Anybody else actually LIKE the KTMA eps?

[starcommand84]

Am I the only one who really likes the KTMA episodes? Surely I can't be. Don't get me wrong, I can perfectly understand that not everybody can sit through them. When compared to the great seasons that we would get later on during the run on CC and Sci-Fi...or Syfy...or whatever the hell their calling themselves these days, the shows can be a little underwhelming. Alot of misties who are used to the much more polished version of the show with wall to wall riffs and brilliant Host segments, might feel a bit "bored" with the early eps and are a little taken back when they first see them and it's easy to see why. The KTMA-Early S02 shows are MST3k at it's most primitive, they were still figuring out what worked and what didn't and finding their footing...but in a way I kinda like it.You can tell that alot of heart went into these episodes. This may sound weird, but I feel a little bit more "welcome" while viewing the KTMA eps. Maybe it's the Dollar store props, the loose Improv-like feel, Dr Earhardt's mullet, or maybe I'm thinking way too much into it and should "really just relax."


Bottom line, Definitely not their best (I still very much prefer the S02 and onward days), But DEFINITELY not as bad as some may say.
So, what do YOU think?

[thebutcher]

I like them as well. The first couple episodes are very rough but after that, you get used to the less frequent riffs and by the end, the whole show is already much better. It shows that they were just a couple of "kids" making their own off-the-wall show, but I say that as a compliment.

Certainly, the Gamera ones should've been released when Shout had the rights to the movies, at least as fun bonuses in the Gamera set...

[Mike Flugennock]

Nov 15, 2013 0:43:01 GMT -5 starcommand84 said:

Am I the only one who really likes the KTMA episodes? Surely I can't be. Don't get me wrong, I can perfectly understand that not everybody can sit through them. When compared to the great seasons that we would get later on during the run on CC and Sci-Fi...


Bottom line, Definitely not their best (I still very much prefer the S02 and onward days), But DEFINITELY not as bad as some may say.
So, what do YOU think?

Well, I've managed to tough it out through three or four KTMA episodes, and out of those, only Episode 013, SST Death Flight, really did anything for me. In fact, it's the only KTMA episode that made it into my regular rotation, in a short playlist with two other episodes featuring movies about airplanes or flying (The Starfighters and The Skydivers). It's late in Season 0, when they were starting to find their groove; the riffing is actually quite solid, without a lot of dead air and, in fact, it almost approaches Season 1 in terms of "riff density" and quality. It's one of those Season 0 movies that really should've been redone in Season 3 or 4 -- the classic Joel-era theater cast could've really ripped it up. It's got pretty much everything that makes a classic slab of mid/late '70s made-for-TV cheese.

As far as "Season 2 and onwards", I'll be the first to confess that I wasn't entirely crazy about Weinstein's performance as Servo, but he still has his moments; there's a nice little handful of gems buried in Season 1: Robot Holocaust, Project Moonbase, The Black Scorpion -- and dare I mention the Commando Cody shorts? Mind you, Season 1 wouldn't be my first choice for introducing a new fan, but, still...

[starcommand84]

Yeah, I see what you mean. It isn't until the later part of KTMA that the show really begins to take shape and resemble what we know it as today. And about SST Death Flight, I could not agree more. It's without a doubt my favorite episode of the season. I can't believe they didn't riff it again later, seeing as the movie
would have given ALOT for Joel and the bots to work with.
Guess it came down to problems with getting the rights or something...

[Skyroniter]

I think once you work your way through the Gamera pics, KTMA is really pretty good. It pales in comparison to later seasons but I'm on record for liking it. When I was working on upgrades a couple years ago I spent a fair amount of time watching them. Josh was the best riffer imho.

[Shep]

I like em! I actually enjoy watching those more than some of the Season 1 eps, perhaps because it has that old Mickey Rooney "let's put on a show" feel. "Cosmic Princess," "Superdome," "Phase IV," "SST Death Flight" are all firm favorites.

[mst3ktemple]

I love the KTMA episodes. I can fully accept that Joel and the gang don't feel very comfortable watching them now, but without them who knows if MST would have ever existed on The Comedy Channel/Comedy Central/ Sci-Fi. One of just recently made a great comment about them: What other show got to do 20+ pilots before they were picked up.

[Mod City]

I haven't watched any KTMA eps in a long time, but from memory I loved them from a historical standpoint, but they weren't as unwatchable as many have stated they are. I think that puts me in the "like" category.

[Mr. Atari]

I love them. In fact, I vastly prefer them to almost all of season 1 and at least half of season 2. I'm not a big Josh fan, and the host segments are understandably low budget. The thrown-together feel is an acquired taste, to be sure.

But all of that aside, the movies are just far superior to the ugly, underlit, grainy, painful films of the first 2 seasons. I'm a sucker for '70s made-for-TV films with C-grade actors, so Superdome, SST Death Flight, City on Fire and The Last Chase are pure gold for me. Throw in experimental riffing (sparse though it may be), and I'm overjoyed.

Give me Sumuru over Mad Monster; Cosmic Princess over Commando Cody. Let's see, I could watch Phantom Creeps part 3 followed by Ring of Terror or I could throw in Hangar 18 and watch Darren McGavin, Gary Collins, and Robert Vaughn solve UFO mysteries. KTMA every time.