MysteryScienceTheater3000-related stories
Posted Nov 24th 2009 9:02PM by Danny Gallagher
Filed under: Other Comedy Shows, Video, Reality-Free
You may not have gotten the day off for this momentous day in American history (damn you, socialist government!), but today marks a very special anniversary: the first ever episode of
Mystery Science Theater 3000.
The show officially hit the airwaves on a local Minneapolis station,
KTMA, on Thanksgiving Day in 1988 by a young, fresh-faced Joel Hodgson. The rest, as people who rely on cheap cliches to heighten the dramatic effect with their weak words, is history. You can read the rest at the
Satellite News site, the most exhaustive and interesting MST3K site on the Internet.
Every fan of the show and even occasional glancers remembers where they were when they first discovered this kind of cult comedy classics. For me, I discovered it with my old man who hates it when I call him my old man during the hilarious Pod People episode, arguably the funniest episode for the show and the worst movie the show has ever skewered.
Continue reading MST3K turns 21 years young today, huzzah!
Posted Nov 24th 2009 11:02AM by John Scott Lewinski
Filed under: Other Comedy Shows, News, Reality-Free
The
Mystery Science Theater 3000 alums at Rifftrax are taking Christmas down a notch in a nationwide event next month, and you can win a trip to sunny San Diego to watch in person.
Michael J. Nelson, Kevin Murphy and Bill Corbett will team up again with partner and live event specialist Fathom to bring a collection of old-school Christmas shorts to theaters across the country in a live big screen broadcast.
Continue reading RiffTrax offers chance to win a trip to San Diego live show
Posted Oct 23rd 2009 10:02AM by John Scott Lewinski
Filed under: Other Comedy Shows, TV on DVD, Reality-Free
Somehow, those little bite-sized Snickers and Milky Ways you got as Halloween Trick or Treat candy always seemed to taste better than the bigger ones you can snag in any store.
That's kind of the effect you get from watching a new pair of laugh-out-loud
Shorts DVDs from
Rifftrax --
Wide World of Shorts and
Shorts-Tacular Shorts-Stravaganza.
The commentary of
Mystery Science Theater 3000 alums Michael J. Nelson, Bill Corbett and Kevin Murphy can usually make any movie funny. But, the riffs you buy off their website for major feature films can sometimes come with a cost.
For example, the problem with buying the riffs for
Twilight or
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is you then have to sit there and watch
Twilight or
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. That's a razor's edge trade-off for a few laughs.
Continue reading MST3K goes bite size with Rifftrax Shorts DVDs
Posted Sep 15th 2009 2:04AM by Danny Gallagher
Filed under: Obituaries, Reality-Free
Some more sad news from Tinseltown. Movie star and recent television star
Patrick Swayze has lost his 20 month battle with pancreatic cancer at his ranch in Los Angeles. He was 57 years old.
Barbara Walters will air the actor's final television interview in a one hour special titled
Last Dance tonight at 10 PM eastern/9 PM central on ABC.
He's probably best known for his work on the big screen in movies like
Ghost,
Dirty Dancing and (of course) the timeless
Road House, a movie that became a cult sensation for all the wrong reasons and helped birth the sense of humor of
MST3K and
Rifftrax's Michael J. Nelson. But like all Hollywood actors, he made his presence known on the small screen, and his reach goes much further than his recent venture into cable drama glory with
A&E's The Beast.
Continue reading Patrick Swayze succumbs to pancreatic cancer at 57
Posted Aug 15th 2009 10:02AM by John Scott Lewinski
Filed under: Other Comedy Shows, Interviews, Reality-Free
The Rifftrax crew is about to embark on a massive effort to perform a live show in more than 400 theaters across the country. And, they'll do it all in one night.
