Mystery Science Theater 3000: C/D, S/D.

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It's about time, too.

― Michael Daddino, Saturday, 12 January 2002 01:00 (seventeen years ago) Permalink

Oh *please*, you ask this of me? What episodes *don't* I have on tape?

So gloriously fucking classic it hurts, period, etc. To explain why -- I always loved really bad movies, they're great. Seeing bad movies trashed by people who obviously had brains but weren't afraid of cheap shots either seemed like perfection, and the fact that the perpetrators were seemingly calm Minnesotans who had a clear and total loathing for bullshit of all sorts -- societal, cultural, political, philosophical - - made it all the more fun. Still my favorite ever TV show.

Search -- um, everything. Some episodes you don't need to see as many times, though, and sometimes ones that weren't as great initially become great with time. My Top Ten List At Present:

Manos, The Hands of Fate -- "Honey, I'm scared." "Of WHAT?"

The Starfighters -- "Bob Dornan, wild at heart."

Mitchell -- "She was going to smell like beer sooner or later."

Teenage Strangler -- "I didn't steal no bike neither!"

Overdrawn at the Memory Bank -- "My nuts?"

Red Zone Cuba -- "You and your swank restaurant and your chichi frog's legs!"

Agent From H.A.R.M. -- "There's the windup...and there's the smarm!"

Werewolf -- "C'mon, dead people know what's going to happen next!"

The Starfighters -- "I like coffee."

Pod People -- "Trumpy! You can do MAGIC things!"

Subject to change, but that's a good starter pack right there, along with Eegah!, Jack Frost, Parts: The Clonus Horror, Monster a Go-Go, The Girl in Gold Boots...

― Ned Raggett, Sunday, 13 January 2002 01:00 (seventeen years ago) Permalink

Oh yeah, and Deathstalker, naturally.

― Ned Raggett, Sunday, 13 January 2002 01:00 (seventeen years ago) Permalink

I absolutely adore this show, though I've only been able to see Sci- Fi episodes and only a handful of them at that due to infernal copyright issues (any channel wishing to broadcast it needs rights to both the episode and the film, thus only about 18 eps have been shown in the UK). So my knowledge of MST3K is very limited, but I'll add my vote to Overdrawn At The Memory Bank and Agent From H.A.R.M. - as for episodes to destroy, I haven't seen any eps that are bad but apparently the KTMA ones weren't that good, so destroy them.

― Chris Lyons, Sunday, 13 January 2002 01:00 (seventeen years ago) Permalink

First, the lowdown. Classic? Oh my, yes.

Search

Favorite Episode Available on Rihno: I Accuse My Parents or Catalina Caper. Favorite Episode Overall: Alien From L.A.. Favorite Short: The Days of Our Years. Favorite Riff Sequences: The Beau Brummels at the Whiskey-A-Go-Go in Village of the Giants and Fat Linda Rondstadt in The Incredible Melting Man. Favorite Riff: The Albert Goldman/Greil Marcus ref in The Pod People and the "...Massapequa, Massapequa Park, Amityville, Copaigue, Lindenhurst and Babylon. Change at Jamaica for..." line in The Beatniks.

Destroy

The fifteen-minute promo they did for Nintendo; the "sandwich" sketch at the end of The Undead; the long string of lesbian jokes in Racket Girls; and, ultimately, the movie, which while v. good, probably should never have been made; and finally, the various asinine copyright issues that pretty much will ensure its limited availability in non-bootleg form to future generations.

― Michael Daddino, Sunday, 13 January 2002 01:00 (seventeen years ago) Permalink

The fifteen-minute promo they did for Nintendo

Herein a mystery -- what is this? Given that they're such gaming addicts I'm not surprised they did it...

― Ned Raggett, Sunday, 13 January 2002 01:00 (seventeen years ago) Permalink

I made a boo-boo. It was actually for Playstation Magazine. Riffing was good, as you can imagine, but it was genuinely painful to watch them hawk stuff. Kinda odd that I can't find more info about it.

― Michael Daddino, Sunday, 13 January 2002 01:00 (seventeen years ago) Permalink

Any film with Joe Don Baker or John Phillip Law is an absolute classic.

But if I'm being honest, I love nearly every one. The only one I think I would destroy is Hamlet, because the adaptation was so static and dull it was hard to make jokes from.

― Nicole, Sunday, 13 January 2002 01:00 (seventeen years ago) Permalink

Oh, and Ned should definitely make me some tapes. The ones on sci-fi I see all the time, but I miss the old episodes.

― Nicole, Sunday, 13 January 2002 01:00 (seventeen years ago) Permalink

Arrangements can be made. I need to get a second VCR for dubbing purposes first, though...

― Ned Raggett, Sunday, 13 January 2002 01:00 (seventeen years ago) Permalink

And yes, I did forget Space Mutiny, didn't I? "HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!"

― Ned Raggett, Sunday, 13 January 2002 01:00 (seventeen years ago) Permalink

Additional Commentary

I brought the subject up because I think it's high time we discussed it at length. A lot of Americans on ILx are pretty vocal about their MST3K-love, but for obvious reasons, much of the UK posse have never even seen the show. Those who have only know the Sci-Fi era shows (and can't get Rhino tapes, either), so they're only getting part of the fun.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a Comedy-Central purist at all. The primary reason I got slowly peeved at the AOL NY MST3K contingent was because they were by and large vehemently Anti-Mike, going on and on about how the show was a bunch of boring crap now and how cute and sexy Joel was. I just couldn't see it. Admittedly, though, by the time MST3K left CC, the show's early, woozy charm had long faded away -- but it was replaced by something else that, while slick, was still awfully entertaining. (Charm isn't everything.) At the other end of the history spectrum, the KTMAs aren't bad at all, but all woozy charm and few laffs. Still, that won't matter if you're already a fan.

The worst movie they ever did was, easily, Monster A Go-Go. Scroungily overamped "What'd I Say"-rip at the beginning, but looooong stretches of black & white nothingness punctuated by perhaps the most infuriating cinematic anticlimax ever. Next in line is Manos: The Hands of Fate. It's my impression that MST3K almost single-handedly velcroed this flick onto the Canon of Bad Movies, and that's a good thing, because it's a startling artifact with a great story behind it.

Favorite Sci-Fi-era Episode: Jack Frost. Indeed, every episode involving a children's movie is sterling.

Best Acting in a MST3K Episode: Beverly Garland reads the riot act to The Celery From Outer Space in It Conquered The World. Bela Lugosi tells a fellow scientist off in Bride of the Monster.

Crow vs. Crow: Trace-Crow is more neurotic, Bill-Crow is more snide, yet once Bill got in the groove, I seriously think they were in equal in goodness.

Joel vs. Mike:

Extraneous thought: if in some alternative universe Catalina Caper was a good, no, GREAT movie, the Avalanches' album would be its soundtrack. Perhaps we could kindly suggest to Tim Burton a remake...

― Michael Daddino, Sunday, 13 January 2002 01:00 (seventeen years ago) Permalink

it's a startling artifact with a great story behind it.

I was going to throw in a link to the article with all the info, but dammit, it's expired! Your vision of a new Catalina Caper thrills and disturbs my soul.

― Ned Raggett, Sunday, 13 January 2002 01:00 (seventeen years ago) Permalink

Although I should at least throw in a link to the more or less official fan site, the Satellite News.

― Ned Raggett, Sunday, 13 January 2002 01:00 (seventeen years ago) Permalink

The Manos article is here.

― Michael Daddino, Sunday, 13 January 2002 01:00 (seventeen years ago) Permalink

That's one of the reasons I could never get into any of the MST3K fan discussions/forums online, they all seem to suffer from this irrational hatred of Mike. It's so silly and pedantic. What's so wrong with liking Joel and Mike?

― Nicole, Sunday, 13 January 2002 01:00 (seventeen years ago) Permalink

Why do you say the movie should not have been made, Mike?

― Josh, Sunday, 13 January 2002 01:00 (seventeen years ago) Permalink

For one, the movie didn't make any money, partly because Gramercy concentrated its promotional efforts on the Pamela Anderson vehicle Barb-Wire, which ended up belly-flopping anyway. Plus, I got this impression from some recent interview with a member of Best Brains (can't remember where I saw this) that they all ended up regretting ever making the thing in the first place. The whole process was too arduous and distracting and they had to deal with all the asshole suits who prided themselves on having a certain level of hepness, yet told BB to take out a joke about Bootsy Collins because they didn't know who was.

― Michael Daddino, Sunday, 13 January 2002 01:00 (seventeen years ago) Permalink

The other weird indulgence of the AOL MSTies was the tongue-lashing Sampo, a.k.a. Chris Cornell (the mst3kinfo.com guy, not the Soundgarden guy), recieved on a regular basis. People seemed real irritated at the fact that he assumed the role of King of All MSTies rather quickly, and I attribute that to minor professional jealousy and peevishness over his pro-Mike stance, all caught in a spiral of ever-amplifying regicidal loathing that you often see online. (Sampo's sometime pomposity didn't help either.) Pettiness a go-go.

― Michael Daddino, Sunday, 13 January 2002 01:00 (seventeen years ago) Permalink

dude, fuck all that. after joel left the show totally went to shit. joel really wanted to create a feeling with story /characters and consistancy. mike was just a hired writer. i think i read someone saying in another thread "after a while if felt like the ones running the show just didnt get 'it' "

― chaki, Monday, 14 January 2002 01:00 (seventeen years ago) Permalink

As so many of us are such pynchon junkies, here's a great mst3k & pynchon link.

i is brit and loving the mst3k. it can grate if you're not in the right mood, but fuck that for a game of toy soldiers. I also liked the film (riffing on This Island Earth -- fave bit is when the alien is explaining about the fate of his planet "a-huh, yeah, yup... got ya... a-huh"

― Alan Trewartha, Monday, 14 January 2002 01:00 (seventeen years ago) Permalink

In point of fact, Mike wasn't merely a "hired writer": as early as the second season, he was the Head Writer. Since MST3K was always a group effort, I think it's difficult to pinpoint one person who was responsible for any particular characteristic of the show. (Two obvious exceptions, of course, are the whole Gizmonics Institute business and the idea for the Invention Exchange.) So he may share some responsibility with Joel H. for creating the rather paternal relationship between Joel R. & the 'bots -- a relationship which, for obvious reasons, would be altered once Mike replaced Joel R. the SOL.

― Michael Daddino, Monday, 14 January 2002 01:00 (seventeen years ago) Permalink

The funniest episode of MST3K I've ever seen is a Gammora movie that we watched on KTMA backstage during a high school show choir competition. I can't remember the name of the movie, but the bad monster was a giant gumball machine and the episode contained one of my favorite riffs ever (7-YEAR-OLD GIRL: I love you, Gamora! CROW: Keep your shirt on, honey.). Most of the others I've seen have come from the Sci-Fi years, but "Manos" is definitely classic. I will also put in a vote for "Overdrawn At The Memory Bank" if only because it's fun to watch Raul Julia in something embarrassing, plus "Squirm" and "The Final Sacrifice".

― Dan Perry, Monday, 14 January 2002 01:00 (seventeen years ago) Permalink

I loved Overdrawn At The Memory Bank as a child. I believe I still have a video on it somewhere doubling up with Max Headroom.

― Pete, Monday, 14 January 2002 01:00 (seventeen years ago) Permalink

Ah, the AOL MSTie days. Got my first stalker out of that bunch.

Anyway, I adored the show. Was a staunch Mike defender in the Mike v. Joel days, now I'm not so sure. Favorite bit (of all time): "Are You Happy In Your Work?"

― Colin Meeder, Monday, 14 January 2002 01:00 (seventeen years ago) Permalink

What the fuck are you doing here, Colin? :)

― Michael Daddino, Monday, 14 January 2002 01:00 (seventeen years ago) Permalink

Dan -- you saw a KTMA on the air? I envy and worship you, my liege.

Colin -- yeah, I remember you were torgotback@aol.com, but the stalking? No, not that.

The boards also attracted a number of true mental cases, most unforgettably KeijiKJ. He was similar to Gondola Blob in that he indulged in casebook net.kook behavior: delusions of professionalism, snottily dismissive of any random thing, threw around the word "clique" a lot. I've even heard stories that he scared the bejesus out of BB members during the first con. I personally had a thoroughly pointless argument with him about the population of the cities in California.

Concerning Mike, I'll say this: there are quite a few times during the Sci-Fi-era when he seemed to be sending out his performance via Fed Ex. Sad, because it was clear after CC he was capable of much better. But you know, a lot of the Sci-Fi-era episodes that initially seemed kinda minor and kinda eh to me now strike me as being thoroughly solid.

― Michael Daddino, Monday, 14 January 2002 01:00 (seventeen years ago) Permalink

That was my first exposure to MST3K. I had no idea that it was going to become so huge; I only thought that snarky Minnesotans would find it funny!

― Dan Perry, Monday, 14 January 2002 01:00 (seventeen years ago) Permalink

Well, you're lucky and we hate you. There. ;-)

I'm waiting on Mike's next collection of essays and novel myself. The Megacheese collection was a scream.

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 14 January 2002 01:00 (seventeen years ago) Permalink

Michael: With you and Dave R. here, it was simply a matter of time.

Stalking resulted from an unfortunate IRL encounter with a nice enough person. I thought it was a lovely afternoon, she thought it was TRUE LOVE FOREVER. Eek. The story resolved harmlessly enough -- she found TRUE LOVE FOREVER again with another MSTie, and this time it was returned.

― Colin Meeder, Monday, 14 January 2002 01:00 (seventeen years ago) Permalink

What the hell do I have to do with anything, Mr. Meeder? I've never seen you before in my life! (Weren't you supposed to get me a job?)

MST3K was never that big a part of my life - I watched it sporadically, and I always seemed to be in the wrong state of mind to truly enjoy it. I'll side with the Joel phreex, though, just because bald is sexy. (I'm getting sexier by the minute.)

― David Raposa, Monday, 14 January 2002 01:00 (seventeen years ago) Permalink

DR: I'll side with the Joel phreex, though, just because bald is sexy. (I'm getting sexier by the minute.)

But wasn't Mike balder than Joel? I'm confused. No matter. I'm balder than both, and I agree with David.

― Brian MacDonald, Monday, 14 January 2002 01:00 (seventeen years ago) Permalink

I'm watching Rocketship X-M right now and it looks as if Joel is balder than Mike. I agree wholeheartedly that BALD(ING) = SEXXXY (my real and imaginary boyfriends are testament to this) but Joel really isn't bald enough to be sexy-bald.

― Michael Daddino, Monday, 14 January 2002 01:00 (seventeen years ago) Permalink

grr, watch it daddino.

― ethan, Monday, 14 January 2002 01:00 (seventeen years ago) Permalink

Le huh?

― Michael Daddino, Monday, 14 January 2002 01:00 (seventeen years ago) Permalink

Let me second Ned's Mike Nelson's Movie Megacheese rec. Even if you don't like or are not familiar with MST3K it is an extrodinarily funny take on a lot of overblown movies of the 80s and 90s.

― Nicole, Tuesday, 15 January 2002 01:00 (seventeen years ago) Permalink

Had you gotten that job I mentioned, David, you'd have been laid off about five months ago. So I did you a favor by being a hopeless slacker.

I think that my slight preference for Joel has something to do with a sense that the guy's a bit . . . off, where Mike is merely charming and funny.

― Colin Meeder, Tuesday, 15 January 2002 01:00 (seventeen years ago) Permalink

Merely? I wouldn't go that far, though he certainly projects more immediate affability. But every so often he comes out with something or takes on a role that makes you a bit nervous. Thus, when he wigged out about his old temp job in one episode, and in Time Chasers where he played his drunk angry brother or cousin, I forget which. Sure, it's a role, but he inhabited them rather well. ;-)

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 15 January 2002 01:00 (seventeen years ago) Permalink

Sampo once remarked that in interview, one can sense that there's something very dark and private about Mike just percolating below the surface, and that's colored my impression of him ever since. One thing to remember: "I suffer from excruciating headaches that dozens of neurologists have tried unsuccessfully to treat. I think I might be possessed."

― Michael Daddino, Tuesday, 15 January 2002 01:00 (seventeen years ago) Permalink

I appreciate the fact that both Mike and Bridget are very private about their home life, but from the sound of it from some of Bridget's comments it's a very happy family, lots of singing and nuttiness and fun with their kids. A good reminder that the show was, after all, just a performance.

But yes, Mike has the angst in there somewhere. He just tempers it very beautifully -- thus his legendary turn as Morrissey.

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 15 January 2002 01:00 (seventeen years ago) Permalink

Fair enough -- Mike probably *is* a churning cauldren of angst. But I think he (and his rage) are probrably more based in reality, where Joel strikes me as more otherworldly. Which I prefer (slightly, only ever so slightly) in humor.

― Colin Meeder, Thursday, 17 January 2002 01:00 (seventeen years ago) Permalink

one year passes...

Oh, about time for a revival (thanks in part to a recent link from Mike D.). Actually, there were a number of episodes I didn't have, mostly from the sixth season, but my Seattle trip has given me the chance to dub a lot of those from Brian's collection, yay me. Plus I finally have Daddy-O and Fugitive Alien, that took long enough!

To add to the book recommendations -- Mike N.'s general essay book Mind Over Matters is another fine read (the TV essay alone is some kinda genius, the mock 19th century novel even more so), while I very much liked Kevin Murphy's A Year at the Movies. Chris Piuma mentioned he felt it was fairly Joe Queenan-like and therefore not as distinct as it could be, but I think it was handled very well and worked as both microstudy of the moviegoing experience and general reflection. Certainly any of the ILF/film-going hounds on this board should consider reading/borrowing a copy, at least. Then there's Mike's new novel Death Rat, which I really need to order next month...

And praise to all the other castmembers doing things and the continual rolling out of more DVDs, though apparently Rhino says they've exhausted what they have the rights to right now and are looking into securing more, hopefully...

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 25 May 2003 15:08 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

...although a quick check of the SatNews link sez there's some sort of further DVD thing coming out later this year, hm! Good thing to know. Also, anyone in Minneapolis can go to a writing workshop taught by Mary Jo Pehl next month, which I think would be great (I'm an unabashed fan of hers but she seems to really grate for a lot of MSTies...).

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 25 May 2003 15:11 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

is this ever shown in the UK?

― mark s (mark s), Sunday, 25 May 2003 15:12 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

It may still be on the Sci-Fi Channel UK, but your best bet is to go on S0ulS33k and download entire episodes (which are about 700MB a pop, FWIW).

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Sunday, 25 May 2003 15:16 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

I've never come across it here, Mark - but I have never had the Sci-Fi Channel.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Sunday, 25 May 2003 15:21 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

It was certainly on (late night) on the Sci-Fi channel a couple of years ago.

― N. (nickdastoor), Sunday, 25 May 2003 15:24 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Michael, I kiss you! I had no idea there were mst3k episodes on soulseek.

― Nicole (Nicole), Sunday, 25 May 2003 15:34 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Yeah, that sounds great, rah Mike! Nicole, I might be able to help with dubbing too though I still need a second VCR, but also please drop me a line about another possible source...

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 25 May 2003 15:52 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

FYI, Best Brains Inc. has its own little shop with some non-Rhino treasures. I highly recommend "Mr. B's Lost Shorts" which has the hands-down best short, "Mr. B Natural" - you know, the one with the ridiculously perky, questionably-gendered Neverland shill for Conn brass instruments.

"Bad touch."
"Does this mean I like guys now?"
"I feel ill."
"Spanking time!"

http://www.mst3kinfo.com/satnews/catalog/Basement.htm
http://www.mst3kinfo.com/daddyo/images/mrb5.JPG

― Ernest P. (ernestp), Sunday, 25 May 2003 15:58 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

It is a thing of beauty, that particular short. And chilling horror. Yeah, there are two short comps that are on DVD, but neither contain that gem. It's possible this thing Rhino is promising is some sort of basement-clearing compilation of all the various video oddities that have surfaced from Best Brains -- the second Poopie tape (the first is a DVD bonus with Manos, the scrapbook, more shorts like that, etc. But we'll see, I guess! (My other irrational hope is a full-on special edition of the movie...)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 25 May 2003 16:02 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Michael, I kiss you! I had no idea there were mst3k episodes on soulseek.

Keep in mind that the fidelity on these files is sometimes suprisingly good considering the size, and sometimes fairly bad, but even the worst files usually have more than enough detail for a person to get what's going on.

I'm hoping the DVD is a Santa Claus vs. The Martians/Santa Claus double fun pak. It is going to come out late 2003, after all.

Later I may want to say something about MST3K in light of Mark's venting on Zappa, but right now I want to go to Central Park and maybe the Malevich exhibit before it starts raining (again).

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Sunday, 25 May 2003 16:33 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

I SERIOUSLY NEED TO BUY SIDEHACKERS. I HAVE NOT SEEN IT SINCE HIGH SCHOOL

goooch....goooch....

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Sunday, 25 May 2003 19:29 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

the tuba is like a fat jolly king! knew your father I did!

This show got me through middle school.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Sunday, 25 May 2003 19:31 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Live fast, die young, leave a fat, bloated, ugly corpse.

― luna (luna.c), Sunday, 25 May 2003 19:38 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

"That squares my breasts!"

― Nate Patrin (Nate Patrin), Sunday, 25 May 2003 20:40 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

I've only seen about four episodes of MST3K, but "Mr. B Natural" has got to be one of the funniest shorts ever! "We're white, we're white, we're really, really white..." I obv need to get a-downloadin on this show.

― Vinnie (vprabhu), Sunday, 25 May 2003 23:19 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

It is good to see the newer folks here who have the love. :-)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 26 May 2003 00:08 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

I've only seen a couple but I didn't get the point. Why not just rent the original B-movies and come up with your own sarcastic comments?

― sundar subramanian (sundar), Monday, 26 May 2003 00:32 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Well...that is the point, kinda. The AOL MSTies used to monkey-pile together in a chat room, and riff like mad to cable TV movies or rented VHS tapes. I remember Congo and A Star Is Born being particularly good for that.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Monday, 26 May 2003 00:48 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

I have no TV. I have no VCR. But I do have about 40 tapes of MST3K, well over 100 episodes, mostly Seasons 2-7, with a few 1s and KTMAs.

― Chris P (Chris P), Monday, 26 May 2003 00:52 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

I'll admit mst3ks were like bad movies with training wheels for me (and yeah, I love watching b-movies with friends now), but the best episodes still leave me crying.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Monday, 26 May 2003 01:09 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Hard core MST3K-ites with lots of bandwidth should check out the Digital Archive Project which is where I'm getting most of my episodes from.

― Chris Barrus (Chris Barrus), Monday, 26 May 2003 06:09 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

blimey chris, that site's enough to make a young man run out and get broadband and a huge eff-off new harddrive...

(current space on home PC C-Drive abt 700meg, it are old and small)

― CarsmileSteve (CarsmileSteve), Monday, 26 May 2003 10:11 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

did I mention that I saw them live w/Joel at the Uptown Theater, one of the TWO PERFORMANCES EVER w/him? well I did < /gloat>

"Santa Claus, you're coming with us!"
"You're coming to town."

― M Matos (M Matos), Monday, 26 May 2003 14:15 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Well, I do have broadband and a sum total of 150GB of storage over a couple of drives. My consumption rate of DVD-R blanks is pretty scary.

― Chris Barrus (Chris Barrus), Monday, 26 May 2003 23:57 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

I've only seen a couple but I didn't get the point. Why not just rent the original B-movies and come up with your own sarcastic comments?

Because I'm not funny. And neither are you.

― NA. (Nick A.), Tuesday, 27 May 2003 15:31 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

"nipple nipple tweak tweak AWAY!"

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 27 May 2003 15:39 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

sundar OTM. funny at times, but c'mon snapping along to a movie is way up there on the annoyometer.

― g--ff c-nn-n (gcannon), Tuesday, 27 May 2003 15:44 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

And to explain the 'point' a bit more to the unbelievers Sundar and Gff, or at least note the method -- the Best Brains put in a lot of effort and practice over time to make what seemed like a casual delivery of comments done on the spot be just that rather than the intensively scripted effort it really was. When they're firing on four cylinders at their best, it's a marvel.

Fave all time moment ever, from any episode -- this snippet from Santa Claus Conquers the Martians, delivered and timed JUST RIGHT:

MARTIAN: "What soft, and round, and you put it on the end of a stick --"

SERVO: "An elf?"

MARTIAN: "-- and green?"

SERVO: "Oh, a DEAD elf."

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 27 May 2003 15:47 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

"It's not funny when other people do it" is one argument, but "do it yourself" is silly. Why watch a movie at all, then, when you could make your own? Because that's what people do.

― Tep (ktepi), Tuesday, 27 May 2003 15:51 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Someone should invent MST3K glasses with the robots printed on the bottoms of the lenses for people to wear to movies, except that it would be unnecessary, since the robots are already built into the cognitive and aesthetic faculties of an entire culture. MST3K assumes its audienes are so impotent that they can't enjoy even "bad" films first hand but can derive pleasure from them only over the shoulders of robots.

Chris Fujiwara (sounding a little prim), here.

― g--ff c-nn-n (gcannon), Tuesday, 27 May 2003 15:53 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

(I don't endorse his opinion fully, btw, but hey dissent and all.)

― g--ff c-nn-n (gcannon), Tuesday, 27 May 2003 15:54 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Argh, that article. Did I ever want to smack up Fujiwara after reading it.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 27 May 2003 15:55 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Fujiwara = fun hata x10,000,000

― Nicole (Nicole), Tuesday, 27 May 2003 15:56 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

(For instance -- his complaint about 'why didn't they get the really big trashy movies to rip down' falls flat when you realize the economics of what the Brains had the rights and access to in their various TV deals. It wasn't like they could pick anything and everything, and I'm annoyed with Fujiwara essentially ignoring the realities of TV production.)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 27 May 2003 15:58 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Add me to the "traded for all the tapes" club. I even bought a separate bookshelf just to display them.

Gamera Vs. Guiron is one of my most underrated favorites, with the Gamera song, Cornjob and the Zabriske Point ref. The "Hello/Thank You" scene with the mothers is my #1 funniest MST3K moment.

― zaxxon25 (zaxxon25), Tuesday, 27 May 2003 15:58 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

The first time I saw MST - sittng around livingroom with roommate, TV playing in background.

We both idly comment on stupidity of movie showing and the commentary from Joel + robots. Go back to reading book/half-watching.

15 minutes later - 'actually, this isn't that bad'

10 minutes later - we have both decided this is the best show ever created

― H (Heruy), Tuesday, 27 May 2003 15:58 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

I even bought a separate bookshelf just to display them.

I salute you!

I am still in fact missing Gamera Vs. Guiron, though happily I've seen it a number of times -- that along with Gamera Vs. Gaos, It Conquered the World and four season six entries are now the only things I'm missing from season two on...

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 27 May 2003 16:00 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

his hate is more fun than the show!

― g--ff c-nn-n (gcannon), Tuesday, 27 May 2003 16:08 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Not really. It's just reading a tedious man moan in a tedious manner.

― Nicole (Nicole), Tuesday, 27 May 2003 16:14 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

circle the wagons!

ignoring realities of production? tedium?

― g--ff c-nn-n (gcannon), Tuesday, 27 May 2003 16:20 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

I really don't understand why this is being approached as some sort of argument to be won. A number of people here like and get the show, some don't. Big deal.

― Nicole (Nicole), Tuesday, 27 May 2003 16:24 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

I think the argument lies in the needle of "and get" there...

I think Fujiwara scores some good points, but yes of course we must give no quarter to a fun-hater.

The show made me laugh but I can't love it.

― g--ff c-nn-n (gcannon), Tuesday, 27 May 2003 16:28 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

So don't. Why's it worth anyone's time to give a shit beyond that?

― Tep (ktepi), Tuesday, 27 May 2003 16:34 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

The article is very, very flawed. I would go into detail about why but then I would have to read it again, and I have no interest in doing so.

― Chris P (Chris P), Tuesday, 27 May 2003 16:36 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

The biggest problem I have with it is that it falls into the "any opinion or reaction I have must somehow express a greater aesthetic" camp for which I have unending disdain and contempt. There are six paragraphs before MST3K is even mentioned. Fuck that. Like something or don't, and have the balls to ignore the increasingly-common taboo against disliking something simply because it isn't your thing or you think it's crap.

― Tep (ktepi), Tuesday, 27 May 2003 16:41 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

"he died as he lived: with jelly on his face."

― jess (dubplatestyle), Tuesday, 27 May 2003 16:41 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

You're a wise man, Mr. Piumaman.

(...when -- you want -- the flavor of bacon -- in a dip.)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 27 May 2003 16:45 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

why? oh, you know, conversation.

The thing I like abt Fujiwara's thing (and yes I do realize what a humorless piece of writing it is [but bits make me laugh out loud so eh]) is that it's about giving a shit, about not letting something slide. He thinks the whole enterprise was deeply, offensively unfunny, and that seemed like a rare and valuable enough er perspective w/r/t ile & mst.

I have a strong affection for cranks and fuddy-duddies.

― g--ff c-nn-n (gcannon), Tuesday, 27 May 2003 16:47 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

If I stopped to rail about everything I found unfunny (or unmoving, I guess would be the word for dramas), I wouldn't have time to watch anything. The world is a big place. Entertainment media offer enormous amounts of things, especially if you speak English. I don't have time to stop to stomp the roses, and no patience for those who revel in it.

Now, railing about MST3K in its own style -- responding to it and heckling it -- that could be clever enough to be worth the time.

― Tep (ktepi), Tuesday, 27 May 2003 16:58 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

And when they *did* do that, as happened with the Little Golden Statuette thingummybob, it actually undercut a lot of the claims MST3K could make to somehow being a subversive force battling against whiteelephantHollywoodbullshit because the special arguably ended up being essentially more hype for the Oscars and the Hollywood machine.

IIRC, the central reason for Fujiwara's groaning and moaning about MST3K was due to the lack of respect they were giving to these oddly wonderful artifacts suitable for voyeuristic delectation. (Fujiwara once wrote up a list of the best movies of 1953 and included *Robot Monster* as his tenth best -- and seriously, the only reason I can imagine ANYONE doing that is to prove some banal point about hegemony and the canon blah blah blah FIGHT THE POWER!!! etc. As bad movies go, there are so many better ones, like *Monster A Go-Go* for starters) This is baloney on many levels. "MST3K involves people making fun of bad movies" is a good shorthand description of the show, but only that: most of the time, Best Brains aren't "making fun" of the movies (most of the riffs' humor are totally incidental to the badness of the film), nor are most of the films they riff on aren't really *bad.* A good chunk are, most are just utterly indifferent, and few are pretty good for what they are (say, the Lassie or Godzilla movies.), and a movie's badness is no guarantee of an episode's goodness. (I think *Monster A Go-Go* is probably the worst thing I've ever seen and most of the time BB was just struggling to say something, anything about it.) Most of the time I attribute BB's claims to a movie being bad as just a bunch of hyperbole for comedy's sake. (On the other hand, if *I* had to watch most movies with the kind of attentiveness *they* did in creating MST3K, I think most films would probably come up short, anyway.)

And ANYWAY, I knew a lot of hardcore MSTies who argued the 'essence' of the show wasn't the riffing but the relationship between Joel/Mike, the 'bots and the Mads.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Tuesday, 27 May 2003 17:05 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

"The Girl With Golden Boots" was a horrible movie, though. And DON'T GET ME STARTED on "Manos"!

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 27 May 2003 17:14 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Woman: What about us?
Servo: I give not a crap for thee.

― luna (luna.c), Tuesday, 27 May 2003 18:05 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

And ANYWAY, I knew a lot of hardcore MSTies who argued the 'essence' of the show wasn't the riffing but the relationship between Joel/Mike, the 'bots and the Mads.

Well, yes. This is why I stopped watching during the Sci-Fi years.

― Chris P (Chris P), Tuesday, 27 May 2003 18:08 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Servo: "Objection! The use of the term 'nipple' is imprecise, incorrect, and misleading -- though, I admit, mildly provocative..."

― luna (luna.c), Tuesday, 27 May 2003 18:09 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Acting is easy when you can read your lines!

― Chris P (Chris P), Tuesday, 27 May 2003 18:10 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

"he died as he lived: with jelly on his face."

"He died as he lived: Loving his work."

― Chris P (Chris P), Tuesday, 27 May 2003 18:10 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Y'all started this by making me think about it and these lines have been in my head all weekend. However, I won't keep posting them, but will leave you with this last one, which I actually say all the time:

"That's 40 pounds of butt in 30-pound butt capacity pants!" - Mike

― luna (luna.c), Tuesday, 27 May 2003 18:20 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Oh lord, that episode.

"That may not really be Chinese."

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 27 May 2003 19:16 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

"Dill is a GOOD spice! I will NOT have it MALIGNED!"

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Tuesday, 27 May 2003 19:55 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

"Adolf Hitler, Knight Rider."

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 27 May 2003 19:58 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

The best episode is still Riding with Death. "Well, I'll be right Ben." Guarantee, you say that to me, I die laughing.

― Ally (mlescaut), Tuesday, 27 May 2003 20:06 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

"It is I! TURKEY VOLUME GUESSING MAN!"

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 27 May 2003 20:10 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Just to clarify

Tep: I don't think it's the same at all (effort of making a film vs effort of making comments while watching films). It's just that renting B-movies with friends was already a popular pastime with people I knew before I ever knew of this show. MST3K seemed less fun than doing it in 'real time' with your own friends if that's what you want to do. I didn't think it added much to the experience or to the movies. And I guess I just didn't think they were that much funnier anyway (e.g. the "dead elf" line Ned quoted).

― sundar subramanian (sundar), Tuesday, 27 May 2003 20:28 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

"Jailbait for Gamera!" still cracks me up.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 27 May 2003 20:31 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

MITCHELL!

― M Matos (M Matos), Tuesday, 27 May 2003 20:34 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

mitchell roxx u r all john saxon

― jess (dubplatestyle), Tuesday, 27 May 2003 20:41 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

While I'd agree that the host segments for the Sci-Fi era weren't up to Dr. F & Frank quality, they did some incredible shows for those three years. Riding With Death holds up incredibly well, as does Pumaman and Time Chasers. Not only are the movies of high MST3K quality, the riffs are up there as well. Plus add in Final Sacrifice's Canadian jabs, Touch of Satan's 70's riffs and walnut jokes and the wonderful dance sequence in Mole People ... great moments all of them.

And their parody of Behind the Music with "The Band That Played California Lady" in Track of the Moon Beast is one of their best skits.

― zaxxon25 (zaxxon25), Tuesday, 27 May 2003 20:41 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

MST3K seemed less fun than doing it in 'real time' with your own friends if that's what you want to do.

I think that's a fair thing to say. I remember when us AOL MSTies would get together and riff on Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band or A Star Is Born, what would happen *was* more hilarious than the average episode. But one might argue that by watching Best Brains riff on, say, The Incredible Melting Man, the pleasures we might get personally or collectively riffing on the movie would not only get partially replaced by the pleasure of THEM doing it, but also by the pleasures of indulging in the shared culture of MSTiedom -- learning and trading BB's lines, say, much like we're doing here.

An aside: I suppose someone like Fujiwara might say YOU SEE YOU SEE YOU'RE GIVING UP THE FRUITS OF YOUR OWN CRITICAL ACTIVITY FOR THAT OF OTHERS though I'm not sure how different this is from, say, trading lines of Horace or Milton, or using something Benjamin or Aristotle once said for your own nerfarious purposes. Or how it prevents us from "playing the home game," if you will.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Tuesday, 27 May 2003 21:09 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Mike: "This is how much pure cocaine you would need to watch this picture."

This lays me out... also another thing my friends and I say - "this is how much pure cocaine I would need to __________"

― luna (luna.c), Tuesday, 27 May 2003 21:11 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

And of course, as Nicole and I once tormented N. with...

Slab Bulkhead
Fridge Largemeat
Punt Speedchunk
Butch Deadlift
Bold Bigflank
Splint Chesthair
Flint Ironstag
Bolt Vanderhuge
Thick McRunfast
Blast Hardcheese
Buff Drinklots
Trunk Slamchest
Fist Rockbone
Stump Beefknob
Smash Lampjaw
Punch Rockgroin
Buck Plankchest
Stump Chunkman
Dirk Hardpec
Rip Steakface
Slate Slabrock
Crud Bonemeal
Brick Hardmeat
Whip Slagcheek
Punch Side-iron
Gristle McThornbody
Slate Fistcrunch
Buff Hardback
Bob Johnson (no, wait...)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 27 May 2003 21:12 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

This is a VERY funny show sometimes, but I don't like it when they choose a reasonably good movie and then spent 45 minutes struggling to find something to make fun of.

― amateurist (amateurist), Tuesday, 27 May 2003 21:14 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Which ones were reasonably good, though? Out of how many? Certainly some were more generic than just plain awful, as Mike D. noted, but in those genres were plenty of examples of stupidity to trash.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 27 May 2003 21:17 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Rutherford B. Hayes was born humbly to his own son, Rutherford B. Hayes Jr., in Delaware (while it was still Ohio) sometime after the French Revolution. Rejecting a career as a professional speller, he was admitted to the bar in 1815, though he did not drink lustfully from it. Serving heroically in the Civil War, Hayes admitted later that it was in the army he first tasted human flesh. In 1876, Hayes beat Bill Tilden in a three-set quarterfinal at Flushing Meadows which caused the Electrical College to declare him President of the United States.

Here are a few highlights of the administration of Rutherford B. Hayes: In 1877, Reconstruction ended, and Jacques Derrida was named Secretary of Linguistics, and the era of Deconstruction began and continues to this day. Thomas Edison invented the pornograph, beginning the Age of Pornography. President Hayes then passed the Hayes Act, started the Hayes Office, won fame as an American lyric tenor, and became Archibishop of New York in 1919.

After he retired, he founded the original ZZ Top with James Garfield and Chester Allen Arthur; shocked the world with a publicity stunt when, on a bet, he made a tent out of the underwear of William Howard Taft and lived inside for a full year; and later, Hayes retired from the stage and did a series of memorable character parts in Hollywood. Who can forget the time he was slapped by Jacqueline Bisset in the 1971 Universal movie, Airport ? And then, after inventing ringworm, Hayes died. His last words were: "I have only one life to live -- let me live it as a blond!"

THE END.

Oh, and his blood type was AB.

THE END.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Tuesday, 27 May 2003 21:40 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

I've already ceded the Godzilla movies and The Painted Hills; Space Travellers is OK, if static; maybe the Hercules ones and the Russo-Finnish ones because they've got built-in camp value; This Island Earth of course; Bride of the Monster and It Conquered the World have some bravura performances; I actually find The Deadly Bees pretty suspenseful (well, *I* was faked out) and the Hamlet they chose is hardly the best version but I get teary in the end.

Not many *good* films, but it's not impossible to riff on a good movie: M Sampo once said that La Jetée and The Wizard of Oz would be pretty prime experiences. But in general good movies are too engaging -- too distracting -- to use for MSTing.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Tuesday, 27 May 2003 21:56 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

My only regret is that Hollywood never made a movie where Joe Don Baker and John Phillip Law got to lez it up.

― Nicole (Nicole), Tuesday, 27 May 2003 23:31 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

That image is enough for me to consider gouging out my brain and squashing it flat. Well done.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 27 May 2003 23:34 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Cheating is bad.

Richard Basehart is good.

Would anyone like some soup?

― zaxxon25 (zaxxon25), Wednesday, 28 May 2003 17:48 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

three months pass...

A new revive just because of my new favorite exchange dredged up from my memory banks, from The Sidehackers:

ROMMEL'S BUDDY (extolling the married life): "Listen, have you ever seen me so happy?"

JOEL (grouchily deadpan): "Yeah, but you didn't know I was watching."

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 26 September 2003 00:10 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Does this come on TV anymore? (Reruns, obv.)

― NA (Nick A.), Friday, 26 September 2003 11:59 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

I was going to try to start a Joel vs Mike FITE but then I remembered the audience and realized it would go nowhere.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 26 September 2003 12:07 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Why? Too many old-schoolers? I would probably take Mike's side, if just to make things interesting.

