Summary
While everyone knows Austin Powers, Mike Myers is perhaps most beloved for his portrayal ofgoofy Wayne Campbell in the 1992 comedyWayne’s World. Along with his silly sidekick Garth Algar (Dana Carvey), Wayne made countless fans laugh thanks to his ditzy and determined personality. WhileWayne’s World 2followed in 1993, the first was more memorable, which is often the case with sequels. Myers has taken on some other interesting roles since, fromGeneral Ed Fenech inInglourious Basterdstothe loveable ogre Shrek, but for many, Wayne is his most notable. The movie, which Myers co-wrote with Terry and Bonnie Turner, also features a star-studded cast of Lara Flynn Boyle, Rob Lowe, and Tia Carrere.
For many,Wayne’s Worldis a nostalgic favorite, and it’s always fun to revisit the popular 1990s comedy. As it turns out,there’s one famous scene from the film that works better on streaming.
Here’s Why Wayne’s World’s “Stairway to Heaven” Joke Makes Sense On Streaming
In the famousWayne’s Worldscene,Wayne goes to a music shop and starts playing a few notes of the beloved Led Zeppelin song “Stairway to Heaven” on a Fender Stratocaster.When an employee points to a sign saying “No ‘Stairway to Heaven,'” Wayne says:
“No ‘Stairway’?Denied.”
Of course, this is one of the most memorable parts ofthe movie, which turned 30 in 2022. It’s hard not to laugh even when just thinking about it, even all tehse years later. However,there’s actually a fascinating history behind this scene. According toCracked.com, fans of the movie remember Wayne playing some random notes, and it seems like he’s terrible at playing guitar. None of these notes sounds like the Zeppelin tune. That’s because whenWayne’s Worldwas released on VHS, this scene was changed from the original. Led Zeppelin and Warner Bros. didn’t allow the “Stairway to Heaven” rights to be released, whether the entire song or just a couple of notes were being used. But,when the beloved comedy came out on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray in 2022, the original scene was included.
Penelope Spheeris, the director ofWayne’s World, toldBillboard:
“We were told that we could only use two notes before we’d have to pay $100,000, so to sell that he’s gonna play ‘Stairway to Heaven’ in two notes is pretty difficult. So they had to go back in and edit a note or two out.”
But, now thatWayne’s Worldhas been released on Blu-ray and streaming,this joke is as funny as it was meant to be. Instead of Wayne playing the guitar poorly,Wayne is offering up some meta commentary on the fact that the rights to “Stairway to Heaven” won’t be released. WhiletheScreamfranchise is known for its meta look at horror,Wayne’s Worldis a funny and self-aware movie, too. It’s always fun to rewatch a beloved ’90s movie, but it’s even more compelling to see this one again and think about the change made to this famous scene.
Of course, it’s possible to think about this joke a few different ways, andsome fans shared on Reddit that they thought the joke was that the Zeppelin song is “overplayed.“Redditor @geltoidadded, “Since its release, its been the ‘go-to’ song at guitar shops for people to play when they are testing out their guitars.” That definitely works, too, but it’s also fascinating to hear the story behind the song’s inclusion (or exclusion, as the case might be) in the movie.
Will There Be A Wayne’s World 3?
Many fans would love to seeWayne’s World 3, but unfortunately, at the time of this writing,there are no plans for a third movie.
However, it sounds likeDana Carvey would be open to it.In March 2023, he was asked aboutWayne’s World 3, and he toldPEOPLE:
“Yes, it is. I don’t know. Maybe we’ll do it in puppets. I’m not sure. I’m always game. Love Mike Myers. Just a brilliant guy.”
Over a decade ago, fans heard that Mike Myers was writingWayne’s World 3, and the reported storyline was,
Wayne and Garth coping with the new era of music, transitioning from access cable to streaming internet (ala YouTube) and Wayne balancing his marriage to Cassandra.” However,Joblo.comreported that this was false.
Whilehorror legacy sequels are popular right now, fromFinal Destination: Bloodlinesto the upcomingI Know What You Did Last Summer, comedy fans are also hopeful that their favorite characters will return. Although no one is sure ifWayne’s World 3will ever happen,fanswould love to see more of Wayne and Garth’s goofy adventures.
