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Post by kmorgan on May 10, 2018 0:55:13 GMT -5
Sorry, folks. Between my workload and my allergies, I'm way behind. Anyway, week 153...
The Gateway 2000 panel was as good as I remembered it. Mike, Kevin, Bill & Mary Jo answered questions ranging from the most painful movie they ever did on the show, to the question of residuals (Mike: "Compared to the 'Gilligan's Island' people, we got screwed."). They also allowed a few people to show off their homemade puppets. Throughout, there were references to the guy's then-current project, the late, lamented, sorely missed TimmyBigHands. ("Kill a Guy" remains perhaps the only video game I was truly good at.) The only problem with this is the presentation. There was only one camera which remained focused on the stage and never covered the crowd. Also, the audience had no microphones for their questions, which made hearing them difficult. Still, as I recall, it was a relatively small operation, so they did the best they could.
As for "Warwilf", definitely one of the funniest shows they ever did. Lousy movie, great riffing. The host segments were OK, too.
Well, let's move on to what's left of week 154, shall we? The Outsiders selection is..."Mike Audio Interviews (8/2006 &n 9/2006)"... - It's Mike promoting RT on a couple of podcasts. These are new ones I haven't fully heard yet. ...and the Originals selection is..."Attack of the the Eye Creatures" (Show 418). - They still just didn't care.
We'll be right back...
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Post by kmorgan on May 16, 2018 7:50:28 GMT -5
Well, running late again. I think I'm just lazy. Anyway...
The interviews with Mike were made just when RT was getting off the ground. These two are from two radio programs: "These Times" (based in Sacramento) and "The Voice of Young America" (I'm not sure where this is from). Mike talks about how MST3K started, the premise of the show, and his general thoughts on movies. At this point, from what I could gather, he was still working alone, just before Kevin and then Bill signed on. Both a pretty good conversations, and there are at least two more like it in the rotation somewhere.
As for "Attack of the the Eye Creatures", what have we got: lack of continuity, annoying music, characters that are either boring or repellent, a script that makes no sense. In short, one of the lousiest movies they ever did. The riffing, though, is top notch, and the host segments were OK. (Oh, and the guys forgot that EAAAAAARL HOOOOOOOLLIMAN was also the cook in "Forbidden Planet", starred in the "Twilight Zone" pilot, and was one of "The Sons of Katie Elder".) By the way, a while back, I watched "Invasion of the Saucer Men", the movie that "Eye Creatures" is based on. It's a bit tough to find (I think it's one of the Susan Hart hostages), but it's better than the remake.
So, week 155, anyone? The Outsiders selection is..."RT Live: Jack the Giant Killer"... - Seize the what?! ...and the Originals selection is..."Hangar 18" (Show K-19). - No more wire hangars!
We now pause for station identification...
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Post by crowschmo on May 17, 2018 18:41:15 GMT -5
Well, it's a little late for this (heh), but maybe this should be moved to Rowsdower's Reviews. (?)
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Post by kmorgan on May 19, 2018 13:46:06 GMT -5
Well, it's a little late for this (heh), but maybe this should be moved to Rowsdower's Reviews. (?)
Hey, wherever you want to place it, I'm fine.
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Post by kmorgan on May 19, 2018 14:03:09 GMT -5
So, let's look at week 155.
"Jack the Giant Killer" isn't too bad a movie, actually, I liked the old-style VFX, and there was certainly a lot of imagination put into it. I just wish the heroes weren't such a bunch of dopes. And, by the way, how come the powerful good guy wizard only manages to exile the bad guy, but the not-too-bright non-wizard hero manages to destroy him? Professional courtesy, or something? This was one of the better RT live shows. The riffing was great, and I liked the interplay between the guys and the audience. This one also featured the philosophical short, "What is Nothing?" and a couple of quick animated pieces by Rich "Lowtax" Kyanka and his daughter Lauren (think "Dexter & Computress Get Mandark", but weirder) that get a hilarious callback during the movie. The DVD even featured the pre-show title cards; I really wish they'd archive those somewhere.