― NA (Nick A.), Friday, 26 September 2003 12:10 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Too many people think that the fight is stupid (which is also my opinion).

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 26 September 2003 12:21 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

sidehackin is the thing to do, and it doesn't hurt to have a low IQ..

― daria g (daria g), Friday, 26 September 2003 15:04 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Too many people think that the fight is stupid (which is also my opinion).

Yes. People who are kneejerk anti-Mike really annoy me.

― Nicolars (Nicole), Friday, 26 September 2003 15:37 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

My roommate and I recently watched "The Sword And The Dragon" again, and while it's not nearly as good a Finnish epic movie (or episode, in general) as the Sampo movie (whose name completely eludes me right now) it DOES have one of the best skits they ever did, "A Joke: A Film by August Strindberg". Which would be impossible to recreate in text so I won't even bother trying.

― Chris P (Chris P), Friday, 26 September 2003 15:49 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

it's not nearly as good a Finnish epic movie

I actually think it's the best one in terms of sheer budget-on-screen spectacle -- over the top and overacted at points but beats the fuck out of just about every sort of 'epic fantasy' movie after it (in the non-sci fi trappings sense) until recent days.

the Sampo movie

THE DAY THE EARTH FROZE

"Oh yah, I remember that day..." < / Minnesota grandma twang >

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 26 September 2003 15:53 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Oh yes yes yes. And yes "TS&TD" has really insanely high production values (what, did they just find some hideously deformed guy to play the windblowing imp, or is that actually a phenomenal makeup job?) but the plot is so arbitrary and pointless. "TDTEF" invests its plot with a bit more motivation and reason.

― Chris P (Chris P), Friday, 26 September 2003 15:56 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Does this come on TV anymore? (Reruns, obv.)

Yes, Sci-Fi Channel episodes are still rerun on Saturday mornings for the time being. Catch them while you can!

"TDTEF" invests its plot with a bit more motivation and reason.

The minor fact that it's based on the Finnish national epic the Kalevala doesn't hurt (and believe it or not, that whole joke about the sampo is straight from the source tales in a way -- nobody really DOES know what a sampo is!).

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 26 September 2003 15:58 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Is this the program with the garish puppets on a spaceship?

― David. (Cozen), Friday, 26 September 2003 16:22 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

That's "Thunderbolts".

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 26 September 2003 16:23 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

I think this is the thing I was thinking of. Was there a movie of this or something? You all seem to be talking like it was a show. And in the opening scene a hole blows open in the bottom of the spaceship and one of the robots sits in it and plugs it? What a rubbish film.

― David. (Cozen), Friday, 26 September 2003 16:25 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

It was a show, there was also a movie. You are deluded re: its quality, but I love you. Go here: http://www.mst3kinfo.com -- and learn wisdom.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 26 September 2003 16:32 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

I don't believe I've ever imagined the possibility of someone who'd seen the movie without knowing about the tv show. Hunh.

The movie is about as funny as an average episode, but was designed to be seen in the theaters (which is to say, to be seen with a big group of people). The two times I saw it in the theater, it worked very well. (But yeah, the sketches from the movie aren't all that classic, and the single-camera approach of the TV show just works soooo much better... still, it was nice to see them have a modest budget for once.)

― Chris P (Chris P), Friday, 26 September 2003 16:39 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

I saw the movie. Did they cut bits of "this island earth"? It seemed like they did.

― jel -- (jel), Friday, 26 September 2003 16:49 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

My absolute favorite was the one sketch where they were doing foley artist sound effects. Buffalo coming over a hill: Put a bunch of hamsters in a cardboard box and shake. Water buffalo?: Just add some milk!

Can anyone ID this episode for me? Sadly, my cable company has some malevolent policy of not providing the sci-fi channel. :-(

― Dale the Titled (cprek), Friday, 26 September 2003 16:52 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Jel: Yes they did.

― Chris P (Chris P), Friday, 26 September 2003 17:02 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Dale: IIRC that's Cave Dwellers, with everyone's favorite Miles O'Keefe. (It was a Comedy Central episode as well, but it's been released on VHS and DVD.)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 26 September 2003 17:12 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Thanks!

― Dale the Titled (cprek), Friday, 26 September 2003 17:26 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

And what the hey, a recent Mike interview.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 27 September 2003 15:09 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

we were just watching the '97 blockbuster special the other night.

During a preview of Contact "From The Producer of Forrest Gump" appears on the screen.

Mike: "So you can't say we didn't warn you."

― zaxxon25 (zaxxon25), Saturday, 27 September 2003 21:49 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Aw, man, on the list of things I wish I had actually taped, the Statuette special is up there.

― Chris P (Chris P), Saturday, 27 September 2003 22:09 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

I'm buying myself a little TV/VCR soon and my MST3K tapes are probably gonna be the first things to go in.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Saturday, 27 September 2003 22:12 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

three months pass...

OK, my girlfriend is a huge fan and I wanna get her one of the four DVD sets for her birthday. Which volume should I get?

Volume 1: Bloodlust, Catalina Caper, Creeping Terror, Skydivers
Volume 2: Angels Revenge, Cave Dwellers, Pod People, Shorts vol.1
Volume 3: Atomic Brain, Unearthly, Sidehackers, Shorts vol.2
Volume 4: Girl In Gold Boots, Hamlet, Overdrawn at Memory Bank, Space Mutiny

And I'm thinking of getting her "Manos" to boot...

― alex in montreal, Tuesday, 6 January 2004 01:14 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Funny you should say this as my copy of Volume 4 just arrived today! Oh glorious Space Mutiny, oh horrid Overdrawn, oh wretched Girl In Gold Boots, oh murky Hamlet, how I love thee.

As for which one, well, if she's a fan of the later seasons when Pearl was in charge, then definitely number 4 (and as it is I think all four of those episodes are among their finest). Volume 1 is mostly Mike as opposed to Joel (if that matters), who just does Catalina Caper, but that and Skydivers are both great, Creeping Terror not far off. But all that said, I'd go with volume 2 for starters -- a fantastic Mike episode, two of Joel's best and some of the best shorts they did. No Mr. B Natural though, which is a crime. (Volume 3 I'd get last -- good episodes but none that immediately standout as spectacular, a couple of the shorts aside).

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 6 January 2004 01:26 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Oh yes, and definitely get Manos for an individual one -- after that, either Mitchell, Eegah or Red Zone Cuba.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 6 January 2004 01:27 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

I got Vol. 4 for Xmas from my bf and I haven't seen any of these episodes yet. "Overdrawn" and "Hamlet" sound especially nice.

"Catalina Caper" is a must.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Tuesday, 6 January 2004 01:30 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

my sister bought me Mitchell for Christmas!

― M Matos (M Matos), Tuesday, 6 January 2004 01:30 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

and now that I have an iBook G4 to watch them on . . . [[rubs hands together, cackles gleefully]]

― M Matos (M Matos), Tuesday, 6 January 2004 01:31 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Volume 4, if just for "Space Mutiny". That one's hilarious. As for the show itself, absolutely, postitively CLASSIC. I doubt there's any other show I've spent as much time watching as MST3k, except for maybe the Simpsons.

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Tuesday, 6 January 2004 01:32 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

if just for "Space Mutiny". That one's hilarious.

Space Mutiny, fucking Space Mutiny. I have been present to see three or four board regulars see that for The First Time Ever and their glee was uncontrolled. My god, so bad, so wonderfully wonderfully bad. I think I'll watch that one first!

"Whaddaya got me, Rick Astley?"

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 6 January 2004 01:39 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

I especially love the scene in the "futuristic" night club. "She's presentin' like a mandrill!"

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Tuesday, 6 January 2004 01:41 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Anyway, as long as this has been revived -- anyone in SF should try and get to the Mike Nelson/Kevin Murphy/Bill Corbett symposium this Sunday at SF Sketchfest, while, in a moment of truly inspired, delicious madness, Mike is providing commentary to a rerelease of Reefer Madness! He's apparently supposed to be doing other commentaries for the company behind this, Legend Films.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 6 January 2004 01:43 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

(Actually the quote on my part was '...got FOR me, Rick Astley?' Makes more sense that way.)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 6 January 2004 01:44 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

The more I think about it the more I think that episode was their ultimate eighties riff/reference show.

"The death of Rick Springfield."

"Shake it Ralph Macchio!"

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 6 January 2004 01:48 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

I'm going to agree with Ned and say get Vol. 2. Pod People and Cave Dwellers are 'canonical' episodes, Angel's Revenge isn't as highly rated by the fans, but damnit I like it and the movie itself is a great 70's jigglefest camp. Plus, the shorts are pretty solid from what I remember.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Tuesday, 6 January 2004 01:59 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

The shorts on volume 2 include:

"The Home Economics Story"
"Junior Rodeo Daredevils"
"Body Care & Grooming"
"Cheating"
"A Date With Your Family"
"Why Study Industrial Arts?"
"Chicken of Tomorrow"

A fine selection (even if two of them unfortunately recur from episodes also on DVD).

Angel's Revenge is just insane, especially thanks to the 'special guest stars.' Jack Palance, Peter Lawford, Pat Buttram, Alan Hale, Jim Backus, Arthur Godfrey! What the fuck!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 6 January 2004 02:02 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

We've since watched "Space Mutiny" and "Overdrawn" -- "Space Mutiny" was kind of a let down and blah (the hula hoop scene was great, everything else was a snore) but "Overdrawn" was fantastic. I had read a lot about what a terrible movie it was, but if you ignore Standard Confusing And Arbitrary Sci-Fi Plot #54, the visual style and music were terrific and the acting was, you know, not painfully awful. And the jokes were great. Plus the sketches weren't nearly as dire as most of the Sci Fi era shows I've seen.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Saturday, 10 January 2004 19:23 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

"Space Mutiny" was kind of a let down and blah (the hula hoop scene was great, everything else was a snore)

You are dead to me.

"Overdrawn" was fantastic

You live again!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 10 January 2004 19:34 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

"Overdrawn" is HILARIOUS, but not as hilarious as "The Girl With Gold Boots".

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Saturday, 10 January 2004 20:30 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

I HAVE INTERFAAAAAAAAACED!

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Saturday, 10 January 2004 20:31 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

It's time for your dopple, Fingal.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Saturday, 10 January 2004 20:32 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

What is this?

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Saturday, 10 January 2004 20:35 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

I didn't want to bingle or bobble the Fingal dopple.

Dan is right about The Girl With Gold Boots just being plain nuts. I'm trying to dig up this brilliant picture from the film that was from a scene *cut* from the MST3K version of all things...

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 10 January 2004 20:37 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

We should have a MST FAP at EAT.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Saturday, 10 January 2004 20:38 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Okay, here -- I understand why it wasn't allowed in for time reasons, but this image:

http://www.jabootu.com/images/ggbundercover.JPG

(Stolen from Jabootu.com's brilliant review of the whole ridiculous thing.)

EAT, I'm afraid, does not excite my palate. But they do have tacos.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 10 January 2004 20:42 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

I love the editing mistake where dude teleports into the booth in the restaurant.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Saturday, 10 January 2004 21:09 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

"I'M BACK!"

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 10 January 2004 21:10 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

(Jabootu's take on that is worthy of note:

Suddenly, due to an apparent splice in the master print from which this video was taken, Buz magically appears at the table in the middle of the conversation. (This kind of stuff never happens when they transfer Martin Scorsese’s films to video.) )

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 10 January 2004 21:11 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

MY MIND! I USED TO HAVE A BEAUTIFUL MIND!

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Saturday, 10 January 2004 21:19 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

"Nice PANTS."

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 10 January 2004 21:29 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Final Justice was on Sci-Fi this morning.

"Hey Malta... GET A TREE!"

― jody (Jody Beth Rosen), Saturday, 10 January 2004 21:37 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Last one I watched was Squirm.

"oh come on, nobody's THAT Southern!"

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Saturday, 10 January 2004 21:40 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Snarf.

The final final ever TV broadcast of a MST episode is later this month -- The Screaming Skull of all things, but it does have that great Gumby short to go with it. Sci-Fi Channel decided not to renew the repeat contract alas, so after five years of a half-life the show will be permanently a tape/filetrade/DVD experience.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 10 January 2004 21:41 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

ohhh fuck! I should have been taping more! FUCK FUCK FUCKKKK! *cries*

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Saturday, 10 January 2004 21:47 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

karmically this is what I get for not being a dilligent enough MST fan. Fuck, I haven't even bought Side Hackers like I've been promising myself for ages. GOOCH!

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Saturday, 10 January 2004 21:48 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

TSK. Well, check the file trade networks as mentioned, pretty much everything is encoded now aside from the absolute earliest of the KTMAs.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 10 January 2004 21:48 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

this is awful! all i have is the boxsets and i feel so incomplete. :(

― Pablo Cruise (chaki), Saturday, 10 January 2004 22:11 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

COUGH(S**ls*ek)COUGHCOUGH(Ebay).

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Saturday, 10 January 2004 22:18 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

ebay?? hmmm....

― Pablo Cruise (chaki), Saturday, 10 January 2004 22:39 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

(Use "mst3k" in your ebay searches rather than "mystery science theater.")

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Saturday, 10 January 2004 22:55 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

"junior rodeo daredevils" is some kind of peak of human endeavor

― fiddo centington (dubplatestyle), Saturday, 10 January 2004 23:12 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

"next week...geriatric rodeo"

― fiddo centington (dubplatestyle), Saturday, 10 January 2004 23:12 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

"the home economics story" too.

"hey look, it's lou costello in drag."

― fiddo centington (dubplatestyle), Saturday, 10 January 2004 23:14 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

"Tool operator... tooooooool operatoooooor..."

― nate detritus (natedetritus), Saturday, 10 January 2004 23:15 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

My sisters were really nice to me and bought me bootleg tapes of four episodes, covering many of my favorites: Racket Girls, Village of the Giants, Girls' Town, and the Colossal Beast one with "Mr. B Natural" on it.

Rodeo Daredevils:
"You should see the boys with her at the dances."
CROW: "Yeah, they buck her off right away."

― Eric H. (Eric H.), Saturday, 10 January 2004 23:31 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Search: Creeping Terror's dance sequence ("here comes some juicy rump, a little more rump here, a little more rump there...") and their use of the lame music in the next skit for about nine hours or so.

Destroy: MST3K: The Movie. I'll take their claims that it basically halted their momentum cold at face value. And it's really not even a very funny episode. If it was in with the rest of the magnificent season six it would easily be the worst in the bunch.

― Eric H. (Eric H.), Saturday, 10 January 2004 23:33 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Search: San Francisco International, really one of my two or three favorite episodes ever...

"Ah yes, the opulently appointed San Francisco International"

"Ditch him at the gate."

"That bitch, I'm the hostage!"

"I made-for-TV love you."

"Meet the new boss."

"The parents of the Beatles!"

... and that magnificent run of jokes at the expense of the kid whose mom is trying to let him down gently.

Mom: I'm going to try to explain this to you again, Jimmie.
SERVO: You're a loser and we're sending you away.
Mom: It's just that sometimes married couples need to spend some time away.
SERVO: Apart from their kids, I mean.
Jimmie: You're going to get a divorce, aren't you?
SERVO: Yes, and I don't want custody.

I could go on all day with this episode.

― Eric H. (Eric H.), Saturday, 10 January 2004 23:38 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

"I'm going to miss my neo-Renaissance lifestyle...and my green jacket."

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Saturday, 10 January 2004 23:40 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

"...my WINDBREAKER." < / pedant >

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 11 January 2004 00:07 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Damn, yes, I knew that line was wrong.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Sunday, 11 January 2004 00:23 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

"junior rodeo daredevils" is some kind of peak of human endeavor

Old timer Billy Slater seems like he would be an unfortunate person to encounter.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 11 January 2004 00:33 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

I love you windbreaker. Do you love me?

Perhaps if we had a child.

Insert Tab A into B movie.

― Eric H. (Eric H.), Sunday, 11 January 2004 00:43 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

"Dig ME!"

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 11 January 2004 00:45 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

I realize now that this little riff session went on a bit longer...

Mom: I'm going to try to explain this to you again, Jimmie.
SERVO (as mom): You're a loser and we're sending you away.
Mom: It's just that sometimes married couples need to spend some time away.
SERVO (as mom): Apart from their kids, I mean.
Jimmie: You're going to get a divorce, aren't you?
SERVO (as mom): Yes, and I don't want custody.
Mom: Now you know that hasn't been decided yet.
CROW (as mom): Although because of you it's very likely.
Jimmie: Do we have to go now?
SERVO (as mom): You have to go now!

Also, another great line: "Here's your script. You'll be playing 'Black Woman on Plane'."

― Eric H. (Eric H.), Sunday, 11 January 2004 07:10 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

And Chris Fujiwara is so dead wrong. Just like Jonathan Rosenbaum was (sort of... his negative review of the MST3K movie wasn't exactly misguided, and he admitted to not being familiar with the show... but he still complained about the homo cracks which I grant were perhaps an overused crutch, but didn't strike me -- Mr. Touchy-Feely wrt Homophobia -- as anything to get hepped up about.)

― Eric H. (Eric H.), Sunday, 11 January 2004 07:13 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

When I was bored this week, I checked out "I Accuse My Parents!" which reminded me how much I love this show. I don't know if it's a 'classic' or not, but the reaccurring "It's my birthday!" and "I won an essay contest" jokes got me every time.

― NA (Nick A.), Sunday, 11 January 2004 14:40 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Wait, I want to hear more about this alleged homophobia on MST3K. I always assumed, by the way they handled it, that someone on staff was gay.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Sunday, 11 January 2004 17:25 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

I always thought in the later seasons it was Bill (certainly his character was meant to be gay insofar as he didn't actually have a body, but character does not equal actual person of course).

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 11 January 2004 17:32 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

I settled on Trace, but figured I was probably wrong. I mean, it could have been Paul, but that's hardly exciting!

― Casuistry (Chris P), Sunday, 11 January 2004 17:35 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Heh. But I like Paul. In the book Mary Jo mentions overhearing phone conversations with Paul as he pleads with a 'Debbie' over something, so who knows?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 11 January 2004 17:37 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Ooh, well, uh...Trace was/is married.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Sunday, 11 January 2004 17:38 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Was he trying to get more snack cakes?

― Casuistry (Chris P), Sunday, 11 January 2004 17:38 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

(I googled up a recent interview where Trace says he's not married but he does have a special lady.)

― Casuistry (Chris P), Sunday, 11 January 2004 17:39 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

I like how that makes it look like Trace got married to get more snack cakes.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 11 January 2004 17:40 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

All I'm saying is, god bless Canada.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Sunday, 11 January 2004 17:40 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

In any event, I never noticed any homophobia myself -- it was more like a sense of joking around with various social conventions of homosexuality (for instance, the concluding sketch of The Human Duplicators where Crow and Tom finally confess that they are robots, to Joel's lack of surprise [Tom: "But how did you know?" Joel: "It's MORE than a little obvious." -- which was almost exactly the conversation I had with a gay friend of mine who came out of the closet shortly before I starting watching the show!]).

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 11 January 2004 17:42 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Right, exactly -- that sort of thing (along with the way they teased out the lines in Frank and Forrester's relationship) made me think there was someone clued-in and sensitive. I can't really think of any offensive homophobic jokes.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Sunday, 11 January 2004 17:46 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

It goes back indirectly to the point I made at the start of this thread -- the crew there had a total loathing for bullshit, and that surely includes homophobia. And given that a good number of the performers are religious (Mike and Bridget are Christian, Kevin was raised Christian and has been a Buddhist for many years, Joel is religious as well though I don't recall his specific beliefs), it's all the more wonderful and appropriate.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 11 January 2004 17:49 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

are you guys serious? i love MST as much as anybody but making an emasculated, lisping gay caricature of any 'weak' charecter (the lab assistant in this island earth, for one example of many) usually seemed to take up half their jokes in any given episode

― diamond princess, Sunday, 11 January 2004 17:52 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

My sense of the jokes about that character was mostly because of his weenieness, surely.

(Oh, hi there Mr. Trife!)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 11 January 2004 17:57 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Trina, it's certainly there but I think you're overstating its frequency. Well, yeah.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Sunday, 11 January 2004 17:58 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Yeah, MST3K successful navigated the straits between "pansy" and "gay".

― Casuistry (Chris P), Sunday, 11 January 2004 17:59 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Also, in a number of cases they were clearly dealing with characters portrayed by the *films* as emasculated gay caricatures, etc. Thus for instance Mr. "I'm a Virgin" in The Pod People.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 11 January 2004 18:00 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Like I say above there were a few things that bugged me, like the lesbian jokes in Racket Girls (none of them were offensive in of themselves, but gawd, so many) and a few lines I can think of here and there but it's nothing I dwell on. Even Buffy is more troubling for crying out tears.

BTW, "fembot" and "space swish" are my most favorite catty insults EVER.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Sunday, 11 January 2004 18:03 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Chris, do you have any idea how much I love/loathe the term "snack cake" ?

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Sunday, 11 January 2004 18:05 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

SNNNACK. CHHAKE.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Sunday, 11 January 2004 18:06 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

No, I can honestly say that I had no idea that your emotions were so conflicted over this phrase.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Sunday, 11 January 2004 18:07 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

More evidence.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Sunday, 11 January 2004 18:09 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

The power of a Ding Dong. A Twinkie. God, snack cakes are rife with sensuality!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 11 January 2004 18:12 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Maple Creme Pies. Donut Sticks. Honey Buns. Banana Twins Cakes. Frosted Fudge Cakes. Cherry Cordials. Easter Brownies. Pumpkin Delights® Filled Cookies. Jelly Creme Pies.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Sunday, 11 January 2004 18:18 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

My bf has a strange hatred of the word "nosh", you guys should hang out, you'd never be able to eat anything between meals.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Sunday, 11 January 2004 18:20 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

I think Mike should visit Portland in late May like I am, then there would be fun. And we could all go to Powell's.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 11 January 2004 18:22 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Ned is coming to Portland solely for my KTMA episodes.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Sunday, 11 January 2004 18:30 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Why sure!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 11 January 2004 18:31 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Meanwhile, in a bit of happy news, all the MST3K content from the scifi.com website, including all the show descriptions from the various staff members, will be moving over to Satellite News in February. Woo!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 11 January 2004 18:34 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

To address the initial question... The show itself: classic. The legions of dorks who subsequently thought they were hip and clever for quipping during movies: dud.

― Prude (Prude), Sunday, 11 January 2004 18:44 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

"Good? He'th the BETHT!"

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Sunday, 11 January 2004 19:00 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Yes, that was a slam on the dorkiness of the film's stereotypical gay character, not a reflection of homophobia on the part of any of MST3K's creators. The only peeve I have is the sometimes too-obvious pointing-out of whenever two males are in even remotely close proximity of each other, usually accompanied by exaggerated scoffing by the 'bots.

I think Servo was, um... that word I no longer use but everyone applied to David Beckham... long before we coined the term. Don't know if that means Kevin Murphy was this rumored "gay one" on the staff. I remember way back when how Joel's sexuality came into question occasionally. In any case, I usually got the vibe that they were more riffing on people's fear of homosexuality than slamming gayness itself.

Still, even San Francisco International has that out-of-the-blue "Well, hell-O, I just have to sah-shay across the airport, I'll be back, bye!"

― Eric H. (Eric H.), Monday, 12 January 2004 02:34 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Don't know if that means Kevin Murphy was this rumored "gay one" on the staff.

As he's married as well, that would be an interesting situation.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 12 January 2004 02:35 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

... Mike?

― Eric H. (Eric H.), Monday, 12 January 2004 02:36 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

haha, Eric, I just really wanted to quote Pod People (the worst I'd accuse Mst of is painfully unfunny evils once Trace and Frank left). Cuz if "Hear The Engines Roll Now" got any more soul they would have had to order out for greens.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Monday, 12 January 2004 02:37 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

... Mike?

...is married to Bridget Jones.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 12 January 2004 02:38 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Cuz if "Hear The Engines Roll Now" got any more soul they would have had to order out for greens.

I absolutely loved it when Bob Fingerman quoted a hunk of the song in an issue of Minimum Wage. Beautiful stuff.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 12 January 2004 02:39 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

I know... actually I think no one on the staff is gay, even Mary Jo. Just remarkably cool.

― Eric H. (Eric H.), Monday, 12 January 2004 02:40 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

"It STINKS."

― Eric H. (Eric H.), Monday, 12 January 2004 02:41 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

"Morrissey songs on the radio!"

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 12 January 2004 02:41 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

"...what is this, white reggae?"

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 12 January 2004 02:41 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

She'll be yours, mind, soul and BODY.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Monday, 12 January 2004 02:42 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Trumpy, you can do STUPID things!

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Monday, 12 January 2004 02:43 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

he died as he lived, with his mouth wide open.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Monday, 12 January 2004 02:44 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

And of course what I believe was the first appearance of that well-used word:

"HUZZAH!"

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 12 January 2004 02:47 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

woah, I can't believe I've been thinking about all the crazy crap in that film but I forgot all about "HUZZAH!"

I did not forget the image of man exploring his territory however.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Monday, 12 January 2004 02:50 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Making fun of the Renaissance Festival = classic. Many drama students I knew worked there and, um... tended to take their character home with them too often.

― Eric H. (Eric H.), Monday, 12 January 2004 02:51 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

ARGH. I feel your pain, Eric -- my hatred for SCA/RenFesters resulted from having two roommates in UCLA days who were addicts. At first I sorta thought it was charming. Near the end, despite my open and happy addiction to Tolkien remaining strong, I realized when charming became something wrong and to be avoided. And ever since then, I have.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 12 January 2004 03:03 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Heh, meanwhile, here's a treasure of a remark on Space Munity from one of the user comments:

Still it was better than Pitch Black.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 12 January 2004 03:07 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

having watched Mitchell again recently, I think the greatest line ever is now "Word on the street is that you're a jerk."

― M Matos (M Matos), Monday, 12 January 2004 03:14 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Just pondering Coleman Francis, who gives Ed Wood a run I'm sure for having a moderately interesting vision (in Francis' case, masculinity and a sort of clueless nod to Hawksian group dynamics) and repeatedly shooting himself in the foot.

"Flag on the moon, how'd it get there?" is just as paradoxically telling and dunderheaded as "The horror. The horror."

― Eric H. (Eric H.), Monday, 12 January 2004 03:16 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

(MITCHELL x-post)

"Oh a spot in the shade!" (*crash*) "oop!"

― Eric H. (Eric H.), Monday, 12 January 2004 03:16 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

"I got soap, I got dog poopie!"

Don't get me started on the Coleman Francis films.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 12 January 2004 03:41 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

"Why is it that all the men I meet are married, gay, or being strangled by a giant octopus?"

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Monday, 12 January 2004 03:45 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

"The director's vision: lots of shots of things."

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 12 January 2004 03:46 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

"That squares my breasts!"

― nate detritus (natedetritus), Monday, 12 January 2004 04:03 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Such a good line you've said it twice!

"That squares my breasts!"

-- Nate Patrin (natepatrin550...), May 25th, 2003.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 12 January 2004 04:09 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

"you know, as an actor, merlon olsen really hadn't found his instrument yet."

― fiddo centington (dubplatestyle), Monday, 12 January 2004 04:14 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

"we're going to control the ghetto you and i, young man."

― fiddo centington (dubplatestyle), Monday, 12 January 2004 04:15 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

"cedar lattice: works every time!"

― fiddo centington (dubplatestyle), Monday, 12 January 2004 04:17 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

"WHAT are you doing, Mitchell?"

"Want it in a commemorative glass? They got Dick Butkus on 'em."

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 12 January 2004 04:18 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

"Yeah, well, for you beer is an entree."

― M Matos (M Matos), Monday, 12 January 2004 04:21 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

"Oh look, they're using the light rock instead of the grunge sound for this scene."

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Monday, 12 January 2004 04:29 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

"beer got a litle excited"
"that's okay, we can just cuddle"

― fiddo centington (dubplatestyle), Monday, 12 January 2004 04:31 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

"There won't be a soul around for miles!"
"I'm not bringing mine!"

― Sengai, Monday, 12 January 2004 04:38 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

"I reproduced asexually while I was out."

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 12 January 2004 04:50 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

"Mobsters laughin', really smilin', a man selling herion..."

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Monday, 12 January 2004 05:02 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

I've always wondered about that reference, what's the exact song they're riffing on?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 12 January 2004 05:03 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

"The director's vision: lots of shots of things."

Or: "Now here the director's beginning to lose control of his film. This is characteristic of many young directors: too many ideas. Or, in this case... none at all."

I use this one all the time.

― Eric H. (Eric H.), Monday, 12 January 2004 05:03 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Y'know. MST3K could use a "parsing" thread like the Christgau one.

― Eric H. (Eric H.), Monday, 12 January 2004 05:04 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

"Taster's Choice, the final chapter."

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 12 January 2004 05:04 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

I've always wondered about that reference, what's the exact song they're riffing on?

It's Chicago's "Saturday in the Park."

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Monday, 12 January 2004 05:05 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

"You said 'bowling ball' earlier -- what was that about?"

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Monday, 12 January 2004 05:05 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

"DON'T. EVER. STEP. ON. MY. LINES. KID."

― M Matos (M Matos), Monday, 12 January 2004 05:07 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

It's Chicago's "Saturday in the Park."

Thank you! One mystery less. :-)

"Buzz off."
"Huh?"
"Buzz off, HUH!"
"No you buzz off!"
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

(That exchange was also of course the source of the 'tonight on Crossfire' reference I used a little while ago on a Fiddo/Aja exchange.)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 12 January 2004 05:10 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

BABY OIL?!?!?! ARRRGGGHHHH!!!!!!!

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Monday, 12 January 2004 05:17 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

"...what would your momma say?"
"She'd say, 'He's not mine! You can't prove it!'"

"I dunno. You got an airbrush on ya?"

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 12 January 2004 05:18 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

"its a wet TEACHER contest"

― Pablo Cruise (chaki), Monday, 12 January 2004 05:30 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

"We've never heard such great disco."

"The whole building just lost on Price is Right."

"My period!"

― Eric H. (Eric H.), Monday, 12 January 2004 06:12 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

"We've never heard such great disco."

Ah, not quite -- it was the even better/more telling 'seen' rather than 'heard.'

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 12 January 2004 06:14 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Fuck. I'm the type to have my day ruined by a not-quite-right MST3K reference (of course, I'm probably ruined well into February from this thread)... good thing I'm minutes from bedtime.

― Eric H. (Eric H.), Monday, 12 January 2004 06:15 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Manos.
Hands of Fate.
That's all.

― Orbit (Orbit), Monday, 12 January 2004 06:15 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

"Do you have any idea how you were framin' back there?"

― Eric H. (Eric H.), Monday, 12 January 2004 06:16 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

"...the *haunting* Torgo theme."

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 12 January 2004 06:27 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

can anyone give me an episode ID for the following:

"Now let's get those clothes off!"

That line has haunted me for years, in a comic sort of way.

― Aaron A., Monday, 12 January 2004 06:45 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

"Now finish the job!"

― Casuistry (Chris P), Monday, 12 January 2004 07:19 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

"Oh look, they arrested Harlan Ellison!"
"Good."

― nate detritus (natedetritus), Monday, 12 January 2004 12:30 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

"reynolds wrap: keeps freshness in, can't keep mitchell out."

― fiddo centington (dubplatestyle), Monday, 12 January 2004 15:39 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

"I'll take Larry Czonka's breath away..."

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Monday, 12 January 2004 15:41 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

That episode is laden with almost too much goodness.

"Time to settle in with the Book of Mormon."

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 12 January 2004 16:37 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

I'm late for my ice dancing lessons.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Monday, 12 January 2004 22:44 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

"Joel...the human body."

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 13 January 2004 02:44 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

*singing* "Sixteen men on a dead Dodge Dart!"

― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Tuesday, 13 January 2004 03:05 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

I watched Manos yesterday. My favorite line was (and I'm doing this from memory): "Every shot of this movie looks like the last known photograph of someone."

― NA (Nick A.), Tuesday, 13 January 2004 14:44 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

One of my faves too, that one.

"It's the DEVIL and it's FUN!"

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 14 January 2004 02:40 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

A detailed report on that comedy thing Bill, Kevin and Mike were at. Sounds like it was a blast and a half (and it's always strange seeing photos of Bill without Brain Guy makeup).

News of Interest reported there:

Is it true that each writer had a "specialty" area, one for pop culture, one for sports, etc.? "Not really," said Bill, "although if we needed to know something about sports, we would go to Paul Schersten." Added Mike, "And if we needed to know something about obscure vaudevillian actors, we'd ask Frank. He was our 'go to guy' for vaudeville."

When asked if they had indeed heard from any angry actors or filmmakers, the inevitable shouting of "Joe Don Baker!" was heard from the audience. "We're not worried about Joe Don," replied Bill, "we can easily outrun him. Or should that be out-fast walk him?"

"I've got one thing to say to Joe Don," added Kevin, "Go ahead on." Kevin also mentioned that they had received an extremely angry letter from Gremlins director Joe Dante after they gave the MST treatment to Marooned, aka SPACE TRAVELLERS. "It's supposed to be some kind of monumentally epic tribute to Sixties space travel," said Mike. "Let me tell you something. It's not."

...

Questions were then taken from the audience. While nothing new was asked, there was one surreal moment when a woman angrily demanded to know why THE FINAL SACRIFICE was MSTed. It turned out she was Canadian, and actually liked the film. "Why?" asked Mike. "Because of its accurate portrayal of life in Canada?"

After the audience Q&A, the Sklar brothers wrapped things up by asking if there were any upcoming projects in the works. It turns out there are several. After the April 20th DVD release of Reefer Madness, Mike will be contributing audio commentary to the DVD of Carnival of Souls. Also, all three are in discussions to provide commentary for upcoming Three Stooges DVDs, and they're also all working together on a book about, naturally enough, the state of bad movies today.

Meantime, the Satellite News site sez a new DVD box set in March with Mike and Kevin both adding commentary. I liked Mike's brief bits on Vol. 4 so this could be fun. No word on what episodes in particular.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 17 January 2004 05:26 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

a new DVD box set in March with Mike and Kevin both adding commentary

So meta I might have to watch it in mute.

― Eric H. (Eric H.), Saturday, 17 January 2004 05:55 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

I dunno if they actually mean DVD-style commentary or the brief introductions that Mike gave on the previous set -- I sorta assume the latter.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 17 January 2004 06:00 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Hope "Hobgoblins" is on it. Or "Merlin's Shop of Mystical Wonders". I've always wanted to see "Attack of the Eye Creatures" on DVD as well.

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Saturday, 17 January 2004 06:11 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Something tells me this might be another exclusively Sci-Fi Channel box. I can't remember where I read it, but I seem to recall someone saying that basically all the Comedy Central episodes that had legal clearance to put out on home video have all been released already.(Can't imagine who would be sitting on the rights to some of those titles, though.)

― Eric H. (Eric H.), Saturday, 17 January 2004 06:13 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Well the thing with the Comedy Channel ones is that they had all been released by Rhino anyway on VHS, so in effect what happened was a porting over of everything (there's still one that hasn't been, The Gunfighter). It's likely though that indeed no more legal clearances have been/could be arranged -- and my further guess is that since MST3K has turned out to provide a reasonable enough profit for Rhino [they've been among the company's regular top selling DVDs for a couple of years now] that various rights holders could be holding out for more cash in some cases as well.

I have no problem with more SciFi era stuff, but a box covering the shortened season seven -- say Night of the Blood Beast, Deathstalker, Escape 2000 and Laserblast if it could only be four movies -- would be spiff.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 17 January 2004 06:21 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Anyway, info on the fifth box set is out, from mst3kinfo.com:

Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection Volume 5
We have more information about Volume 5 of Rhino Home Video's "Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection" series. The release date is March 9th. It will feature episodes 821- TIME CHASERS, 908- THE TOUCH OF SATAN, 1003- MERLIN'S SHOP OF MYSTICAL WONDERS and 1006- BOGGY CREEK II.

Special features on the set will include introductions by Mike Nelson (similar to those in the last set, but Mike tells us they will be somewhat longer), full-length interviews with Mike and Kevin Murphy, and the original trailer for "The Touch Of Satan."

Before you ask: Based on our conversations with our source at Rhino we don't think the contents of this list should be read as an indication that it's only Sci-Fi Channel episodes from this point on. Our source asked us which episodes fans would like to see next, and we referred him to the poll we conducted a couple of years ago, the result of which are posted HERE.

As soon as we know more about what's next from Rhino, we'll be sure to pass it on.

(In somewhat related news, the TV shows Freaks and Geeks and Invader Zim, both of which had MST vets working on them -- Josh, Trace and Joel on the first, Frank on the second -- are also coming to DVD.)

Also a reminder that the screening of The Screaming Skull coming up this Saturday morning is it, the final broadcast.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 25 January 2004 18:18 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Man I was very interested in that Chris Fujiwara article. I used to watch this show a lot and it was very funny. The Joel stuff was my favorite but the Mike stuff was not bad either. Pod People and Laserblast were particularly memorable. Haven't had a chance to watch it in years tho, except for the movie which I did not appreciate very much. But the article articulated some of the stuff that bugged me about the show. There is inherent smugness in using such easy targets- sort of Wierd Al style- and I hate the dumb-downedness of calling things bad just because they are cheap or "unrealistic" and that reinforces dull movie realism conventions. I think the point is especially well made when he criticizes the MST3K movie guide book for having a shallow plot-synopsis style. It reminds me of how I used to sneer at my brother for reading the Blockbuster Video movie guide- it had a two sentance synopsis, 1-4 star rating, that's it. I was like "Christ man you will never learn to appreciate a movie unless you know HOW and WHY it was made." Director's body of work, credits of the main craftspeople like the art director, cinematograper or scriptwriter, even schools they came from etc. Without that stuff sometimes taste in movies degenerates to a kind of high school jock attitude. I love John Waters and nobody had better tell me he's not an artist. Well, anyways MST3K is usually pretty good so I believe I need to get some more of it again.

― sucka (sucka), Sunday, 25 January 2004 21:37 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

But the article articulated some of the stuff that bugged me about the show. There is inherent smugness in using such easy targets

The biggest problem, however, is that HE wanted his own easy targets mocked without recourse to the realities of film licensing and TV broadcast, and the costs involved, which would have made it possible (and more than that -- the various cast members have spoken many times about how many different big budget/more modern idiocies they would have loved to have done). Which in turn makes him look like an uninformed twit.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 25 January 2004 21:47 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Seeing them do Battlefield earth would have been awesome.

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Sunday, 25 January 2004 22:01 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

:-)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 25 January 2004 22:02 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

So sad that this week MST3K officially goes off the airwaves for, one presumes, ever.

― Eric H. (Eric H.), Sunday, 25 January 2004 23:43 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Until Ned gets his own channel.

― NA (Nick A.), Monday, 26 January 2004 00:04 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

three weeks pass...

OK, so I downloaded the MST3K movie recently, because I thought it would be nice to have a digital copy, and it turns out it was a GERMAN version. In GERMAN. DUBBED. This is madness!

They did a pretty good job although I'm not sure I liked Gypsy's voice done with an actual female type voice.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Wednesday, 18 February 2004 06:34 (fifteen years ago) Permalink

Creative reinterpretation, sir.

A recent article by Mary Jo Pehl, short but funny. And Kevin Murphy's irregular pieces on NPR have been great!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 28 February 2004 22:00 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

two weeks pass...

Meanwhile, a striking and in-depth interview with Mike, nothing to do with MST3K and much more about himself and his beliefs and takes on things, which I find very valuable. He discusses his Christianity in detail, as well as a love for Paul Johnson's Modern Times (I remember reading that in high school at the behest of a history teacher who didn't agree with Johnson at all but wisely felt that it was good training to read and understand what other points of view are like), particular classical music recommendations and some interesting political conclusions. I have to say, it's interesting realizing more and more with time that, much like my apprecation of Tolkien, my own love for Mike's work certainly doesn't equate down the line with personal beliefs of his -- but that this doesn't diminish said love at all.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 18 March 2004 01:32 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

Christian apologists OK (I mean in theory, I haven't read any); Modern Times ew.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Thursday, 18 March 2004 01:47 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

i'm kinda disappointed he chose tom wolfe over hunter thompson.

