.com Editor