Mining Accident (27 Aug. 1997)

Today's lesson: "You should try to understand and appreciate people who are different from you. Don't make quick judgements."

Weird Al is in the middle of singing the Harvey the Wonder Hamster theme song when several coal miners suddenly bust in, not realizing Al's underground home was in their path. Al tries to ignore them as he makes some lima bean cookies. But the head miner, an ill-mannered but good-natured Irishman, butts in and shows him how to protect the cookies from underground and above-ground rats. The miners repair the wall, but make themselves nuisances in the process. Al has a knight and a fireman run a foot race, and the miners place bets. They gamble! They also make a lot of noise. The Hooded Avenger comes down to complain and finds himself reunited with the guys who had once burst into his cave, too. Weird Al is shocked that the Avenger likes these uncouth miners, but the superhero chides Al for being closed-minded. Meanwhile, Al shows Bobby the Inquisitive Boy a black and white educational film called "Our Friend Dirt." Fat Man fights the Slawmeister. Over the credits, Al parodies Madonna's "Like a Virgin."

What's on Al TV? Phil Frye the Science Guy teaches us that all grass is green. A tiny man is trapped in a fish tank. An earnest woman reminds us that words are powerful. Loose-limbed instructors teach us to stretch. An annoying off-screen announcer keeps asking a couple of teenagers if they've got milk.

I'm glad this episode doesn't ask us to take the lesson too seriously. I'd make a quick judgment about miners busting into my home and touching my lima bean cookies with their filthy hands, too. "Laverne and Shirley" fans will get a kick out of two miners. The head miner is Michael McKean and the short one is David Lander. They played Lenny and Squiggy on the old sitcom, although here they're not acting as a pair. The quirky comedian Emo Phillips voices the Slawmeister.