― J.D. (Justyn Dillingham), Thursday, 18 March 2004 01:50 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

Modern Times ew.

It's been forever since I read it -- but it was certainly pretty crusty.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 18 March 2004 02:26 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

Not merely crusty, but I'm thinking his impossibly lazy stringing together of relativity and relativism...like, dude, no. That's so not how it works, OK? Don't even try.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Thursday, 18 March 2004 02:29 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

Oh really? Hilarious...but actually, yeah, I dimly remember something like that from the beginning of the book. Hm, how very grad school.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 18 March 2004 02:32 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

CLassic, but the dvd's are way overpriced

― kephm, Thursday, 18 March 2004 17:30 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

Y'know... what with Mike calling Casablanca his favorite film, I'm starting to wonder if maybe Fujiwara wasn't right after all.

― Eric H. (Eric H.), Thursday, 18 March 2004 22:51 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

That's just silly.

― El Diablo Robotico (Nicole), Thursday, 18 March 2004 22:55 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

I was about to say! Exactly what prompts that conclusion, Eric?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 19 March 2004 00:07 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

I dunno, something about how I assumed all those years that the MST3K crew approached the movies with a small amount of appreciation... then after paging through some of his book and realizing his take on movies, for all the wisecracks and zingers, is actually pretty damned aggressively mainstream.

I'll never hate the show. God no! But I should probably stop reading Nelson's writings outside of the show. (Murphy's book is much better.)

― Eric H. (Eric H.), Friday, 19 March 2004 06:58 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

I mean, I hate to read more into things than is necessary, but it's sort of difficult to reconcile all those jokes that seemed to be taking, say, organized religion against his offhand comments about "saving people's souls."

Great, now I'm a fucking knee-jerk. (OK, I've always been one, it seems.)

― Eric H. (Eric H.), Friday, 19 March 2004 07:10 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

The reason I agree with Fujiwara irregardless of how much I love MST3K = trying to show Sirk films to my friends.

― Eric H. (Eric H.), Friday, 19 March 2004 07:40 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

(why did I just use the non-word "irregardlesss"?)

― Eric H. (Eric H.), Friday, 19 March 2004 07:42 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

i just bought "I Accuse My Parents" today

― Pablo Cruise (chaki), Friday, 19 March 2004 19:36 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

A fine choice, my son. (Third episode I ever saw.)

it's sort of difficult to reconcile all those jokes that seemed to be taking, say, organized religion against his offhand comments about "saving people's souls."

I think you're mistaking a collective effort -- ten or more regular writers over the course of eleven years -- with one person, though. Mike was the head writer, yes, but he was not the only writer. Also, for all that there were jabs, there were also appreciations -- I'm thinking of a sketch from Joel days where he noted along the way that one shouldn't mess with a Higher Power, adding, 'Take it from one who knows.' A distinct joy of MST3K is its ecumenicism on a variety of fronts, not necessarily or solely religious.

Outside of the show, keep in mind he's still very close friends with Kevin, who, as you can tell from his own book, is Buddhist -- if Mike were a close-minded bigot, not only would the show reflect that but there would hardly be an easy and continuing friendship and professional relationship between the two (as well as with Bill and to a lesser extent with Paul and Mary Jo and others, as demonstrated by Edward the Less and all). I very much doubt Mike harangues the rest of them with sermons.

Mike's various comments on his childhood and early adulthood, while referencing various joys, also have indicated struggle, a broken home (I believe his parents are divorced), a variety of different spiritual pursuits and more. Add to that the darkness Mike D and I note above in this thread that surfaces elsewhere -- not to mention the miserable headaches he's apparently suffered from for years, which like any physical condition that is persistent and not easily solved is bound to have some impact on who and what you are -- and what I see in him through what I know of him as a public figure is somebody who has found a particular peace and grace in a way that suits him best, and who is apparently an extremely loving and caring father and husband (thinking of some of Bridget Jones's various comments and notes in interviews). I think that's admirable.

Finally, regarding his taste in movies, I don't think it was a requirement to be a total movie buff to make the show work as comedy, and again it was a collective effort. Kevin is obviously a movie freak, so too was Frank, and they knew their obscurities, as I believe does Bill. It's part of what they brought to the table.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 19 March 2004 20:00 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

You're right, you're right, and again you're right. I'm too harsh with Mike. And if anyone's being pendandic it would be me.

But Fujiwara's also right in that it's a damn shame one of MST3K's unfortunate legacies is that (for some and not all, I stress) any movie that doesn't adhere to binding mainstream standards of excellence (in the same way that Casablanca does) is practically grounds for ridicule. Of course, this is not MST3K's fault, and in fact the only plausible reason I can think of for Fujiwara to be focusing his vitriol on MST3K is that the show makes such a damned good case for eviscerating offbeat films.

Having said that, did I mention that this is my favorite show ever? Ever ever? And that someday I'd love to sit down with TV's Frank and pick his brain on movies?

― Eric H. (Eric H.), Friday, 19 March 2004 20:29 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

This is where I admit ignorance and must ask who the flying V is this Fujiwara guy anyway?

― donut bitch (donut), Friday, 19 March 2004 20:34 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

It's also worth noting that I interviewed Lloyd Kaufman once (the guy behind Troma), and I asked him about MST3K, and he has a very low opinion of the show, too, for the reasons stated above attributed to Fujiwara.

― donut bitch (donut), Friday, 19 March 2004 20:36 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

Fujiwara's tirade against MST3K sort of but more-so the commodification of "bad movie" culture.

― Eric H. (Eric H.), Friday, 19 March 2004 20:58 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

Commodification? The guy once argued on feedmag.com that the world would be a much better place if all "bad" movies appeared on Burger King glasses instead of, oh, I don't remember...Jurassic Park or whatever.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Friday, 19 March 2004 21:03 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

Fujiwara is the guy who wrote the Hermenaut article, no? (xpost)

Anyway I'm never entirely sure how much the MST3K gang hated the films they watched. I was particularly surprised after seeing that Raul Julia movie that they kept going on was one of the worst Sci-Fi era movies they watched -- the visuals in that movie are completely eye-popping and wonderful, although yes the plot is weak and the acting is fairly awful (except for Julia). I found something to like in the film. And I think MST3K helped me to realize, as a young'un (I started watching the show during Season One, neener neener, Ned) that there were things to value in even the most riduclously awful films. Torgo touches our lives.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Friday, 19 March 2004 21:03 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

I guess if pressed I might suggest that MST3K's jests impressed because at best they blessed and meshed all cultures, from lowbrow to bliss.

― Eric H. (Eric H.), Friday, 19 March 2004 21:06 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

That's sort of why I put the "bad movie" in quotes. Because I think he was making a distinction between bad in the Douglas Sirk/Larry Cohen sense and bad in the Chipmunk Adventure sense.

― Eric H. (Eric H.), Friday, 19 March 2004 21:09 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

dude the plot of the show was that their CHARACTERS were being tortured by movies!! every episode they act as if the movies are the worst of their kind. its ACTING people!

― Pablo Cruise (chaki), Friday, 19 March 2004 21:12 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

As I said above about Fujiwara, his case falls down in part because of his querulous rant about 'why they didn't tackle the big budget horrors of recent times,' which ignores the lack of financing/ability to acquire the rights to same as well as the fact that they DID try and do numbers on them with their irregular Oscar and summer movie specials over the years. I regard Fujiwara as, frankly, an uninformed prig grasping at straws (and I sorta hope he googles himself and comes here to complain one of these days, to prove my point).

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 19 March 2004 21:18 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

Pablo honey, yes, but they also made similar comments in interviews, etc.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Friday, 19 March 2004 21:22 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

It is acting, true, but we have to remember the folks at Best Brains watched their movies in a way very different that you, I or Fujiwara might.

The process they used to develop riffs from movies -- watching movies and stopping them when they could think of something funny which somebody would then write down, then start the film again -- strikes me as really not conducive to wonderful aesthetic experiences. I doubt even my favorite films would still charm me after that kind of punishing microscopic analysis, and since we're talking about stuff, like Monster A-Go-Go or The Wild, Wild World of Batwomen, that sometimes really defies sense and reason, I think rage might a perfectly rational response.

But I bet they all eventually got somewhat desensitized to the process, and that most of the vitriol they poured onto most of their movies was merely exaggerated for comic effect.

IIRC, I think Mary Jo was eventually put in charge of screening films to see if they were MSTable, so she'd MSTed films even more times than the other BB people, and she said that they finished creating an episode out of a film, she would have already seen it a really mindbending number of times. (20? 50?!?)

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Friday, 19 March 2004 21:36 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

But I bet they all eventually got somewhat desensitized to the process, and that most of the vitriol they poured onto most of their movies was merely exaggerated for comic effect.

Thus Tom's legendary cry at the end of Wild World of Batwomen -- "END!!! ENNNNNDDD!!!"

Not only did Mary Jo see things a few times over first, she also had to screen those many movies which were considered and rejected for screening. Frank did that duty before her. They are perhaps the true stalwarts of the whole thing.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 19 March 2004 22:42 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

Search only Manos: Hands of Fate and POD PEOPLE, for the love of GOD, POD PEOPLE!

― roxymuzak (roxymuzak), Friday, 19 March 2004 23:41 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

McCLOUD!

Oh, and hear the engines roll now.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 19 March 2004 23:53 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

Penny in a Po' Boy?

― roxymuzak (roxymuzak), Saturday, 20 March 2004 04:46 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

one month passes...

In the 'hmmm' department, picked up the new colorized Reefer Madness disc (also presented in B&W for the purists) which among other things has Mike doing a commentary. It's...curious. Chaki was sorta down on it at ChakiFAP and I have to agree it's a bit subpar, sorta Mike does a solo MST turn on the movie, but the lack of interplay with someone else is especially missed. A couple of tropes from MST days recur ("NOT A REAL ACTOR!") and there are certainly moments of worth, but find it used (like I did) and/or get it with credit or a gift certificate (like I did) unless you have any interest in the movie straight up (like, uh, I did).

The REAL weird thing about the commentary, though, is Mike's voice -- it's him and all, but he's got this strange, prominent lisp that shows up. Either I've never noticed it before (which I find hard to doubt), he's gained one over time for reason (hadn't noticed it in the recent DVD interview snippets) or maybe they recorded him a day after some dental or mouth work.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 9 May 2004 15:30 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

(But I should note that an absolutely beautiful moment at ChakiFAP went like this:

Me: "So I picked up that Reefer Madness with Mike Nelson on it..."

Chaki: *takes out wallet to show that he's put the sticker from the DVD cover with Mike's face on it on top of his driver's license photo*)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 9 May 2004 15:33 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

one month passes...

A new update -- Mike, Bill and Kevin have a joint film review/essay site up called The Film Crew Online, which is apparently going to be both its own thing and the source of an upcoming film review book. Could be promising!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 12 June 2004 18:14 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

Ah, and apparently an NPR series as well!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 12 June 2004 18:15 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

Awesome, thanks Ned! I'm always glad to hear what those guys are doing.

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Saturday, 12 June 2004 19:12 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

I just saw Mr. B Natural for the first time. Holy shit.

― VengaDan Perry (Dan Perry), Saturday, 12 June 2004 19:16 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

HAHAHA

Do you feel the spirit of music inside you now?

"Just wait until he finds out how hard it really is!"

"Yes, very clever, MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM..."

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 12 June 2004 19:19 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

Dan, the file you downloaded did include the skit that comes afterwards, right?

― Casuistry (Chris P), Saturday, 12 June 2004 20:11 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

Sadly it didn't. I'm mad about this.

― VengaDan Perry (Dan Perry), Saturday, 12 June 2004 21:30 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

You should be.

Recent Mike and Mary Jo interviews.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 12 June 2004 21:33 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

Heads-up, folks - this splendidly silly fillum is on UK terrestrial TV tonight (ITV I think) at the ungodly hour of 3am - if you haven't seen it, SET THE VIDEO!

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Wednesday, 16 June 2004 14:31 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

The film itself is an imperfect introduction to the whole shebang but it's still one way to start! As noted above, though, slsk is proving spectacularly handy for sharing episodes, and various recommendations are a-plenty on this thread -- and as Dan notes, "Mr. B Natural" is pretty essential.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 16 June 2004 14:39 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

What's the one with "Professor Dorkin"? Seem to remember it causing much amusement to my friends cos I lived near Dorking at the time...oh the japes.

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Wednesday, 16 June 2004 15:06 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

Gorgo, with the famous Dorkin circus and the lovable Dorkin clowns.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 16 June 2004 15:09 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

My faves are POD PEOPLE, Manos: the Hands of Fate, Mitchell and CAVE DWELLERSOMGWTF.

― roxymuzak (roxymuzak), Wednesday, 16 June 2004 15:51 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

"The exercise is working. I can feel it here."

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 16 June 2004 16:01 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

Which one is it with the bees that the guy trains to kill people?

― Comment dits-on...eh... le NA? (Nick A.), Wednesday, 16 June 2004 16:03 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

The Killer Bees. It is very English.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 16 June 2004 16:03 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

It's been ages, but I remember favorites are the Russo-Finnish one with the dwarf, Pod People, Santa Claus v. the Martians, and the truly bizarre Puma-man "Everybody was Aztec Fighting" one.

― Jocelyn (Jocelyn), Wednesday, 16 June 2004 17:43 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

I'm still disappointed that bits of This Island Earth got cut in the movie.

― jel -- (jel), Wednesday, 16 June 2004 17:45 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

They wanted to do the full movie but the battles between Best Brains and the studio were extremely bitter, and pretty much the studio kept trimming down the running time against the Brains' wishes.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 16 June 2004 17:48 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

I finally watched "Girl With Golden Boots". It was all right.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Wednesday, 16 June 2004 17:53 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

"I WANT MY PRETTY MIND BACK!"

― VengaDan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 16 June 2004 17:54 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

It was all right.

! FAINT PRAISE, sir.

"I'M BACK!"

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 16 June 2004 17:55 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

"Hey, did you guys like how I teleported in here just a second ago?"

― VengaDan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 16 June 2004 17:56 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

There were like two really fantastic lines, both of which I'm forgetting. Also a Taliban joke, which surprised me.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Wednesday, 16 June 2004 17:57 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

Well it's not like the Taliban were unknown before 2001...

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 16 June 2004 17:58 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

I will admit that I love that one more for the movie than the riffing.

― VengaDan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 16 June 2004 17:59 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

Oh, it's the line quoted on the box: "When sexy becomes annoying". Which I liked because I'm all about "when annoying becomes sexy" myself, see.

xpost I know but since I stopped watching the show in, what, 1995? I always kinda forget that these last episodes are from 1998.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Wednesday, 16 June 2004 18:01 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

Yeah, actually none of the Vol. 4 movies are all that great in the riffing department, but GiGB, Hamlet, and especially Overdrawn At The Memory Bank are worth watching for the bad movie action. I though Space Mutiny was kind of a yawn, though.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Wednesday, 16 June 2004 18:03 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

1999 was the last year, actually. And the riffing was still good. BLEAH!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 16 June 2004 18:04 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

The riffing was OK, but not stellar, but that hardly matters since the riffing was never the reason to watch MST3K in the first place.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Wednesday, 16 June 2004 18:41 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

This is the thread where I saw Pearl, Brain Guy and Bobo were all great characters with their own dynamic.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 16 June 2004 18:43 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

Overdrawn at the Memory Bank is kind of staggering. Poor Raul Julia. The whole sequence with the voiceover on the footage of the monkey rolling down the hill is deeply, deeply, deeply embarrassing.

― VengaDan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 16 June 2004 18:44 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

Especially when he has to play a drunk monkey.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 16 June 2004 18:47 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

How come no one has done something yet where you download a sound file of commentary to be played over your computer while you watch the DVD of whatever they're riffing on? Synchronization aside, I think it could be cool. And cheap.

― Vinnie (vprabhu), Wednesday, 16 June 2004 18:47 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

You are only just now seeing it?

This is true, especially since there is no "Mike and the bots" dynamic to speak of. Mostly, I think, because Mike and Crow spend all their time ACTING! whereas Bobo and Brain Guy are a bit more natural.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Wednesday, 16 June 2004 18:51 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

I've seen DVD commentaries that you could download and play over the originals (the DVD commentaries for the first season of South Park are floating around out there, and require you to play them simultaneously with the episode).

― Casuistry (Chris P), Wednesday, 16 June 2004 18:52 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

Well, there's a long term twist seeing as how Mike first very clearly was still 'the boss' early on but as time changed his character turned far more feckless and incompetent. If you're into that.

The South Park thing was exactly what I first thought of re: Vinnie's question!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 16 June 2004 18:52 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

You are only just now seeing it?

I should have said 'say' rather than 'saw.'

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 16 June 2004 18:53 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

It just always felt like fake incompetence. Which I'm not as into.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Wednesday, 16 June 2004 18:55 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

Ah, interesting. Hadn't heard about the South Park thing. I guess it was done after they finished the DVDs?

― Vinnie (vprabhu), Wednesday, 16 June 2004 18:56 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

Fair nuff. But I like to think some of the weird dark twisted side of Mike that had come out in the various guest appearances earlier on resurfaced in the later years -- him zoning out and starting to rant quietly about getting fired earlier in one episode, the cousin or brother he played in Time Chasers...

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 16 June 2004 18:56 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

They were extracted from the DVDs, yes.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Wednesday, 16 June 2004 19:00 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

one month passes...

Revive time! There's a lot of goodness over on the official fan page to note:

If you order through http://mst3000dvd.com, or by calling 800-645-2400, you can get Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Essentials--featuring episode 424- "MANOS"-THE HANDS OF FATE and episode 321- SANTA CLAUS CONQUERS THE MARTIANS--PLUS a SPECIAL BONUS DISK--Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Shorts, Vol. 3!

This collection, never before on DVD, includes: Speech--Using Your Voice (from episode 313- EARTH VS. THE SPIDER), Aquatic Wizards (from episode 315- TEENAGE CAVEMAN), Is This Love? (from episode 514- TEENAGE STRANGLER), Design for Dreaming (from episode 524- 12 TO THE MOON), The Selling Wizard (from episode 603- THE DEAD TALK BACK), Out of this World (from episode 618- HIGH SCHOOL BIGSHOT) and Once Upon A Honeymoon (from episode 701- NIGHT OF THE BLOOD BEAST).

The price is $24.95 plus $4.95 shipping and handling.

This is a MAJOR bonus as some of those are among the best shorts ever -- "Speech: Using Your Voice" ('plenty of lip and tongue action'), "Design for Dreaming" ("This was the response to Roger and Me"), "Is This Love?" ("Mmm...get the cuffs") and "Once Upon a Honeymoon" (two words: flaming angel) in particular. Order away!

Furthermore:

Rhino Home Video has informed us that The Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection, Vol. 6, due out Sept. 21st, will include:

episode 511- GUNSLINGER
episode 404- TEENAGERS FROM OUTER SPACE
episode 406- ATTACK OF THE GIANT LEECHES (with short: UNDERSEA KINGDOM PT. 1)
MR. B's LOST SHORTS??!! (which includes "Mr. B Natural" (from episode 319- WAR OF THE COLOSSAL BEAST), "X Marks The Spot" (from episode 210- KING DINOSAUR), "Hired!--Part 1" (from episode 423- BRIDE OF THE MONSTER), "Design for Dreaming" (from episode 524- 12 TO THE MOON), "Johnny At The Fair" (from episode 419- THE REBEL SET) and "Are You Ready for Marriage?" (from episode 616- RACKET GIRLS)

Gunslinger was the last Rhino VHS release to be ported over to DVD, and looks like they'll be happily adding more titles as they go. Another slew of great shorts (pity about the "Design for Dreaming" duplicate), particularly "Are You Ready for Marriage?" and of course, above all else, the insanity of insanities, "Mr. B. Natural."

And finally:

Special Edition "Carnival of Souls" Now Available
A while back we told you that Legend Films would be bringing out a colorized version of the movie CARNIVAL OF SOULS featuring a separate commentary track by Mike Nelson, similar to the REEFER MADNESS DVD that is already available. We were originally told that it would be available in October, but we've just learned that it won't be officially released until next year.

BUT...we have a special offer just for MST3K fans.

You can purchase a special edition of "Carnival of Souls" release now. The cover is autographed by Mike, and there's a printed note from him inside. The cost is $19.95 plus shipping and handling.

This special edition can only be bought at http://www.offcolorfilms.com/cos.html and will never be avaible in stores. The disk contains the restored, colorized version, and for you purists, the original black and white version is also included.

We've seen preview copies of this and Mike's commentary is terrific, alternately offering insights into the making of the film and his own witty observations about it.

Nice, I do hope that the commentary really *is* as described, as I noted upthread the Reefer Madness commentary was sorta eh.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 4 August 2004 02:28 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

Mystery Science Theater 2600.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Sunday, 8 August 2004 22:00 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

That's absolutely beautiful, but it bugs me I can't recognize any of the aliens as such other than MANOS -- it seems the gold one would be Crow, though.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 8 August 2004 22:10 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

I'm thinking one of them might be the half-gorilla alien from Robot Monster and another (the green one) Gamera.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Sunday, 8 August 2004 22:18 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

I'm tickled to think that had either video game or TV history been structured a tad differently, we really would've seen a real true blue MST3K video game cartridge to be sold right next to Journey: Escape and E.T.: The Extra-Terrestial -- sadly, all we ended up having was the unreleased Voyager CD-ROM.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Sunday, 8 August 2004 22:24 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

You're absolutely right about Robot Monster, good call! A proper MST video game, what a dream.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 8 August 2004 22:38 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

five months pass...

Revive revive revive -- a new set of episodes on DVD in April (no word on what yet), plus Mike's latest book:

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0810992000.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

From turn-of-the-century novelties and Depression-era distraction, through wartime comfort, to Hello Kitty and Jeff Koons, cuteness has thrived in the fertile soil of American modern-age media and pop culture. What is it about fluffy bunnies with bows, baby ducks splashing in puddles, kittens snuggled in baskets, and little lambs on their way to school? Happy Kitty Bunny Pony celebrates America's "cult of the cute" in all its campy, kitschy, ironic glory.

With more than 200 images from the print and advertising archives of the Charles S. Anderson Design Company, this collection is an amazingly rich testament to America's fascination with cute things. The hilarious commentary by Mystery Science Theater 3000 host Mike Nelson, spiked with fun and curious facts, bits of sarcasm, and dry and not-so-dry wit, is as surprising and bizarre as the images themselves. So go ahead and join the fun-everyone from art students to your grandma is already shouting the cult-of-the-cute battle cry: "Happy Kitty Bunny Pony!" AUTHOR BIO: The Charles S. Anderson Design Company is ranked by Graphis magazine as one of the world's 10 most influential design firms. Their clients include Ralph Lauren, Warner Brothers, Coca-Cola, Levi's, and Nike. Michael J. Nelson, an actor and writer, was the head writer and on-air host of the legendary television series Mystery Science Theater 3000. He is the author of Mike Nelson's Movie Megacheese, Mind Over Matters, and the novel Death Rat.

I like the sound of this. I half assume this came about because Mike and that Lileks feller have been palling around lately (similar dry humor -- at the same time, similarly right/neo-con politics), but perhaps it was all dreamed up by Mike and this design company on their own, who knows?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 29 January 2005 03:39 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

because Mike and that Lileks feller have been palling around lately

Oh christ no.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Saturday, 29 January 2005 04:14 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

It is nice, however, to note that Mike's keepin' it in Twin Cities re: CSA Design. Plus I'm guessing Mike can do this far better than Lileks because (CONTROVERSIAL GENERALIZATION ALERT) something like MST3K might give a guy better training for avoiding repeating a schtick than journalism -- or blogging -- would. Some of those Sci-Fi-era skits notwithstanding.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Saturday, 29 January 2005 04:22 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

Oh christ no.

Hate to disappoint ya but it's true:

http://www.northernallianceradio.com/

The radio show Lileks and others do regularly now -- Mike has been a regular guest commentator, I believe. You'll notice the cover of Mind Over Matters there on the right side of the screen among the other books that participants have written.

I'm guessing Mike can do this far better than Lileks

It'll be a nice variation on Mike's non-MST3K written work so far, which has been text straight up -- your guess may well be spot on.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 29 January 2005 04:24 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

By the way...dig the last book in the "Customers who viewed this book also viewed" list.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Saturday, 29 January 2005 04:24 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

Hate to disappoint ya but it's true:

I'M NOT LISTENING! I'M NOT LISTENING! LA LA LA LA LA!

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Saturday, 29 January 2005 04:24 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

By the way...dig the last book in the "Customers who viewed this book also viewed" list.

Snarf.

I'M NOT LISTENING! I'M NOT LISTENING! LA LA LA LA LA!

Face the truth (I do not say embrace it). Keep in mind that Mike's political/social take on the world is still pretty much something he keeps for specific parts of his life and work, as best as I can tell -- this discussion of a recent appearance:

http://www.mst3k.com/satnews/brains/mikenc.html

...was from the sound of it apolitical.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 29 January 2005 04:28 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

Or rather the APPEARANCE itself was, etc.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 29 January 2005 04:28 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

It's not really the politics that bugs me -- it's the close proximity to Lileks.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Saturday, 29 January 2005 04:36 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

Lileks the DEMON DANCER OF DOOOOOOOM. And design.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 29 January 2005 04:42 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

Maybe he hooked up with Lileks due to fond memories of This Island Earth:

http://www.newhousenews.com/images/lileks.jpg

"Eat my photons, smallheads!"

― What's this place, Biblevania? (natepatrin), Saturday, 29 January 2005 05:16 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

YAH. Now that I know what he looks like I have fears.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 29 January 2005 06:19 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

By the way...dig the last book in the "Customers who viewed this book also viewed" list.

Brilliant! They're both going on my wishlist.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Saturday, 29 January 2005 06:37 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

Lileks did look pretty stylin' 30-ish years ago. Like the bassist for some band that would be first on a 5-band bill headlined by Franz Ferdinand.

http://www.lileks.com/institute/interiors/yourhost.jpg

― What's this place, Biblevania? (natepatrin), Saturday, 29 January 2005 08:05 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

This is an MST3K hread that hits most of the high points, Manos, Mitchell, Brain that Wouldn't Die etc.

But where's Hercules Against the Moon Men???

Sandstorm...

SAAAAAAAANNNNNNDSTORRRRRMMMMM!!!!!!

― Ash (ashbyman), Saturday, 29 January 2005 08:05 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

So does Lileks force Mike to talk about Lileks' daughter and shit?

― Dan I. (Dan I.), Saturday, 29 January 2005 08:24 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

Lileks did look pretty stylin' 30-ish years ago

Not bad for '74 in an earth-tone way. Maybe he should just shave his head -- Mike seems to know how to wear it short with it comes to balding.

So does Lileks force Mike to talk about Lileks' daughter and shit?

Good lord, I hope not.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 29 January 2005 12:02 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

...anyway, pre-ordered Happy Kitty Bunny Pony and also noticed Mike's other books are available for extremely cheap used via Amazon sellers, so I'd say pick those up if you've not already. I still hadn't got Death Rat! so I've schnagged a copy for under a buck -- with shipping still only $4.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 29 January 2005 12:14 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

Dude has a serious chin-butt. And it seems to have only grown in buttiness since the seventies -- what the fuck, has he been cultivating it? Exercising those chin glutes? For the lay-dayz?

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Saturday, 29 January 2005 12:21 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

Botox, my friend.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 29 January 2005 12:31 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

Contents of the next DVD packet are announced:

As we reported earlier, Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection, Volume 7 is due out in April. While Rhino couldn't confirm an exact date for us, industry insiders are telling us that it is slated for release on April 19th. The DVD set will contain (hold on to your hat):

episode 407- THE KILLER SHREWS (with short: JUNIOR RODEO DAREDEVILS)
episode 408- HERCULES UNCHAINED
episode 410- HERCULES AGAINST THE MOON MEN
episode 816- PRINCE OF SPACE

A bonus feature will be ASSIGNMENT: VENEZUELA, the short originally MSTed for the ill-fated CD-ROM project and which was never shown on television. Rhino has confirmed for us that this bonus will contain the contents of the entire "Venezuela" tape currently available from the Info Club, which also includes the shorts CENTURY 21 CALLING and A CASE OF SPRING FEVER.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 12 February 2005 00:57 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

First time Comedy Central and Sci-Fi episodes are made available together! Three Joels and a Mike. Junior Rodeo Daredevils is a classic short, both Hercules episodes are treats and hey, Prince of Space...

http://moblog.co.uk/blogs/68/moblog_04897de692fa6.jpg

"HAH! HAH! HAH! HAH! HAH!"

Three bonus shorts all winners as well.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 12 February 2005 01:00 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

But where's Hercules Against the Moon Men???
Sandstorm...
SAAAAAAAANNNNNNDSTORRRRRMMMMM!!!!!!

-- Ash (ashbyma...), January 29th, 2005.

Hey, your wish came true!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 12 February 2005 01:03 (fourteen years ago) Permalink

two months pass...

So set seven is out and Mike's new book on design stuff is out or about to be but this general catchup story contains the new kicker, via Mike talking about one of his upcoming new commentaries for Legend Films a la Reefer Madness:

Nelson has thought plenty about his next target, perhaps the worst film of all time.

"I have actually dared to take on what some people may consider hallowed ground," Nelson said. "I'm doing (director Ed Wood's) Plan Nine From Outer Space."

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 23 April 2005 23:28 (thirteen years ago) Permalink

Haven't they gone on record about how P9 is by far not the worst movie ever? Where's your PR now, eh?

Anyway, no reason why he shouldn't, although I'd rather he found another film which is interesting but very hard to watch without commentary, like Reefer Madness.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Saturday, 23 April 2005 23:42 (thirteen years ago) Permalink

hmmm. could be OK, could be not OK. can't see it being great, per se, if only because that movie's so damn funny on its own.

― Matos-Webster Dictionary (M Matos), Saturday, 23 April 2005 23:43 (thirteen years ago) Permalink

one month passes...

there's an entertaining article in the new entertainment weekly on the making of manos. might not be of much use to super-hardcore msties but i roffled a few times.

― strng hlkngtn, Friday, 3 June 2005 21:10 (thirteen years ago) Permalink

Nice, is it online yet?

That Happy Kitty book up above has finally been published and Amazon shipped it to me two days ago, so I can't wait to get it!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 3 June 2005 21:43 (thirteen years ago) Permalink

eight months pass...

I am watching a "rough cut" of the theatre segments of Swamp Diamonds, which includes stuff that happens "during commercials", some first takes, etc.

Bless this internet!

― Casuistry (Chris P), Sunday, 19 February 2006 11:23 (thirteen years ago) Permalink

I really need to get on the DAP tip with this stuff. I do love how it's starting to leak out more with these rough cuts.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 19 February 2006 15:48 (thirteen years ago) Permalink

haven't read the whole thread but just in case, MST3K def does make the transatlantic humour jump. i was a limey on temporary secondment to your fair shores in the early '90's and it quickly became mandatory viewing for me on comedy central. the giggle-rating was kind of kept at a simmer all the way through but they'd poleaxe you with tangential gag-bolts at pretty regular intervals.

when they broke out an Andy Capp gag from nowhere that was so obscure that no-one who wasn't from england would've got it, i knew i was in the presence of pure genius.

went down well with nachos and a case of bud

― john clarkson, Sunday, 19 February 2006 17:43 (thirteen years ago) Permalink

I'm fond of "Attack of The The Eyeball Creatures"

― Abbadavid Berman (Hurting), Sunday, 19 February 2006 17:50 (thirteen years ago) Permalink

they just didn't care.

― tremendoid (tremendoid), Sunday, 19 February 2006 20:13 (thirteen years ago) Permalink

Nedrick, bring a hard drive with you when you visit next, I will hook you up. I've got three "rough cuts", but the other two are from Season 10 and are thus less "priority". You sit through a lot of the movie to get the handful of random bits you haven't seen before, but it's interesting enough.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Sunday, 19 February 2006 20:17 (thirteen years ago) Permalink

I love you, sir. But I hope that was already clear.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 20 February 2006 22:06 (twelve years ago) Permalink

"Permission to kiss you on the lips, sir!"
"Denied!"

(Every episode including KTMAs and every random bit of extra comes out to around 160+ Gb.)

― Casuistry (Chris P), Monday, 20 February 2006 22:12 (twelve years ago) Permalink

That's nothing. I should finally get a separate drive. Will plot with you later about this as my trip plans come together.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 20 February 2006 22:20 (twelve years ago) Permalink

two weeks pass...

Meantime, I give to you all word of box set number 9:

Our friends at Rhino Home Video have given us the list of episodes to be included in the Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection: Volume 9 DVD set. They are... wait for it....

104- WOMEN OF THE PREHISTORIC PLANET
207- WILD REBELS
613- THE SINISTER URGE (with short: KEEPING CLEAN AND NEAT)
812- THE INCREDIBLY STRANGE CREATURES WHO STOPPED LIVING AND BECAME MIXED-UP ZOMBIES

As a bonus for "Women of the Prehistoric Planet," Rhino has taped a short intro to the episode with Irene Tsu, who played Linda in the movie. There will also definitely be a bonus intro to "The Sinister Urge" with Conrad Brooks, who played Connie.

Women of the Prehistoric Planet is of course the real kicker since that's only the second Josh Weinstein-era episode (after The Crawling Hand) to get a video/DVD release. And the other three are all winners, so yay! These bonus intros they mention could be fun.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 12 March 2006 15:01 (twelve years ago) Permalink

Also, here's a good treat that provides a not-often-heard take on the show -- Jim Mallon, the show's producer and o' course the voice of Gypsy, who got interviewed by Rhino recently for its podcasts. Give it an ear!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 15 March 2006 05:00 (twelve years ago) Permalink

three months pass...

So I finally have all the MST3K episodes (excluding the ultra-early KTMA ones that no one has), specials, and ephemera in handy-to-transport AVIs.

What do I win? Does Cthulhu open up a dimensional gate so I can proceed to Level Two?

― Fsck Washing Ong's Hat (Chris Barrus), Tuesday, 27 June 2006 15:54 (twelve years ago) Permalink

you get to deathmatch against jim mallon

― kingfish du lac (kingfish 2.0), Tuesday, 27 June 2006 16:03 (twelve years ago) Permalink

You win my undivided attention.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 27 June 2006 16:09 (twelve years ago) Permalink

We're wiiiild rebels
crunchy fruity rebels

― p@reene (Pareene), Tuesday, 27 June 2006 16:10 (twelve years ago) Permalink

Possibly my favorite ever song they did.

"JUST POUND THEM DOWN
YOU STUPID CLOWN
THEY'RE WIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIILLLD."

(I know I quoted that up above but hurrah for a redo.)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 27 June 2006 16:12 (twelve years ago) Permalink

And for anyone else crazy to try:

http://mst3kbt.blogspot.com/

― Fsck Washing Ong's Hat (Chris Barrus), Tuesday, 27 June 2006 16:18 (twelve years ago) Permalink

the "creepy girl" song was always a favorite of mine.

"the second E is a grammatical thing, otherwise it would be Crepy Girl"

― zaxxon25 (zaxxon25), Tuesday, 27 June 2006 16:33 (twelve years ago) Permalink

What are people's thoughts on Mike's Legend Films commentaries? I only have Carnival of Souls and it's decent, though nowhere near MST3K quality.

The idea they had to sell their services as an extra commentary track for regular DVDs was brilliant, sad that nobody's taken them up on it. Maybe they could do a Kevin Smith and just record commentaries for current movies then create a subscription download service?

― zaxxon25 (zaxxon25), Tuesday, 27 June 2006 16:39 (twelve years ago) Permalink

Destroy - Pearl, Bobo and Brain Guy. The movies and riffing on the later Sci Fi episodes were still pretty decent, but the interstitial shit is just tedious.

― marcos lopez (mucho), Tuesday, 27 June 2006 16:57 (twelve years ago) Permalink

"Torrent does not exist..."

fuck i want to die. :(

― ¨ˆ¨ˆ¨ˆ¨ˆ¨ˆ¨ˆ (chaki), Tuesday, 27 June 2006 17:10 (twelve years ago) Permalink

"Torrent does not exist..."
fuck i want to die. :(

Try torrent-finder...

― Fsck Washing Ong's Hat (Chris Barrus), Tuesday, 27 June 2006 21:47 (twelve years ago) Permalink

I'm still missing several of what DAP marks with a "T" and possibly and "S" or two. But I haven't been tearing my hairs out over it, admittedly.

Anyway, yes, I have been enjoying the Buddha nature for most of 2006, welcome to the club!

― Casuistry (Chris P), Tuesday, 27 June 2006 22:19 (twelve years ago) Permalink

You win my undivided attention.

Ditto.

Like, what do I have to do?

― Eric H. (Eric H.), Wednesday, 28 June 2006 00:43 (twelve years ago) Permalink

Shorts. So many shorts. I think some of these are on Youtube as well, if you happen to prefer Youtube.

I love this series, but being in the UK I've only managed to see three full episodes(plus the movie, which was the only one which they've ever been allowed to show on normal tv) due to the frustration involved in trying to download 700meg files on capped broadband.

But I do love me some Mitchell.
"I'm King Hussain!"
"Did I tell you I'm Italian? Let me restate that!"

― eyeless in gazza (Phil A), Friday, 30 June 2006 11:53 (twelve years ago) Permalink

You hurt me in my heart.

― eyeless in gazza (Phil A), Monday, 3 July 2006 18:07 (twelve years ago) Permalink

I finally rented Manos from Netflix, and I actually couldn't get through it. Not to knock the riffing, but the movie is just so freaking boring. I think I got through about five minutes of women rolling around in the dirt, before I turned it off. The shorts work much better for my attention span.

And yeah, trying to download these things over broadband was a big pain for me too. I gave up a while ago.

― Vinnie (vprabhu), Monday, 3 July 2006 18:20 (twelve years ago) Permalink

Hahahahahahaha oh Manoshand.

― Jesus Dan (Dan Perry), Monday, 3 July 2006 18:21 (twelve years ago) Permalink

My favorite short has got to be the one about "a date with your family." Priceless.

― Sara R-C (Sara R-C), Monday, 3 July 2006 18:22 (twelve years ago) Permalink

"The Girl With The Golden Boots" still completely slays me.

― Jesus Dan (Dan Perry), Monday, 3 July 2006 18:32 (twelve years ago) Permalink

there's not enough red zone cuba love on this thread

― Bea Arthur - Lost COmic GEnius ? (dubplatestyle), Monday, 3 July 2006 18:49 (twelve years ago) Permalink

Red Zone Cuba would be in my POX, if there were one, along with for sure:

Racket Girls
Mr. B Natural
Village of the Giants
The Creeping Terror
Santa Claus Conquers the Martians
Home Economics Story

hmm... I should come back to this one.

― Eric H. (Eric H.), Monday, 3 July 2006 19:34 (twelve years ago) Permalink

POX (episodes):

Alien from LA
Manos
Zombie Nightmare
Catalina Caper
Puma Man
Rocketship X-M
Teenagers From Outer Space
Mitchell
The Starfighters
Angels' Revenge

Pretty much all the shorts after "Phantom Creeps" finally ended are totally classic. I'm going to give a special shout-out to the under-appreciated "Progress Island, U.S.A."

My appreciation for the Coleman Francis trilogy is a different type of beast entirely.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Monday, 3 July 2006 21:22 (twelve years ago) Permalink

In no real particular order:

The Incredible Melting Man
Alien from LA
Zombie Nightmare
Catalina Caper
Pod People
City Limits
Tormented
Village of the Giants
Jack Frost
Overdrawn at the Memory Bank

This is probably the most successful thread I've ever started. What does that tell you?

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Tuesday, 4 July 2006 01:15 (twelve years ago) Permalink

Space Mutiny is underrated.

― GILLY'S BAGG'EAR VANCE OF COUPARI (Ex Leon), Tuesday, 4 July 2006 01:21 (twelve years ago) Permalink

I'd take an MST3K thread over the flip out over/anticipate Arular thread, to be honest.