Mystery Science Theater 3000 alumni Michael J. Nelson, Kevin Murphy and Bill Corbett have joined forces with
Fathom Events to present
Rifftrax Live: Plan 9 from Outer Space. On Aug. 20, Rifftrax will present an evening of live riffing, originating from Nashville, Tenn. and beaming into movie theaters nationwide at 8 PM ET, 7 PM CT, 6 PM MT, and a tape delayed 8 PM PT.
The trio will take on what some say is the worst film of all time,
Plan 9. Of course, only people who haven't seen
Manos: The Hands of Fate or anything directed by Coleman Francis would give Ed Wood's anti-classic that honor. But,
Plan 9 offers the Rifftrax guys more than enough ammunition.
Continue reading Rifftrax: The TV Squad Interview
Posted Jul 16th 2009 10:04AM by John Scott Lewinski
Filed under: Other Comedy Shows, Reality-Free
Rifftrax, the
Mystery Science Theater 3000 descendant written and performed by Michael J. Nelson, Kevin Murphy and Bill Corbett, is taking its show live to the nation's movie theaters on August 20.
In a move sure to draw desperate
MST3K fans from out of their parents' basements (this reporter among them -- though my folks' old house only has a washer/dryer downstairs),
Fathom Events will present the Rifftrax trio live in theaters via vid-cast up on the big screen.
They'll take on Ed Wood's classically inept
Plan 9 from Outer Space, a movie they've wrestled with on DVD and in past live shows.
Continue reading Rifftrax hits theaters nationwide with Plan 9 from Outer Space
Posted Jun 3rd 2009 2:02PM by John Scott Lewinski
Filed under: Other Comedy Shows, TV on DVD, OpEd, Web, Interviews, Reality-Free
It seems no movie is safe from Kevin Murphy and his former
Mystery Science Theater 3000 comrades as they mock flicks full-time for Rifftrax.
Murphy,
RiffTrax writer/commentator and forever Tom Servo on the Satellite of Love of the original movie-mocking show famous for tackling B-movies, regularly joins fellow
MST3K alums Bill Corbett and Michael J. Nelson to record a series of commentaries on classic and significantly less than classic flicks. Their targets range from
The Happening and
Twilight to
Raiders of the Lost Ark and
Star Wars - all available for $4.
The site just released perhaps the most challenging riff, deliberately taking on what many people consider the greatest film of all time,
Casablanca.
Many movie fans -- even those who enjoy Rifftrax -- object to mockery of such iconic work, but Murphy points to the sites' motto: "We don't make movies. We make them funny."
Continue reading Kevin Murphy sings the praises of MST3K, Rifftrax and mocking classics
Posted Feb 20th 2009 3:05PM by Nick Zaino
Filed under: TV Squad Lists, Casting, Reality-Free
It's hard to see beloved characters leave your favorite shows. You have created a bond with them, perhaps even projected their values onto yourself in an effort to raise the self esteem you had before, say, you fell down the
Law & Order rabbit hole and started to believe the shows were actual news and not just "ripped from the headlines." But change is inevitable, and sometimes, it works out. Here are a few that worked (at least for me).
1. Current cast of Law & Order: I know, I know, who could replace Lenny Briscoe? No one, really. But the current pairing of Anthony Anderson and Jeremy Sisto as NYPD partners is the best the series has produced. They changed the feel of the show. Perhaps because we're still getting to know them, they are less predictable then previous tandems, and both evoke a certain hard-nosed quality that seems a bit more gritty and real. Plus, Anderson has chops as a stand-up comic, and could easily fill the wisecracker role, if need be.
Continue reading Seven of TV's best replacements
Posted Feb 3rd 2009 2:02PM by Nick Zaino
Filed under: Other Comedy Shows, Other Sci-Fi/Supernatural Shows, TV on DVD, Reality-Free
Here are a couple of names that should make
MST3K fans excited - Joe Don Baker and Joe Estevez. Yes, those two names guarantee a certain amount of cinematic terribleness, a feast for Joel, Mike, and the Bots, especially Baker, whose bumbling, making-love-to-banjo-music cop movie Mitchell is one of the best.