As for "Hangar 18", I remember the ads for this one when it was released. It was from Sunn Classic Pictures (the guys who brought you "In Search of Noah's Ark") and they made it seem like a documentary or docudrama, rather than sci-fi. The movie isn't too bad, either. Yes, it's low budget, and the big plot twist was ripped off from Quatermass. But the cast features reliable, recognizable actors who do a good job. I thought it was OK. (By the way, I keep reading that there's an alternate, downbeat ending to the movie, but I've never seen it. Can anybody confirm it?) The ep is one of the better KTMA shows. At this point, they'd picked up a good rhythm in the jokes, and there were fewer dead spots. The host segments were OK and were all Crow-centered, which is unusual. They also go right into the movie, without even a proper into. That's very unusual.
Two good ones this time. So, let's move on to week 156. There's a reason I'm posting early for a change, and here it is. The Outsiders selection is..."The Mads are Back"... - Yep, they're performing live tonight at the Colonial in Phoenixville, PA. Don't know the movie, yet. ...and the Originals selection is..."Tom Servo's Favorite Host Segments (Vol. III)". - Any host segment with Tom is his favorite, I thought.
Stay tuned...
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Post by kmorgan on May 31, 2018 0:06:40 GMT -5
I've been really fouled up in terms of time lately. I hope this isn't too much of a problem. Anyway, week 156...
This was the second Mads show I've seen at the Colonial, and the third overall. Once again, they did not disappoint. I got there early enough that I was able to gather up my courage and get into the merchandise/autograph line. I picked up two books (Trace's "Silly Rhymes" book, and "Cat's v. Conniff") and got each one signed by the respective authors. I was polite and thankful and didn't try to be witty. I was nervous, though; I asked that the books by signed to South Plainfield Library (where I donated them), and when Frank asked how to spell "library", I was stuck for a couple of seconds. I didn't get a photo with them because cameras only like me when I'm behind them. The show played to a packed house full of friendly, nice fellow fans. They're still using the cool "Man from U.N.C.L.E."-style intro, and they were clearly happy to return to the Colonial. The movie of the evening was "The Tingler". That's actually a good movie with a good performance from Vincent Price and a cool intro from William Castle. Unfortunately, the seats weren't wired up, so we didn't get the full Percepto effect. The riffs were great (like, when a safe containing stacks of money is shown: "They almost have enough to see 'Hamilton'."), and the interplay with the audience was top notch. Afterwards, there was a Q&A session with questions ranging from "Have you seen the new show?" to "What's your shoe size?" All in all, it was a great evening. The only downsides were the lack of parking (I had to find a spot in a residential area about seven blocks away) and the long drive home in intermittent rain and some heavy fog. (Oh, one note: the language the guys use moves things into "R" rating territory. Be advised.)
As for Vol. III, it's a pretty good compilation, though with no new intro or outro (though the notes on the VHS box were funny). The segments were from seasons 1-7 and ranged from the first season version of the Barber Shop segment (with a mention of the Hot Fish Shop!) to Mike's intro from "Mitchell" to the (ugh!) Joey the Lemur routine. Some segments didn't work as well without the movie to play off of, but they also included multiple, linked segments from a couple of eps (like Frank's departure & goodbye from "Samson vs. the Vampire Women"). All in all, it was OK.
Well, one great and one good experience. So, here's what's on tap for what's left of week 157. The Outsiders selection is..."Mike & Bill on the 'Ron & Fez' Show"... - This is an audio bit promoting the late, lamented TimmyBigHands. ...and the Originals selection is..."Blood Waters of Dr. Z" (Show 1005). - I think I'm out of Sargassum; where do I pick up more?
Here's hoping I can stay on schedule this time...
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Post by kmorgan on Jun 6, 2018 10:45:20 GMT -5
Late again! I don't know why you put up with me.
Looking back on week 157, the interview with Mike & Bill is pretty good. They talk about the late, lamented TimmyBigHands site, including the possible meaning of the name, and how they preferred working for themselves over working for a network. There is a very optimistic tone to the segment, which runs around twenty minutes. And while the site's demise led to the Film Crew and RT, I'm still disappointed over its loss. By the way, while I got this recording via CheesyFlix, I think I may have actually heard and recorded this segment off the radio when it was forst broadcast. I'll have to check.