My ten:
Space Mutiny [xp!]
Wild World of Batwoman
Incredible Melting Man
Zombie Nightmare
Hobgoblins
Godzilla vs. Megalon
Overdrawn at the Memory Bank
Manos: the Hands of Fate
Puma Man
Master Ninja

― nate p. (natepatrin), Tuesday, 4 July 2006 01:26 (twelve years ago) Permalink

I remember "Overdrawn at the Memory Bank" as being a much better movie than Mike & the bots thought it was. Not that it was all that great of a movie, but it wasn't the "Monster A-Go-Go" trainwreck they seemed to think it was.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Tuesday, 4 July 2006 01:38 (twelve years ago) Permalink

yeah, it seemed mostly competent, if kinda lame. still, it made a good episode!

Puma Man and Space Mutiny are probably my favorite Sc-Fi Channel episodes.

― latebloomer lives in a fucking castle that is so sweet (latebloomer), Tuesday, 4 July 2006 03:01 (twelve years ago) Permalink

Racket Girls is clearly the most underrated episode, judging the POXs so far. Seriously, the non-dud punchlines in that one just keep coming. It's relentless.

― Eric H. (Eric H.), Tuesday, 4 July 2006 21:23 (twelve years ago) Permalink

The problem is that I don't even remember that one.

Google google... Oh! The one with Michael Stipe. Yeah, that's a good 'un.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Tuesday, 4 July 2006 21:59 (twelve years ago) Permalink

I will fight anybody who bad-mouths The Phantom Creeps.

― The Yellow Kid (The Yellow Kid), Wednesday, 5 July 2006 06:49 (twelve years ago) Permalink

Space Mutiny is underrated.

BIG MCLARGEHUGE!

― robster (robster), Wednesday, 5 July 2006 07:29 (twelve years ago) Permalink

i love the part where hard beefslab or whatever is screaming as he's about to crash, then awkwardly stops screaming as he realizes, "oh wait, i'm supposed to jump off"

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Wednesday, 5 July 2006 09:31 (twelve years ago) Permalink

Here's Mike Nelson as "Jack Perkins", host of the Mystery Science Theater hour (when Comedy Central would split the re-run episodes during the week into two parts with the hosting segments tacked on):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2aMSb8P9Sk

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Wednesday, 5 July 2006 09:40 (twelve years ago) Permalink

omg MST3K vs Radiohead!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7X5E2jF6hx4&search=mst3k

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Wednesday, 5 July 2006 11:29 (twelve years ago) Permalink

ok, one more...The 1998 Summer Blockbuster Spectacular!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sK_fizEQFOE&search=mst3k

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Wednesday, 5 July 2006 11:41 (twelve years ago) Permalink

Racket Girls is clearly the most underrated episode

Absolutely a killer episode. Monk is great.

"He's one of the undead, boss."

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 5 July 2006 14:24 (twelve years ago) Permalink

"I just got contacts."

― Eric H. (Eric H.), Wednesday, 5 July 2006 15:41 (twelve years ago) Permalink

Top Ten Underrated (no Mitchell or Manos, etc)
1. Warrior of the Lost World (megaweapon! liver face!)
2. Gamera vs. Guiron (hello/hello! zabriske point!)
3. Time Chasers (food court of the future! vermont!)
4. San Francisco Intl (windbreakers! davey!)
5. Riding With Death (mellow! abby!)
6. Girl In Lovers Lane (big stupid! heterosexual experiences!)
7. Tormented (sessions presents! beatnik!)
8. City on Fire (good morning! barry newman!)
9. Zombie Nightmare (tennis! canadian club!)
10. Fire Maidens from Outer Space (the secretary! more padding!)

― zaxxon25 (zaxxon25), Wednesday, 5 July 2006 18:02 (twelve years ago) Permalink

I'm still going with Rocketship X-M for "most underrated", since it was the episode that made me fall in love with the show, so many years ago. (Uh... fifteen years ago. I was watching the show beforehand, but I taped most of the first [1991] Turkey Day Marathon, and watched those episodes again and again and again.)

― Casuistry (Chris P), Wednesday, 5 July 2006 21:25 (twelve years ago) Permalink

Didn't they do a special in 1998 for the Academy Awards, too? (I was pregnant at the time and just really sick with the flu, but the riff of Captain Smith setting sail on Titanic sticks with me: "I'm gonna sink this bitch.")

― Sara R-C (Sara R-C), Wednesday, 5 July 2006 21:49 (twelve years ago) Permalink

"Not since Fire Maidens in Outer Space has there been such a thrilling ladder scene."

i downloaded the 4th and 5th seasons and have been forcing everyone who comes to my apartment to watch them.

― p@reene (Pareene), Wednesday, 5 July 2006 22:07 (twelve years ago) Permalink

Been Netflixing some of the episodes, and holy fuck I forgot how riotous the "Circus on Ice" short was.

-"Women are torn apart like fresh bread!"
-"It's Jules & Jim on ice!"
-"Spot the man in this chorus line."
-the entirety of the "fawn getting shot" sequence
-the best delivery/timing of the word "YES!" ever in a riff, via Joel

http://youtube.com/watch?v=ktqvi6yo_80&search=circus%20on%20ice

― nate p. (natepatrin), Thursday, 6 July 2006 02:42 (twelve years ago) Permalink

4. San Francisco Intl (windbreakers! davey!)

Oh yeah, that's another POX choice.

I think Season 6 was pretty clearly the strongest, from a joke-writing standpoint.

― Eric H. (Eric H.), Thursday, 6 July 2006 05:06 (twelve years ago) Permalink

thank god this thread exists.

haven't read anything yet, but why was the show cancelled?

― Raymond Cummings (Raymond Cummings), Thursday, 6 July 2006 10:55 (twelve years ago) Permalink

I'm not sure why the Sci Fi network canceled them, but after 11 years I wasn't surprised. Disappointed, but not surprised. (Didn't Sci Fi pick them up after Comedy Central - or whatever it was then - dumped them?)

― Sara R-C (Sara R-C), Friday, 7 July 2006 03:08 (twelve years ago) Permalink

two weeks pass...

They did, yes.

But more important news -- the debut of RIFF TRAX!

Welcome to RiffTrax.com, an innovative new site featuring the hilarious DVD commentaries of Michael J. Nelson, head writer and star of the legendary Mystery Science Theater 3000!

Do you feel that some of the movies coming out of Hollywood are just, well, missing something? At RiffTrax, you can download Mike's running commentaries and listen to them along with your favorite, and not so favorite DVDs. It's like watching a movie with your funniest friend. And it's easy to do. Just check out our FAQ; more than likely, you have the tools to do it already.

Don't just sit back and take whatever Hollywood throws at you. Transform the DVD experience with RiffTrax. It's
the most fun you'll ever have at the movies.

And what is the first movie he's doing?

ROADHOUSE

I am so happy.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 21 July 2006 14:01 (twelve years ago) Permalink

(Interestingly, the voting indicates that the movie people want him to do next is The Matrix. This could be what prompts me to see it.)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 21 July 2006 14:02 (twelve years ago) Permalink

no servo, ...

― tremendoid (tremendoid), Friday, 21 July 2006 15:04 (twelve years ago) Permalink

I will take what scraps I can.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 21 July 2006 15:10 (twelve years ago) Permalink

omg the Matrix! :-)

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Friday, 21 July 2006 15:23 (twelve years ago) Permalink

JUST BRING THE SHOW BACK FOR FUCKS' SAKE

― Jimmy Mod: NOIZE BOARD GRIL COMPARISON ANALYST (The Famous Jimmy Mod), Friday, 21 July 2006 15:27 (twelve years ago) Permalink

that would be awesome, but ya know, easier said than done!

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Friday, 21 July 2006 15:34 (twelve years ago) Permalink

Haneke or Breillat films, please.

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Friday, 21 July 2006 16:11 (twelve years ago) Permalink

needs the Trace B/Kevin M/Dr Frank or some version of an on-mic partner

― kingfish cyclopean ice cream (kingfish 2.0), Friday, 21 July 2006 16:23 (twelve years ago) Permalink

The FAQ on the site indicates that others may yet join him. ;-)

Meantime, the next DVD set has been confirmed -- out the end of August!

Episodes are:

* 212- GODZILLA VS. MEGALON
* 503- SWAMP DIAMONDS (plus short: WHAT TO DO ON A DATE)
* 514- TEEN-AGE STRANGLER (plus short: IS THIS LOVE?)
* 810- THE GIANT SPIDER INVASION

The collection also includes these extras:

* "MST3K Video Jukebox" (15 songs from the series)
* "Photo Gallery"
* "Outtakes" (we're told this actually means about 15 minutes of the best moments from "Poopie 2")

August 29 is the confirmed release date; with the usual suggested retail price.

Ah, a clean copy of Teenage Strangler -- I'm so happy.

"AND I DIDN'T STEAL NO BIKE NEITHER!"

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 22 July 2006 13:28 (twelve years ago) Permalink

(Actually that whole episode is crammed with great lines.

"Mistress Ayesha, I'm here for my beating.")

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 22 July 2006 13:30 (twelve years ago) Permalink

Godzilla vs. Megalon. I like this episode a whole bunch. One case where the homo-coding of the two main bachelor characters is actually not off-base.

― Eric H. (Eric H.), Saturday, 22 July 2006 17:36 (twelve years ago) Permalink

Haneke or Breillat films, please.

Yes!

― GILLY'S BAGG'EAR VANCE OF COUPARI (Ex Leon), Sunday, 23 July 2006 00:21 (twelve years ago) Permalink

I've got to ask, whatever IS the origin of this insanely brilliant new handle?

One case where the homo-coding of the two main bachelor characters is actually not off-base.

Not to mention the dorky kid in hot pants and Oscar Wilde as heavy.

Oh and lest we forget:

"Stand by for action!"

"REX DART, ESKIMO SPY"

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 23 July 2006 04:47 (twelve years ago) Permalink

I've got to ask, whatever IS the origin of this insanely brilliant new handle?

Check the "Someone explain Cat Fancy to me" thread.

― Jesus Dan (Dan Perry), Sunday, 23 July 2006 16:13 (twelve years ago) Permalink

Ah clarity. (I only noticed the start of the thread...oh right, finals week and I was busy as hell. Then I was on vacation for the further revive!)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 23 July 2006 16:38 (twelve years ago) Permalink

Anyway, listened to the Rifftrax thingamadooz. It's about the same as the various Mike-only DVD commentaries, alternately pretty funny and kinda flat, but worth $2 for a download and not too hard to sync up with the film. Most unexpected joke: an Iron and Wine reference.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 23 July 2006 19:20 (twelve years ago) Permalink

Haha wow, in what context?

― Marmot 4-Tay: Hold these goddamn chickens! (marmotwolof), Sunday, 23 July 2006 19:28 (twelve years ago) Permalink

One of the eight million scenes featuring people dancing to the Jeff Healey Band -- dude in the audience does have a haunting similarity.

Anyway, next one will be The Fifth Element, while it turns out Mike, Bridget and their kids are moving to San Diego, due to Mike's increasing role with Legend Films as 'chief content producer.' Bit of a climate shift, that!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 26 July 2006 21:45 (twelve years ago) Permalink

I haven't watched this show in about eight years but it's all coming back to me now..

Master Ninja Theme Song!

I don't suppose the Jr Rodeo Daredevils short is around somewhere on the internets

― dar1a g (daria g), Wednesday, 26 July 2006 22:14 (twelve years ago) Permalink

Oh, it's around, trust me.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 26 July 2006 23:38 (twelve years ago) Permalink

ned you remind me old timer billy sleater

― david allen grier (dubplatestyle), Wednesday, 26 July 2006 23:41 (twelve years ago) Permalink

Why I just watched my internet-downloaded copy the other night!

― Casuistry (Chris P), Thursday, 27 July 2006 00:34 (twelve years ago) Permalink

ned you remind me old timer billy sleater

"And eat your oatmeal!"

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 27 July 2006 00:41 (twelve years ago) Permalink

New interview with Mike about his move, more upcoming RiffTrax, etc. Pretty good, actually!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 3 August 2006 19:30 (twelve years ago) Permalink

You would not believe how many homemade MST tapes I left behind at my old apartment.

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 3 August 2006 19:49 (twelve years ago) Permalink

Time to start downloading. (I have now snagged all the KTMAs and am extremely happy.)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 3 August 2006 19:54 (twelve years ago) Permalink

urgent and key info:

i work with dr clayton

― gear (gear), Wednesday, 9 August 2006 17:45 (twelve years ago) Permalink

! So THAT'S the show you're working on.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 9 August 2006 17:54 (twelve years ago) Permalink

technically i don't work on the show but rather an affiliated company. but the dude works about twenty feet away from me.

― gear (gear), Wednesday, 9 August 2006 17:58 (twelve years ago) Permalink

Neat. Friendly dude, I assume? The reports I've seen of various con appearances and the like indicate he's a sensible feller.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 9 August 2006 18:26 (twelve years ago) Permalink

i haven't met the guy yet, but soon i hope!

― gear (gear), Wednesday, 9 August 2006 18:28 (twelve years ago) Permalink

Recent RiffTrax -- The Fifth Element and now Star Trek V -- which was the subject of a actually not that bad fake MST3K effort some years back. This RiffTrax take is of interest in that it is both Mike and Kevin Murphy.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 22 August 2006 21:57 (twelve years ago) Permalink

Partook of the Star Trek V commentary this evening. It's GREAT, even just for nostalgia factor alone. I love the fact that they can work a little bluer than they could on MST3K, it's fun to hear the oversexed jokes that you always knew they wanted to do. Granted, it's a little slow in parts, but overall I'd say HOORAY! I'm keen to try out Fifth Element now...and I see that he's working on Cocktail. HEHEHE!

― VegemiteGrrl (VegemiteGrrl), Sunday, 27 August 2006 05:36 (twelve years ago) Permalink

aww man i want to hear that but i've got reservations about paying for it.

star trek V i mean.

― GOD PUNCH TO HAWKWIND (yournullfame), Sunday, 27 August 2006 13:10 (twelve years ago) Permalink

I hear you, that's why I haven't downloaded it yet.

Cocktail? Oh dear!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 27 August 2006 13:19 (twelve years ago) Permalink

What price nostalgia?

Trust me, the download pays for itself the moment you hear Kevin & Mike together on the same audio track.

You gotta do it!!

― VegemiteGrrl (VegemiteGrrl), Monday, 28 August 2006 22:32 (twelve years ago) Permalink

My dear VegGrrl, downloading the track on its own to listen to is one thing, but I actually need the visuals to go with it, see. ;-)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 28 August 2006 22:49 (twelve years ago) Permalink

[insert forehead slap]. I'm so retarded sometimes. Sorry.

Your concerns are justified, given that Star Trek V is certainly not the kind of movie a right-minded person should be expected to pay for. It'd be like buying a copy of Bloodlust.

In which case, I sympathise. Luckily I had the foresight to marry a Trekkie-in-denial, otherwise I'd probably be in the same predicament.

― VegemiteGrrl (VegemiteGrrl), Tuesday, 29 August 2006 00:22 (twelve years ago) Permalink

I loved loved loved MST3k when I was a kid, and I'm finding myself getting back into it now with the intornet and all that. I have yet to see an episode from seasons 2 through 6 that wasn't worth the two hours, although the skits are often a total crapshoot. I always long for more skits drawing from the movies - surely one of the reasons Pod People is so classic is that you get "Hideous Control Now" AND the hysterical "You are magic, aren't you Trumpy?" sequences? In fact, I'd say Pod People is my all-time favorite, despite some really dull sections. I haven't re-watched too many of the ones I loved as a kid, so I hesitate to rate Santa Clause Conquers The Martians or Fugitive Alien - but, aw, heck, let's go ahead and give Fugitive Alien four stars. No episode that spawned "He triiiied to kill me with a forklift..." can be bad.

Just now finished up Samson Versus The Vampire Women, which has some surprising dead time (they could have done a lot more with the wrestling sequences) but redeems itself with the absolutely hilarious use of the old professor. The impressions they do of him are dead-on and add so much to the movie. "Now I want you to come back tomorrow, and leave immediately!"

Never could muster the interest to download/rent/otherwise be exposed to anything sci-fi related. It's not knee-jerk Mike hate (although I vastly prefer Joel) - just that everything I heard sounds so WTF. Dr. Forrester's mom? What? Great, more hammy villainy in Deep 13 is totally what the show needed....

Altogether, classic as entertainment on its own, probably dud in terms of what it spawned; as several people observed upthread, the world did NOT need another excuse for nerds to think they're clever in public places. Sons of bitches nearly ruined Snakes On A Plane for me. I don't think it changed anything one way or the other in terms of how we watch or consume anything - I mean, it was the 90s, postmodernism and cynicism and backtalk were hep generally, not to mention the tension between ironic appreciation and genuine camp love.

― Doctor Casino (Doctor Casino), Monday, 4 September 2006 14:43 (twelve years ago) Permalink

two weeks pass...

Am testing out one of the KTMA episodes, Superdome, on my new Mac mini -- thank heavens for increased processing speed and the like -- and I had forgotten how hilarious this line from Crow about the ever-gravelly David Janssen was:

"He's got a voice like a body being thrown through a bus window."

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 23 September 2006 06:23 (twelve years ago) Permalink

Is the Cube retired?

― Casuistry (Chris P), Saturday, 23 September 2006 06:35 (twelve years ago) Permalink

It is (CD drive finally stopped burning and I used that as an excuse to finally upgrade). Allegedly Cubes actually fetch a good price secondhand? If so, handy.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 23 September 2006 06:38 (twelve years ago) Permalink

My favorite ep was "Time of the Apes."

― ramon fernandez (ramon fernandez), Saturday, 23 September 2006 08:28 (twelve years ago) Permalink

four months pass...

Tons of Rifftrax have come out over these last few months and I've barely touched any of them (because I need to get around to getting hold of the movies or renting them or something). Shame on me. I suspect their Phantom Menace demolition will be something.

Speaking of, in part, there's a new interview with Mike up recently here worth a read if you have some time for it. One of my favorite bits:

QS: Of the ones you've done so far, are there any that were particularly hard going for you?

NELSON: I really, really, truly hated Star Wars: Episode I. I can't even describe how angry it made me.

QS: Had you seen it prior to that? Did you follow that whole debacle in real time as they were released? Or did you know enough to avoid them even then?

NELSON: I think Kevin at the time called me up and said we should go at the premier of this new Star Wars movie and laugh at the people. And I said, "That sounds fun." I think we couldn't get to one... they were all sold out, so we had to get to the one where only like 20% of the audience is dressed up instead of 95%.

QS: That'll keep down the light saber battles before the show starts.

NELSON: Yeah, you keep getting poked in the eye with light sabers and stuff. So we went to that and it was in the middle of the day, and I don't know why but I fell asleep during the middle of it. And I also, it was so loud, it was the loudest experience I'd ever had outside a Who concert. It was so loud that I couldn't even comprehend what was going on. So the memory of it was not coherent.

QS: Don't worry, neither was the execution...

NELSON: (laughs) Then when I saw it again... I just could not believe how incompetent it is in every way. Storytelling - non existent. Acting - god awful, horrendous, terrible acting. It's just astounding how bad it is.

QS: And yet made so much money. Do you ever worry about your fellow man when you view some of these huge successes?

NELSON: It does trouble me. It troubles me. But I fully accept that there are certain things that I am immune to. And I try not to make judgments on those. I am immune to the charm of comic books. And I understand that very many talented and smart people make them and read them, so it's something in me. But with Star Wars, I don't think I can be that charitable. I can maybe go halfway on that.

Other snippets: meeting Burt Reynolds and being fascinated by his wig and why Kevin Smith horned in on Mike's turf with the Roadhouse commentary.

Vol. 11 DVD set of MST3K out in a few months; no word of the contents yet. Also, apparently the rights have expired to all the films on Vol. 1 if you've not got them already, but doubtless your friendly neighborhood torrent will have you covered.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 5 February 2007 00:04 (twelve years ago) Permalink

How could "the rights" to The Creeping Terror ... um, even exist?

― Eric H. (Eric H.), Monday, 5 February 2007 07:12 (twelve years ago) Permalink

That was a seriously rambly and unfocused interview.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Monday, 5 February 2007 07:16 (twelve years ago) Permalink

The high points are definitely scattered throughout. Dude interviewing him needs to just sum it up in a story rather than a straight transcription.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 5 February 2007 07:20 (twelve years ago) Permalink

man, my bf has been trying to get us to watch 'the horrors of spider island' like 3 times now and we (me) keep falling asleep!

― ai lien (kold_krush), Monday, 5 February 2007 14:56 (twelve years ago) Permalink

two months pass...

one of my in-laws sent me this, just shot at her office apparently

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmrqfUuGHkY

― Shakey Mo Collier, Friday, 6 April 2007 23:05 (eleven years ago) Permalink

oh my god, thanks to this thread, i just found out about rifftrax

THANK YOU x385749872398472398472398423

― the sir weeze, Friday, 6 April 2007 23:42 (eleven years ago) Permalink

And the newest RiffTrax is on Attack of the Clones. This oughta be good.

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 6 April 2007 23:43 (eleven years ago) Permalink

Ah right, as the YouTube refers to, etc. Rah.

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 6 April 2007 23:49 (eleven years ago) Permalink

i never realized how impossibly GIDDY i could get at the prospect of watching "point break"

― the sir weeze, Friday, 6 April 2007 23:56 (eleven years ago) Permalink

My husband sent me an email last week to specifically tell me that there is a Rifftrax available for the 2 hour pilot episode of Lost. Can't wait.

Rifftrax for Roadhouse = beyond funny.

― Sara R-C, Saturday, 7 April 2007 00:04 (eleven years ago) Permalink

Update on the mst3k.com website:

---

The Film Crew--Kevin Murphy, Bill Corbett and Mike Nelson--will release their first in a new line of B-movie send-ups, under the Shout! Factory label, on July 10. And, unlike RiffTrax, these DVDs will even have a vaguely MST3K-like premise in place: Determined to provide a commentary track for every movie, the guys settle into the dank basement of an office building, where, each day, their boss, entertainment mogul Bob Honcho, calls them on speakerphone and tells them which bad movie they will riff. There'll be breaks in the riffing action for sketches and, best of all, no worries about whether they can eat and breathe!

As you probably know, four episodes have already been shot--Giant of Marathon (1959, starring Steve Reeves), Hollywood After Dark (1968, starring The Golden Girls' Rue McClannahan), Killers from Space (1954, starring Peter Graves) and The Wild Women of Wongo (1958)--and fans were given the chance to vote on which episode would be released first, based on votes at filmcrewonline.com.

Well the votes have been tallied and the winner is....Hollywood After Dark! (By the way, Killers from Space came in a close second, Wild Women of Wongo followed a bit further back and Giant of Marathon brought up the rear, with a little less than half the votes the winner got.)

The release date is July 10 and the price will be $19.99. The rest of the titles will follow during the rest of 2007. If you'd like to preorder the first two releases, please follow the following links:

Hollywood After Dark
Killers from Space

---

A 1968 sleazo Hollywood movie with Rue McLanahan? They have to be lurking here.

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 12 April 2007 14:33 (eleven years ago) Permalink

I'm sort of tired of hearing about Rifftrax, but have to admit I am curious about the one with Neil Patrick Harris.

― Eric H., Friday, 13 April 2007 05:29 (eleven years ago) Permalink

I just got Star Trek VI, but haven't watched it yet.

― Casuistry, Friday, 13 April 2007 07:31 (eleven years ago) Permalink

wait a minute, they did star trek vi?? that's not a bad movie!

― J.D., Friday, 13 April 2007 07:33 (eleven years ago) Permalink

There are a lot of not-all-that-bad movies involved in rifftrax, but then the same also went for MST3K.

― Eric H., Friday, 13 April 2007 16:08 (eleven years ago) Permalink

such as? Marooned?

― Dr Morbius, Friday, 13 April 2007 16:10 (eleven years ago) Permalink

aka Space Travelers

― Dr Morbius, Friday, 13 April 2007 16:11 (eleven years ago) Permalink

Hell, the Coleman Francis trilogy says more to me about masculinity than 300.

― Eric H., Friday, 13 April 2007 17:28 (eleven years ago) Permalink

"...Coffee?"

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 13 April 2007 17:45 (eleven years ago) Permalink

"Where is it, your coffee?"

― Eric H., Friday, 13 April 2007 18:24 (eleven years ago) Permalink

how long has this been the rolling 2007 ruin the good name of mst3k thread

at least joel has the decency to keep off this shit

― and what, Friday, 13 April 2007 20:00 (eleven years ago) Permalink

Joel was really cool when donut and I met him the one time after a taping of The TV Wheel. I get a sense he's just doing what he wants and not looking back; good for him.

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 13 April 2007 20:04 (eleven years ago) Permalink

i work with the guy who played salem on sabrina the teenage witch & he told me some great stories about working with 'magic joel' in the first season - apparently he was really into making sure that as much of the magic/witch stuff was slight of hand instead of camera trickery, which is awesome

― and what, Friday, 13 April 2007 20:07 (eleven years ago) Permalink

After "a" taping? Was there more than one?

― Casuistry, Friday, 13 April 2007 20:11 (eleven years ago) Permalink

To Ethan: Nice! I always liked when he did things like that on MST3K but obviously that's even more of a vehicle for it.

I had forgotten this:

http://www.mst3kinfo.com/satnews/brains/20q.html

Casuistry: yes, the pilot was filmed at least a couple of times -- remember since it was all live I think they wanted a few runthroughs to see which was the best/had the sharpest timing etc. Apparently the one we attended was the one actually broadcast.

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 13 April 2007 20:13 (eleven years ago) Permalink

My favorite Rifftrax tend to be the major studio disasters - The Wicker Man, Island of Dr. Moreau, Firewall. They do well with completely incomprehensible films that just defy logic. Crossroads is still my favorite, so much material. Overall these are not as enjoyable as MST3K, the lack of skits and characters hurts. But I'm not complaining, great to have new material even if it's not quite at the level of its former greatness. High hopes for the Film Crew.

― zaxxon25, Friday, 13 April 2007 20:14 (eleven years ago) Permalink

three weeks pass...

Nice enough NY Times article on various things. Meantime, RIP Bart Fargo.

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 7 May 2007 19:54 (eleven years ago) Permalink

i'm gonna try the LOST season one pilot, but the fifth element was seriously lacking.

― Ai Lien, Monday, 7 May 2007 20:11 (eleven years ago) Permalink

I've only seen the ones for Roadhouse and Firewall; Roadhouse worked a lot better, perhaps because it was a far worse film. We have the Rifftrax for The Matrix and X-Men, but just haven't found time for them yet.

― Sara R-C, Monday, 7 May 2007 21:29 (eleven years ago) Permalink

It turns out I have seen most of these movies in the non-MST3K version, now that I'm starting to watch it. I feel somewhat unrewarded after they took all the tedium after them---I've spent maybe 400 hours of my life watching these without the added funnies and I feel cheated somehow, that they made it easier for everyone.

― Abbott, Monday, 7 May 2007 21:37 (eleven years ago) Permalink

“Misties always said the sketches weren’t important and the premise wasn’t important,” said Mr. Cornell of the fan Web site, adding that the digs at movies were primary.

This is, basically, horseshit.

I dunno, I watched Star Trek VI and it was ok but my basic feeling afterwards was "yeah yeah, I've seen MST3K too, just like you guys have, so what?" It was fine and I laughed at times but without the sketches and premise there's just no way to get involved.

― Casuistry, Monday, 7 May 2007 21:55 (eleven years ago) Permalink

"Love wears a mask..."

"...a tight leather mask!"

― Ned Raggett, Saturday, 19 May 2007 00:41 (eleven years ago) Permalink

And another revival due to this really nice ramble of an interview with Trace Beaulieu. Lots of details I didn't know about, and I think rightly spends a lot more time on his work pre and post-MST3K than on the show itself. Good stuff.

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 1 June 2007 01:13 (eleven years ago) Permalink

wow, nice

thanks ned

― the sir weeze, Friday, 1 June 2007 01:55 (eleven years ago) Permalink

five months pass...

looks like Joel and some other original MST cast members are putting together something new:

http://www.cinematictitanic.com/

the text is conspicuously absent of any acknowledgement of Rifftrax, and is kinda vague about exactly what this is going to be. but the the "gentle and easy to swallow" part makes me wonder if it's going to be slightly more family-oriented, and the references a release by Christmas that's comparable to "Eegah" and "Manos The Hands Of Fate" would imply that they're going to be licensing campy cult movies for DVD release, as opposed to the Rifftrax model that allows for more current/popular releases.

― Alex in Baltimore, Friday, 2 November 2007 13:32 (eleven years ago) Permalink

thats kinda disappointing, i had just accepted joel was a weirdo genius & would be in bill watterson-style principled retirement forever

― and what, Friday, 2 November 2007 13:57 (eleven years ago) Permalink

joel hasn't been retired though? i thought he was script doctoring for a while?

― chicago kevin, Friday, 2 November 2007 14:14 (eleven years ago) Permalink

He'd been working at his own pace for some time on various things.

Not sure about this news; I'm kinda with Ethan. Still, also having Trace, Josh, Frank and Mary Jo together in the mix is of interest. (Also, all five of them were in that Darkstar game that still hasn't been released, I think.)

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 2 November 2007 14:20 (eleven years ago) Permalink

i knew trace was writing gags for americas funniest home videos - what scripts was joel doctoring?

― and what, Friday, 2 November 2007 14:21 (eleven years ago) Permalink

So I go over to mst3k.com and I also read this:

---

THE 'BOTS ARE BACK!
We are excited to announce some very big news for MST3K fans.

But first, some housekeeping: For reasons that will become apparent, we need to ask those of you who reach our site using the URL MST3K.com to update your bookmarks, and please use the URL MST3Kinfo.com. Many of you use this URL already, but if you get to us via MST3K.com, starting next week you won't be able to anymore.

The reason is that, next week, MST3K.com will become a new destination for a brand new site, created by a reconstituted, relaunched Best Brains Inc.

Or, as they put it when they contacted us about this: The 'Bots are Back!

Beginning November 5th, BBI will be launching its very own website at MST3K.com. The site will feature brand-new animated adventures of Crow, Tom Servo and Gypsy. We're told the goal is to have one new adventure each week (though "some settling may occur with shipping," they added). The Web site will also feature work from the original series (which BBI is now calling "the legacy series"), behind-the-scenes footage and other material culled from the BBI vault.

Also on the site will be BBI's first online store, featuring all new merchandise. (This means that the BBI merchandise section of our site has been taken down. )

The new adventures of the 'bots are being produced by BBI President, MST3K series writer and the returning voice of Gypsy, Jim Mallon. He will be joined on this new experiment by veteran MST3K series writer and performer Paul Chaplin (who will be on the writing team and will be providing the voice of Crow) along with new writing and performing talent.

We know this is going generate a lot of buzz among the fan base and you all probably have a zillion questions. So do we. Many will be answered on Nov. 5th. More will be answered soon after. Jim told us that the site and project "are going to grow in a very organic fashion and we're going to let the characters and the story take us in the direction they want to take us." We at Satellite News can't wait to see it.

What does this mean for Satellite News? The biggest change is that we will no longer be known as "The official MST3K Web site," and this marks the end of our 10-year arrangement with Best Brains as the official voice of the old Info Club. Jim has, however, declared us, "The Official MST3K fan site." We still have close ties to BBI and whenever they have news you'll see it here first, along with news about the rest of the former cast and crew members of our favorite cowtown puppet show. For us, this is just one more topic in the growing list of MST3K-related news it's our job to report.

We have some interesting plans for our site as well, so be sure to stay tuned!

---

Okay, this is just getting ridiculous.

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 2 November 2007 14:22 (eleven years ago) Permalink

It's like all those competing versions of the Drifters.

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 2 November 2007 14:23 (eleven years ago) Permalink

When Kevin and Frank re-team, it will be time to get excited all over again.

― Eric H., Friday, 2 November 2007 15:45 (eleven years ago) Permalink

i duno. joel, trace and frank doing shit together is pretty damn exciting.

― chaki, Friday, 2 November 2007 16:41 (eleven years ago) Permalink

Yeah, this is true. I admit I haven't seen too many Josh episodes.

Just watched Giant Leeches and Girl from Lovers Lane last night.

― Eric H., Friday, 2 November 2007 16:43 (eleven years ago) Permalink

"Big Stupid?"

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 2 November 2007 16:46 (eleven years ago) Permalink

"Heterosexual experience."

oh, and the Don Martin shoes.

― Eric H., Friday, 2 November 2007 16:54 (eleven years ago) Permalink

"...this isn't the answer."

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 2 November 2007 16:58 (eleven years ago) Permalink

And then in the leech movie, dumpy overweight pig husband muttering under his breath to tightly-packed, pert-bosumed saucy cat wife wearing mini kimono: "Quit wearing my things."

― Eric H., Friday, 2 November 2007 17:04 (eleven years ago) Permalink

That is one grimy movie, that one.

"Here you go, Miss Shelby."

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 2 November 2007 17:11 (eleven years ago) Permalink

It's like everyone except my favorite Best Brains members Michael Nelson and Kevin Murphy are trying to do their own "The New Adventures Of Mystery Science Theater 3000". :(

― Mackro Mackro, Friday, 2 November 2007 17:28 (eleven years ago) Permalink

uh www.rifftrax.com

― and what, Friday, 2 November 2007 17:29 (eleven years ago) Permalink

I watched the show for 4-5 years, but u guys scare me

― Dr Morbius, Friday, 2 November 2007 17:30 (eleven years ago) Permalink

thanks?

― latebloomer, Friday, 2 November 2007 17:32 (eleven years ago) Permalink

joel, trace and frank will always be the "real" mst3k for me.

― chaki, Friday, 2 November 2007 17:32 (eleven years ago) Permalink

joel, trace and frank will always be the "real" mst3k for me.

-- chaki, Friday, November 2, 2007 1:32 PM (3 seconds ago) Bookmark Link

^^^^

― and what, Friday, 2 November 2007 17:32 (eleven years ago) Permalink

if crow isnt trace he can fuck off

― and what, Friday, 2 November 2007 17:33 (eleven years ago) Permalink

trace is awesome

― omar little, Friday, 2 November 2007 17:34 (eleven years ago) Permalink

You worked with him a bit, right?

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 2 November 2007 17:36 (eleven years ago) Permalink

(You probably say that upthread, actually.)

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 2 November 2007 17:36 (eleven years ago) Permalink

yeah for awhile. we talked about mst3k a couple times. my bro was a much bigger fan of the show than i was (and i thought it was great) and when he visited town i introduced him to trace, who talked to him about the show for 30 minutes and gave him a signed dr clayton forrester photo.

― omar little, Friday, 2 November 2007 17:38 (eleven years ago) Permalink

New Crow has his moments, but it's the interstitial shit on the Sci Fi episodes that's really tedious.

― Lolpez, Friday, 2 November 2007 17:39 (eleven years ago) Permalink

the interstitial stuff btwn Frank-Dr. F was occasionally better than the feature, tho.

― Dr Morbius, Friday, 2 November 2007 17:41 (eleven years ago) Permalink

everybody stop saying "frank" without the "tv's" honorific

― mookieproof, Friday, 2 November 2007 17:45 (eleven years ago) Permalink

uh www.rifftrax.com

Damn.

thx ethan

― Mackro Mackro, Friday, 2 November 2007 17:46 (eleven years ago) Permalink

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g169/lordparsec/JoelandBots.jpg

<3 <3 <3

― chaki, Friday, 2 November 2007 17:47 (eleven years ago) Permalink

New Crow has his moments, but it's the interstitial shit on the Sci Fi episodes that's really tedious.

-- Lolpez, Friday, November 2, 2007 9:39 AM (7 minutes ago) Bookmark Link

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

the interstitial stuff btwn Frank-Dr. F was occasionally better than the feature, tho.

-- Dr Morbius, Friday, November 2, 2007 9:41 AM (5 minutes ago) Bookmark Link

Neither of them made it to the Sci Fi channel though.

― Lolpez, Friday, 2 November 2007 17:47 (eleven years ago) Permalink

I was probably wrong to side with Fujiwara upthread. These days, I dig MST3K a little bit more than the entire concept of movies.

― Eric H., Friday, 2 November 2007 18:28 (eleven years ago) Permalink

ban Eric

― Dr Morbius, Friday, 2 November 2007 18:43 (eleven years ago) Permalink

from ILF

― Eric H., Friday, 2 November 2007 18:57 (eleven years ago) Permalink

there's an admin there?

― Dr Morbius, Friday, 2 November 2007 19:03 (eleven years ago) Permalink

Hooboy.

http://www.mst3k.com/

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 6 November 2007 04:26 (eleven years ago) Permalink

Rifftrax have enjoyably increased in consistency and quality over the last 10-15 episodes or so. Unfortunately initial Film Crew DVDs are near the very low end of MST3K episodes.

― zaxxon25, Wednesday, 7 November 2007 12:42 (eleven years ago) Permalink

joel, trace and frank will always be the "real" mst3k for me.

skitwise definitely but I'll lose my shit during any era of the movies themselves.

― da croupier, Wednesday, 7 November 2007 14:21 (eleven years ago) Permalink

these days I'll ffwd through any interlude that doesn't feature frank, sweet frank

― da croupier, Wednesday, 7 November 2007 14:26 (eleven years ago) Permalink

yeah, the actual movie parts never really lost teh funny.

anthony totally otm about frank

― latebloomer, Wednesday, 7 November 2007 14:31 (eleven years ago) Permalink

I'm guessing any possibility of a DVD release of any of the classic episodes is pretty much nil, right?

― If Assholes Could Fly This Place Would Be An Airport, Wednesday, 7 November 2007 18:05 (eleven years ago) Permalink

They've released like 10 boxsets of 4 classic episodes each so far.

― The Yellow Kid, Wednesday, 7 November 2007 19:43 (eleven years ago) Permalink

I was gonna say! They've been chugging out regularly, but they're a total mix of what they have the rights to at any given time, and have covered everything from the first to the final season.

http://www.rhino.com/mst3k/index.lasso

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 7 November 2007 19:44 (eleven years ago) Permalink

(Actually I'm kinda pissed with myself now, turns out they've pulled Volumes 9 and 10 -- I have nine but wasn't able to find ten, and now I know why!)

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 7 November 2007 19:49 (eleven years ago) Permalink

wait why?

― chaki, Wednesday, 7 November 2007 19:52 (eleven years ago) Permalink

Gotta be something to do with the film rights. One of the Vol. 10 choices was Godzilla v. Megalon and I noticed some comment over on Amazon where a guy sez, "Wonder how they were able to get the rights to that one?" Perhaps Toho wasn't happy.

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 7 November 2007 19:55 (eleven years ago) Permalink

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/5d/Mike_Nelson_as_Torgo.jpg/225px-Mike_Nelson_as_Torgo.jpg

― PappaWheelie V, Saturday, 17 November 2007 05:14 (eleven years ago) Permalink

"...lEt Me GeT yOu YoUr FrEe CrAzY bReAd."

"NO, NO!"

― Ned Raggett, Saturday, 17 November 2007 05:25 (eleven years ago) Permalink

one month passes...

http://cinematictitanic.com/all_josh_darth_sm.jpg

(Also, the first Cinematic Titanic release is available.)

― Ned Raggett, Sunday, 30 December 2007 03:56 (eleven years ago) Permalink

Prince of Space and Invasion of the Neptune Men were great

― Bo Jackson Overdrive, Sunday, 30 December 2007 04:35 (eleven years ago) Permalink

That photo is so weird. I guess I should have expected that Frank Conniff would pull a Terry Jones as he got older.

― Casuistry, Sunday, 30 December 2007 08:24 (eleven years ago) Permalink

Picked up the Vol. 12 DVD set the other week -- worth it to finally have The Starfighters alone on DVD. "Bob Dornan, wild at heart."

Couple of the extra bits on the set were great -- for The Rebel Set they interviewed Don Sullivan, aka the 'sing-whenever-I-sing' guy from The Giant Gila Monster. Classy guy, one of those 'go to Hollywood to make it big' fellows (from Idaho! he escaped like Abbott did!) who never broke through but apparently had a great time in LA anyway. Good slice-of-life stories about his time as a young actor, how The Rebel Set came together, and how he didn't mind the MST take on it because as he says, "They took a dramatic film, and made it funny as well." Nice attitude!

