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Post by kmorgan on Mar 10, 2019 0:01:05 GMT -5
Well, let's look at week 196.
The "ConventioCon I Highlights" were a nice reminder of the original event. It really only features two items in detail: the prop display (including, I believe, a few that weren't displayed at ConventioCon II)and the Keynote address with the cast. The latter is particularly good, as it includes fans' first look at the pitch tape made for TFNWSRN, a bit from the original pilot, and behind-the-scenes photos from KTMA. It brought back some really nice memories. One note: I've since gotten a multi-disc set of ConventioCon I highlights, so I think I might retire this one from the rotation. Your thoughts?
As for "Girl in Gold Boots", it's one sleazy movie. The characters range from dim and misguided to stupid and reprehensible. And the attractive women can only distract the viewer for so long. And there's the overwrought acting and bad dialogue. Yes, the bad guys go away at the end, but it's not enough. I've seen worse movies, and I've seen sleazier movies, but that's not much of a praise. The riffing was good, though. As for the host segments, I really liked Crow's "documentary" on women, and Mike's Critter parody song was perfect. So, I guess it balances out.
Well, let's move on to week 197. Last week, I finished up all of the Outsiders selections, so they're all back in the mug and I'll be starting again. One change: whenever I get something new to add, I'll put it up right away, rather than wait for its number to come up. And we'll be going that route with this week's selection..."Movie Sign with the Mads: 'It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World'.'... - I'll guess I'll find the podcast under a big "W". ... and the Originals selection is..."Monster a Go-Go" (Show 421). - But there was no selection.
We'll be right back...
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Post by kmorgan on Mar 16, 2019 23:23:16 GMT -5
So, let's look back at week 197. The Mads and Carolina talked with fondness for "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World". Frank mentioned that he saw it during its initial theatrical release, and while he doesn't think its as funny as he once thought it was, he still likes it. The general consensus was that it was funny, but it wasn't their favorite comedy. The talk also covered the director (Stanley Kramer), the screenwriters (William & Tania Rose), "The Russians are Coming, the Russians are Coming"; and Carolina's surprise over movie overtures. Oddly, when talking about "epic" comedies, they don't mention "The Great Race", which I'd say certainly qualifies. As for "Monster a Go-Go", it's, of course, staggeringly inept. I'm amazed that people actually thought such a cheap, disjointed movie was releaseable. However, unlike the 'bots, I can actually name something good in the movie: the song that plays during the opening credits and the twist party scene. In fact, here it is: "Go Monster Go""Circus on Ice", by comparison, just isn't very good. (An ice dance about a deer getting shot?) The host segments are OK, especially the finish with Joel trying to cheer the 'bots up. The Mads' invention exchange is one of their best: Johnny LongTorso. And the Mads' marketing scheme for the doll is in use today by Disney for the "Star Wars" ST. Well, not fully balanced this time, but it all worked out OK. So, moving on to week 198. The Outsiders selection is..."Life After MST3K: Bill Corbett"... - So, how'd it go after giving up your brain and the 'bot?... and since this one only lasts as few minutes, here's the additional selection..."RT: Rifftrax Plays with Their Shorts" (2nd half)... - Hey, we actually see what Bill did after MST3K.... and the Originals selection is..."Viking Women and the Sea Serpent" (Show 317). - I am certainly NOT a Grimald warrior.Stay tuned...
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Post by kmorgan on Mar 28, 2019 21:56:02 GMT -5
I'm running very late this time. Sorry, folks. So, week 198...
Bill's "Life After MST3K" segment is pretty interesting. He covers a number of projects, including his disappointment over the result of "Meet Dave", the late, lamented TimmyBigHands site; the short-lived "The Film Crew" (and he's diplomatic regarding its fate), and the great success of Rifftrax. He also talks about projects I haven't seen/heard, like "Max the Hero" and "Edward the Less". They sound like I should try and dig them up. As for the 2nd half of "Rifftrax Plays with Their Shorts", the shorts in question are "Teenagers on Trial" (where every teen is apparently destroying America), "Women in Blue" (WAVES join the war effort), "Wing, Claw and Fang" (funny footage with a dog, a cat, a penguin, a raven and a lion), and "Constance Bennett's Daily Beauty Rituals" (that's exactly it). The riffing is great for these very dated efforts (like the "amusing" way the lion tamer gets the lion to play dead).
As for "Viking Women..." its one of Corman's better efforts, I guess. It features his usual strong female characters, balancing out the blandest male Vikings in history. Still, it's pretty cheaply-made and the script isn't up to par. And let's not get into the whiny prince. The episode does give us one of the best shorts, "The Home Economics Story", and the time-honored waffle-themed host segments. And great riffing, as well.
That turned out well, I thought. So, let's go to what's left of week 199. The Outsiders selection is..."ConventioCon II Highlights: MST3K-TM Panel"... - Before we saw the movie, we heard about the better aspects of how it was made. ... and the Originals selection is..."MST3K Promos". - A collection of bits from when the networks actually wanted to promote the show.