MST3K XIV includes four episodes from three different seasons, including two from the final season, Season Ten:
The Mad Monster from Season One: With the old cheesy set that Joel and Trace revealed at an M.I.T. lecture they accidentally delivered two weeks early. If they'd known they had two more weeks, they'd have put more work into the concept. When it was originally released, The Mad Monster was probably fairly advanced and stylish from a technical standpoint. But it's still poorly acted, and
MST3K seems to have a special place in its collective hearts for bad werewolves. Also includes the short
Commando Cody & The Radar Men from the Moon. A fiery Invention Exchange: Joel's "Hell in a Hand Bag" anti-theft device and Forrester's monster role playing game with a fire-breathing Godzilla. Tom Servo also hits on a blender.
Continue reading Mystery Science Theater 3000 XIV -- DVD review
Posted Feb 1st 2009 11:01AM by Nick Zaino
Filed under: Other Comedy Shows, Other Sci-Fi/Supernatural Shows, TV on DVD, Retro Squad, Reality-Free
Consider this your way-too-far-in-advance sneak preview at a future DVD extra for a Mystery Science Theater 3000 set for Shout! Factory. On January 17, MST3K creator Joel Hodgson and original cast member and writer Trace Beaulieu gave a crowd at M.I.T. a peek behind the scenes of the venerable sci-fi comedy show with their lecture, "The Design and Speculative Technology of MST3K," which they filmed to use as a future DVD extra.
For the uninitiated, Joel was the original host, was shot into space by evil scientists (Dr. Forrester was played by Beaulieu) and forced to watch (sing it with me, MSTies) "cheesy movies, the worst we can find." To help him handle the torture, Joel built four robot friends, two of which, Crow (also originated by Beaulieu) and Servo, watched the movies and made fun of them with Joel. Together, Joel, Crow, and Servo cut the best silhouette in show business (at least to comedy and movie geeks like myself).
But then, if you're reading this, you probably know all of that.
Continue reading Mystery Science Theater 3000 -- DVD extra taping at M.I.T.
Posted Dec 3rd 2008 10:34AM by Danny Gallagher
Filed under: Music and Variety, Short-Lived Shows, Cancellations, TV Squad Lists, Reality-Free
Mad TV came along at a time in American television history when America had an excuse to get out of the house and live healthy and productive lives on Saturday night.
But eventually, the show evolved into a 60-minute scream fest of recurring characters spouting catchphrases over and over and celebrity satire that taught lessons about the proliferation of pop culture and ignorance. Important lessons, such as "Boy is Anna Nicole Smith dumb and fat!" and "Hey, is that Paris Hilton a whore or what?" Every episode felt like a hand was reaching out of the TV and rubbing a cheese grater across my face. Now 14 years after its inception, Fox has finally decided to
pull the plug on Mad TV and let it die a slow horrible death instead of taking it out
Old Yeller-style, the way God intended.
Continue reading Seven sketch comedies that deserved more chances than Mad TV got - VIDEOS
Posted Nov 25th 2008 1:59PM by Annie Wu
Filed under: Other Sci-Fi/Supernatural Shows, OpEd, TV Squad Lists, Reality-Free
I'm sure at one point or another in every little kid's life, he or she has wanted to have a robot BFF. All the potential for wacky fun and scientific misadventures would make up for the inevitable human/binary language barrier, and, when I think about it, I still totally want a robot buddy. I mean, from my time on this Earth, of two things I am sure: Lists are fun and robots are awesome. So, despite the fact that my age numerically suggests I shouldn't be thinking about this sort of stuff, I am all over this list.
I should also note that, upon completion of this depressingly nerdy post, I am legally obligated to punch myself in the face for a solid fifteen minutes and then steal my own lunch money. Let's just get this over with, shall we? Here are the top eleven robot buddies from TV, in no particular order, because each robot is special in its own way. Also, I don't want any readers to kill me for not ranking to their liking.