For Parts: The Clonus Horror they interviewed Robert Fiveson, the director -- his stories were just as good, went over the whole stuck-with-no-budget origins of the production, how he initially cringed when he heard that MST wanted to do it but then thought, "Hey, wait, what's wrong with more attention?," enjoyed what they did with it and was especially gratified with the attention and support that a lot of MSTies gave him when the whole kerfluffle with The Island blew up a few years later.

Some of the trailers they provided as well were crazy. None for The Starfighters but one each for the rest, and each of them are priceless in cheesetastic ways.

Meantime! Some happy news I dug up about how the Vol. 10 DVD set had gone out of print before a lot of people could snag it due to a rights problem with Toho over a Godzilla inclusion -- the word is:

The Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection, Vol. 10.2
Available February, 2008. Replacing Vol. 10 (which withdrawn due to rights issues involving episode 212- Godzilla vs. Megalon), this will contain the same titles, except that episode 212 will be replaced with episode 402- The Giant Gila Monster. The new disk will also feature a bit featuring Joel Hodgson, Trace Beaulieu and J. Elvis Weinstein, in which they make sport of the rights screw-up. For those that managed to buy Vol. 10 before it was pulled, the Gila Monster DVD will also be sold as a single unit.

It's also the first time any of those three have done anything for the Rhino DVDs as a bonus appearance, and two-to-one it's going to be a Cinematic Titanic plug as well, why not? Anyway, glad this is happening because I missed getting my copy! (Vol. 9 is still unavailable due to rights problems as well, no word on that changing yet.)

― Ned Raggett, Sunday, 6 January 2008 23:53 (eleven years ago) Permalink

two weeks pass...

Interesting!

SHOUT! FACTORY ACQUIRES CULT FAVORITE
COMEDY SERIES MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000
FOR WORLDWIDE HOME ENTERTAINMENT
AND DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION
LOS ANGELES, CA - Adding to its expansive library of comedic TV offerings, Shout! Factory secured the worldwide home entertainment and digital download rights to the long running American cult television comedy series Mystery Science Theater 3000 (MST3K.) This announcement was made by Shout! Factory President Garson Foos.
Under the terms of the multi-year agreement, Shout! Factory will be the exclusive worldwide home entertainment and digital media distributor for Mystery Science Theater 3000 branded properties which include a vast library of original episodes that have never-been-available on DVD or for digital download.
“Mystery Science Theater 3000 is a true cult-classic series. Its high-camp rendition of B-movies to the small screen makes it one of the most memorable pop culture shows of our time,” said Garson Foos, President of Shout! Factory. “MST3K lines up perfectly with Shout! Factory brand. We’re thrilled to work with Jim to further the legend of MST3K on DVD and in the digital marketplace.”
“We are thrilled to be at Shout! Factory. It is a really a great fit for Mystery Science Theater 3000,” said Jim Mallon, President of Best Brains, Inc. and a producer/director/writer of MST3K. “Shout! Factory totally gets the world of MST3K and has shown great respect for Joel, Mike, the Mads and the quirky little bots. They have already issued us lockers. We look forward to great new releases ahead.”
—————-
Our source at Shout Factory says they are looking at the first release around mid-year and they have not made any decisions about what whether they will be single releases or sets.
Volume 10.2 will be the final Rhino release.

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 24 January 2008 18:50 (eleven years ago) Permalink

Dammit, Raggett, you beat me to this

― kingfish, Saturday, 26 January 2008 08:54 (eleven years ago) Permalink

So I bit the bullet and bought the Cinematic Titanic "Oozing Brain" DVD yesterday...come Thursday, fresh Joel! Or at least I hope so...

― VegemiteGrrrl, Saturday, 26 January 2008 09:22 (eleven years ago) Permalink

Ooh, I might have to attend.

http://cinematictitanic.com/wpmu/ct-launch-party-at-acme-comedy-co-in-minneapolis-mn/

― Eric H., Saturday, 26 January 2008 18:19 (eleven years ago) Permalink

Yeah, that looks great. Go! And report.

― Ned Raggett, Saturday, 26 January 2008 18:27 (eleven years ago) Permalink

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXXBuEfQskk

― Eric H., Saturday, 9 February 2008 04:20 (eleven years ago) Permalink

I went to the launch party last night! Was really fun, they showed about the first 15 minutes of the cinematic titantic DVD, which appears to be pretty much exactly MST3K except w/o the robot schtick, but they definitely seem to still "have it" in terms of their riffing on the flick....

the film was called "The Ooozing Brain" late 50s probably...some good lines...Old Man on his deathbed: "I'm dying" -- "FOR A CHOCOTACO"

but yeah after that it was pretty much just a luv fest, they called off a bunch of names i'm assuming were login names on the MST3K messageboard from the sound of it.

then they did standup...Joel did some funny prop comedy stuff..Frank Coniff was fucking amazing actually....he strikes this weird balance between really edgy offensive stuff and almost hokey cruise ship comedy that's amazing...

"I went to the massage parlour and asked the masseuse for a 'happy ending'.....She showed me the end of Shawshank Rendemption..........[long pause]...I mean, I still TOTALLY came"

― M@tt He1ges0n, Wednesday, 13 February 2008 16:15 (eleven years ago) Permalink

dammit! i was going to go to that, i completely forgot

and yes, frank is the *greatest*

good to hear some good feedback

― the sir weeze, Wednesday, 13 February 2008 16:23 (eleven years ago) Permalink

"I went to the massage parlour and asked the masseuse for a 'happy ending'.....She showed me the end of Shawshank Rendemption..........[long pause]...I mean, I still TOTALLY came"

oh man

― gff, Wednesday, 13 February 2008 16:25 (eleven years ago) Permalink

i know i'm on record as kind of an MST hater but i'm sad i missed this!

― gff, Wednesday, 13 February 2008 16:25 (eleven years ago) Permalink

btw, thank you for posting that 'shine your love' clip, that is absolutely hall of fame

'hey how about shining my STEAK over here?!'

― the sir weeze, Wednesday, 13 February 2008 16:37 (eleven years ago) Permalink

Okay that Frank comment. What a genius.

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 13 February 2008 17:11 (eleven years ago) Permalink

No man is a 3 Mile Island, Glenn.

- from Amazing Collosal Man

I'm watching this show again for the first time in years and am LOVING IT.

― nickalicious, Tuesday, 19 February 2008 18:16 (eleven years ago) Permalink

Damn, I forgot about this too!

― Eric H., Tuesday, 19 February 2008 19:53 (eleven years ago) Permalink

Hahaha.

"What kind of sin could a man commit in a single lifetime..."

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 19 February 2008 20:01 (eleven years ago) Permalink

"I just can't believe there were 'woo! woo!' guys on the Titanic."

― roxymuzak, Tuesday, 4 March 2008 14:52 (ten years ago) Permalink

we got our first film crew DVD, some steve reeves crap... kinda slower paced, not as brutally laugh-inducing as MST. at least not so far. still need to send for cinematic titanic.

― GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ, Tuesday, 4 March 2008 17:26 (ten years ago) Permalink

Cinematic Titanic is fun...but the first half feels a little awkward, and just a tad forced. But the movie becomes so mind-bogglingly ridiculous that
their comedy gold starts to kick in. I'm interested to see what they do next.

― VegemiteGrrrl, Wednesday, 5 March 2008 02:40 (ten years ago) Permalink

four months pass...

The four films on the first Shout Factory MST3K box were announced a little while back:

211- First Spaceship on Venus
706- Laserblast
904- Werewolf
1004- Future War

Good choices all. "Future Wax!"

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 4 August 2008 04:44 (ten years ago) Permalink

three months pass...

Nice job with the new set; ended up getting a fancy schmantz version at Amoeba on credit, so hey. The 50s style movie poster covers/one-sheets for each episode are v. enjoyable, hope they continue that. Still need to sit down and watch the documentary/Comic-Con panel stuff, though.

Meantime, the next set announced, for February release:

* 103- Mad Monster
* 413- Manhunt in Space
* 1001- Soultaker
* 1008- Final Justice

Great to have another season one episode available, and the other three are all treats.

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 12 November 2008 16:14 (ten years ago) Permalink

oh man, "Final Justice"

― Black Seinfeld (HI DERE), Wednesday, 12 November 2008 16:19 (ten years ago) Permalink

"You think you can take me? Go head on...IT'S YOUR MOVE."

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 12 November 2008 16:22 (ten years ago) Permalink

Goosio!

― balloon in a sack (latebloomer), Wednesday, 12 November 2008 16:52 (ten years ago) Permalink

five months pass...

― All that you should require of music is that it gets you laid. (Eisbaer), Sunday, 3 May 2009 10:31 (nine years ago) Permalink

one month passes...

An interview with Rick Sloane, director of Hobgoblins. Who is about to release a sequel.

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 16 June 2009 01:35 (nine years ago) Permalink

I was kinda blown away by that Night Train to Mundo Fine song the first time I watched Red Zone Cube. I thought it was John Carradine singing at first.

― BRTO (Mexican Sleeping Pill), Tuesday, 16 June 2009 18:58 (nine years ago) Permalink

Oops, it is. Nevermind.

― BRTO (Mexican Sleeping Pill), Tuesday, 16 June 2009 18:59 (nine years ago) Permalink

"They don't call John Carradine 'the Voice' for nothing!"

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 16 June 2009 20:07 (nine years ago) Permalink

"To be blessed with an instrument like that." (Not positive that was used there, but should've been.)

― bad crack (Eric H.), Tuesday, 16 June 2009 20:58 (nine years ago) Permalink

Yup, it definitely was used there.

"Drink Night Train
Go to the basketball game
Throw up under the bleachers..."

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 16 June 2009 20:59 (nine years ago) Permalink

Good episode for ditties: "Everyone is having fun and smoking. And the dogs are eating too."

― bad crack (Eric H.), Tuesday, 16 June 2009 21:00 (nine years ago) Permalink

"This film DARES you to watch it."

Next DVD set:

The Robot Vs. The Aztec Mummy
The Girl In Lovers Lane
Zombie Nightmare
Racket Girls

Good choices all I'd say.

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 16 June 2009 21:01 (nine years ago) Permalink

Racket Girls!!! Gun to my head, that's my single favorite episode.

― bad crack (Eric H.), Tuesday, 16 June 2009 21:02 (nine years ago) Permalink

I love it as well, so much WTF scene by scene in that one.

"Nice...ou--at...you."

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 16 June 2009 21:04 (nine years ago) Permalink

"Sorry, little fantasy there."

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 16 June 2009 21:04 (nine years ago) Permalink

"Strut, pout, put it out, that's what you want from grandma!"

― bad crack (Eric H.), Tuesday, 16 June 2009 21:09 (nine years ago) Permalink

Hahah oh the pain.

And of course Monk, who I think we both talked about upthread. And Michael Stipe. (Dude did have an uncanny resemblance.)

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 16 June 2009 21:12 (nine years ago) Permalink

Oh I'm sure I brought up Monk, Stipe, Rita Martinez, Bub, Peaches and that guy in its seventh year of an unpaid internship all upthread.

― bad crack (Eric H.), Tuesday, 16 June 2009 22:48 (nine years ago) Permalink

"Aaaaah! Aaaaah!"

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 16 June 2009 23:07 (nine years ago) Permalink

I've been going through all available MST3Ks, seen and unseen, on netflix. Most of the few I wasn't already familiar with didn't blow me away until I got to Teenage Strangler (for this guy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTJq4LHes6Q) and Wild World Of Batwoman which I can't believe I hadn't seen until this week.

― da croupier, Tuesday, 16 June 2009 23:24 (nine years ago) Permalink

Both stellar and without clicking I know that link has to do with the theft of bicycles and denials to that effect.

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 16 June 2009 23:27 (nine years ago) Permalink

Riding With Death isn't available on any collections yet, right? All I have of that is my scratchy VHS tape from when it originally aired.

― Chubby Checker Psycho (Pancakes Hackman), Wednesday, 17 June 2009 00:02 (nine years ago) Permalink

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNDrUid2VbQ

"Mom, I don't want to be in dad's movie anymore!"

― James Mitchell, Thursday, 18 June 2009 03:57 (nine years ago) Permalink

three weeks pass...

Join the stars of Mystery Science Theater 3000 for the comedy event of the year!
Fathom Events presents RiffTrax LIVE: Plan 9 from Outer Space, an evening of LIVE riffing on the Worst Movie Ever Made beaming into movie theaters nationwide on Thursday, August 20th at 8PM ET/ 7PM CT/ 6PM MT/ Tape Delayed at 8PM PT.
Join Michael J. Nelson, Kevin Murphy (Tom Servo) and Bill Corbett (Crow T. Robot), now of RiffTrax.com, as they are reunited in HD for the first time ever on the big screen! This event will feature the world premiere of a brand new, never-before-seen short and non-stop hilarious riffing on a COLOR version of “Plan 9 from Outer Space”- a 1959 science fiction/horror film written, produced and directed by Edward D. Wood Jr.
This event will be hosted by Veronica Belmont, the Host of Tekzilla on Revision3 and Qore on the PlayStation Network, with Musical Guest Jonathan Coulton and a special segment by Rich “Lowtax” Kyanka of Something Awful.
Everyone Loves Free Stuff…
All event attendees will receive FREE exclusive digital goodies including a never before seen downloadable short, an autographed digital photo of the guys and a song by the RiffTones! A URL and code will be revealed on-screen at the end of the event.
This one night event will be broadcast LIVE out of the Belcourt Theater in Nashville, TN into your local movie theater. Don’t miss an exciting evening of LIVE riffing, zombies, aliens, cheesy performances, wisecracks, laughable special effects and more!

― I am moving on baby, I am moving on (Pancakes Hackman), Wednesday, 15 July 2009 18:22 (nine years ago) Permalink

one month passes...

i'm watching seinfeld last night, and sitting right behind kramer as he drives the bus on the peterman reality tour is bunny summers, better known to me as zurella in merlin's shop of mystical wonders. try the merlin chop, a half pound of merlin served with vegetable of the day and whipped desert.

― andrew m., Friday, 21 August 2009 02:41 (nine years ago) Permalink

Hahahah oh man.

"I'm a pillow with features!"

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 21 August 2009 02:58 (nine years ago) Permalink

"remember: believe in magic...or i'll kill you!

don't get me started. this one's my fave.

― andrew m., Friday, 21 August 2009 03:19 (nine years ago) Permalink

"Rock 'n roll machine!"

(Or is it "Rock n' roll martian"?)

― irreconcilable aesthetic criteria (Eric H.), Friday, 21 August 2009 03:50 (nine years ago) Permalink

"I bet she sweats to the oldies."

― irreconcilable aesthetic criteria (Eric H.), Friday, 21 August 2009 03:51 (nine years ago) Permalink

It's so "Rock and roll Martian."

Anyway:

"Based on a short story by Sigmund Freud!"

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 21 August 2009 04:02 (nine years ago) Permalink

"Working at home: the reality."

― irreconcilable aesthetic criteria (Eric H.), Friday, 21 August 2009 04:12 (nine years ago) Permalink

"...if you don't talk to your kids about bedspreads, who will?"

And we haven't even mentioned frickin' Borgnine yet.

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 21 August 2009 04:14 (nine years ago) Permalink

"Does he have a sea turtle under his vest?"

― irreconcilable aesthetic criteria (Eric H.), Friday, 21 August 2009 04:31 (nine years ago) Permalink

Tonight on Old Lady Gets Killed!

― andrew m., Friday, 21 August 2009 04:47 (nine years ago) Permalink

Haha, that's my favorite one.

"Oh, my bra popped."

― irreconcilable aesthetic criteria (Eric H.), Friday, 21 August 2009 04:53 (nine years ago) Permalink

three weeks pass...

Watching Racket Girls again thanks to that recent set -- Jesus H. I can't disagree with Eric H. about making that one a top choice.

Next set:

Episodes will be: 105- THE CORPSE VANISHES (with short: COMMANDO CODY PT 3), 501- WARRIOR OF THE LOST WORLD, 521- SANTA CLAUS and 701- NIGHT OF THE BLOOD BEAST (with short: ONCE UPON A HONEYMOON)
Extras will include:
* A new interview with “Warrior of the Lost World” director David Worth
* Santa Claus Conquers the Devil: A 50-Year Retrospective
* Santa Claus original radio spot
* Santa Claus still gallery
* Teaser for “Wonder World of K. Gordon Murray in Colorscope”
* Night of the Blood Beast Turkey Day host segments
* Turkey Day ‘95 bumpers
* Original theatrical trailers
* 4 exclusive MST3K lobby cards by artist Steve Vance
* And, in a limited-edition version, a Tom Servo figurine
It’s scheduled for release on Dec. 1.

I do like the continued progression through Season 1, I'm hoping that continues.

― Ned Raggett, Saturday, 12 September 2009 23:38 (nine years ago) Permalink

Racket Girls is just non-stop, relentless riffing with virtually nil dud punchlines, especially when action switches to the ring.

― boring movies are the most boring (Eric H.), Sunday, 13 September 2009 03:27 (nine years ago) Permalink

"IT'S IGGY POP!"

― Ned Raggett, Sunday, 13 September 2009 03:39 (nine years ago) Permalink

"Strut, pout, put it out, that's what you want from Grandma!"

"I love the rings! Whoopee!"

("You sure look like a swell dish to me.") "Chaplin speaks!"

― boring movies are the most boring (Eric H.), Sunday, 13 September 2009 04:03 (nine years ago) Permalink

added "racket girls" to my netflix. we just watched "touch of satan," which drags a little towards the end (both the original and the mocking), also lacks much in the way of satan.

― GOVERNMENT TRASH QUEEN ON A THRONE (GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ), Sunday, 13 September 2009 13:25 (nine years ago) Permalink

like, apparently satan a) saves peoples' lives if you agree to do nothing in particular for him, b) makes old ladies kill cops and c) keeps you looking youthful for well over 100 years.

― GOVERNMENT TRASH QUEEN ON A THRONE (GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ), Sunday, 13 September 2009 13:26 (nine years ago) Permalink

"That's where the fish lives!"

― More Butty In Your Pants (Telephone thing), Sunday, 13 September 2009 17:52 (nine years ago) Permalink

RIP Robert Ginty, aka 'the Paper Chase guy' from Warrior of the Lost World.

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 23 September 2009 22:43 (nine years ago) Permalink

aww, RIP. i remember him from such films as "the exterminator."

Ginty later directed a hip-hop production of "A Clockwork Orange" in Toronto.

― GOVERNMENT TRASH QUEEN ON A THRONE (GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ), Thursday, 24 September 2009 07:50 (nine years ago) Permalink

Trailer for "One More Time", the official sequel to "The Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living and Became Mixed-Up Zombies"

There are...no words to describe this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K14nHF4IKwA

― Pheeel, Thursday, 24 September 2009 12:45 (nine years ago) Permalink

http://imgur.com/TwLkA.jpg

― omar little, Thursday, 24 September 2009 19:19 (nine years ago) Permalink

three weeks pass...

Guys, I love Gypsy so much. If ever I am having to deal with a woman who is insane and impatient, pretending she is Gypsy makes everything manageable.

― existential eggs (Abbott), Monday, 19 October 2009 18:52 (nine years ago) Permalink

How they say "Hey, girl," to her in the intro makes me laugh every time.

― existential eggs (Abbott), Monday, 19 October 2009 18:53 (nine years ago) Permalink

BECAUSE HEEEEEEEEEEE HOLDS ME!
HEEEEEEEEEEE WANTS ME!
HEEEEEEEEEEE LIKES TO WEAR MITTENS!
HEEEEEEEEEEE'S GOT A DEVIATED SEPTUM!

― James Mitchell, Friday, 23 October 2009 23:12 (nine years ago) Permalink

http://keepcirculatingthetapes.blogspot.com

― Alex Android (Viceroy), Saturday, 24 October 2009 01:33 (nine years ago) Permalink

Is that yours?

― existential eggs (Abbott), Saturday, 24 October 2009 16:56 (nine years ago) Permalink

(fwiw I just asked him the easy way, by talking to him, and he said "yes.") Awesome!

― existential eggs (Abbott), Saturday, 24 October 2009 16:57 (nine years ago) Permalink

Hahaha so handy.

― Ned Raggett, Saturday, 24 October 2009 19:42 (nine years ago) Permalink

eye creatures episode is classic, 'specially the part about how the filmmakers "just. didn't. care."

― latebloomer, Sunday, 25 October 2009 05:24 (nine years ago) Permalink

otm that could be my favorite episode

― pixiedust: movement of tinkerbell (tremendoid), Sunday, 25 October 2009 09:21 (nine years ago) Permalink

If you look on torrent sites there's the Danger! Death Ray 'Bop-a-dop-a-da-dah' soundtrack to download.

― James Mitchell, Sunday, 25 October 2009 10:37 (nine years ago) Permalink

oh my god that blog. there goes the rest of my life.

― daytime shooter, nighttime shanksta (GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ), Sunday, 25 October 2009 16:38 (nine years ago) Permalink

one month passes...

went to see the Riff Trax Christmas shorts live thing at a local movie theater last night. Not bad! Lotsa good, creepy Santa stuff. And Weird Al makes a guest appearance, but he seemed eager to leave the stage.

― andrew m., Thursday, 17 December 2009 16:19 (nine years ago) Permalink

Really need to bust out Santa Claus Conquers the Martians here (both MST3K and the Cinematic Titanic version).

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 17 December 2009 16:21 (nine years ago) Permalink

I wanted to go to the Riff Trax Christmas, but I have been way to busy and there's no way I could find a babysitter.

― ô_o (Nicole), Thursday, 17 December 2009 16:23 (nine years ago) Permalink

The first year that we can't celebrate a Patrick Swayze Christmas ;(

― James Mitchell, Thursday, 17 December 2009 16:25 (nine years ago) Permalink

i'd say just take your child, nicole, but it would probably put him/her off santa, elves, other children, moms, dads, pork, "small and of no account" christmas trees, and various other things for life.

― andrew m., Thursday, 17 December 2009 16:27 (nine years ago) Permalink

I don't know how other people in the theater would have felt about having a rambunctious 2 year old there.

― ô_o (Nicole), Thursday, 17 December 2009 16:28 (nine years ago) Permalink

a rambunctious 2 year old would've been better than being stuck next to a bunch of fools who apparently thought that the pros riffing on screen gave them license to add their own loud riffs for 2 hours!

― andrew m., Thursday, 17 December 2009 16:32 (nine years ago) Permalink

Yikes. Next time, maybe they should do some sort of pay per view or on demand type of thing, because that sounds bad.

― ô_o (Nicole), Thursday, 17 December 2009 16:33 (nine years ago) Permalink

went to see the Riff Trax Christmas shorts live thing at a local movie theater last night. Not bad! Lotsa good, creepy Santa stuff.

saw this with my friend last night. good times! the shorts were very very confounding/creepy.

― krampus activities (latebloomer), Thursday, 17 December 2009 20:23 (nine years ago) Permalink

there's one about this little doll that comes to life that is the stuff of nightmares

also a 30's/40's newsreel short about a swimming exhibition featuring esther williams, johnny weismuller AND buster crabbe

― krampus activities (latebloomer), Thursday, 17 December 2009 20:28 (nine years ago) Permalink

and swimming

― krampus activities (latebloomer), Thursday, 17 December 2009 20:31 (nine years ago) Permalink

I'm going to see Cinematic Titanic live on New Year's Eve.

― President Keyes, Thursday, 17 December 2009 22:52 (nine years ago) Permalink

three weeks pass...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tv0S2gzcEeU

― At least Elvis Costello has never eaten his own excrement on stage. (Eisbaer), Tuesday, 12 January 2010 01:59 (nine years ago) Permalink

the full version of night train to mundo fine up there has destroyed all rational thought.

― strongohulkingtonsghost, Tuesday, 12 January 2010 02:21 (nine years ago) Permalink

best. song. ever.

― VegemiteGrrrl, Tuesday, 12 January 2010 03:00 (nine years ago) Permalink

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQb1fxbos7Q&feature=PlayList&p=201D6495F6E9E1E1&index=9

FF---> 6:00 min

― Astronaut Mike Dexter (Jimmy The Mod Awaits The Return Of His Beloved), Tuesday, 12 January 2010 05:30 (nine years ago) Permalink

Now is the time of year to play Superdome and go 'what the hell.' Even in the KTMA era they knew how to handle slop so perfectly.

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 12 January 2010 05:48 (nine years ago) Permalink

"This would fall into the category of 'plot facets we don't care about.'"

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 12 January 2010 05:57 (nine years ago) Permalink

the full version of night train to mundo fine up there has destroyed all rational thought.

― strongohulkingtonsghost, Monday, January 11, 2010 6:21 PM (Yesterday) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

best. song. ever.

― VegemiteGrrrl, Monday, January 11, 2010 7:00 PM (Yesterday) Bookmark

^^
i love this song too! mike has some funny ad-libs over it as well.

― Mr. Big STFU (ojo), Tuesday, 12 January 2010 20:29 (nine years ago) Permalink

"Drink Night Train/Go to the basketball game/Throw up under the bleachers..."

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 12 January 2010 20:40 (nine years ago) Permalink

I still rep for "Idiot Control Now" from Pod People. It stinks!

― Doctor Casino, Tuesday, 12 January 2010 20:50 (nine years ago) Permalink

and here's the worst. song. ever.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBuRvsLK1Pc

― Fahrvergnügent (herb albert), Tuesday, 12 January 2010 20:59 (nine years ago) Permalink

my mitchell: i think i'll keep him

― andrew m., Tuesday, 12 January 2010 21:45 (nine years ago) Permalink

speaking of mst3k tunes and such, check the leonardo music journal over on noise thread. someone's put up a boatload of morricone stuff, including the danger: diabolik! soundtrack. it's ripped from the movie because the og tapes burned or something, so there's bits of dialog. which is kinda fun in a way, especially for fans of the mst3k version.

― andrew m., Tuesday, 12 January 2010 21:48 (nine years ago) Permalink

Doesn't rank as high as Creepy Girl, but "Werewolf" end credits still make me laugh til I cry...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLDQOVrtgJ4

― VegemiteGrrrl, Tuesday, 12 January 2010 22:09 (nine years ago) Permalink

The whole "Werewolf" episodes is one of my favorite anythings ever.

"Sure, I'll talk a walk!" "Over to Kirk Douglas's house!"

― Snake Effect Low (Pancakes Hackman), Tuesday, 12 January 2010 22:15 (nine years ago) Permalink

"a warwulf"

― Mr. Big STFU (ojo), Tuesday, 12 January 2010 22:49 (nine years ago) Permalink

And of course, speaking of songs:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xvhn122ygc

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 12 January 2010 23:14 (nine years ago) Permalink

i won't hear anyone sullying the work of hoyt axton.

― strongohulkingtonsghost, Wednesday, 13 January 2010 00:17 (nine years ago) Permalink

i am obsessing over "creepy girl" -- can't decide if that song or "mundo fine" is my favorite MST3K song.

― At least Elvis Costello has never eaten his own excrement on stage. (Eisbaer), Wednesday, 13 January 2010 00:28 (nine years ago) Permalink

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQ84i9QdIQk

this might be my favorite musical moment from the show.

― Mr. Big STFU (ojo), Wednesday, 13 January 2010 01:04 (nine years ago) Permalink

http://www.wfmu.org/playlists/NP

Thursday, January 14th, 2am - 6am: Frank Conniff of Mystery Science Theater 3000
Tune in as your favorite amateur paranormalists Dave & Sandy stay up all night to investigate special celebrity guest Frank Conniff aka TV's Frank from Mystery Science Theater 3000! They'll be discussing the minutiae and history of the program as well as Frank's current stand-up act and Cinematic Titanic project which will be bringing the old gang to New York City this spring. Push the button Frank!!!

― tokyo rosemary, Wednesday, 13 January 2010 01:04 (nine years ago) Permalink

Oh I didn't know about this thread.
Let me take this opportunity to post this blog:

http://keepcirculatingthetapes.blogspot.com/

It has links to several streaming full episodes. Not a lot of them on there yet, though...

― As your Dentist I recommend smoking: (Viceroy), Wednesday, 13 January 2010 03:05 (nine years ago) Permalink

Didn't you post that very link on here some time back?

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 13 January 2010 03:16 (nine years ago) Permalink

Not a complaint obviously.

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 13 January 2010 03:16 (nine years ago) Permalink

oops I guess I did. Sorry.

― As your Dentist I recommend smoking: (Viceroy), Wednesday, 13 January 2010 04:44 (nine years ago) Permalink

Am listening to that appearance of Frank on WFMU now. Good stuff!

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 14 January 2010 18:50 (nine years ago) Permalink

apropos to nothing (other than the fact that not too long ago i watched "robot holocaust" on YouTube and i just ate some very tasty guacamole):

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y123/Eisbaer29/avocado-cu.jpg

― At least Elvis Costello has never eaten his own excrement on stage. (Eisbaer), Thursday, 14 January 2010 22:47 (nine years ago) Permalink

Formal announcement of the next set:

MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000: VOLUME XVII
featuring the very first nationally aired episode,
THE CRAWLING EYE,
and three side-splitting episodes
THE BEATNIKS, THE FINAL SACRIFICE, and BLOOD WATERS OF DR. Z
along with 4 limited-edition mini-posters and bountiful bonus features
In Stores Nationwide March 16, 2010 from Shout! Factory
Welcome to the Satellite of Love, the orbiting home of legendary hosts Joel Robinson and Mike Nelson, along with their robotic companions — Crow T. Robot, Tom Servo and Gypsy. Join them as they embark on their 17th, and perhaps most impressive, volume of gut-busting riffs on the classic cinematic missteps of yesteryear when Shout Factory, in association with Best Brains, Inc., proudly presents Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume XVII 4-DVD box set on March 16, 2010. The 17th DVD collection of the famed MST3K features the long-awaited episodes The Crawling Eye, The Final Sacrifice, The Beatniks and Blood Waters of Dr. Z, along with a wealth of bonus content including The Crawling Eye special introduction by Joel Hodgson, Mystery Science Theater Hours wraps on The Beatniks, The Main Event: Crow Vs. Crow at Dragon*Con ’09, a brand-new interview with The Final Sacrifice star Bruce J. Mitchell, Blood Waters of Dr. Z photo gallery, original theatrical trailers and more!

Bruce J. Mitchell is, in case you were wondering:

http://jarnav.net/rowsdower.jpg

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 21 January 2010 01:24 (nine years ago) Permalink

So much is explained, really:

The Final Sacrifice arose as the project of a film student named Tjardus Greidanus, who was enrolled in the aspiring filmmaker program at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology. The film was completed with a budget of approximately $1500, and using cameras borrowed from the school. The actors signed on to the project with the understanding that they would be paid if the movie succeeded. Though the movie was eventually sold, the actors did not receive payment for their work. Christian Malcolm, who starred as Troy, was a fellow student of Greidanus and co-wrote the screenplay.
Bruce Mitchell (who played Rowsdower) later commented, “I don’t have any regrets making the movie because I find, as an actor, anything you do is a learning experience.”
Mitchell and Malcolm were accidentally credited in each other's roles in the end credits. By the time the mistake was realized, it was too late to fix.
Since making the film, Greidanus has gained success as a director of making-of documentaries, including several for the films of Michael Mann. Malcolm has continued working on stage and screen, and Mitchell continues to work as a stage actor and musician.

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 21 January 2010 01:30 (nine years ago) Permalink

A few years ago a friend of mine and I were working on a "Lovecraftian horror" movie script that he planned to direct (I was gonna act, co-produce and do the music) for about the same amount ($1500). We got as far as holding casting auditions for it, but the script kept changing and was never finished properly. Both being stubborn bastards, my friend & I debated every plot point, character motivation and title idea until it dawned on us that the story, as it was emerging, basically amounted to a remake of The Final Sacrifice. That was rather disquieting.

Then due to some unrelated circumstances my friend ended up having to move into a new apartment and spend the money he had saved for the film. So the movie was never made ;_;

― cam'ron carr (latebloomer), Thursday, 21 January 2010 02:11 (nine years ago) Permalink

Your RiffTrax showcase never panned out

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 21 January 2010 02:21 (nine years ago) Permalink

one of these days said friend and i are gonna sit down and record an iriff for johnny mnemonic. we have some material written down already.

― cam'ron carr (latebloomer), Thursday, 21 January 2010 02:39 (nine years ago) Permalink

Pernell Roberts heads to that San Francisco International in the sky.

― queen frostine (Eric H.), Tuesday, 26 January 2010 05:41 (nine years ago) Permalink

"Where the grade B actors roar!"

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 26 January 2010 05:49 (nine years ago) Permalink

I hope someone was good enough to pull up alongside him in a prop plane to let him know, "You're gonna die. Down there."

― queen frostine (Eric H.), Tuesday, 26 January 2010 05:52 (nine years ago) Permalink

"...my lunch, my way."

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 26 January 2010 05:59 (nine years ago) Permalink

Just remember, Eric, that you will miss your neo-Renaissance lifestyle...and your windbreaker.

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 26 January 2010 05:59 (nine years ago) Permalink

"Do we have to go now?"

"YOU have to go now!"

― queen frostine (Eric H.), Tuesday, 26 January 2010 06:01 (nine years ago) Permalink

(Top 5 episode for sure, obv.)

― queen frostine (Eric H.), Tuesday, 26 January 2010 06:01 (nine years ago) Permalink

"I think better over here."

"Oh it's a made for TV hippie."

"...by MENNEN!"

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 26 January 2010 06:03 (nine years ago) Permalink

And of course, insert Tab A into B movie.

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 26 January 2010 06:03 (nine years ago) Permalink

"Here's your script. You'll be playing Black Woman On Plane."

― queen frostine (Eric H.), Tuesday, 26 January 2010 06:03 (nine years ago) Permalink

And one of those that doesn't translate to print, Crow's evil laugh for Tab upon sneaking away in the elevator.

― queen frostine (Eric H.), Tuesday, 26 January 2010 06:04 (nine years ago) Permalink

Sublimely ugly film all around, the fashions, haircuts, color scheme and all the horrifying lumpy/hangdog men. Yech.

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 26 January 2010 06:04 (nine years ago) Permalink

Screwed up boy almost escapes it:

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mVZ__QdOGQY/RieW-8xikrI/AAAAAAAAA8s/kITqjHNP3Y4/s200/614Intern1.jpg

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 26 January 2010 06:06 (nine years ago) Permalink

Ground control, my face is large and troublesome. (Paraphrasing that one. It's been awhile.)

― queen frostine (Eric H.), Tuesday, 26 January 2010 06:06 (nine years ago) Permalink

I'd be lying if I didn't admit I wish I had his neo-Rennaissance bangs.

― queen frostine (Eric H.), Tuesday, 26 January 2010 06:07 (nine years ago) Permalink

YouTube saves us all:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2BeYAnOMGA

(And the rest is on there too.)

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 26 January 2010 06:08 (nine years ago) Permalink

"...that's why the Savior is a tramp!"

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 26 January 2010 06:10 (nine years ago) Permalink

Beautiful still on that vid, really.

― queen frostine (Eric H.), Tuesday, 26 January 2010 06:12 (nine years ago) Permalink

Trying desperately to remember if they made any knowing swipes at Tab's sexuality a la "This is Tommy Kirk reeeeeally acting."

― queen frostine (Eric H.), Tuesday, 26 January 2010 06:13 (nine years ago) Permalink

xpost -- Hahaha

Nah I don't remember that with Tab in this one. Maybe a Polyester ref, though?

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 26 January 2010 06:14 (nine years ago) Permalink

Haha, maybe. All I can remember now is "Tab Hunter. Huntin down people who don't pay their tabs." "Tab? I'd like to run a Tab ... all over my BODY!"

― queen frostine (Eric H.), Tuesday, 26 January 2010 06:17 (nine years ago) Permalink

“Yeah, the way, they hit that runway and go vrooooom.”
“You know a lot about planes!”

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 26 January 2010 20:30 (nine years ago) Permalink

O_O

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HI8omyZbfeE&feature=player_embedded

― DJ Cinema (latebloomer), Saturday, 6 February 2010 21:30 (nine years ago) Permalink

Oh dear.

― Ned Raggett, Saturday, 6 February 2010 23:01 (nine years ago) Permalink

after all these years, i only just now saw wild world of batman ... just, WOW:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ux8PUdCzTFM

― there can be only but steam that smells of shit and weaklingness (Eisbaer), Tuesday, 16 February 2010 04:02 (nine years ago) Permalink

Batwoman, surely. :-D

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 16 February 2010 04:04 (nine years ago) Permalink

"Their five year mission: to be hot hot HOT"

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 16 February 2010 04:04 (nine years ago) Permalink

yup, batWOMAN

and it's something else, even without the MST3K treatment ...

― there can be only but steam that smells of shit and weaklingness (Eisbaer), Tuesday, 16 February 2010 04:05 (nine years ago) Permalink

Yeah, agreed -- I did like it when Rhino did the occasional inclusion of the movies straight up without the riffing, just for the extra footage and to see how they made so many utterly useless movies actually watchable by increasing the pace by default. (The Skydivers being a classic example.)

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 16 February 2010 04:06 (nine years ago) Permalink

END! END! END!

― queen frostine (Eric H.), Tuesday, 16 February 2010 05:19 (nine years ago) Permalink

I grew up watching this when we got cable around 1995 or so, so I only knew the Mike Nelson Comedy Central years. F-ing CLASSIC in every way. Recently after discovering the Rifftrax I started seeking out old episodes to watch. Right now I'm working through season 3, which has Joel, and I had never seen before. To be honest the riffs aren't quite as fast-paced as I would've hoped. The movies I've seen so far (Cave Dwellers, Pod People) are so god-awfully bad it makes up for it when that's the case.

Joel does the interacting-with-movie via his silhouette more than Mike. I'm loving the skits more than I thought I would...Joel is a real funny guy and has a nice Intelligent Stoner look to him that kinda suits the show.

― Adam Bruneau, Friday, 26 February 2010 18:05 (eight years ago) Permalink

Pretty much sums up how I feel about the Joel vs. Mike thing. Mike's episodes were generally better written with faster riffs inside the theater, but almost too slick. Joel was a much more likable host, but some of those really early episodes are way draggy.

― queen frostine (Eric H.), Friday, 26 February 2010 18:34 (eight years ago) Permalink

yeah, I can get with this. and I grew up watching the mike eps too.

― original bgm, Friday, 26 February 2010 19:03 (eight years ago) Permalink

just re-watched WURRWULF last weekend. was dying at the werewolf driving a car.

― original bgm, Friday, 26 February 2010 19:04 (eight years ago) Permalink

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsFGo5sHrwA

― original bgm, Friday, 26 February 2010 19:05 (eight years ago) Permalink

I do prefer the joel skits in general. the mike ones could sometimes get a little too... corny?

― original bgm, Friday, 26 February 2010 19:06 (eight years ago) Permalink

Yeah, I'm watching the Pod People one right now. At the second skit break they setup a wall of keyboards and started making fun of New Age music and minimalism, and played a couple minutes of "bay area" ambient jams! The next break was simply them jumping around in Pee Wee-inspired hysterics, with really silly synth music playing. Brilliant and hilarious!

― Adam Bruneau, Friday, 26 February 2010 19:11 (eight years ago) Permalink

Jesus demonoid has the complete collection as a 142 GB download!!

― Adam Bruneau, Friday, 26 February 2010 19:14 (eight years ago) Permalink

I really loved it when Joel would act all butthurt over the 'Bots not playing along during skits. Or the few times he came off as scary discipline parent.

― queen frostine (Eric H.), Friday, 26 February 2010 19:30 (eight years ago) Permalink

There was a nice meanspirited nastiness to some of those earlier skits (the Orville Redenbacher one, for instance) that was just missing in the era of Mike.

― queen frostine (Eric H.), Friday, 26 February 2010 19:30 (eight years ago) Permalink

"GOVERNMENT cheese!"