As for "Blood Waters of Dr. Z", I haven't seen this episode as much as others. Of course, rights issues kept it off the air following it's initial broadcast. Anyway, the movie itself is an odd, low-budget mess. I understand the uncut version is a bit easier to understand, but it's still lousy. And don't get me started on the quickly-useless ATV (the one I got for my G.I. Joe worked better) and the off-kilter opening rant. The host segments were OK, especially Crow's take on said opening rant. And the riffing is almost good enough to make me forget how bad the movie is.
Well, let's quickly move on to the remainder of week 158. The Outsiders selection is..."MST3K-TM: The Motion Picture Odyssey"... - Should I bring my own water bottles to this? ...and the Originals selection is..."Shorts (Vol. 3)". - Hanes or Fruit of the Loom?
We'll be right back (and we might be on time)...
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Post by kmorgan on Jun 12, 2018 10:12:16 GMT -5
Well, I'm doing a bit better. So, week 158...
"The Motion Picture Odyssey" is a very interesting segment. It runs about 30 min., and features comments from Kevin, Trace, Mike, Jim, Jef and Jeff. Years after the fact, they talk about how they enjoyed actually making the movie, but hated all the hassles that &*%$#@&*( Universal/Grammercy put them through on the non-filmmaking side. And I really have to wonder what the people in the focus groups were thinking (and I say this as someone who's participated in these things, which is all I can say about that). It is nice, though, that the movie is now fully available and appreciated, while "Barb Wire" is all but forgotten. (Vindictive? Sure, it is.)
As for "Shorts, Vol. 3", it's a good selection. They didn't include any related host segments, but I can live with that. This one features "Speech: Using Your Voice", "Aquatic Wizards", "Is This Love?", "Design for Dreaming", "The Selling Wizard", "Out of this World", and "Once Upon a Honeymoon". Very funny, and rather informative. I now know how a freezer defrosts, the importance of specialty breads, and the need for a good wire rack.
Two good ones this time. So, let's move on to week 159. For the Outsiders, I'm going outside the rotation for..."RT Live: Space Mutiny"... - So, how many more names can they come up with for Dave "YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Rider? ...and the Originals selection is..."The Amazing Transparent Man" (Show 623). - Not starring Claude Rains.
We'll be right back...
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Post by kmorgan on Jun 17, 2018 17:28:48 GMT -5
Hey, I'm showing some improvement. Anyway, week 159...
I wasn't sure how the re-riff was "Space Munity" would go. It's not that I didn't have confidence in Mike, Kevin & Bill; it's just that the MST version worked so well. But, it turns out they did a fine job. They addressed the "Battlestar Galactica: thing early on, they did indeed have more names for Ryder, and they used the uncut version of the movie, providing a bit more material. (I must say that this version of the movie, while still not good, at least made a bit more sense in terms of plot.) They even came up with a funny way to deal with a brief problem during the love scene. The accompanying short, "The Magic Shop", was based on an H.G. Wells story I was unfamiliar with. However, from my long-ago school days, I was familiar with the sort of low-budget video/film version this adaptation featured. I don't know hoe close to the original story it is, but I'm sure the teachers who ran it for bored students weren't asking that question. Anyway, the guys did a great job with this one, too. And, once again, the pre-show titles were very funny. In short, I shouldn't have worried.
As for "Amazing Transparent Man", the filmmakers try for some atmosphere, but the story doesn't support it. Faust is such an unlikable jerk, as is Krenner, that it's tough to care which one wins. And I'm still confused over how invisibility helps the situation when said transparent man is carrying a perfectly visible pail of radioactive material or bag of money. Kind of defeats the purpose, I thought. As for the short, "Days of Our Years", I agree with those who consider it something of a companion piece to the equally depressing "Last Clear Chance". It has some good advice, but it's terribly downbeat. The riffing is great in both of these. And the host segments turned out OK, particularly Auntie McFrank and the "local color". Mike's very disturbing in the latter.