Continue reading Top eleven robot buddies from TV - VIDEOS
Posted Aug 11th 2008 3:27PM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Other Comedy Shows, Celebrities, Casting
Most people don't turn in to Fine Living Network for laughs, but all that's about to change on
September 16, at least for as long as a new comedy series called Whatever, Martha! runs. Imagine, if you will, an entire clip show culled from
The Martha Stewart Show.
Now, picture a couple of chicks sitting around and making fun of said clips. That's the concept for
Whatever, Martha!, and if this idea reminds you of
Mystery Science Theater 3000 -- sans puppets -- that's a good thing.
Fine Living has gotten Martha's blessing for the show. Heck, she's leading the laughs by allowing the clips to be used. Also the two women who'll be presenting the show and mocking her every half-hour are close to her: Alexis Stewart, her daughter, and Jennifer Koppelman Hutt, whose father -- Charles Koppelman -- is the chairman of Martha's media empire.
So, this is all in the family for the Stewart camp, and whatever jokes, cracks and observations made by the women will be with the Martha Stewart seal of approval.
Continue reading Did you hear the one about Martha Stewart?
Posted Apr 21st 2008 11:01AM by Jane Boursaw
Filed under: TV on DVD, 24, House, TV Squad Lists, The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Reality-Free
We watch a lot of TV around this house -- hey, it's my job, man -- so the kids, ages 11 and 13, get to see a wide assortment of shows. Sure, there's a few I can't get them interested in (hard as I try), like
Lost,
Heroes, and
Grey's Anatomy (probably just as well, with all the bed-hopping). Still, there are lots of shows I've had to recap or review over the years that they've gotten hooked on. Here are a few of our favorites.
1. House, M.D. There's something refreshing about an infectious disease specialist who walks with a limp, pops Vicodin like dinner mints, and has the bedside manner of a schoolyard bully. The kids and I can't wait to gather around the TV and watch the tortured doc hurl insults at colleagues and break into patients' homes looking for mysterious mold or a DNA sample. We like to place bets on how long it'll take somebody to start seizing and spewing blood. Last season broke the record when a drug-addicted rock star started puking blood during the first five seconds of the show. Sure, this show is rated PG-14, but it's still a family favorite around here. My kids especially love the scenes where the camera goes inside the cells and arteries of a patient (not).
House, M.D. moves to Mondays at 9/8c, and returns with new episodes on April 28.
Continue reading Five shows I love to watch with my kids
Posted Apr 15th 2008 11:01AM by Jane Boursaw
Filed under: Other Drama Shows, Other Comedy Shows, OpEd, 24, Desperate Housewives, Grey's Anatomy, The Office, TV Squad Lists, Lipstick Jungle, Reality-Free
Last week's episode of The Office now ranks high on my list of Awkward TV Moments. It got me thinking about other all-time great awkward TV moments. Sure, we've all seen the episode where a disheveled Mary Richards shows up at the awards banquet wearing one fuzzy pink slipper. And the one where Frasier and Roz nearly do it on a cruise ship. But let's take a look at a few recent awkward TV moments.
1. Jan heaves a Dundee at Michael's flat-screen TV. Okay, we'll start with last week's episode of
The Office, in which Michael coerces Jim and Pam into attending a couples-only dinner party at his and Jan's condo. The entire episode is one long awkward moment, from Dwight showing up with his former babysitter as his date to Pam realizing she'll be held hostage for three hours, thanks to Jan's poor culinary planning. But the topper is when Michael and Jan's love spat escalates into a huge fight, ending with her heaving one of his treasured Dundee awards at his new (and tiny) flat-screen TV. The cops show up after the neighbors report a disturbance, and Michael ends up going home with Dwight.
Continue reading Ten awkward TV moments
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