Was rocking First Spaceship to Venus the other night. The "Thanks, LEN!" riff makes me laugh way too much. (But the guy really does look like a Len. There could be nobody more Len than him.)

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 26 February 2010 19:31 (eight years ago) Permalink

I really liked Joel.. he was so sullen. Quit watching not long after Mike took over.

― daria-g, Friday, 26 February 2010 20:27 (eight years ago) Permalink

man i'm excited to see the beatniks again

― da croupier, Friday, 26 February 2010 20:34 (eight years ago) Permalink

I always liked that the bots more or less had the upper hand over Mike. And they did have some classic host bits, like the one where Crow goes back in time to tell Mike not to take the job at Deep 13, changing the future and leaving them with Mike's abusive brother Eddie.

― El Poopo Loco (Pancakes Hackman), Friday, 26 February 2010 20:45 (eight years ago) Permalink

I am one of those weird people that likes Joel and Mike.

― ô_o (Nicole), Friday, 26 February 2010 20:47 (eight years ago) Permalink

I think most folks like em both! just that people usually have a pretty strong preference. but they're both cool.

― original bgm, Friday, 26 February 2010 20:48 (eight years ago) Permalink

Yeah, I like them both too. I really, really liked Mike in bit parts before hosting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__0C1lxp1Q4

― queen frostine (Eric H.), Friday, 26 February 2010 20:55 (eight years ago) Permalink

I am one of those weird people that likes Joel and Mike.

Cosign.

I really, really liked Mike in bit parts before hosting.

He was great at those, it's the one regret I had with the host shift since he couldn't very well play against himself. I love him as JC from The Sidehackers:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTKWAgiZs5M

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 26 February 2010 20:59 (eight years ago) Permalink

And of course:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R88T3ZHbvDM

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 26 February 2010 21:02 (eight years ago) Permalink

"Well, we seem to have caught you at a bad time..."

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 26 February 2010 21:03 (eight years ago) Permalink

man i'm excited to see the beatniks again

Been too long for me as well.

"Shuddup Iris."

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 26 February 2010 21:04 (eight years ago) Permalink

torgo's theme = instant lols

― original bgm, Friday, 26 February 2010 21:09 (eight years ago) Permalink

currently watching 'the leech woman' on youtube. "now...ACT!"

― i am a big fan of japanese women (donna rouge), Friday, 26 February 2010 21:22 (eight years ago) Permalink

Google vid searching MST3K unleashes quite the treasure trove of full length, DL-able eps, btw.

― queen frostine (Eric H.), Friday, 26 February 2010 21:26 (eight years ago) Permalink

currently watching 'the leech woman' on youtube.

I love whenever actors recur in movies. The oily dude she offs in the last half hour or so was the guy in The Unearthly who kept using too much Noo Yawk attitude and slang and so Joel and the Bots piled on the Dead End Kids lingo.

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 26 February 2010 21:32 (eight years ago) Permalink

man i'm excited to see the beatniks again

"one word to anyone and I'M GONNA MOON YOU!"
"you're gonna what?!?"
"MOOOOOOOOOOON YOU!!!!!!!!!!!"

(from the movie, not a riff)

― there can be only but steam that smells of shit and weaklingness (Eisbaer), Friday, 26 February 2010 23:26 (eight years ago) Permalink

anyway, i caught onto the show during the Joel era. i stopped watching just after Mike replaced Joel (for reasons that had nothing to do w/ whether or not i liked Mike more than Joel). over the years, i've caught up w/ the Mike-era episodes which have been quite revelatory & enjoyable when i finally get around to seeing them.

― there can be only but steam that smells of shit and weaklingness (Eisbaer), Friday, 26 February 2010 23:29 (eight years ago) Permalink

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38MVSgCtF0k

― there can be only but steam that smells of shit and weaklingness (Eisbaer), Friday, 26 February 2010 23:30 (eight years ago) Permalink

Based solely on in-theater riffing, I'm almost positive I could make a list of my top 5 episodes from Mike's episodes in season 5 and season 6 alone.

One of the many classics.

― queen frostine (Eric H.), Friday, 26 February 2010 23:32 (eight years ago) Permalink

Haha the whole end of season 5 is one hit after another. Even the completely ridiculous Radar Secret Service.

"The director's mistress, ladies and gentlemen."

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 26 February 2010 23:36 (eight years ago) Permalink

At least Santa Claus finally got the official nod but there's Radar Secret Service as mentioned, Alien from LA, Village of the Giants, Teenage Crimewave, 12 to the Moon...

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 26 February 2010 23:38 (eight years ago) Permalink

Ugh, Kathy Ireland's voice!

― queen frostine (Eric H.), Friday, 26 February 2010 23:44 (eight years ago) Permalink

Man, every. single. joke in Village of the Giants's Whiskey-a-Go-Go scene is killer!

― queen frostine (Eric H.), Friday, 26 February 2010 23:45 (eight years ago) Permalink

"Whuh-whuh-where DID THEY COME FROM?!!?"

"OBVIOUSLY the TURTLE GAMERA can't BE FAR BEHIND!"

There were never enough Willow jokes for me.

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 26 February 2010 23:53 (eight years ago) Permalink

i still know all the lyrics to the sidehackers song, by heart XD

there is/was a hilarious torgo screensaver created like 12 years ago that plays the theme as he walks around sweeping up your screen, it's really cheesy and great.. still out there on the internets, says google, but afaik not in any updated version i can use

― daria-g, Friday, 26 February 2010 23:59 (eight years ago) Permalink

"Hi, I'm the adult child of an alcoholic and I've got great big thighs."

― queen frostine (Eric H.), Saturday, 27 February 2010 00:03 (eight years ago) Permalink

sidehackin is the thing to do, and it doesn't hurt to have a low IQ..

― daria-g, Saturday, 27 February 2010 00:05 (eight years ago) Permalink

from season 6:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2f0nfrgaK4

― there can be only but steam that smells of shit and weaklingness (Eisbaer), Saturday, 27 February 2010 01:02 (eight years ago) Permalink

All the skits on the Pod People episode make me so happy.

― A Memorable Fancy (Abbott), Saturday, 27 February 2010 01:24 (eight years ago) Permalink

otm, greatest skit ratio of any episode probably. Adam Bruneau was talking earlier about the "You are magic, aren't you Trumpy?" sequence which is just so dead-on perfect, in and out of the theater. "What, did he come from the Planet Goofball? Did he come here in a little clown car?! Criminy."

Also, of course, HIDEOUS CONTROL NOW.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3CDX3Q5UxY

― Doctor Casino, Saturday, 27 February 2010 02:30 (eight years ago) Permalink

Speaking of MST3K Bergman parodies, is their "Death and Taxes" Turkey Day ad online somewhere?

― I Am Curious (The Yellow Kid), Saturday, 27 February 2010 03:08 (eight years ago) Permalink

back when i first saw pod people, i seriously considered making my own "im a virgin" tshirt. didn't go through with it. for better or worse.

― andrew m., Saturday, 27 February 2010 03:12 (eight years ago) Permalink

Idiot control, yes!!! Sooooo much fun.

― Adam Bruneau, Saturday, 27 February 2010 03:34 (eight years ago) Permalink

Mike's episodes were generally better written with faster riffs inside the theater, but almost too slick.

You and comedy! Not everything can be as shabby and uneven as Hellzapoppin!

― Fusty Moralizer (Dr Morbius), Saturday, 27 February 2010 03:42 (eight years ago) Permalink

Wow I hadn't seen one of Mike's episodes in a long long time. Joel kills Mike in everything but the riffs. From villains to theme music to skits to the way he interacts w the robots.

― Adam Bruneau, Wednesday, 3 March 2010 18:37 (eight years ago) Permalink

You're talking about Village of the Giants? Much as I love the end of the fifth season I do see it as essentially transitional -- I think he came into his own with the sixth season.

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 3 March 2010 18:41 (eight years ago) Permalink

I sort of thought Mike was one of the main guys behind all the songs, not Joel.

― queen frostine (Eric H.), Wednesday, 3 March 2010 18:58 (eight years ago) Permalink

The original theme song was a Joel/Josh/Charlie Erickson cowrite. But Mike ended up doing most of the songs once he joined.

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 3 March 2010 18:59 (eight years ago) Permalink

The credits of the Joel episodes always attributed the theme song to Joel & the Joels. I never bnothered to see if Mike & the Mikes took over.

― How to Make an American Quit (Abbott), Wednesday, 3 March 2010 19:18 (eight years ago) Permalink

The 'Joel and the Joels' thing was the first season or two, I think -- a performance credit!

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 3 March 2010 19:28 (eight years ago) Permalink

just watched Racket Girls again on Netflix -- boy o boy, Peaches Page was one VERY strange looking woman w/ an IQ of a rock. as for the other wrestling women, Tom Servo said it best: "i guess if you were a gay guy who liked truckers, you might find these women attractive."

― STARTE DAS VERDAMMTE SPIEL!! (Eisbaer), Thursday, 4 March 2010 02:13 (eight years ago) Permalink

http://www.clipser.com/vimages/cba0a4ee5ccd02fda0fe3f9a3e7b89fe/d645920e395fedad7bbbed0eca3fe2e0/af837733dde0e91d8b47c6f97db21f71f51.jpg

― STARTE DAS VERDAMMTE SPIEL!! (Eisbaer), Thursday, 4 March 2010 02:15 (eight years ago) Permalink

You know, Peaches has a fresh, natural stupidness that isn't forced or contrived.

― queen frostine (Eric H.), Thursday, 4 March 2010 02:38 (eight years ago) Permalink

(My favorite episode, btw.)

― queen frostine (Eric H.), Thursday, 4 March 2010 02:38 (eight years ago) Permalink

"Sorry, Peaches is kinda clingy."

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 4 March 2010 02:51 (eight years ago) Permalink

All those Michael Stipe jokes -- but they were so OTM.

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 4 March 2010 02:52 (eight years ago) Permalink

Every joke in every wrestling scene, but mostly the endless final match between Rita and Iggy Pop.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgrfryOy0sI

― queen frostine (Eric H.), Thursday, 4 March 2010 02:54 (eight years ago) Permalink

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3eXkziBODk

"Strut, pout, put it out, that's what you want from Grandma!"

― queen frostine (Eric H.), Thursday, 4 March 2010 03:18 (eight years ago) Permalink

Actually here's a question (based on a quick Starfighters rewatch) -- who is the classical music radio/TV guy they endlessly parody throughout the series? The tag line always seems to be a smooth, vaguely Euro-accented delivery along these lines: "...and they're escaping to Barber's "Adagio for Strings," fantastic."

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 4 March 2010 03:20 (eight years ago) Permalink

who is the classical music radio/TV guy they endlessly parody throughout the series? The tag line always seems to be a smooth, vaguely Euro-accented delivery along these lines: "...and they're escaping to Barber's "Adagio for Strings," fantastic."

maybe it's someone who's famous in Minnesota (and no-where else)?!? there's no Rosetta Hotdish Stone here AFAIK.

― Tommy Wiseau's Ass, Can You Hear Me? (Eisbaer), Thursday, 4 March 2010 03:54 (eight years ago) Permalink

I almost get the impression it's supposed to be some Chicago guy.

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 4 March 2010 04:42 (eight years ago) Permalink

I think I'm 10 years too young to get most of the jokes. Lots of riffs deal with Gen X humor, 70s/60s sitcoms and late night TV hosts.

― Adam Bruneau, Thursday, 4 March 2010 04:50 (eight years ago) Permalink

I think I'm 10 years too young to get most of the jokes. Lots of riffs deal with Gen X humor, 70s/60s sitcoms and late night TV hosts.

this thought actually crossed my mind, esp. wr2 the Joel episodes. e.g., Tom Servo's "Session Presents!" throughout Tormented, which had me in stitches back in the day and upon rewatching this episode but probably means nothing to young 'uns.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpISdQw8wDM

it's become a trip down memory lane rewatching them, but then again i am a gen x'er.

― Tommy Wiseau's Ass, Can You Hear Me? (Eisbaer), Thursday, 4 March 2010 04:55 (eight years ago) Permalink

plus tormented is like a really, really bad episode of mad men. i mean, a LOT of the movies MST3K clowned were like bad episodes of man men (if for no other reason than a lot of them were from the late 50s/early 60s), but in my mind anyway tormented takes the cake in that regard.

― Tommy Wiseau's Ass, Can You Hear Me? (Eisbaer), Thursday, 4 March 2010 05:04 (eight years ago) Permalink

thought for the day: Mitchell was the Jimmy McNulty of his era. and people in the 1970s were too thick to understand the greatness of a Mitchell/McNulty-type character.

― Tommy Wiseau's Ass, Can You Hear Me? (Eisbaer), Friday, 5 March 2010 14:59 (eight years ago) Permalink

never seen this pilot before

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScxEgHUPOaQ#t=4m10s

― zappi, Friday, 5 March 2010 15:16 (eight years ago) Permalink

Yeah that started to circulate after the first convention -- had to start somewhere!

The only true 'missing' episodes now are the first three KTMA ones -- everything else is out there.

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 5 March 2010 15:27 (eight years ago) Permalink

another favorite moment from the Joel era ... "hey, even the band is vomiting. bleh bleh bleh!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjCA7FENmtg

― Tommy Wiseau's Ass, Can You Hear Me? (Eisbaer), Saturday, 6 March 2010 00:15 (eight years ago) Permalink

"I can sympathize with your feelings..."
"...but you're contractually obligated to finish this film."

"Traffic? It's after the apocalypse!"

Also love the way they look around perplexedly as the "bleh! bleh! bleh!" starts up.

― Doctor Casino, Saturday, 6 March 2010 02:34 (eight years ago) Permalink

the whole plot (such as it is) is downright retarded. they're fighting against an "evil corporation" that's in cahoots w/ the government -- to restore electricity, running water and other utilities after the apocalypse. i could almost imagine a teenaged Timothy McVeigh watching the original movie to get his ideas (such as those were).

― Tommy Wiseau's Ass, Can You Hear Me? (Eisbaer), Saturday, 6 March 2010 02:42 (eight years ago) Permalink

it's one of those wonderful moments when even the MST3Kers are momentarily perplexed by whatever cinematic atrocity they are watching -- like the sudden, unexpected outburst from the "Chinese" spirit at the seance in wild world of batwoman (where mike's initial reaction was just, "what the HELL?!?")

― Tommy Wiseau's Ass, Can You Hear Me? (Eisbaer), Saturday, 6 March 2010 02:53 (eight years ago) Permalink

I love those moments, especially knowing that they've had to watch the films over and over in order to compose the riffs, so still conveying that sense of immediate confusion and/or amusement is really beautiful...see again Servo's "Criminy!" in Pod People. Really lovely.

― Doctor Casino, Saturday, 6 March 2010 05:16 (eight years ago) Permalink

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bE9Hd2dksTc&feature=related

"Oh no, they're roasting Bullwinkle!"

― Doctor Casino, Saturday, 6 March 2010 05:29 (eight years ago) Permalink

Hahaha I *adore* all the Soviet fantasy films they did. Crazy big budgets, crazy acting.

― Ned Raggett, Saturday, 6 March 2010 07:13 (eight years ago) Permalink

"kids come runnin' for the rich taste of Sampo!"

― Tommy Wiseau's Ass, Can You Hear Me? (Eisbaer), Saturday, 6 March 2010 16:01 (eight years ago) Permalink

wr2 zombie nightmare: i can't figure out, after motorhead's "ace of spades" starts blaring in the film's intro, whether Tom Servo is saying "ah Motorhead, i have their collection of cool power tools" or "ah Motorhead, i have their collection of Cole Porter tunes." both would work and would be hilarious.

― Tommy Wiseau's Ass, Can You Hear Me? (Eisbaer), Monday, 8 March 2010 07:14 (eight years ago) Permalink

Hahaha I *adore* all the Soviet fantasy films they did. Crazy big budgets, crazy acting.

― Ned Raggett, Saturday, March 6, 2010 2:13 AM (2 days ago) Bookmark

Looking forward to this! I just saw "Fugitive Alien" and it was incredible. Right now I really like the wild 70s Japanese fantasy films they do, all the acting and characterization is already so OTT...

― Adam Bruneau, Monday, 8 March 2010 14:54 (eight years ago) Permalink

xpost -- Hahah it's definitely 'Cole Porter tunes' but Lemmy does seem like a cool power tool guy. (Or alternately is a cool power tool, depending on who you talk to.)

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 8 March 2010 15:17 (eight years ago) Permalink

Right now I really like the wild 70s Japanese fantasy films they do, all the acting and characterization is already so OTT...

It's really a bummer that they haven't been able to work out any official release for pretty much all of those. Thanks Sandy Frank!

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 8 March 2010 15:18 (eight years ago) Permalink

LOL
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvN10-n1NBc

― Adam Bruneau, Monday, 8 March 2010 16:00 (eight years ago) Permalink

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9U5BMceRGM&NR=1

"Come back, we have yet to taunt you, we are the planet of novelty items!"

― Doctor Casino, Tuesday, 9 March 2010 00:36 (eight years ago) Permalink

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVOOhovyYkE&feature=PlayList&p=B6ABF428125530B8&index=3

Just saw this, pretty funny. Love the Gamera song they sing. Also features Japanese space babes with dubbing by some lady that sounds like Sarah Palin. LOL

― Adam Bruneau, Tuesday, 9 March 2010 18:46 (eight years ago) Permalink

all of this, and no mention of one of the funniest riffs on a short -- in this case, Gumby in the screaming skull episode. too many funny riffs to list any:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3M4_XZ3FLHw

― Jonsi's on a vacation far away (Eisbaer), Saturday, 13 March 2010 04:24 (eight years ago) Permalink

"You can't beat me at flash-zooms, I was in Time of the Apes!"

― Doctor Casino, Monday, 15 March 2010 01:25 (eight years ago) Permalink

When they go "ho-hooooo that's good stuff!" in a silly high voice, who is that referencing?

― Adam Bruneau, Monday, 15 March 2010 18:56 (eight years ago) Permalink

I want to say "my 12th grade economics teacher" but I know that's not the correct answer.

― smoking cigarette shades? it doesn't even make any sense. (HI DERE), Monday, 15 March 2010 19:01 (eight years ago) Permalink

lol @ "habitat AGAINST humanity"

― call all destroyer, Monday, 15 March 2010 19:12 (eight years ago) Permalink

When they go "ho-hooooo that's good stuff!" in a silly high voice, who is that referencing?

― Adam Bruneau, Monday, March 15, 2010 11:56 AM (1 hour ago) Bookmark

i always thought this was meant to be johnny carson character "art fern."

― Trollmatic Reflexions (ojo), Monday, 15 March 2010 20:55 (eight years ago) Permalink

When they go "ho-hooooo that's good stuff!" in a silly high voice, who is that referencing?

― Adam Bruneau, Monday, March 15, 2010 11:56 AM (1 hour ago) Bookmark

i always thought this was meant to be johnny carson character "art fern."

for some reason, i thought that it was Jackie Gleason. but i think that you're right, that it is Johnny Carson.

― Jonsi's on a vacation far away (Eisbaer), Tuesday, 16 March 2010 02:19 (eight years ago) Permalink

Meantime, titles for the next box set, which should appear in early summer or so:

• episode 208- LOST CONTINENT
• episode 417- CRASH OF THE MOONS with short, “General Hospital”–Segment 3
• episode 621- THE BEAST OF YUCCA FLATS with shorts: “Money Talks!” & “Progress Island, U.S.A.”
• episode 813- JACK FROST

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 16 March 2010 19:36 (eight years ago) Permalink

Oh, man, LOVE Jack Frost. To this day, nearly every time we hear a little chime, either my wife or I will say, "With Retsin!"

― Like a sausage or snake, smooth and soft (Pancakes Hackman), Tuesday, 16 March 2010 19:54 (eight years ago) Permalink

I hope that means a full push to get the rest of the Russo-Finnish ones out on DVD -- The Day the Earth Froze, The Magic Voyage of Sinbad and The Sword and the Dragon are three of their funniest episodes, easy.

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 16 March 2010 20:00 (eight years ago) Permalink

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVh6-v4bRJc&aia=true

7:00 onward. "You see, they just didn't care."

― work makes you pee (latebloomer), Tuesday, 16 March 2010 20:47 (eight years ago) Permalink

omg - i watched that very clip last night, specifically to get to the "Just Didn't Care" sequence. Still can't believe it got through as ATTACK OF THE THE EYE CREATURES - so amazing.

― Doctor Casino, Wednesday, 17 March 2010 01:44 (eight years ago) Permalink

That episode was the second I ever saw, though only the last half. It was enough for me to know I really needed to investigate further...

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 17 March 2010 01:49 (eight years ago) Permalink

I'm working my way through the rest of Season 3. Looking forward to Fugitive Alien 2 tonight, the first was a riot. It's funny how many Gamera films they do. There's running gags and songs they develop through the different riffs and it's awesome. Oh and these poor directors repeatedly get slammed in the funniest ways.

"Wait....this looks like the set for Teenage Caveman!! Roger Corman must have spent 3 days on this production too." etc

― Adam Bruneau, Wednesday, 17 March 2010 02:08 (eight years ago) Permalink

• episode 417- CRASH OF THE MOONS with short, “General Hospital”–Segment 3

The "Gypsy Moon" number in the first act break of this is epic, especially when Crow changes up the tone at the end.

― queen frostine (Eric H.), Wednesday, 17 March 2010 03:06 (eight years ago) Permalink

"You know, you two are getting a little too spicy."

― queen frostine (Eric H.), Wednesday, 17 March 2010 03:06 (eight years ago) Permalink

• episode 621- THE BEAST OF YUCCA FLATS with shorts: “Money Talks!” & “Progress Island, U.S.A.”

another one of the infamous Coleman Francis trilogy to make it to DVD. yay(?!?)

i can't get skydivers through Netflix, though wasn't that also released on DVD earlier?!?

― Jonsi's on a vacation far away (Eisbaer), Wednesday, 17 March 2010 05:11 (eight years ago) Permalink

i mean, what's up w/ NOT getting all of the Coleman Francis films on DVD. it isn't like there's a Sandy Frank standing in the way or anything.

― Jonsi's on a vacation far away (Eisbaer), Wednesday, 17 March 2010 05:12 (eight years ago) Permalink

It very much was released on DVD and I have it! Beast finally completes the trilogy as such.

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 17 March 2010 05:14 (eight years ago) Permalink

LOL

(singing) "He tried to kill me with a forklift!"

― Adam Bruneau, Wednesday, 17 March 2010 14:56 (eight years ago) Permalink

This is the sonnnnng writ-ten for the train chase...

― Doctor Casino, Wednesday, 17 March 2010 20:44 (eight years ago) Permalink

Love love loving the Marx Bros. references. Consistent LOLs through "Fugitive Alien 2" and the 50s/60s school films like "Mr. B Natural". I swear to god they showed that to us in school and at the time it was extremely disturbing at the time. Here the guys call it out for the satanic androgynous bad acid trip that it really is.

― Adam Bruneau, Thursday, 18 March 2010 05:30 (eight years ago) Permalink

In "The Unearthly" they just made a joke about the soundtrack referencing that Bonzo Dog Doodah band song where they go "Adolf Hitler on vibes".

― Adam Bruneau, Thursday, 18 March 2010 05:35 (eight years ago) Permalink

Meanwhile this is pretty cool -- someone went to the trouble of watching and writing up three of the four Russo-Finnish epics in their original uncut form. Nice!

http://agonybooth.com/forum.aspx?g=posts&m=64934

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 19 March 2010 02:37 (eight years ago) Permalink

"Mr B. Natural" is immortal.

― demonic splendor, demonic majesty (Abbott), Friday, 19 March 2010 02:52 (eight years ago) Permalink

That and the "no springs!" ones are two of my most-loved & quoted.

― demonic splendor, demonic majesty (Abbott), Friday, 19 March 2010 02:53 (eight years ago) Permalink

I actually was familiar with the "No Springs" one before seeing the MSTed version and was sorta disappointed by the latter - - I mean they really miss some opportunities with the lonnnnng scene when the guy is rambling about springs to his golf buddies.

I do like the one bit after the springs have been restored and something works (the car? the couch?) and Mike or somebody goes "SUFFICIENT SPRINGS, MY FRIEND!" and whistles Coily's little sound effect - - - that's kinda great.

― Doctor Casino, Friday, 19 March 2010 03:00 (eight years ago) Permalink

"Hired!" is cracking me up right now though.

― Doctor Casino, Friday, 19 March 2010 03:17 (eight years ago) Permalink

"He tried to kill me with a forklift!"

looooooool, i remember this. how they sing it, even. but which movie was it in?

― wears suburban hang-ups on her sleeve like some kind of corporate logo (daria-g), Friday, 19 March 2010 04:10 (eight years ago) Permalink

The "Fugitive Alien" series gave birth to "He triiiiiiied to kill me with a forkliiiift!" In the first movie they make the song up because that tune is playing as someone tries to kill Ken with a forklift, and they are describing the on-screen action. The series has some hilarious recurring jokes like the huge cheeks on the one captain who's always looking like he's really drunk. During the end of "Fugitive Alien 2" it gets seriously into Star Wars ripoff territory, though with crazy Japanese costumes and karate.

― Adam Bruneau, Friday, 19 March 2010 05:03 (eight years ago) Permalink

"Castle of Fu Manchu" was really really hard to get through, though I did like how each of the gang breaks down over how horrible it is. WFMU's awesome late-night talk show "Night People recently had TV's Frank on as a guest...

http://wfmu.org/playlists/shows/34371

― Adam Bruneau, Saturday, 20 March 2010 15:32 (eight years ago) Permalink

Everything old is new again -- here's some future Rifftrax fodder:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVgw6BlLY2o&feature=player_embedded

― Like a sausage or snake, smooth and soft (Pancakes Hackman), Tuesday, 23 March 2010 15:51 (eight years ago) Permalink

just got this from my in-law who's the technical director for Riff Trax:

I need everyone's help. We, that is RiffTrax.com, are testing our ability to produce live internet comedy events and need as many people as possible to watch our upcoming show to see if our servers stand up to the traffic. Will your site break?? We are only charging 25 cents for this so we can get as many people as possible to watch it, while still testing our payment system.

Come join us on Thursday, April 1st at 6pm Pacific / 9pm Eastern for the world premiere of our new short, Mr. Moto Takes a Walk! Without knowing who Mr. Moto is, you're probably slightly confused about why you would want to watch him take a walk. For starters, Mr. Moto takes a walk through the zoo. So right off the bat, you're seeing some crazy stuff. Second, a somewhat attractive lady accompanies Mr. Moto on his walk. And finally, sealing the deal firmly in favor of Mr. Moto is this: Mr. Moto is a monkey. On his walk, Mr. Moto (who is a monkey) undertakes the demented quest of traversing the entire alphabet, from A to Z, seeing one animal for each letter. Why he has chosen to spend his day this way is a mystery, especially seeing as he is a monkey. But it's an action packed journey full of mischief and exotic animals. And did we mention that he is a monkey?

If you know anyone that you think would like to watch, or who might be fans of the old TV show, Mystery Science Theater 3000!, please pass on the information.

To buy a ticket just go to http://www.rifftrax.com/live/ticket/rifftrax-online-premiere-mr-moto-takes-a-walk you will need to sign up for an account, but it’s easy and safe to do.

― Kaleidoscope Funk Network (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 1 April 2010 15:32 (eight years ago) Permalink

one month passes...

When Kim Cattrall appeared at ConventioCon ExpoFest-A-Rama 2: Electric Bugaloo in 1996, she shared this story: “I was in my hotel room and was channel surfing. And what do I hear but my own name being sung by a small golden man. And it just went on like that. I yelled for my boyfriend to come in and see this. We were just in shock. A few minutes later, one of my lesser accomplishments came on: ‘City Limits.’ I called my publicity agent and asked him if Mystery Science Theater 3000 was a real show. He said yes. I called my florist and had an odd request: to send a bouquet of flowers to a Crow T. Robot.”

― Adam Bruneau, Thursday, 6 May 2010 14:54 (eight years ago) Permalink

hahaha, that's awesome. Sort of the lighter side of Sandy Frank being really pissed off about the Sandy Frank song. That WOULD be really weird, even for a famous person, to be channel-surfing and just come across this bizarre little show that looks like it was filmed in someone's garage, with puppets singing about you.

― Doctor Casino, Thursday, 6 May 2010 15:46 (eight years ago) Permalink

Hahah the flowers had been mentioned in the official book but I hadn't heard the other side of the story.

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 6 May 2010 16:06 (eight years ago) Permalink

"And what do I hear but my own name being sung by a small golden man. He whispered in my ear and said, 'My father killed me.'"

― Astronaut Mike Dexter (Jimmy The Mod Awaits The Return Of His Beloved), Thursday, 6 May 2010 16:08 (eight years ago) Permalink

I <3 Kim Cattrall even more now

― Adam Bruneau, Thursday, 6 May 2010 16:10 (eight years ago) Permalink

two months pass...

check w00+ today

― tremendoid, Saturday, 10 July 2010 10:54 (eight years ago) Permalink

^^^

heh, just came in to post that very thing. Tom Servo action figure!

― Jaq, Saturday, 10 July 2010 13:50 (eight years ago) Permalink

Pulled the trigger on it, so psyched to get this in the mail (dances)

― VegemiteGrrrl, Saturday, 10 July 2010 18:44 (eight years ago) Permalink

My brain has just broken:

http://www.kvia.com/news/24148455/detail.html

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 12 July 2010 05:37 (eight years ago) Permalink

Oh man, El Paso! What a crazy town.

― wine, the water of life (Abbott), Monday, 12 July 2010 06:03 (eight years ago) Permalink

Oh c'mon one more sacrifice before we go?

OK but this is the FINAL sacrifice.

― andrew m., Friday, 16 July 2010 17:33 (eight years ago) Permalink

also...

Please can't I have just one more justice?

Mm mmm

― andrew m., Friday, 16 July 2010 17:40 (eight years ago) Permalink

Was rewatching Quest of the Delta Knights the other day. Such a perfect skewering of RenFestyness.

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 16 July 2010 17:43 (eight years ago) Permalink

rewatching Manos...

"My intestines: on top of my head!"

― VegemiteGrrrl, Friday, 16 July 2010 22:56 (eight years ago) Permalink

"I WOULD HAVE A DEWLAP"

"[gasp!] Noooooo"

― VegemiteGrrrl, Friday, 16 July 2010 22:58 (eight years ago) Permalink

Night of the Blood Beast!

This bit from Mike made me laugh til I cried: "Are we camping? Is this camping you guys? You know I never went camping. One time we went to North Dakota to visit Uncle Ronnie. He had this horse and it stepped on me..I think it was a horse...If we do have a shower we could probably get stuff that's green or yellow cause even if they are boys or girls they could still use em, and don't the aliens even have sex? I don't think they do..."

― VegemiteGrrrl, Sunday, 18 July 2010 05:13 (eight years ago) Permalink

We had Christmas in July last night watching Santa Claus and all the special features. Maniacally laughing mechanical reindeer! That eye! Those LIPS!

― Jaq, Sunday, 18 July 2010 16:18 (eight years ago) Permalink

The lips are hysterical!

Watching 'Final Sacrifice' today...I can't stop marvelling at the bizarreness of this movie. Also loving the Larry Czonka references.

― VegemiteGrrrl, Monday, 19 July 2010 00:54 (eight years ago) Permalink

And the kid looks like a Ferengi!

― VegemiteGrrrl, Monday, 19 July 2010 00:56 (eight years ago) Permalink

four weeks pass...

Pretty great interview with the RiffTrax crew that touches on a few MST3K bits. Such as:

Beaks: Here's an MST3K question I have to ask every time I talk to you guys: has there been any movement on the Sandy Frank movies?
Nelson: I'm totally out of the loop on that. Kevin?
Murphy: The last I'd heard from the folks at Shout! Factory was that that organization is a very tough nut to crack. But nothing is ever said and done in the very weird world of film distribution. Right at this very moment, it's not looking great, but who knows? Six months from now, things could change entirely.
Corbett: I liked that you called it an "organization".
Murphy: That's what they call themselves. The Sandy Frank Organization.
Corbett: (Laughs) I didn't know that. That's hilarious.
Murphy: I think he might still be around. He's just this bitter, bony, cigarette-y guy--
Corbett: He is still around. I actually know someone who lives pretty close to him. They said they talked to him, and he cursed our name.
Murphy: He doesn't like us at all. And as long as he's alive, it's like Castro and Cuba: we're never getting in.
Beaks: But that doesn't prohibit Michael from doing the Gamera song whenever he wants.
Nelson: No, I think I have the rights to that.

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 17 August 2010 19:49 (eight years ago) Permalink

Beaks: So you've never noticed any slash-fiction involving Tom Servo or Crow?
Murphy: I'm sure it exists.
Corbett: I've written a fair amount of it, actually, and I think I've done a pretty good job of it. It's erotic, but tasteful.

― fear mongrels (Abbott), Tuesday, 17 August 2010 19:54 (eight years ago) Permalink

I love the idea of a Crow/Servo Brief Encounter.

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 17 August 2010 20:01 (eight years ago) Permalink

Meanwhile, when Manos met King's X.

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 17 August 2010 20:30 (eight years ago) Permalink

Sandy Frank! Sandy Frank! He looks ugly and he's been chaaaaaarged!

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 26 August 2010 17:15 (eight years ago) Permalink

And if you need a prompt:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvN10-n1NBc

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 26 August 2010 17:20 (eight years ago) Permalink

I just watched the Future War episode on Netflix after not seeing it for a while. Forgot how gloriously stupid this movie was:

"Four days ago a fire fell from the sky and it brought a man who would change my life
forever. But also came a pack of dinosaur-like creatures, in various ages, shapes, sizes,
and its masters."

― dayo, me say day-ay-ay-o (latebloomer), Monday, 6 September 2010 08:58 (eight years ago) Permalink

two weeks pass...

Great new interview with Joel/Trace/Josh about the KTMA days.

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 20 September 2010 19:24 (eight years ago) Permalink

So in a nutshell, I need to mention that I don’t ever recommend people watch the KTMA episodes, unless you feel you must see the “warts and all” beginning of MST as a sort of “live through this” right of passage, Also, I should mention, I find it a bit troubling that people are demanding that these shows be released on DVD: those people remind me of my Dad sitting alone at the kitchen table with a knife and a block of really stinky cheese muttering “it’s an acquired taste”.

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 20 September 2010 19:25 (eight years ago) Permalink

Also this from Trace:

To question things we were doing and compare it to later shows I guess is inevitable but it’s a little like looking at Baron von Drais’s walking machine and saying, “Dude. Why didn’t you invent pedals and a chain? Or a seat?”

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 20 September 2010 19:29 (eight years ago) Permalink

provided me with reliable entertainment on saturday evenings back in '91 or so.

also, thankful to them for introducing me to manos, which is so highly entertaining, both original version and mst3k-treated

their version of ninja tv pilot w/lee van cleef sooooo funny

just wish they had gotten around to doing sleepaway camp 3: teenage wasteland

― dude (del), Monday, 20 September 2010 19:30 (eight years ago) Permalink

I love that Josh, Trace & Joel actually try to answer the questions as best they can. I mean, that stuff was so long ago...the recall would have to be hazy at best.

It definitely veers into 'Comic Book Guy' territory,..."Ahem. In Episode 6.5.2 you state that the umbrella is open, but as anyone can clearly see from the video, the umbrella clearly is NOT open. Was this a commentary on the nature of perception, or did you sir, in fact mistake us for imbeciles?"

― VegemiteGrrrl, Monday, 20 September 2010 20:30 (eight years ago) Permalink

Well as mentioned at the start this grew out of a review project of those early broadcasts, which have long circulated via filesharing as well as YouTube -- let's face it, that level of obsession is precisely the point! (Thus Joel being ever thankful for the 'it's just a show' line.)

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 20 September 2010 20:32 (eight years ago) Permalink

It's definitely coming for a more loving, fact-finding, tell us what you remember point of view..not pompous. but yeah, the level of detail is pretty crazy.

Love reading about the birth of "Tom" Servo as we know him, and the Mads. And that they're so unanamious about, "Um maybe don't watch these unless you really have to?"

― VegemiteGrrrl, Monday, 20 September 2010 20:37 (eight years ago) Permalink

Watched "The Crawling Eye" last week, not realizing it was the first Comedy Channel episode. Gypsy uncoiled herself - I had no idea.

― Jaq, Monday, 20 September 2010 20:38 (eight years ago) Permalink

The Crawling Eye has become one of my favorites in its clunky way. "Directed by us!"

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 20 September 2010 20:44 (eight years ago) Permalink

RIP Jackie Burroughs, aka Aram Fingal's mom from Overdrawn at the Memory Bank. "Don't talk about your area in public!"

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 27 September 2010 17:52 (eight years ago) Permalink

two weeks pass...

"So, let's recap the movie so far: Someone went to Acapulco, annnd someone almost bought gas."

― Doctor Casino, Saturday, 16 October 2010 16:56 (eight years ago) Permalink

Hahah that one.

"Uh, Billy, go to expression B..."

― Ned Raggett, Saturday, 16 October 2010 18:30 (eight years ago) Permalink

seriously dying at the scene when the aliens get told to go back to earth, just one brilliant zinger after another - - - "Uh, please, sir, we've seen Laserblast..." "Get out there and sell, sell, sell!"

― Doctor Casino, Saturday, 16 October 2010 19:34 (eight years ago) Permalink

TV's Frank on Countdown:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dc0AtWhrI0Q

― Drastic times require what? Drastic measures! Who said that? T (President Keyes), Wednesday, 20 October 2010 08:34 (eight years ago) Permalink

"children's fare"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rTyfEZKplw
I miss this Rhino promo that's at the front of the VHS releases. I never FFW'd through it! It was, I dunno, comforting.

― andrew m., Monday, 1 November 2010 16:35 (eight years ago) Permalink

Haha, I remember that. Only saw it a couple of times on other releases since I just used my own tapes for the longest time pre-DVDs/YouTube.

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 1 November 2010 16:37 (eight years ago) Permalink

oh man totally forgot about that promo. awesome!

― the waning trend (latebloomer), Monday, 1 November 2010 16:40 (eight years ago) Permalink

Perhaps too I associate it with Mitchell, which remains an absolute fave.

― andrew m., Monday, 1 November 2010 16:41 (eight years ago) Permalink

New box set comes out this week...

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 1 November 2010 16:47 (eight years ago) Permalink

just recently saw "The Wild World of Batwoman", "Eegah!" and "The Crawling Eye"

my god, I miss this show

― lol tea partiers and their fat fingers (HI DERE), Monday, 1 November 2010 16:51 (eight years ago) Permalink

I love The Crawling Eye, as I think I muttered above somewhere -- such a weird, stagy cast surrounding the germ of a good idea.

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 1 November 2010 16:52 (eight years ago) Permalink

FYI: The movie I referenced upthread was "Gamera vs Zigra" from SEASON 0

― lol tea partiers and their fat fingers (HI DERE), Monday, 1 November 2010 16:56 (eight years ago) Permalink

just watched "Jack Frost", great fun. that mushroom guy was hilarious/creepy.

― zappi, Monday, 1 November 2010 17:06 (eight years ago) Permalink

You been Netflix streaming 'em, Dan? Been catching up on a lot of old ones thanks to that.

― andrew m., Monday, 1 November 2010 17:07 (eight years ago) Permalink

Yep! Kind of sad that I can't rewatch Mr B Natural that way

― lol tea partiers and their fat fingers (HI DERE), Monday, 1 November 2010 17:07 (eight years ago) Permalink

Yes but...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8kH4XyWjq4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfuQMBYNRv0

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 1 November 2010 17:11 (eight years ago) Permalink

"Don't make so much noise when you read."

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 1 November 2010 17:11 (eight years ago) Permalink

Weird thing about The Crawling Eye is that it was originally a British tv series! We watched The Final Sacrifice this weekend - so AWFUL! Ancient cult of Canadian wrestlers, the Ziox! But a fantastic song from Tom Servo, Crow and Mike about Canada. And the bonus interview with the guy who played Zap Rowsdower was too earnest for words.