Good ones this time, I thought. So, week 160. For the Outsiders, I'm going outside the rotation for..."RT: The Woman in Green"... - I'm celebrating Father's Day with Bridget & Mary Jo riffing on a Rathbone/Bruce Sherlock Holmes movie. My Dad was a fan, but he had a sense of humor. I'm sure he'd get it. ...and the Originals selection is..."The Crawling Hand" (Show 106). - First the eye, then the hand. Can we expect any other crawling body parts?
We'll be right back...
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Post by kmorgan on Jun 26, 2018 9:40:22 GMT -5
And there goes my improved timing. Fun while it lasted. Anyway, week 160...
"The Woman in Green" is one of the lesser Rathbone/Bruce movies. Sure it has Henry Daniell as a smoothly villainous Moriarty, Hillary Brooke is good as the title femme fatale, and Rathbone is always good as Holmes. But Watson is even more bumbling than usual, and the finish is abrupt and poorly-thought out. It's OK, but there are better films in the series (like "Pearl of Death" with Rondo Hatton). The riffing from Bridget & Mary Jo is, as always, great, particularly a rapid-fire riffing on a drug crucial to the finish. And I especially like how they're clearly having a good time, with laughter and joking throughout. And I do think my Dad would've liked it.
As for "Crawling Hand", the filmmakers did try for some atmosphere, with all of the dark and shadowy sequences. But it isn't anything we haven't seen before. You have the tortured, James Dean-style guy; the pretty and faithful-in-the-face-of abuse girlfriend, the tough and unimpressed-by-science cops, and the scientists who don't get along with said cops. Well, at least Alan Hale, Jr. is playing it straight in this one, and Peter Breck doesn't go completely over-the-top. As can be expected from a Season 1 episode, the riffing isn't as fast or plentiful as later shows. But what's there is very funny. The host segments are OK, and we get to see Larry get the better of Clay at the end.
Two lesser movies, but two good shows. So, on we go to week 161. For the Outsiders, the selection is..."RT: Night of the Lepus"... - It's wabbit season! ...and the Originals selection is..."It Lives by Night" (Show 1010). - He's just A batman, not THE Batman.
Stay tuned...
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Post by kmorgan on Jul 1, 2018 22:07:58 GMT -5
Well, let's look at week 161.
I've frequently heard how "Night of the Lepus" would be a great choice for riffing. I supported that idea when I reviewed it for the old Even Deeper Blurting site a while back. It's perfect riff fodder, what with its 70's fashions, and its story of how bad scientific practices and one careless little girl result in a horde of giant, killer, really cute wabbits. Hey, even with fake gore on their pink, twitchy noses, they still look cute. The cast tries to play it straight, but it just doesn't work. I do have to say something about the shots of the rabbits getting killed: either the effects department did a pretty good job, or the ASPCA probably had strong words for the producers. The riffing from the guys is very funny. They also showed restraint in making only two jokes each re: "Star Trek" (for co-star DeForest Kelley) and "Psycho" (for co-star Janet Leigh). Oddly, there are no Python references; I'd have expected a brief joke about needing the Holy Hand Grenade. Trivia note: the cast includes De, and Paul Fix, who played Dr. Piper in TOS' second pilot. All they needed was John Hoyt from "The Cage" and they'd have had the trifecta.
As for "It Lives By Night", it's more 70's "horror", though of the personal kind rather than the giant whatever kind. The movie tries for some atmosphere, and maybe it was initially going for the idea that Johnny was just crazy rather than a shape shifter. But then the make-up goes on and that idea is ditched. And I can understand the problem some viewers have in choosing between Johnny (who's weird even before the bat attack) and Sheriff Menacing W. Pervert as the hero. The early 70's style downbeat ending doesn't help, and we have more animal cruelty, this time from whoever was holding those poor bats. The riffing was great, though. I thought the host segments were OK, and Mike does a great Ted Baxter. Trivia note: this one has three "Star Trek" vets, including Stewart Moss (TOS episodes "The Naked Time" and "By Any Other Name"), Paul Carr ("Where No Man Has Gone Before") and Michael "J.C." Pataki ("Trouble With Tribbles" for TOS, and "Too Short a Season" for TNG).