― Jaq, Monday, 1 November 2010 17:13 (eight years ago) Permalink

I made Casuistry watch that when I was visiting him in Toronto. Went over well.

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 1 November 2010 17:13 (eight years ago) Permalink

"Work faster, Grandma!"

― gay nerd fuel (Eric H.), Monday, 1 November 2010 17:14 (eight years ago) Permalink

"This man does things he's not proud of."

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 1 November 2010 17:14 (eight years ago) Permalink

"Eegah!" is just... man.

"WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"

― lol tea partiers and their fat fingers (HI DERE), Monday, 1 November 2010 17:16 (eight years ago) Permalink

And the shaving and the tongue and the...

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 1 November 2010 17:17 (eight years ago) Permalink

If we're talking some classic MST3K shorts:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--gEJCaF73g

"Junior Rodeo Daredevils!"

"...smothered in gravy -- TEXAS style!"

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 1 November 2010 17:18 (eight years ago) Permalink

the whole cave scene where the dad was essentially encouraging his daughter to let Eegah molest her...

― lol tea partiers and their fat fingers (HI DERE), Monday, 1 November 2010 17:23 (eight years ago) Permalink

The shorts they've been showing at the live Rifftrax events have been absolutely sublime. This most recent one, last Thursday, had one with a talking paper bag a la "No springs!" that was just amazing.

― Tub Girl Time Machine (Phil D.), Monday, 1 November 2010 17:30 (eight years ago) Permalink

Yeah I was just reading about that. Amazing.

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 1 November 2010 17:31 (eight years ago) Permalink

Haha, "Jim Henson's Last Picture Show Babies."

― gay nerd fuel (Eric H.), Monday, 1 November 2010 17:32 (eight years ago) Permalink

Hey, contents of the next box set after the new one have been announced:

• 109- PROJECT MOONBASE (with shorts: Commando Cody, parts 7 & 8)
• 322- MASTER NINJA I
• 324- MASTER NINJA II
• 505- MAGIC VOYAGE OF SINBAD

All Joel, all the time.

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 2 November 2010 17:04 (eight years ago) Permalink

Just watched The Final Sacrifice, which has the most hilarious riffing I've heard yet. Here's its VHS cover:
http://i54.tinypic.com/15r15z6.jpg

― my sex drew back into itself tight and dry (abanana), Tuesday, 9 November 2010 22:04 (eight years ago) Permalink

Hahah what in the hell.

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 9 November 2010 22:17 (eight years ago) Permalink

None of them are Rowsdower enough.

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 9 November 2010 22:18 (eight years ago) Permalink

Ha ha... I just watched this last night:

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51utTHsHypL._SX320_SY240_.jpg

― Darin, Tuesday, 9 November 2010 22:29 (eight years ago) Permalink

"I wonder if there's beer on the sun"

― Darin, Tuesday, 9 November 2010 22:30 (eight years ago) Permalink

I've been digging through some of the KTMAs -- SST Death Flight, jeez Louise. Or rather, Tina Louise...

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 9 November 2010 22:31 (eight years ago) Permalink

Has anyone mentioned how great Hobgoblins is yet? Top notch riffing all the way through, and it has that incredible bit when one the lead characters is unmistakably burnt to death, but then returns during the final scene without so much as a singed eyebrow!

Also, Hired! The Musical.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaduCx4Dkgg

― Pheeel, Tuesday, 9 November 2010 22:46 (eight years ago) Permalink

Hobgoblins is probably my favorite

― da croupier, Tuesday, 9 November 2010 22:49 (eight years ago) Permalink

"Meet The Hobgoblins! Frankie, Sniffles, Bounce-Bounce and The Claw!"

― da croupier, Tuesday, 9 November 2010 22:50 (eight years ago) Permalink

"They're rubbing puppets on us!"

― Tub Girl Time Machine (Phil D.), Tuesday, 9 November 2010 23:16 (eight years ago) Permalink

I just love the fact that Roadrash or whoever he is is one of the two guys with the Gimp in Pulp Fiction.

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 9 November 2010 23:21 (eight years ago) Permalink

Which one of these should I watch tonight?

Horrors of Spider Island
Warrior of the Lost World
Soultaker
Laserblast
The Killer Shrews
The Phantom Planet
Eegah!
The Wild World of Batwoman

― Darin, Tuesday, 9 November 2010 23:22 (eight years ago) Permalink

the last two are outrageously funny

― DJP, Tuesday, 9 November 2010 23:23 (eight years ago) Permalink

eegah! is something else

― omar little, Tuesday, 9 November 2010 23:24 (eight years ago) Permalink

What they both said. Watch both.

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 9 November 2010 23:33 (eight years ago) Permalink

"ROX-EEE!"

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 9 November 2010 23:33 (eight years ago) Permalink

"WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"
"WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"

"WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"

― DJP, Tuesday, 9 November 2010 23:34 (eight years ago) Permalink

also everything that happens in the cave... omg

― DJP, Tuesday, 9 November 2010 23:34 (eight years ago) Permalink

eegah and batwoman would be my nods, too

― da croupier, Tuesday, 9 November 2010 23:41 (eight years ago) Permalink

xpost -- "Think of the alternative."

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 9 November 2010 23:45 (eight years ago) Permalink

God, "Hired!" None of my salesmen has ever sold a caaaaaaar...

― Doctor Casino, Tuesday, 9 November 2010 23:49 (eight years ago) Permalink

"G'night, stay soft, pink and oily..."

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 9 November 2010 23:54 (eight years ago) Permalink

All you guys otm about Eegah!

― Darin, Wednesday, 10 November 2010 15:33 (eight years ago) Permalink

"Wait'll see my combo. They swing. Really swing!"

"I'd like to meet your combo."

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 10 November 2010 15:42 (eight years ago) Permalink

just watched riff trax for the first time. clash of the titans: pretty funny! avatar: not funny.

― BIG MUFFIN (gbx), Wednesday, 10 November 2010 15:46 (eight years ago) Permalink

Rifftrax Transformers, and Twilight are pretty great. Star Trek is funny too.

― That is the stench of tyranny (VegemiteGrrrl), Wednesday, 10 November 2010 17:39 (eight years ago) Permalink

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1w_dp2PK9E

― Loup-Garou G (The Yellow Kid), Thursday, 11 November 2010 04:42 (eight years ago) Permalink

Joel is so frickin' priceless.

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 11 November 2010 04:47 (eight years ago) Permalink

Joel's thoroughly unexcited "OH WOW!" always makes my day.

― The E Trip of Pillgamesh (GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ), Thursday, 11 November 2010 08:56 (eight years ago) Permalink

three weeks pass...

Okay so that Manos: The Hands of Fate sequel just got weirder:

We are absolutely ecstatic to inform you that THE MASTER himself, Tom Neyman is alive and well, and will be reprising his role as "The Master" in "Manos: The Search for Valley Lodge"! Wow!

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 3 December 2010 20:56 (eight years ago) Permalink

LOLling right now at Fugitive Alien and the "I love Ken he is my friend" song.

― Telephoneface (Adam Bruneau), Thursday, 9 December 2010 05:23 (eight years ago) Permalink

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAY2QFZi_IU

― benanas foster (Eric H.), Monday, 13 December 2010 02:55 (eight years ago) Permalink

Haha from one of the very first episodes I saw when it was actually broadcast. I like imagining how quickly they were piling on the toupees and drawing on his mustache.

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 13 December 2010 03:11 (eight years ago) Permalink

I like the YouTube comment that compares this to a well-done Muppets musical number.

― benanas foster (Eric H.), Monday, 13 December 2010 03:12 (eight years ago) Permalink

four weeks pass...

RIP Juan Piquer Simon, the director of Pod People.

"Trumpy!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UH_Tr6SgGo

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 11 January 2011 20:34 (eight years ago) Permalink

"Wait, is this Movie A or Movie B?" "I think this is Movie C . . ."

― you think you're cool, but you read ick (Phil D.), Tuesday, 11 January 2011 20:43 (eight years ago) Permalink

I looooove Joel's miffed Mike Curb Congregation riff. God, the whole thing. "IT STINKS!" If Pod People didn't have all the lonnnnnng dreary forest wandering stuff it'd be my favorite episode in a walk between Idiot Patrol and the Trumpy stop-motion scene.

"Little wing-ed potatoes..."

― Doctor Casino, Tuesday, 11 January 2011 20:44 (eight years ago) Permalink

my ankle's all bendy-wendy

― enfuque (Matt P), Tuesday, 11 January 2011 20:47 (eight years ago) Permalink

man I just watched it last night.

Top 10 episode for sure.

― Matt Armstrong, Tuesday, 11 January 2011 20:52 (eight years ago) Permalink

Because Pepperidge Farms remembers!

― ice cr?m tee (lpz), Tuesday, 11 January 2011 21:43 (eight years ago) Permalink

And never forget...

"HUZZAH!"

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 11 January 2011 21:51 (eight years ago) Permalink

"It says 'Don't laugh. It's paid for."
"In braille?"

― VegemiteGrrrl, Tuesday, 11 January 2011 23:10 (eight years ago) Permalink

MCCLOUD!

― Loup-Garou G (The Yellow Kid), Tuesday, 11 January 2011 23:15 (eight years ago) Permalink

lol I was just gonna do that one!

― VegemiteGrrrl, Tuesday, 11 January 2011 23:16 (eight years ago) Permalink

I went back and started rewatching on youtube...zomg so great.

"Here take this blanket, it'll warm her up."
"But I'm not cold.."
"It's for HER."

"Here this will warm her up"
"No thanks i'm not thirsty"
"It's for HERRRR"

― VegemiteGrrrl, Tuesday, 11 January 2011 23:19 (eight years ago) Permalink

Also the music they're listening to on the van ride.

"What is this, white reggae?"

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 11 January 2011 23:20 (eight years ago) Permalink

Tonight on Music From The Heart Of Space

― VegemiteGrrrl, Tuesday, 11 January 2011 23:28 (eight years ago) Permalink

<splash of coffee hurled in face> "More coffee?"

― you think you're cool, but you read ick (Phil D.), Wednesday, 12 January 2011 00:34 (eight years ago) Permalink

Can anyone explain the forest/hunter scenes in that movie at all? The other two parts are ET and teen slasher ripoffs, but the hunter scenes don't explain themselves or appear to rip off any type of movie.

― a nan, a bal, an anal ― (abanana), Wednesday, 12 January 2011 02:29 (eight years ago) Permalink

They're poaching doing the poaching for the eggs and the thing. I think. And the Pepperidge Farm guy was one of them but now he's not and he has a bar at home and drinks from it.

Again, I think.

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 12 January 2011 02:52 (eight years ago) Permalink

And isn't it something like the hunters smashed the eggs and are there to show the 'bad' side of human nature...but they sort of outlive their purpose after 5 minutes of the movie so they're just padding after that. Wonderful, foggy, Renaissance fair padding. JERK.

― VegemiteGrrrl, Wednesday, 12 January 2011 03:37 (eight years ago) Permalink

my friends and I are thinking of recording a series of alt commentaries for bad mainstream movies (romcoms etc.) wherein we invent drinking games for each movie in advance and then carry them out while discussing the film in a way that will start out pseudo-intelligent and then inevitably degrade into puerile name-calling as we get more and more intoxicated. is it a good idea y/n

― Simon H., Wednesday, 12 January 2011 05:37 (eight years ago) Permalink

Have you ever heard the Cannibal! the Musical commentary? - Trey & Matt and friends do that. If your shenanigans are as funny as theirs over the course of the movie, then I say YES

― VegemiteGrrrl, Wednesday, 12 January 2011 06:07 (eight years ago) Permalink

I will listen to that. oh also ours will be free, obv.

― Simon H., Wednesday, 12 January 2011 06:11 (eight years ago) Permalink

― VegemiteGrrrl, Wednesday, 12 January 2011 06:31 (eight years ago) Permalink

second half of that commentary track is terrible imho

― a nan, a bal, an anal ― (abanana), Wednesday, 12 January 2011 06:45 (eight years ago) Permalink

Bap-ba Da-ba Da Da

― James Mitchell, Tuesday, 18 January 2011 05:33 (eight years ago) Permalink

The Russian MST3K. Who knew?

http://www.mst3kinfo.com/?p=8658

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 28 January 2011 15:31 (eight years ago) Permalink

In a science institute, there’s an experiment,
They’re testing the effect of movie reels on people.
How will consciousness be affected by a movie.
Of questionable quality and made long ago
A nice guy, Stephen is in need of some money
He got a job as a test subject, threw caution to the wind
He didn’t know that the process is supervised by
Professor Zamishlavkin, a bad guy (something)
Stephen watches movies, he’s now imprisoned
If it’s wasn’t for his friends, he’d be miserable
Mutants, saboteurs: a dog and a penguin
Rescue his psychie and watch along with him
:::Fidel::: [penguin's name]
:::Ketchup::: [dog's name]
:::the greatest achievement of national defense!:::
When the friends are all together, they don’t fear the bad guy
They make comments on everything, so that it’s more fun
In the face of scientific theories,
They giggle and laugh, as they watch Project Popcorn

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 28 January 2011 15:32 (eight years ago) Permalink

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNH4dafgFZY

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 28 January 2011 15:33 (eight years ago) Permalink

^ would pay big money to hear Joel Tom & Crow riff an episode of that

― zappi, Friday, 28 January 2011 15:40 (eight years ago) Permalink

Perhaps it all began here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OwE4TRTo3U#t=5m40s

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 28 January 2011 16:36 (eight years ago) Permalink

there's an episode here http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2988947153633950316#

― zappi, Saturday, 29 January 2011 05:32 (eight years ago) Permalink

two months pass...

Following on from the posts just above, here's the full story (well, at least the first part) of the Russian MST3K -- pretty great!

http://bindingpolymer.com/wp/2011/04/01/popcorn-pretty-cat-and-perestroika/#more-813

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 26 April 2011 17:17 (seven years ago) Permalink

They really need to get these put on the next box set

― Brakhage, Tuesday, 26 April 2011 17:26 (seven years ago) Permalink

... I assume they're still making them, right?

― Brakhage, Tuesday, 26 April 2011 17:27 (seven years ago) Permalink

so happy you're alive!

― motivatedgirl (Matt P), Tuesday, 26 April 2011 17:28 (seven years ago) Permalink

The box sets? Yup, just got the latest one from last month -- both Master Ninja episodes, The Magic Voyage of Sinbad and Project Moonbase from the first season. Hadn't seen any of them in years, great stuff.

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 26 April 2011 17:30 (seven years ago) Permalink

master-ninja-THEME-song

― Brakhage, Tuesday, 26 April 2011 17:38 (seven years ago) Permalink

I still can't get over the fact that Timothy Van Patten went from his mumbling non-triumphs there to being the guy who co-wrote "Pine Barrens" for The Sopranos, not to mention directing a slew of other episodes for that and other various high-end cable series. Talk about bootstrapping! I would have loved it if they could have interviewed him as a bonus for this set.

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 26 April 2011 17:42 (seven years ago) Permalink

Wait a minute, he also directed the first two episodes of Game of Thrones!

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 26 April 2011 17:43 (seven years ago) Permalink

xpost Yeah, toxic paints, shmaints - whatever. I'm on Blu-Ray now baby

― Brakhage, Tuesday, 26 April 2011 17:44 (seven years ago) Permalink

Oh weird yeah, I kept thinking Van Patten was Tim Olyphant (sheriff, Deadwood) for some reason. Good on him for surviving into a viable career

― Brakhage, Tuesday, 26 April 2011 17:47 (seven years ago) Permalink

If anything I figure having gone through that show was a good object lesson in what not to do. (I also like how most of his directorial woodshedding was done on Touched By An Angel.)

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 26 April 2011 17:51 (seven years ago) Permalink

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0lIOaq3oEY

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 26 April 2011 17:54 (seven years ago) Permalink

WANT

http://i.imgur.com/xPEbl.jpg

― zappi, Monday, 9 May 2011 19:23 (seven years ago) Permalink

Can't wait. Due out midsummer.

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 9 May 2011 19:24 (seven years ago) Permalink

niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice

― da croupier, Monday, 9 May 2011 19:28 (seven years ago) Permalink

"More fish flakes, my sweet friend?"

"Tibby...oh Tibby..."

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 9 May 2011 19:29 (seven years ago) Permalink

three weeks pass...

Meanwhile, more on that Manos sequel:

http://www.polkio.com/archives/Story.aspx/20504/falls-city-fright

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 1 June 2011 20:55 (seven years ago) Permalink

A creepy statue of a hand -- a model of Falls City resident Rick Zunck's hand made by Jones -- represents Manos in the film. Neyman carefully contemplates the statue and then tentatively reaches for it. Once he grabs hold, he screams and writhes in pain. This goes on for what seems like an excruciating long time before Neyman unleashes a chillingly desperate shout.
The performance receives applause from the entire crew.
"The man's got skills," Munch said to Jones, shaking his head.

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 1 June 2011 20:57 (seven years ago) Permalink

This has basically been my homepage for the last month or so.

http://deep13.us/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1&Itemid=3

― scissorlocks and the three bears (Eric H.), Wednesday, 1 June 2011 22:01 (seven years ago) Permalink

LOL, Angels Revenge on right now.

(Gunshot) "... My period!"

― scissorlocks and the three bears (Eric H.), Wednesday, 1 June 2011 22:02 (seven years ago) Permalink

"Dworkinfest '78!"

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 1 June 2011 22:04 (seven years ago) Permalink

Never caught that line until just now!

― scissorlocks and the three bears (Eric H.), Wednesday, 1 June 2011 22:05 (seven years ago) Permalink

Aw dude. (But that's the joy, sometimes a rewatch turns up something totally random -- thus when I got the latest set with Master Ninja II and Joel reads a letter from someone having to study Derrida, Servo immediately follows it up with a sneezed "Foucault!" that sounds like he's trying to suppress a curse word. Had never noticed that once all this time!)

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 1 June 2011 22:08 (seven years ago) Permalink

whoa that gamera box set might finally mean that everybody i know wont look at me like a nutjob when i slip "jailbait for gamera" into casual conversation anymore

― just malorted a little bit in my mouth (jjjusten), Wednesday, 1 June 2011 22:09 (seven years ago) Permalink

Instead they'll look at you like a Cornjob.

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 1 June 2011 22:10 (seven years ago) Permalink

lol @ boys in little pants

― scissorlocks and the three bears (Eric H.), Wednesday, 1 June 2011 22:11 (seven years ago) Permalink

Love that long hair tips off canoeists a mile away that "that's a chick" reeling in the drug shipment.

― scissorlocks and the three bears (Eric H.), Wednesday, 1 June 2011 22:12 (seven years ago) Permalink

Especially in the butt-end of the seventies.

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 1 June 2011 22:18 (seven years ago) Permalink

I watched this show every week for several years, and you guys are frightening me

― the gay bloggers are onto the faggot tweets (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 2 June 2011 11:19 (seven years ago) Permalink

whoa that gamera box set might finally mean that everybody i know wont look at me like a nutjob when i slip "jailbait for gamera" into casual conversation anymore

hahaha cosign

― low-rent black gangster nicknamed Bootsy (DJP), Thursday, 2 June 2011 19:03 (seven years ago) Permalink

one month passes...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHvRNIXzCbU

i didn't know that blast hardcheese and grandma daughter from space mutiny ended up marrying irl! i find this very precious and life-affirming.

― silly, and frankly, anti-wiki (reddening), Sunday, 10 July 2011 06:00 (seven years ago) Permalink

blast hardcheese giving me irl lols all over again

― Janet Snakehole (VegemiteGrrl), Sunday, 10 July 2011 06:24 (seven years ago) Permalink

Spider Island, home to the stars!

― andrew m., Tuesday, 12 July 2011 17:03 (seven years ago) Permalink

http://theronneel.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/horrors_of_spider_island1.jpg
I've been liftin', what do you think?

― andrew m., Tuesday, 12 July 2011 17:04 (seven years ago) Permalink

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFHlJ2voJHY

― Michael Bay, CEO of Transformers (Phil D.), Tuesday, 12 July 2011 17:06 (seven years ago) Permalink

dah dah dah-dah Ga-me-ra!!

― Telephoneface (Adam Bruneau), Tuesday, 12 July 2011 18:20 (seven years ago) Permalink

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5308/5875310341_6172a976d5.jpg

― layers of layers of dough and butter (reddening), Wednesday, 13 July 2011 23:51 (seven years ago) Permalink

ROWSDOWER!

― The 700 KKKlub (lpz), Thursday, 14 July 2011 00:03 (seven years ago) Permalink

Rowsdower, sowsdower, bippity boppity bowsdower …

― BIG HOOBA aka the stankdriver (Phil D.), Thursday, 14 July 2011 00:48 (seven years ago) Permalink

Just the floppy disk for breakfast, honey?

― Breezy Summer Jam (MintIce), Thursday, 14 July 2011 02:58 (seven years ago) Permalink

two weeks pass...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UH_Tr6SgGo

― latebloomer, Sunday, 31 July 2011 08:48 (seven years ago) Permalink

one month passes...

I get to interview at least one and perhaps up to four or five members of Cinematic Titanic tomorrow afternoon!

― Gus Van Sant's Gerry Blank (Eric H.), Tuesday, 13 September 2011 20:38 (seven years ago) Permalink

Going to try very very very hard not to be starstruck.

― Gus Van Sant's Gerry Blank (Eric H.), Tuesday, 13 September 2011 20:38 (seven years ago) Permalink

No I'm not jealous. (I SO lie.)

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 13 September 2011 20:43 (seven years ago) Permalink

What? I'm not sweating!

― Gus Van Sant's Gerry Blank (Eric H.), Tuesday, 13 September 2011 20:54 (seven years ago) Permalink

(runs in circles, pees on floor)

― Janet Snakehole (VegemiteGrrl), Wednesday, 14 September 2011 14:10 (seven years ago) Permalink

That is cool. I got to meet Bill Corbett a couple of weeks ago and am still impressed by how funny and nice he was.

― ¯\(°_o)/¯ (Nicole), Wednesday, 14 September 2011 14:13 (seven years ago) Permalink

How neat! He seems like he'd be pretty chill in general.

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 14 September 2011 14:17 (seven years ago) Permalink

The new Gamera box set is a total treat of course, but that goes without saying. Next box up, along with bonus features:

Time of the Apes
extras:
INTRODUCTION BY AUGUST RAGONE (Author of Eiji Tsuburaya: Master of Monsters)
MST HOUR WRAPS
Mighty Jack
extras:
INTRODUCTION BY AUGUST RAGONE
THE DVD MENUS OF MST3K
The Violent Years
extras:
ED-UCATION: ARCHIVAL INTERVIEW WITH DELORES FULLER
ED-UCATION: ARCHIVAL INTERVIEW WITH KATHY WOOD
The Brute Man
extras:
INTRODUCTION BY MARY JO PEHL
TRAIL OF THE CREEPER: MAKING THE BRUTE MAN
THE MAKING OF MST3K (1997)

All great in different, insane ways.

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 14 September 2011 14:19 (seven years ago) Permalink

Interview was fantastic, other than me fighting like hell not to come off like a fanboy.

First CInematic Titanic experience was pretty awesome. Especially the three bro-ey gay dudes in what appeared to be a Jules et Jim situation were making out two rows in front of me.

― michael assbender (Eric H.), Friday, 16 September 2011 03:01 (seven years ago) Permalink

Brilliant. What was the movie, anyway?

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 16 September 2011 03:15 (seven years ago) Permalink

Doomsday Machine ... so bad it took two movie crews to ruin it.

― michael assbender (Eric H.), Friday, 16 September 2011 03:18 (seven years ago) Permalink

Casey Kasem ...
Mission Control Officer

Well I'm sold.

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 16 September 2011 03:28 (seven years ago) Permalink

Oh, I lost count of the AT40-based jokes after they passed, well, the top 40.

― michael assbender (Eric H.), Friday, 16 September 2011 03:32 (seven years ago) Permalink

apropos to nothing:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z--Ebqna1GM

― soul ma cosa nostra (Eisbaer), Sunday, 25 September 2011 02:33 (seven years ago) Permalink

Been watching a lot of eps lately after discovering how many of them are on instant streaming

― Blind Diode Jefferson (kingfish), Sunday, 25 September 2011 17:31 (seven years ago) Permalink

http://www.societyallure.com/Other/48thAnnual-USO-Armed-Forces/IMG4876/737344239_m3HNw-M.jpg

if Paulie Walnuts is an MST3K fan*, maybe he can put in a good work for the boys the next time he does the USO thing with Sandy Frank.

(* - something tells me he isn't, but wouldn't it be wonderful if he was?!?)

― Push Push N'Bushe Wright (Eisbaer), Sunday, 2 October 2011 00:25 (seven years ago) Permalink

Mr B. Natural is dead!

http://www.mst3kinfo.com/?p=10893

― Ned Raggett, Sunday, 2 October 2011 00:34 (seven years ago) Permalink

Remember her well:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Np9eflhMx08

― Ned Raggett, Sunday, 2 October 2011 00:37 (seven years ago) Permalink

TO WENDY'S!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijjiJahRPU8

― corey, Sunday, 2 October 2011 00:38 (seven years ago) Permalink

Mr B. Natural is dead!

;_; ;_;

― Push Push N'Bushe Wright (Eisbaer), Sunday, 2 October 2011 00:46 (seven years ago) Permalink

;_;

― Chris S, Sunday, 2 October 2011 05:03 (seven years ago) Permalink

one month passes...

i've got a fever and the only cure is coleman francis.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUK7CfUniBs

― enchilada sauce (get bent), Saturday, 5 November 2011 02:24 (seven years ago) Permalink

four months pass...

Just started watching The Rebel Set and so far it's much more entertaining than I'd expected. "Enough money to forget that you can't act." - "Hey, you're in this movie too, buddy."

― Doctor Casino, Saturday, 24 March 2012 05:03 (six years ago) Permalink

Was just about to bump this thread to observe: I forgot to wear a bra.

― hot and brothered (Eric H.), Saturday, 24 March 2012 05:04 (six years ago) Permalink

Mannnnnn, Rebel Set, what a bad movie! I mean I know that's the show's whole thing but that was one of the more shapeless and underplotted things I've seen on there.

― Doctor Casino, Sunday, 25 March 2012 01:08 (six years ago) Permalink

two weeks pass...

OH MY GOD monster a-go-go

― Doctor Casino, Saturday, 14 April 2012 05:01 (six years ago) Permalink

like seriously wow, what did i just watch

― Doctor Casino, Saturday, 14 April 2012 05:02 (six years ago) Permalink

Hahaha.

"Brrrrt."

"...I don't believe it."

― Ned Raggett, Saturday, 14 April 2012 05:32 (six years ago) Permalink

This really was the worst movie. At least Manos, Red Zone Cuba, Creeping Terror, etc had unintended camp/clumsiness.
Watching Monster A Go Go is like discovering credit card fraud in your account.

― ma ck ro ma ck ro (mackro mackro), Saturday, 14 April 2012 05:37 (six years ago) Permalink

I laughed so hard at that ending.

― the acquisition and practice of music is unfavourable to the health of (abanana), Saturday, 14 April 2012 12:26 (six years ago) Permalink

Ditto, I could barely hear the terrible narration over my own cackling.

"Yes, I made that phone noise."

― Doctor Casino, Saturday, 14 April 2012 13:56 (six years ago) Permalink

omg - - gunslinger is blowing me away. The "hallway" gag just piles up higher and higher.

― Doctor Casino, Wednesday, 25 April 2012 03:58 (six years ago) Permalink

The two dudes at the beginning just sitting on the horses waiting for action to be called!

"And … cue horses!"
"Pffff . . . Corman."

BTW, Bill Corbett recently retweeted one of my tweets and it was the happiest day of my life. The end.

― i love the large auns pictures! (Phil D.), Wednesday, 25 April 2012 09:40 (six years ago) Permalink

Yeah, wow, overall that was a pretty good episode. (I'm watching these in little bursts before bed every night, thanks to Netflix's motley collection of episodes.) Some classic material in there and the host segments were pretty high-quality, especially the one where Servo is warping time and space for some reason.

Working through Giant Gila Monster now and some bits are slaying me despite the film's fundamentally boring milieu and visual style. "So this whole town revolves around towing cars?"

Also love Joel's thing of doing the Gila Monster's voice whenever they cut away to it, since the monster is clearly an actual-sized gila monster and never seems to be sharing space with the characters, so he just treats him as this totally separate commentator walking on and making periodic gravelly remarks and then walking back off stage. "You wanna bet I get blamed for that even though I was nowhere close?"

And, after the disclaimer in the opening credits: "Aw, man, so the gila monster's fictitious, what a downer."

― Doctor Casino, Monday, 30 April 2012 05:14 (six years ago) Permalink

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELYfE4O116o

hahaha i love that someone has compiled this! Although the funniest part really was that just as you'd forgotten about this gag, ten minutes later in the movie it'd pop out again.

― Doctor Casino, Monday, 30 April 2012 05:15 (six years ago) Permalink

*drunkenly* "Come out!"

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 30 April 2012 15:46 (six years ago) Permalink

three weeks pass...

Found a bunc of mst3k streaming via Amazon Prime instant-watch

Watched Future War, that was O_o so bad

Watching Laserblast now...hilarious! The love scene made me cry from laughing so hard, loving it.

― Peppermint Patty Hearst (VegemiteGrrl), Monday, 21 May 2012 04:25 (six years ago) Permalink

Still can't get over the scene with the aliens killing time in conversation with their superiors. "Uh, your move sir, you called us."

― Doctor Casino, Monday, 21 May 2012 11:37 (six years ago) Permalink

future war is one of my favorite mike episodes. the showdown in the church is so delightfully stupid.

― bark ruffalo (latebloomer), Monday, 21 May 2012 19:24 (six years ago) Permalink

Best running gag ever:

Mike Nelson: [the sheriff in Laserblast bears a striking resemblance to Hank Williams Jr] Look, are you READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL?
Mike Nelson: Man, I've gotta go home and get READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL!
Crow T. Robot: Let's find out of he's READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL!
Mike Nelson: What do we got, another citizen who isn't READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL!
Crow T. Robot: Anyway, all my rowdy friends are coming over later.
Crow T. Robot: I just feel like you're not ready for some football.
Tom Servo: Anything you say can be used to get you READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL!
Tom Servo: I'm not ready for football anymore.
Tom Servo: [Sheriff is cracking open a Coke bottle] Hey, he knows how to use a Coke!
Mike Nelson: [In tune with old Coca-Cola jingle] I'd like to teach the world to GET READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL!

― i love the large auns pictures! (Phil D.), Monday, 21 May 2012 19:29 (six years ago) Permalink

Hahah I do love that.

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 21 May 2012 19:30 (six years ago) Permalink

Perhaps second only to, "Wooooo, Packers!"

― i love the large auns pictures! (Phil D.), Monday, 21 May 2012 19:31 (six years ago) Permalink

Another brilliant gag from Laserblast -- Hank Williams Jr guy gets in car, Servo starts up a car honk noise.

My theory is that they had no idea if that was really going to be the last one so they went for broke throughout.

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 21 May 2012 19:31 (six years ago) Permalink

And the "PACKERS!!!" one was so insane, you could tell that was a bunch of Vikings fans letting out decades' worth of frustration.

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 21 May 2012 19:32 (six years ago) Permalink

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iqLhdInGrk

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 21 May 2012 19:35 (six years ago) Permalink

And what the hey

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvNzhKTXweQ

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 21 May 2012 19:36 (six years ago) Permalink

My favorite thing about the "Packers!" gag is that it showed up in The Touch of Satan, in the scene in which The Giant Spider Invasion's Robert Easton shows up to conduct a witch-burning. ("Burn the witch!" "Packers! But mostly 'Burn the Witch!'")

― i love the large auns pictures! (Phil D.), Monday, 21 May 2012 19:38 (six years ago) Permalink

Perhaps second only to, "Wooooo, Packers!"

"Packers!" is definitely my all time favorite.

― Respectfully, Tyrese Gibson (Nicole), Monday, 21 May 2012 19:41 (six years ago) Permalink

was talking to one of my oldest friends recently and when MST3K popped up in conversation it turned out that he has an uncle, Barry Schulman, who used to work in television and at one point was a VP at Sci-Fi, and he's apparently widely beloved by fans of the show for saving it from cancellation a couple times. very cool! he supposedly even got to keep some of the puppets.

― tell peeta my fire dress is draggin on the floor (some dude), Monday, 21 May 2012 19:41 (six years ago) Permalink

Now I kinda want to go home and do a Laserblast/Hobgoblins double feature.

― i love the large auns pictures! (Phil D.), Monday, 21 May 2012 19:43 (six years ago) Permalink

Ha, tell your friend from all of us that his uncle is an angel of light.

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 21 May 2012 19:47 (six years ago) Permalink

I want to as well, that would be awesome. I wish I had the time to do that. xp

― Respectfully, Tyrese Gibson (Nicole), Monday, 21 May 2012 19:48 (six years ago) Permalink

yeah i don't think my friend is overly familiar with the show but i was just like WOAH THAT IS SO COOOOOL (xpost)

― tell peeta my fire dress is draggin on the floor (some dude), Monday, 21 May 2012 19:48 (six years ago) Permalink

Meanwhile the box sets keep rolling along -- I still need to get this one from a couple of months back:

* episode 210- KING DINOSAUR (with short: X MARKS THE SPOT)
* episode 323- THE CASTLE OF FU-MANCHU
* episode 608- CODE NAME: DIAMOND HEAD (with short: A DAY AT THE FAIR) and
* episode 611- LAST OF THE WILD HORSES
New Introduction By Frank Conniff
The Incredible Mr. Lippert (a Ballyhoo Production)
Vintage MST3K Promos
Life After MST3K: Kevin Murphy (this is the first installment of a new series)
Code Name: Quinn Martin
DARKSTAR: Robots Don’t Need SAG Cards
Original Trailers
4 Exclusive Mini-Posters By Artist Steve Vance

And the next one in summer:

310- FUGITIVE ALIEN
318- STAR FORCE – FUGITIVE ALIEN II
617- THE SWORD AND THE DRAGON
624- SAMSON VS. THE VAMPIRE WOMEN
Including
introductions by Japanese cinema historian August Ragone
You Asked For It: Sandy Frank Speaks!
MST Hour Wraps
Life After MST3K: Frank Conniff
MST3K Shorts: Snow Thrills & A Date With Your Family
Lucha Gringo: K. Gordon Murray Meets Santo

I cannot emphasize enough how brilliant it is that we are getting Sandy Frank on film.

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 21 May 2012 19:53 (six years ago) Permalink

I do hope they get back to completing a formal release of the rest of season one; they've done about half now and while it's definitely a woozier/slower show in comparison (but still miles beyond most of the KTMAs), it's still got some winners.

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 21 May 2012 19:54 (six years ago) Permalink

I tried to watch one of the season one eps on Netflix and just couldn't do it, gave up like five or ten minutes in. You got the spirit of the show but they seemed to be missing one great opportunity after another. Might have actually worked better in a way as a basis for people to watch with their friends and do their own riffs, which the show at its peak kind of doesn't leave any room for.

Man, I forgot about the Hank Williams Jr. gag, yeah, that was great!

― Doctor Casino, Monday, 21 May 2012 20:11 (six years ago) Permalink

-Good shooting Xanthar!
-Thanks, Denise.

― Peppermint Patty Hearst (VegemiteGrrl), Monday, 21 May 2012 20:17 (six years ago) Permalink

In Laserblast I thought the music was real cool, specifically a tune playing on the radio in the van. So I went online to seek it and boom there it was on iTunes store! "Billy's Radio #1." Also features the hits "Grandpa and Kathy," "Billy and Kathy," "Tony Discovers Black Spot," "Love Theme After Fight," and "Billy in Mirror/Chuck Goes to Car."

― andrew m., Monday, 21 May 2012 20:17 (six years ago) Permalink

oh god the music jokes in that were killing me

― Peppermint Patty Hearst (VegemiteGrrl), Monday, 21 May 2012 20:25 (six years ago) Permalink

also the car rolling through the gas station "help our accelerator's stuck"

― Peppermint Patty Hearst (VegemiteGrrl), Monday, 21 May 2012 20:25 (six years ago) Permalink

"Billy Preston takes a solo."

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 21 May 2012 20:25 (six years ago) Permalink

Oh god, that stupid hippie.

"You may or may not believe this but I grow my own mary jane!"

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 21 May 2012 20:25 (six years ago) Permalink

"This is the long version of whatever song this is."

― i love the large auns pictures! (Phil D.), Monday, 21 May 2012 22:00 (six years ago) Permalink

Only Love (Pads the Film)

― There are many tribes in the Juggalo nation (Viceroy), Thursday, 24 May 2012 12:54 (six years ago) Permalink

Went camping at one of our beautiful lakes a few weekends ago with some friends. Boated out to a place they had camped before and named Spider Island. Which got me all excited and go "Spider Island, home to the stars!" They didn't get it, of course, not being a nerd about it like I am. Had to keep the refs to myself all weekend. It was torture!

― andrew m., Thursday, 24 May 2012 14:27 (six years ago) Permalink

Did you get hot, beefy and sweaty? Were all your friends sultry dancers?

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 24 May 2012 14:43 (six years ago) Permalink

We had that first part down pat. The second, not so much. I did sing the "Gary, Gary" song to myself a few times.

― andrew m., Thursday, 24 May 2012 14:51 (six years ago) Permalink

Joel in the NY Times from a couple of days ago:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/03/movies/joel-hodgson-on-mystery-science-theater-and-riffs.html

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 5 June 2012 17:42 (six years ago) Permalink

I wonder how much people paid to attend riff camp. The idea just seems strange to me.

― Respectfully, Tyrese Gibson (Nicole), Tuesday, 5 June 2012 18:11 (six years ago) Permalink

have you never read any fan MiSTings

― WHEY AHR MAH DREGUNS? (DJP), Tuesday, 5 June 2012 18:11 (six years ago) Permalink

Unfortunately the first rule is that you do not talk about riff camp.

― Brony! Broni! Broné! (Phil D.), Tuesday, 5 June 2012 18:12 (six years ago) Permalink

have you never read any fan MiSTings

Not once! I have always stuck to the show and rifftrax.

― Respectfully, Tyrese Gibson (Nicole), Tuesday, 5 June 2012 18:25 (six years ago) Permalink

three weeks pass...

quite a project
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwyaUXuZncw&feature=youtu.be

― andrew m., Wednesday, 27 June 2012 15:38 (six years ago) Permalink

http://youtu.be/OwyaUXuZncw

― andrew m., Wednesday, 27 June 2012 15:40 (six years ago) Permalink

wow, pretty great - background music kinda distracting but nice selection of riffs there.

― Doctor Casino, Sunday, 1 July 2012 17:51 (six years ago) Permalink

Malcolm Mooney references Rocky Jones on The Lost Tapes!

― bentelec, Sunday, 1 July 2012 18:52 (six years ago) Permalink

In other news, I finally got the "Haitian Divorce" reference in Master Ninja II.

― bentelec, Sunday, 1 July 2012 19:00 (six years ago) Permalink

one month passes...

I've been watching (probably re-watching) these and yeah the Joel years are miles away better than the Mike years. At least in the overarching narrative/connective skits. You just can't beat Dr. Forrestor and TV's Frank as villains. I think season 3 is my favorite (Pod People still being my favorite ep).

― Emperor Cos Dashit (Adam Bruneau), Friday, 3 August 2012 19:41 (six years ago) Permalink

Sandy Frank
Sandy Frank
Dada people come from trees

― Emperor Cos Dashit (Adam Bruneau), Friday, 3 August 2012 19:45 (six years ago) Permalink

I was thinking of watching some KTMAs on Youtube, anybody have any recommendations?

― Godzilla vs. Rodan Rodannadanna (The Yellow Kid), Friday, 3 August 2012 19:50 (six years ago) Permalink

Yeah, watch seasons 2-7 instead.

― Eric H., Friday, 3 August 2012 19:52 (six years ago) Permalink

Just kidding, I actually haven't watched much of the KTMA's tho. Can't really seem to settle into them.