Well, two well-matched movie, I figured. On to week 162. The Outsiders selection is..."Movie Sign with the Mads: 'The Godfather'"... - Trace & Frank are making me an offer I suppose I could refuse, maybe. ...and since Independence Day is coming this week, I'll exercise my second feature option and watch a few patriotic RT shorts after my annuel viewing of "1776". Meanwhile, the Originals selection is..."Hamlet" (Show 1009). - I still can't find that leftover ear poison.
We'll be right back...
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Post by kmorgan on Jul 8, 2018 21:07:15 GMT -5
Well, how did week 162 go?
This edition of "Movie Sign with the Mads" was very interesting. Frank, Trace & Carolina think very highly of both "The Godfather" and "Godfather, Part II". As for "Godfather III", not so much. It's a very engaging talk where they discuss the movie's place in film history and its effect on popular culture. And how Fredo is smart, not like everyone says.
And, after "1776", I watched the RT versions of "What It Means to Be an American:, "Patriotism", and "The Bill of Rights in Action". Makes me proud to be an American.
As for "Hamlet", I swear I didn't purposely choose the episode immediately before last week's episode. This is not my favorite Shakespeare play; Hamlet's plan isn't all that shrewd. And it's not my favorite version of said play; it's too dreary. I prefer the Gilligan version, or the Arnold version. And the Gibson/Zefferelli version isn't too bad. I do have to say that Ricardo Montalban certainly sounds great as Claudius; I wonder if he did other Shakespeare plays. The episode is pretty good. The riffing is a bit sparse, but they deserve credit for trying to riff such a major work. The host segs are OK, especially where Mike finally gets the better of Pearl, only to blow it. Maybe he should've asked for "Henry, the Fifth"?
Things worked out OK this time. So, on to week 163. The Outsiders selection is..."Movie Sign with the Mads: 'The Oscar'"... - Oh, birdseed! ...and there may be one other Outsiders item, but I'll wait to note it. Meanwhile, the Originals selection is..."MST3K-TM". - Better warm up the Interocitor.
Don't touch that dial...
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Post by kmorgan on Jul 18, 2018 7:42:58 GMT -5
Sorry, folks. I've been off-kilter for the last few days. Anyway...
"The Oscar" is something of a classic when it comes to cheesy movies. It's in my rotation for Academy Awards night, along with the MST Oscar specials. (Anyone else hope the current crew will do one next year?) I decided to listen to this one now, rather than wait until next Oscar night, because of the recent passing of screenwriter Harlan Ellison. In this "Movie Sign with the Mads" episode, Frank talks about how he really enjoys the movie, while Trace and Carolina are more skeptical. Still, they agree that it has a great cast that does what it can with the overwrought material. They also take time out to compare it with "Valley of the Dolls", and they speak very well of Tony Bennett, outside of his role in this movie. As always, it's a very interesting conversation.
As for the possible extra item, I managed to get to Blobfest in Phoenixville, PA this past Saturday. In addition to a double feature of "The Blob" and "Creature from the Black Lagoon", and the street fair, Relaunch writer/performer Matt McGinnis made an appearance. I was surprised when he mentioned that he was one of the students when Joel taught movie riffing at Bucks County College, and he was one of the participants in the resulting "Chaos at the Colonial" show (which I attended). He couldn't give too much information on Season 12, beyond that it was in post and that he thought it's turning out very well. During the Q&A, I asked if the student-made movie riffs could be released as an extra on some future DVD release, and he was quite favorable to the idea. Afterwards, I got a copy of his artwork ("Famous Blobs Throughout History") and an "ashcan" preview of the upcoming MST comic book. (Very funny stuff, I thought.) Oh, and during the showing of "The Blob", there was some audience riffing.
As for MST3K-TM, I know it can be somewhat controversial. But, even with all the background hassle, I thought it turned out OK. "This Island Earth" provides good riff fodder, while being a good enough movie to not be a chore to watch. It's good to see the show with better production values, and the riffing was very funny. Yes, it would've been better with less meddling from Universial/Grammercy, but it is what it is. And at least we now have a special edition with the cut footage.