― Eric H., Friday, 3 August 2012 19:53 (six years ago) Permalink

really disappointed in the meager selection streaming on Netflix atm

― andrew m., Friday, 3 August 2012 19:56 (six years ago) Permalink

The KTMAs are weird and mixed but there are a few I would earmark:

Phase IV
Cosmic Princess
Humanoid Woman
SST Death Flight
The Six Million Eyes of Su-Muru

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 3 August 2012 19:58 (six years ago) Permalink

there was a KTMA Gamera episode that is to date one of the funniest things they've ever done

― keeping things contextual (DJP), Friday, 3 August 2012 20:11 (six years ago) Permalink

The Gamera eps are all pretty classic

― Emperor Cos Dashit (Adam Bruneau), Friday, 3 August 2012 20:12 (six years ago) Permalink

I've only seen a couple but I didn't get the point. Why not just rent the original B-movies and come up with your own sarcastic comments?

LOL. Why go to the park and fly a kite when you can just pop a pill?

― Emperor Cos Dashit (Adam Bruneau), Friday, 3 August 2012 20:47 (six years ago) Permalink

I'm watching "Space Mutiny" for the first time. 10 mins in and it's already amazing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sa42pxJyq64

― Emperor Cos Dashit (Adam Bruneau), Friday, 3 August 2012 21:02 (six years ago) Permalink

"Special Effects by Industrial Light and Morons"

― Emperor Cos Dashit (Adam Bruneau), Friday, 3 August 2012 21:06 (six years ago) Permalink

An all time favorite.

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 3 August 2012 21:09 (six years ago) Permalink

it's the best!

― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Friday, 3 August 2012 21:50 (six years ago) Permalink

there was a KTMA Gamera episode that is to date one of the funniest things they've ever done

Iirc this is the first mst3k either of us ever saw (at some choir competition or something?) Featuring the immortal "jailbait for gamera" line that no one else in the world seems to remember.

― O_o-O_O-o_O (jjjusten), Friday, 3 August 2012 21:52 (six years ago) Permalink

Timely!

http://www.avclub.com/articles/ten-essential-mst3k-episodes,83328/

― Ned Raggett, Saturday, 4 August 2012 13:14 (six years ago) Permalink

Iirc this is the first mst3k either of us ever saw (at some choir competition or something?) Featuring the immortal "jailbait for gamera" line that no one else in the world seems to remember.

yessssssssssss "keep your shirt on, honey"

― keeping things contextual (DJP), Saturday, 4 August 2012 14:33 (six years ago) Permalink

http://www.mst3kjournal.com/k07.html

ZOMG FOUND IT

― keeping things contextual (DJP), Saturday, 4 August 2012 14:37 (six years ago) Permalink

MANOS

http://boingboing.net/2012/08/13/michael-j-nelson-interview.html

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 14 August 2012 17:41 (six years ago) Permalink

One of the most mindblowing things I encountered in years was that so many KTMA eps are just on youtube. I just remember being on rec.arts.tv.mst3k like 18 years ago during freshman year and trading tapes, and how these were the ultimate prize.

Now you just pull anything up and there ya go.

Come to think of it, I knew the guys who swiped the Forrester stand-up photo-model from the first MSTie Con. I met them when I tried to write for the campus humor mag the next year.

― Fiendish Doctor Wu (kingfish), Tuesday, 14 August 2012 18:54 (six years ago) Permalink

irl LOLz during "Catalina Caper"

"Turn on, tune in, throw up!"

"I think they sent the wrong people to 'Nam."

the song where they make the band harmonize "We can't siiiiiiiiiing"

― Emperor Cos Dashit (Adam Bruneau), Tuesday, 28 August 2012 06:01 (six years ago) Permalink

Weird fact -- that song the band are singing then is a Ray Davies number!

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 28 August 2012 13:50 (six years ago) Permalink

Tom Servo goes a little overboard in that segment.

― Eric H., Tuesday, 28 August 2012 18:16 (six years ago) Permalink

CREEPY GIRL <3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tv0S2gzcEeU

― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Tuesday, 28 August 2012 18:30 (six years ago) Permalink

Joel was on the nerdist podcast last week

― Listen to this, dad (President Keyes), Tuesday, 28 August 2012 19:03 (six years ago) Permalink

he was great!

― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Tuesday, 28 August 2012 19:21 (six years ago) Permalink

three weeks pass...

I was really gobsmacked by the realization that they were making an episode every week!

And that they did it 9/5, no overtime.

― pun lovin criminal (polyphonic), Tuesday, 18 September 2012 00:09 (six years ago) Permalink

three weeks pass...

They said the trick was to schedule week or two week long breaks every so often, to give themselves a bit of a life!

Meantime, the woman who played Debbie in Manos is starting a blog about the experience. Obviously a must-read already!

http://debbiesmanos.blogspot.com/

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 9 October 2012 22:00 (six years ago) Permalink

Cool! We just watched the documentary on the MST3K disk that implied no one but the "make out guy" was still alive and willing to talk about the movie.

― Jaq, Tuesday, 9 October 2012 22:22 (six years ago) Permalink

Ha, weird implication -- both her AND her dad, AKA Manos himself, are alive and well. Hell, he's appearing in the sequel.

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 9 October 2012 22:24 (six years ago) Permalink

three months pass...

TWENTY YEARS OLD TODAY, people

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AJVZuQuD6M

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 31 January 2013 01:13 (six years ago) Permalink

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR TORVALD
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU

― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Thursday, 31 January 2013 02:01 (six years ago) Permalink

let's all stuff our pants with newspaper in their honor

― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Thursday, 31 January 2013 02:02 (six years ago) Permalink

det doot doot do det det doot

― Doctor Casino, Thursday, 31 January 2013 12:46 (six years ago) Permalink

That's my lunch break taken care of!

― Neil S, Thursday, 31 January 2013 12:54 (six years ago) Permalink

"Good salesman!"
"Bad salesman!"
"Inka Dinka Doo!"
"Now if you want to see your daughter again, you'll do..."
"Now let us pray. Lord..."
"Huh?"
"You could hurt me?"

― Zero Dark 33⅓: The Final Insult (Eric H.), Thursday, 31 January 2013 13:10 (six years ago) Permalink

INVISIBLE ELVES!!!

also...

"That's just one guy... its just one guy doing all those lines!"

― Frobisher the (Viceroy), Thursday, 31 January 2013 23:31 (six years ago) Permalink

I love Joel's tone through all that 'one guy' bit. He sounds so disappointed.

Complete stylistic antithesis: Servo's vacationing housewife monologue near the end.

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 1 February 2013 00:27 (six years ago) Permalink

"I'm inTENSly stupid!"

― Zero Dark 33⅓: The Final Insult (Eric H.), Friday, 1 February 2013 01:33 (six years ago) Permalink

The lady acquaintance and I have been digging through the classics, watching miscellaneous Joel eps. She had never seen Mitchell, we just watched that the other day and boy, does it still hold up, totally worthy of its classic status. Really don't know if I could even make a top ten riffs from it, just so consistently good.

Put 'em on your feet! Give your dogs a treat! What a comfortable shoe...

― Doctor Casino, Saturday, 9 February 2013 07:00 (six years ago) Permalink

"Great big buttery moon up there...sidewalk looks like ice cream if you squint right..."

― Ned Raggett, Saturday, 9 February 2013 07:06 (six years ago) Permalink

lool i love mitchell

the scenes with the hooker-girlfriend are my favorite

― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Saturday, 9 February 2013 07:14 (six years ago) Permalink

i can't remember any lines but if you say them i will lol @ them

― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Saturday, 9 February 2013 07:15 (six years ago) Permalink

"3M ... innovation ... research ..."

― Zero Dark 33⅓: The Final Insult (Eric H.), Saturday, 9 February 2013 07:23 (six years ago) Permalink

"This is a police investigation!"
"Oh, really, I thought it was just some slob wandering around my house."

― Doctor Casino, Saturday, 9 February 2013 07:41 (six years ago) Permalink

"Mah, mah, mah, mah 'partment."

― Doctor Casino, Saturday, 9 February 2013 07:41 (six years ago) Permalink

http://www.siff.net/cinema/detail.aspx?FID=261&id=46043

Debating over the VIP package

― Jaq, Saturday, 9 February 2013 17:56 (six years ago) Permalink

oh who am i kidding, hell yes it's worth it

― Jaq, Saturday, 9 February 2013 17:57 (six years ago) Permalink

Yeah, gotta do it. I love the fact he's just keeping on his own wonderfully bemusing path.

― Ned Raggett, Saturday, 9 February 2013 18:00 (six years ago) Permalink

Agreed. Joel being, well, Joel.

― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Saturday, 9 February 2013 18:09 (six years ago) Permalink

"Mobsters laughing, really smiling, a man selling heroin!"

― Pheeel, Sunday, 10 February 2013 17:18 (six years ago) Permalink

hahaha i was just thinking of that part when i woke up today

― Doctor Casino, Sunday, 10 February 2013 18:24 (six years ago) Permalink

it's a cold day for pontooning.

― a basset hound (strongo hulkington's ghost dad), Sunday, 10 February 2013 23:26 (six years ago) Permalink

three weeks pass...

I got "favorited" by Bill Corbett on Twitter yesterday and it was the happiest day of my life. True story.

http://img688.imageshack.us/img688/6838/corbettfave.jpg

― ARE YOU HIRING A NANNY OR A SHAMAN (Phil D.), Tuesday, 5 March 2013 13:21 (five years ago) Permalink

I bow down to u

That's awesome

― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Tuesday, 5 March 2013 15:55 (five years ago) Permalink

Nicely done!

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 5 March 2013 15:59 (five years ago) Permalink

one month passes...

http://i.imgur.com/Gk3rh7f.jpg

― mookieproof, Wednesday, 10 April 2013 20:11 (five years ago) Permalink

hahaha

― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Wednesday, 10 April 2013 20:14 (five years ago) Permalink

yesss

― Doctor Casino, Wednesday, 10 April 2013 20:28 (five years ago) Permalink

okay lol @ this

http://www.google.com/trends/explore?hl=en-US#q=He+tried+to+kill+me+with+a+forklift

― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Wednesday, 10 April 2013 20:29 (five years ago) Permalink

Been watching more and more episodes and I'm becoming convinced - and forgive me if I've already said this in one way or another - but there's a real difference between basically two kinds of episodes...ones where the movies is kind of crappy and lame and goofy and dated, which they make fun of, and movies that were really made with total contempt for their audience, which they hate. Thinking here of Catalina Caper's jokes that are funny to no one, plot that's involving to no one, rock and roll that doesn't rock, etc. Or how the bots clearly loathe Monster-A-Go-Go more than Manos, though the latter is certainly bleaker and more unsettling (though maybe just as empty in terms of nothing happening).

Like, a b-movie or a shoddy dub like Gamera can be good camp material, but you really get the sense of glee when they get to serve justice to a movie that was made specifically and solely so that something could be on-screen at a drive-in and what difference does it make if it's done well. And The Giant Gila Monster's greatest sin is just how lazy and shitty the "giant"-ness is: there's not one damn shot that gets the gila monster in the same frame as the cast, and so as bad as Earth Versus The Spider may be, there's at least some measure of effort there that lets Joel and the bots get into the spirit of things and focus mainly on the absurd Fifties behavior and decision-making of the cast, not to mention that one old guy ("Who ARE you?").

Dunno if this really holds up or if it's just in my head, but it's been bouncing around in my head.

― Doctor Casino, Wednesday, 10 April 2013 20:33 (five years ago) Permalink

dune reference is a bonus

― mookieproof, Wednesday, 10 April 2013 20:44 (five years ago) Permalink

Manos: The Yarn of Fate

― tokyo rosemary, Thursday, 18 April 2013 19:57 (five years ago) Permalink

Been watching more and more episodes and I'm becoming convinced - and forgive me if I've already said this in one way or another - but there's a real difference between basically two kinds of episodes...ones where the movies is kind of crappy and lame and goofy and dated, which they make fun of, and movies that were really made with total contempt for their audience, which they hate. Thinking here of Catalina Caper's jokes that are funny to no one, plot that's involving to no one, rock and roll that doesn't rock, etc. Or how the bots clearly loathe Monster-A-Go-Go more than Manos, though the latter is certainly bleaker and more unsettling (though maybe just as empty in terms of nothing happening).
Like, a b-movie or a shoddy dub like Gamera can be good camp material, but you really get the sense of glee when they get to serve justice to a movie that was made specifically and solely so that something could be on-screen at a drive-in and what difference does it make if it's done well. And The Giant Gila Monster's greatest sin is just how lazy and shitty the "giant"-ness is: there's not one damn shot that gets the gila monster in the same frame as the cast, and so as bad as Earth Versus The Spider may be, there's at least some measure of effort there that lets Joel and the bots get into the spirit of things and focus mainly on the absurd Fifties behavior and decision-making of the cast, not to mention that one old guy ("Who ARE you?").
Dunno if this really holds up or if it's just in my head, but it's been bouncing around in my head.

I think that is pretty solid. This may be my own hazy thinking, but I feel as though the Mike and the 'bots were 'meaner' as the show entered the Sci-Fi years; more vicious toward the film and those involved, like the attacks on the director in Hobgoblins, or lines like 'Sure I'm an unappealing actor in a bad movie! Sure!' in Time Chasers. I had no problem with it, but I know a pal of mine disliked it because she felt, even when Joel disliked a film, there was amiable-ness/gentleness in his mockery rather than outright 'ugh, this sucks'.

― blatherskite, Friday, 19 April 2013 21:18 (five years ago) Permalink

two weeks pass...

Hulu has 25 of these now, fwiw:

http://www.hulu.com/mystery-science-theater-3000

― Not Simone Choule (Eric H.), Wednesday, 8 May 2013 01:11 (five years ago) Permalink

Hulu also has a bunch of Cinematic Titanic and Rifftrax

― mimicking regular benevloent (sic) users' names (President Keyes), Wednesday, 8 May 2013 01:13 (five years ago) Permalink

Amazon Prime has a ton of them too

― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Wednesday, 8 May 2013 03:49 (five years ago) Permalink

three weeks pass...

Anyone notice the cameo in the new season of Arrested Development?

http://www.mst3kinfo.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/arrested.jpg

It happened so fast, I was like, "Was that . . . ? Did they . . .?" The only line I made out was Crow saying, "This is the gayest Starbucks ever."

― Huston we got chicken lol (Phil D.), Thursday, 30 May 2013 14:54 (five years ago) Permalink

two months pass...

Flag on the moon... how did it get there

― Kissin' Cloacas (Viceroy), Wednesday, 14 August 2013 20:55 (five years ago) Permalink

https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/1011653_10151616045967153_744313408_n.jpg

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 14 August 2013 20:59 (five years ago) Permalink

"Mah mah mah mah Mitchell..."

― the vineyards where the grapes of corporate rock are stored (cryptosicko), Wednesday, 14 August 2013 21:01 (five years ago) Permalink

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRaXI8O1IKM

― Kissin' Cloacas (Viceroy), Wednesday, 14 August 2013 21:01 (five years ago) Permalink

can anyone give me some new recommendations for underrated good episodes?
aside from the usual suspects

― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Wednesday, 14 August 2013 21:45 (five years ago) Permalink

Seen Hobgoblins? The Human Duplicators? I dunno if either of those qualify as "usual suspects" (which I think of as being Manos, Pod People and the like), but they stand out for me even after not having seen them for years.

― the vineyards where the grapes of corporate rock are stored (cryptosicko), Wednesday, 14 August 2013 21:53 (five years ago) Permalink

is "Girl in Gold Boots" considered to be a usual suspects episode, because I really love it to bits; ditto "Overdrawn at the Memory Bank"

― OH MY GOD HE'S OOGLY (DJP), Wednesday, 14 August 2013 21:56 (five years ago) Permalink

I haven't seen Hobgoblins or Human Duplicators! Thanks crypto!

Girl in Gold Boots is A+, such a weirdass movie. And yeah, Overdrawn is rad.

― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Wednesday, 14 August 2013 22:08 (five years ago) Permalink

Also, I'm pretty sure The Brain that Wouldn't Die *is* a usual suspect, but it gave me one of my most oft-quoted (non-Simpsons) TV-derived lines ever: "WAYS!"

― the vineyards where the grapes of corporate rock are stored (cryptosicko), Wednesday, 14 August 2013 22:13 (five years ago) Permalink

ooh I've never seen that either!

― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Wednesday, 14 August 2013 22:13 (five years ago) Permalink

Dooo it!

― the vineyards where the grapes of corporate rock are stored (cryptosicko), Wednesday, 14 August 2013 22:16 (five years ago) Permalink

xp just reading "WAYS" is enough to make me laugh. Nobody else ever gets that when I use it IRL.

Anyone else going to the RiffTrax Live "Starship Troopers" tomorrow?

― Here's the storify, of a lovely ladify (Phil D.), Wednesday, 14 August 2013 22:17 (five years ago) Permalink

Episode I definitely do not recommend: The Last Chase.

I've spoken elsewhere on the board about 15-year-old me's crush on Chris Makepeace and had I known about/been able to get a hold of, a MST'd version of a Makepeace flick at that age, I probably would've been in my own personal version of heaven, but the episode itself (on YouTube, not worth the link) is unwatchable. KTMA-era, so a lot of that unwatchability is literal, but the comedy is non-existent as well. I abandoned it after about 30 mins.

― the vineyards where the grapes of corporate rock are stored (cryptosicko), Wednesday, 14 August 2013 22:27 (five years ago) Permalink

Haha I love "WAYS" as well. That whole film, cripes.

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 14 August 2013 22:46 (five years ago) Permalink

I just watched Catalina Caper last night and the riffs were really sharp and funny. I don't think it gets talked about as much as others. Of course Sidehackers is one of my all-time favorites but I think that's on most people's top lists as well.

Also, Overdrawn at the Memory Bank.

― Kissin' Cloacas (Viceroy), Wednesday, 14 August 2013 23:16 (five years ago) Permalink

Time of the Apes

― President Keyes, Wednesday, 14 August 2013 23:19 (five years ago) Permalink

haha yeah! WHY DOESN'T JOHNNY CARE?

― Kissin' Cloacas (Viceroy), Wednesday, 14 August 2013 23:33 (five years ago) Permalink

Catalina Caper! Didn't know if it was classic or not; my MST3K intake in high school was limited to the short run syndicated version that came with Mike Nelson intro'ing each episode as Jack Perkins (anyone remember this?) and then a small handful of tapes that I got through a friend. I think CC was on one of the tapes; Pod People and Amazing Colossal Man are the only ones I can remember offhand airing during the syndicated run.

I love that MST3K/Catalina Caper was the only reason for at least a decade that I had any idea who Jacques Tati was.

― the vineyards where the grapes of corporate rock are stored (cryptosicko), Wednesday, 14 August 2013 23:55 (five years ago) Permalink

catalina caper is awesome, cemented my Joel love

― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Wednesday, 14 August 2013 23:57 (five years ago) Permalink

my MST3K intake in high school was limited to the short run syndicated version that came with Mike Nelson

Yeah was that the one that was like an hour long and they cut the episodes into two? I remember watching something like that but it was Jim Mallon hosting. Aside from a few tapes that was all I had until I got cable... now we're all spoiled with youtube and torrents.

― Kissin' Cloacas (Viceroy), Thursday, 15 August 2013 01:45 (five years ago) Permalink

Sorta scary to think that if I had YouTube back when I was in high school, I would have left the house even less.

― the vineyards where the grapes of corporate rock are stored (cryptosicko), Thursday, 15 August 2013 01:47 (five years ago) Permalink

and am I the only person who thought Josh Weinstein's Tom Servo voice was the best? I mean, Kevin Murphy seemed to have better delivery & was in an era of better writing, but Josh's Servo is kind of my favorite.

― Kissin' Cloacas (Viceroy), Thursday, 15 August 2013 01:48 (five years ago) Permalink

xp I know! It was bad enough with just midis, IRC and Doom... no wonder everyone says the kids of today are lazy.

― Kissin' Cloacas (Viceroy), Thursday, 15 August 2013 01:50 (five years ago) Permalink

midis + slow dial-up (+ the shittiness of 90s television) = I may as well go outside and play.

― the vineyards where the grapes of corporate rock are stored (cryptosicko), Thursday, 15 August 2013 01:53 (five years ago) Permalink

hah. Slow internet is probably to blame for many children smoking weed & committing vandalism. Or maybe that was just me.

― Kissin' Cloacas (Viceroy), Thursday, 15 August 2013 02:03 (five years ago) Permalink

Most of my very favorite episodes are probably underrated, tho with a cult as slavish as MST3K's who knows?

Racket GIrls
Village of the Giants
San Francisco International
The Creeping Terror

― Boven is het stil (Eric H.), Thursday, 15 August 2013 02:38 (five years ago) Permalink

I've been getting a few broken links recently, but this is still a godsend for bored late-night MSTing:

http://mst3k.me/

― CAROUSEL! CAROUSEL! (Telephone thing), Thursday, 15 August 2013 02:50 (five years ago) Permalink

yeah San Francisco International is great! I like most of the TV movies they do... Master Ninja I & II are also classic.

― Kissin' Cloacas (Viceroy), Thursday, 15 August 2013 03:19 (five years ago) Permalink

Racket Girls <3

― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Thursday, 15 August 2013 04:08 (five years ago) Permalink

ha! back then the servo change pissed me off more than the switch to mike later would.

― andrew m., Thursday, 15 August 2013 14:15 (five years ago) Permalink

but i came around to both

― andrew m., Thursday, 15 August 2013 14:16 (five years ago) Permalink

Yeah, I also got into the show through the Mystery Science Theater Hour - any episodes that weren't on that have always felt like overlooked classics, which is great because it's the majority of them. Human Duplicators is great, I love the continued riffing on the stock-footage establishing shots ("Guests of the Human Duplicators will stay at the fabulous..."). Also all the scenes with the low-wattage romance (?) between the lead and his partner/secretary with that Bronx cheer of a voice. "Look, could you not talk?"

And for some reason, I always get really tickled by the scene where the first duplicate is revealed by having its head easily shattered like porcelain by a slight blow. "That's right, Doctor - Androids." "Not very good androids, mind you..."

― Doctor Casino, Thursday, 22 August 2013 01:06 (five years ago) Permalink

I'm not sure how much of this about the benighted movie is well-known:

http://www.villagevoice.com/2013-08-21/film/mystery-science-theater-3000-the-movie-what-happened/

I wish I had the means to scan my nondigital photos from the Minneapolis '94 convention (where we watched a live This Island Earth show in a movie theater).

― Miss Arlington twirls for the Coal Heavers (Dr Morbius), Tuesday, 3 September 2013 21:57 (five years ago) Permalink

Yeah I'd heard most of that one way or another. Total clusterfuck. The host sequences on The Incredible Melting Man were specifically the team's attempt to convey just how ridiculous it got. To quote Mary Jo from that link:

The host segments were an exercise in healing after our struggle to make the Mystery Science Theater movie. It was a difficult process, and not really fun at all -- working with the studio and all the attendant politics and creative roadblocks was really, really frustrating. We didn't have the freedom to be as irreverent and eclectic as we were in the TV show. We had to work with people who had silly names that they had made up for themselves. I remember at one point, while the studio shepherds in charge of MST3K: The Movie were in Minneapolis, it was during the height of the ubiquitous O.J. Simpson deal. The studio exec informed us over lunch that there was a big trial in Los Angeles with O.J. Simpson because he'd been accused of murdering his wife, and "had (we) heard anything about it out here?" It was like a hog-pile on our souls.

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 3 September 2013 22:07 (five years ago) Permalink

Should add I was lucky enough to similarly see the film opening night thanks to a random booking at the art/independent theater just across from UCI. (One of the few in the whole county, which is why it survives still.) And similarly I felt there were some great moments but... (I had had a chance to see the actual source film on its own a year or two before; the cuts for MST3K were glaringly obvious as a result.)

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 3 September 2013 22:13 (five years ago) Permalink

can anyone give me some new recommendations for underrated good episodes?
aside from the usual suspects

― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Wednesday, August 14, 2013 5:45 PM (2 weeks ago) Bookmark

time chasers! i dont know if thats a usual suspect.

― i wanna be a gabbneb baby (Hungry4Ass), Tuesday, 3 September 2013 22:20 (five years ago) Permalink

I still have my Mst3k: The Movie t-shirt

― Your Own Personal El Guapo (kingfish), Tuesday, 3 September 2013 22:46 (five years ago) Permalink

Quest of the Delta Knights, too! Not sure if that's a usual suspect either but it's a great one.

Also that one where it's a mutiny on a big space shit that has a Santa Claus beardo as the captain? Maybe it's just called Space Mutiny... its great too.

― PRISON WARDEN CONSCIOUSNESS (4th Dimension) (Viceroy), Tuesday, 3 September 2013 22:48 (five years ago) Permalink

lol *space ship

― PRISON WARDEN CONSCIOUSNESS (4th Dimension) (Viceroy), Tuesday, 3 September 2013 22:52 (five years ago) Permalink

Yeah, Space Mutiny. Total keeper.

"Blast Hardcheese!"

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 3 September 2013 22:59 (five years ago) Permalink

I should put "Oh *please*, you ask this of me? What episodes *don't* I have on tape?" on the "Posts that haunt your thoughts" thread, 'cause I think of it every time I think of mst3k now

― Dan I., Tuesday, 3 September 2013 23:24 (five years ago) Permalink

I really disagree with haters of The Movie! It's probably my favorite "episode" of mst3k.

― Dan I., Tuesday, 3 September 2013 23:27 (five years ago) Permalink

xpost -- this is proper.

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 3 September 2013 23:30 (five years ago) Permalink

though I will admit that, okay, This Island Earth is not actually a stinky cinematic suppository.

― Dan I., Tuesday, 3 September 2013 23:31 (five years ago) Permalink

Saw the movie on my 18th birthday, also it's release date, which meant crossing the border and driving an hour or so to Ann Arbor, such was my fandom at the time, Thought it was reasonably funny, but wondered why they didn't pick a way worse subject for ridicule.

― the vineyards where the grapes of corporate rock are stored (cryptosicko), Tuesday, 3 September 2013 23:46 (five years ago) Permalink

I liked The Movie a lot... primarily the first half, but hey -- I knew going in that a movie made for mass consumption wasn't going to be as great as the tv episodes.

― PRISON WARDEN CONSCIOUSNESS (4th Dimension) (Viceroy), Wednesday, 4 September 2013 00:23 (five years ago) Permalink

I know I saw it and I know I thought it was kinda lame, but I can't really remember anything else about the experience (was it crowded? were people laughing?) except that we went to an unfamiliar mall with a megamultiplex deal to see it. I really don't think it made any aspect of the show better or funnier, and the host segments lost all of their charm in the transition...just generally things felt hokey and canned.

― Doctor Casino, Wednesday, 4 September 2013 04:13 (five years ago) Permalink

I can see in retrospect how it doesn't really stand up as a great MST3k episode, but the movie was one of the first I ever saw (along with Pod People), and this will always be one of my favorite moments in the series:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9_L-2k2zxA

― CAROUSEL! CAROUSEL! (Telephone thing), Wednesday, 4 September 2013 04:21 (five years ago) Permalink

Yes!

― Dan I., Wednesday, 4 September 2013 05:00 (five years ago) Permalink

Space mutiny had me laughing so much. I prefer the episodes in which the movie is silly-bad over sad/boring-bad.

― Evan, Wednesday, 4 September 2013 05:08 (five years ago) Permalink

I made some friends see MST3K: The Movie with me on campus in a small lecture hall, definitely before it was on VHS though probably not "opening week" nationally. This was actually my second attempt to see MST3k at Penn State while in high school. They'd done a screening of Zombie Nightmare when I was 15 as part of a college tour (at a far bigger, and packed, auditorium) but they had to stop the show 30 minutes in because some leaves had caught fire in nearby sewer pipe or something. Enjoyed The Movie but yeah it was kinda tame and I've never felt the need to own it.

― da croupier, Wednesday, 4 September 2013 06:04 (five years ago) Permalink

The dates of their "Fresh Cheese" college tours.

http://www.mst3ktemple.com/ouch15collegetour.htm

the audience was given free passes for the later showing but our parents were picking us up at 10. :(

― da croupier, Wednesday, 4 September 2013 06:06 (five years ago) Permalink

I was extra bummed as I was suffering from MST3k withdrawal at the time. I'd just moved to town and they didn't have Comedy Central yet. When they finally got it, the show had moved to the new and unavailable Sci-Fi Network. Until like, 1998, I had to settle for taping turkey day marathons at my grandparents.

― da croupier, Wednesday, 4 September 2013 06:10 (five years ago) Permalink

I got to see the movie in a theater in L.A. and there was a brief Q&A thing afterwards with Trace and maybe Jim Mallon? One of the stars of This Island Earth was there and some weird Hollywood fame parasite had come with him and managed to rush the stage and start talking about HIS movie. It was weird but I remember enjoying the movie and Q&A a lot.

― seeking solace in cider and swans (GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ), Wednesday, 4 September 2013 06:26 (five years ago) Permalink

For all its flaws, though, some of the riffs in the movie are all-time. Often questions in my house that get answered "No" are followed by "Are you building an interociter?"

And I never fail to crack up at: A) "I'll put you in the BITCH transformer!" B) "It's the Brak show, starring me! I'm Brak! I've got lots of great guests . . ." C) "Cal . . . *I* farted."

― Domo Arigato, Demi Lovato (Phil D.), Wednesday, 4 September 2013 13:56 (five years ago) Permalink

Watched Time Chasers last night. Em, I may need to re-watch it. The second half I had checked out and was watching it in a window. It was an incredibly dumb and bad movie! The guy has a time machine and he goes to an evil corporation for funding. And it turns out they are evil! And he spend the rest of the movie trying to stop himself from meeting up w the evil guys in the first place. He had a time machine! If he needed money why didn't he just go back in time and invest in something?

― Emperor Cos Dashit (Adam Bruneau), Wednesday, 4 September 2013 16:16 (five years ago) Permalink

two weeks pass...

Watched Mitchell last night for the first time since high school. I like that the riffs go a bit deeper into exploring the film's shittiness beyond simply pointing out bad acting, outdated fashions, etc. The jokes during the car chase ("Hot! Merging! Action!"), especially, get at why it is that the film sucks so much; its not that its a lazy 70s cop drama with a wholly uninteresting hero, but rather that it is just about the most low-wattage cop thriller imaginable. I also like that they managed to ask "hey, wasn't John Saxon in this film?" around the exact same time that I was wondering where his character had gone. Probably one of the better entries in the series.

― the vineyards where the grapes of corporate rock are stored (cryptosicko), Monday, 23 September 2013 16:46 (five years ago) Permalink

Cinematic Titanic just did their last show. ;_;

― midnight outdoor nude frolic up north goes south (Eric H.), Monday, 23 September 2013 16:52 (five years ago) Permalink

The John Saxon thing is a cheap shot at their own expense - IIRC the Brains cut out his final scenes for length! But it is totally a classic, maybe THE classic episode for all the reasons you give.

Been watching a lot of this again, a pretty mixed bag. Y'all were right on about Time Chasers - that it's great, but also as Adam points out that one kind of checks out in the second half. You can tell they knew they had something great on their hands with the incredibly lame "food court as The Future," the stock villain, the totally awful weenie hero, everything...but the movie kind of dulls out with that whole Revolutionary War thing and all the aimless plotting in between...there just isn't much to go on. Also, to be honest, I haven't watched many nu-Crow episodes and it was really distracting for me. I do love the continued sniping at the Castleton t-shirt, and the villain's dumb voice though.

Also, according to Wiki:

The production was shot in the Rutland, Vermont area in summer 1990, though it has a distinctive assortment of mid-1980s cultural artifacts, sets, and props. It was made on a $150,000 budget by 20-year old director David Giancola and his company Edgewood Studios. The film initially lost money, but licensing fees for its 1997 Mystery Science Theater 3000 appearance took its earnings out of the red. (...) For the showing on MST3K, the cast and crew had a reunion party to view the lampooning. MST3K star Mike Nelson claims that some at the party were not happy at the mocking, in particular Peter Harrington. Director Giancola said they all "laughed their asses off," but also admitted that some people at the time "took it a bit too seriously."

Harrington plays the dumpy assistant executive in the pink suit - can totally see him not digging it.

Other recent viewings - Mighty Jack is just staggering, maybe the most incoherent thing they've ever shown, no scene-to-scene logic or continuity at all. Makes for some hilarious viewing though it can almost be more trying as a result. We couldn't get into Overdrawn at the Memory Bank but it was getting pretty late; should we try again? Started Tormented but couldn't get rolling either... it's sad but I just can't keep up attention on the slower black-and-white ones, especially that kind of low-contrast, utterly style-free B&W with the plot of a weak soap opera, Bert I. Gordon or no.

― Doctor Casino, Monday, 23 September 2013 16:53 (five years ago) Permalink

Several years before coming out, I was watching the Time Chasers episode with my mother in the room, and she actually scolded me a bit for laughing at the "a lesbian...of the future!" line. Ha!

― the vineyards where the grapes of corporate rock are stored (cryptosicko), Monday, 23 September 2013 16:57 (five years ago) Permalink

xxpost

I also like that they managed to ask "hey, wasn't John Saxon in this film?" around the exact same time that I was wondering where his character had gone.

That line is a bit controversial because the original movie had a scene where he was killed in a freak dune buggy explosion. The MST3K copy was based on a TV edit where his death only gets mentioned on a radio.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZcDScKH4V8

― idembanana (abanana), Monday, 23 September 2013 17:07 (five years ago) Permalink

Other recent viewings - Mighty Jack is just staggering, maybe the most incoherent thing they've ever shown, no scene-to-scene logic or continuity at all.

Yeah but that, along with a few other episodes from Japan, was reedited from a TV series -- and it was a hair more coherent (not much) when they did it for KTMA, partially because they used the basic for-America-TV-movie cut. For the later 'official' version they edited it down further themselves.

Mitchell's utter uselessness in generating any kind of tension is truly amazing. I love the bit where Mitchell blows up the car and how it's clearly set in some new housing development towards the Inland Empire (or alternately/more likely, towards Simi Valley/Oxnard).

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 23 September 2013 17:12 (five years ago) Permalink

Mitchell's utter uselessness in generating any kind of tension is truly amazing.

The villain even signals into a turn during a car chase!

― the vineyards where the grapes of corporate rock are stored (cryptosicko), Monday, 23 September 2013 17:16 (five years ago) Permalink

Mitchell II: The Cloverleaf.

― Doctor Casino, Monday, 23 September 2013 17:18 (five years ago) Permalink

xxpost I knew that about Mighty Jack - but didn't realize that it was just the first and sixth episodes of a series. I think that authorizes any amount of jabs at Sandy Frank - I mean, come on!

― Doctor Casino, Monday, 23 September 2013 17:19 (five years ago) Permalink

Haha I actually like how Shout Factory both got that one American fan dude to break down the history of things like Gamera, Mighty Jack and Time of the Apes so they made a little more sense -- and did the interview with Sandy Frank himself! Guy's had one long lived career.

Have to say that I'm always a little let down by some of those documentaries, though; where straightforward recollections could have worked -- something that Rhino's more sporadic efforts in the same vein usually did very well -- the way that they're dressed up by whatever company it is that does those things for Shout Factory just feels a little forced/clunky/annoying.

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 23 September 2013 17:24 (five years ago) Permalink

I've been downloading a bunch of these to watch at work via youtube and Firefox's "Download Helper" app. I've really fallen back in love with it. Suppressing laughter in the office all day so I don't seem like a crazy person.

What should I download next? Here's the lot I've binged on so far:

Fugitive Alien
Mitchell
Manos
Time of the Apes
Operation Double 007
Outlaw of Gor
The Mole People
Puma Man
Space Mutiny
Track of the Moon Beast
Werewolf
The Castle of Fu-Manchu
Giant Spider Invasion

I like the newer movies as subjects for ridicule because the old black and white ones can be so dull even the mocking can't hold my attention. Yet there are probably plenty of those I haven't even tried and should.

― Evan, Monday, 23 September 2013 18:09 (five years ago) Permalink

You know, Evan, every year of my life, I grow more and more convinced that the wisest and best is to fix our attention on the good and the beautiful episodes.

― Marlo Poco (Phil D.), Monday, 23 September 2013 18:13 (five years ago) Permalink

Off the top of my head, a few great black-and-whites:

Earth vs. the Spider
Giant Gila Monster
The Rebel Set
Girl in Lover's Lane

Also B&W but hard to recommend for an easy night's entertainment: The Coleman Francis trilogy and Monster A-Go-Go... they're a different category of bad, though kind of essential viewing at some point in one's MST fandom.

― Doctor Casino, Monday, 23 September 2013 18:54 (five years ago) Permalink

Thanks! I'll look into these next.

― Evan, Monday, 23 September 2013 18:59 (five years ago) Permalink

For newer movies, check out Hobgoblins and The Final Sacrifice, those two are pretty classic.

― Spectrum, Monday, 23 September 2013 18:59 (five years ago) Permalink

YES to The Final Sacrifice

also The Girl With Gold Boots

― You are kind, I am jerkface (DJP), Monday, 23 September 2013 19:01 (five years ago) Permalink

I recommend any Gamera movies, particularly Gamera vs. Guiron.

― Emperor Cos Dashit (Adam Bruneau), Monday, 23 September 2013 19:02 (five years ago) Permalink

Yeah, the Coleman Francis films and Monster-A-Go-Go are all leagues beyond Manos imo among the very worst flicks MST3K ever did.

― midnight outdoor nude frolic up north goes south (Eric H.), Monday, 23 September 2013 19:11 (five years ago) Permalink

Rewatch value on Red Zone Cuba is through the roof. Cue it up!

― Marlo Poco (Phil D.), Monday, 23 September 2013 19:14 (five years ago) Permalink

Skydivers is the entry-level Francis flick.

― midnight outdoor nude frolic up north goes south (Eric H.), Monday, 23 September 2013 19:16 (five years ago) Permalink

Manos, it has to be said, is really horribly made (and nasty and ugly to boot). Coleman Francis's movies are bleak, aimless, shitty, boring and also ugly, too, but there seems to have been ever so slightly more money and time spent on them. Not sure which is worse, a labor of love that's rotten to the core, or a labor of meanness that almost, occasionally, looks like a real movie. But I haven't watched the CF ones nearly as much so I might be giving them more credit than they deserve.

Monster A-Go-Go...I agree with Mackro Mackro upthread: "like discovering credit card fraud in your account."

― Doctor Casino, Monday, 23 September 2013 19:17 (five years ago) Permalink

There is something to MST3K fandom of gradually discovering that what you thought was the apex of terrible film is only the tip of the iceberg. Manos is so legendary that it sort of blinds one to the gray-washed, cranky, worn-out emptiness of the Francis oeuvre.

― Doctor Casino, Monday, 23 September 2013 19:18 (five years ago) Permalink

Fave moment in Skydivers: when the one actress (during a plane crash, I think), yells "panic!" Was she mistaking her script direction for spoken dialogue?

― the vineyards where the grapes of corporate rock are stored (cryptosicko), Monday, 23 September 2013 19:23 (five years ago) Permalink

There is something to MST3K fandom of gradually discovering that what you thought was the apex of terrible film is only the tip of the iceberg.

So true. I think I even thought something to that effect when I finally caught up with The Castle of Fu Manchu.

― midnight outdoor nude frolic up north goes south (Eric H.), Monday, 23 September 2013 20:21 (five years ago) Permalink

Oh I love The Final Sacrifice!!

― Evan, Monday, 23 September 2013 20:35 (five years ago) Permalink

From the collection I've recently watched, I think the worst acting award goes to Track of the Moon Beast. Werewolf in second place.

All the yelling in Space Mutiny killed me.

The scene when Puma Man starts to fly... it was just non-stop laughs

― Evan, Monday, 23 September 2013 20:40 (five years ago) Permalink

^random reflections

― Evan, Monday, 23 September 2013 20:40 (five years ago) Permalink

I love that the direction and editing in The Final Sacrifice are highly competent, and yet the movie is still terrible.

― idembanana (abanana)