So, week 163 was OK, I thought. So, on to week 164, delay notwithstanding. The Outsiders selection is..."The Main Event: Crow vs. Crow"... - Is a steel cage involved? ...and the Originals selection is..."Clowns in the Sky (Vol. 1)". - No, K-Tel didn't release this.
We now pause for station identification.
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Post by kmorgan on Jul 25, 2018 0:07:57 GMT -5
I'm late, but this time I have an excuse.
First, "Crow vs. Crow" was a pretty enjoyable segment. It was recorded at the 2006 DragonCon and is an extra on the "Beatniks" DVD. Trace & Bill talked about subjects like how the Crow puppet was put together and how tough it was to operate, the development of the character, and how the change in performers went. They also put in a few comments on how differently TFNWSRN and TSNWSRN treated the show, the way the fans assemble their own 'bot puppets, and how, above all, NEVER TAKE THE PUPPET HOME. There are also a few questions from the audience, including an appearance by a recognizable personage. It only runs about 35 min., but I thought it turned out OK. Oh, and the reason I'm late was that my DVD copy kept locking up. I tried two different DVD cleaner/buffers and three different players before it started working.
As for "Clowns in the Sky (Vol. 1)", it's a good selection of most of the songs from seasons 1-6. I wish they'd included more of the audio around the songs (like Frank's contribution to "Ode to Pants"), but that's not a deal breaker. I also liked the liner notes; I can only assume all of the cast contributed to them, since no one author is listed. All in all, I think it turned out OK.
Well, week 164 turned out fine. What's on tap for week 165? Well, the Outsiders selection is..."RT: Attack from Space"... - Featuring Japanese hero Starman, who's sort of the prototype for Prince of Space and Space Chief. Haven't seen this one, but it looks like a hoot. ...and the Originals selection is..."Giant Spider Invasion" (Show 810). - I may end up hittin' the booze again!
Don't touch that dial...
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Post by kmorgan on Jul 31, 2018 19:27:06 GMT -5
Late again. I've been getting ready for my annual vacation at my Ancestral Home, but I should still try to keep on schedule. Anyway...
"Attack from Space" is a "movie" assembled from episodes of a Japanese TV show featuring Super Giant (called Starman here). As noted, he's apparently the inspiration for both Prince of Space and Space Chief. In any case, he's a rather unimpressive hero who doesn't do as much as he could. He's dispatched by a bunch of really goofy-looking aliens to save the Earth from a bunch of fascist yet gender-inclusive alien warmongers. And these advanced aliens still need to kidnap an Earth scientist and his kids to help their efforts. It's off-kilter, heavily padded (even though it runs only about 75 min.), and thoroughly riff-worthy. One positive thing is that it's not as incoherent as "Evil Brain from Outer Space", a "movie" in the series that I reviewed for the old Even Deeper Blurting site. The riffing from the guys is great, with them frequently cracking up over how just plain dumb this movie can get. One thing, though: this riff was released about two years ago, nearlt to the day. If they'd done it maybe a year later, I can just hear them riffing on a sequence where the scientist's teen daughter grabs a zap gun and starts shooting the bad guys: "Oh, the Starman franchise was ruined forveer when they started this SJW thing."
As for "Giant Spider Invasion", what can I say? Alan Hale calling someone "little buddy". Rednecks in Wisconsin. Barbara Hale rolling down a hill. Lots of spiders. Alcoholism. Back brace. And, of course, PACKERS!! At least the riffing is great. The host segs are OK, and we learn the full extent of Tom's underwear collection.
Lots of laughs, and two awful movies this time. So, let's move on to week 166. For the Outsiders, the selection is..."RT: Missile X- The Neutron Bomb Incident"... - I'm Peter Graves, and they're making fun of another movie I did. ...and the Originals selection is..."Night of the Blood Beast (Regular Version" (Show 701). - a.k.a. "Steves Galore".
We'll be right back...
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