We now pause for station identification...
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Post by kmorgan on Apr 2, 2019 10:17:04 GMT -5
Well, week 199 went pretty quickly, huh? Anyway...
The Movie panel at ConventioCon II was as good as I remembered. While the post-production hassles are noted (like the focus group sessions), they also talk about how the actual movie-making was OK. A lot of attention was paid to the on-set meals, and the gravel-voiced guy who provided them, and the high-quality VFX (like shiny tape and Styrofoam meteorites). And, yes, the AMAZING RANDO! is acknowledged. They also had behind-the-scenes photos, and, to the delight of the fans, the cut Storm Shelter sequence and the original ending. When asked if those scenes, or the Dave Alvin version of the theme song, would be released, Jim said that rights and film quality issues meant that they probably wouldn't. Thankfully, Shout Factory would make it happen.
As for the promos, it's on a disc I got from CheesyFlix and it's good. The promos run from the KTMA days to the end of the TSNWSRN days, and are arranged by season. While it's not complete, it does have a very good selection running over an hour. Watching them, you can see how BBI was allowed to be creative, and even a bit subversive for the "Santa Claus" promo, during the TFNWSRN days. But the ones for the later TSNWSRN days are more cookie-cutter, except for the notorious, misspelled spot for the second supposed series finale. The disc also includes locally-made, KTMA-era commercials for Club Travel (with Kevin), Pizza & Pasta (with the Mads), and Joel's act at the Comedy Gallery, along with a few TFNWSRN network spots where the show is mentioned.
Two good ones this time. Sheesh, can you believe we're at week 200? Amazing that it's gone this long. Anyway, the Outsiders selection is..."CT: War of the Insects"... - Better break out the Raid. ... and for the Originals, I'm going outside the rotation for another run at The Gauntlet. And that means it's time for... "Mac and Me" (Show 1201). - So, is Paul Rudd going to watch this with me?
Keep those cards & letters coming in, folks!
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Post by kmorgan on Apr 7, 2019 20:27:06 GMT -5
So, let's look at week 200.
"War of the Insects" (a.k.a. "Genocide") is one dark flick. You've got Cold War tensions, post-war guilt, post-war anger, environmental destruction & revenge, a loose H-bomb, a crazy USAF airman, marital infidelity, attempted sexual assaults, blind jingoism, nihilistic science, and a massive downbeat ending. Plus lots of bugs, and only three, maybe four, likable characters. It's a real trial, and it makes little sense. Fortunately, the riffing is great. The DVD is unusual in that Gruber, rather than Joel, introduces the Titans. Oh, and a Tom Servo lookalike is briefly seen.
On the other hand, "Mac and Me" is not so much a movie as it is a rip-off/commercial. It's just different enough to avoid a lawsuit, but it lacks the quality of the original source material. (Of course, I mean "Meatballs II".) Still, there are some good points, like the musical score (loved Crow's riff about it early on) and having the lead character be disabled and not dwell on it to excess. On the other hand, the big climax was surprisingly dark for a time; one can understand Jonah's freak-out. As far as the promised sequel, I guess they couldn't get any other companies on board for plugs. The riffing was very good, and not as rapid-fire as it could get in Season 11. It's a bit of an adjustment to not deal with the commercial pauses and the lack of one host segment, but I could handle it. As far as the lack of a resolution for the cliffhanger, I guess on reflection it was a wise course. Nearly anything they could come up with wouldn't please everyone. This way, it's left to our individual imaginations. Besides, now things are open for potential future gags based on what we didn't see.
One brought me down, and one brought me up, a bit. Split decision, I'd say. So, let's move beyond the bicentennial and onto week 201. The Outsiders selection is..."@ Midnight (w/ Mike, Kevin & Bill)"... - Well, I hope I can watch it. It depends on TFNWSRN's website guidelines. ...and since that one lasts less than 30 minutes, the second selection is..."Life After MST3K: Kevin Murphy"... - Well, between MST3K, anyway. ... and, for the Originals, we continue to re-run of the Gauntlet with..."Atlantic Rim" (Show 1202). - So, are Indian, Southern and Arctic rimless?
I thank you for your support...
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Post by kmorgan on Apr 14, 2019 16:34:55 GMT -5
So, let's look back at week 201, shall we?
I don't watch "@ Midnight" regularly. In fact, the only time I've seen it is when MST cast members are there, making a grand total of two shows. (In fact, to be accurate, I stopped watching TFNWSRN quite a while ago.) In any case, it's a comedic game show that, while funny at times, seems to try to hard to be hip and today. (Boy, do I feel and sound old now.) Still, Mike, Kevin & Bill were funny. It even included a semi-preview of the then-upcoming "Miami Connection" show, and I'm pretty sure one clip was from the first "Wizards of the Lost Kingdom" movies. Probably the funniest line I can recall was from Mike's TMZ-style headline to a historic event: "You wouldn't believe the mind-blowing thing that happened at a Texas book depository!" The downsides were a truly disturbing puppet performance clip from Australia, and having to register with TFNWSRN's website to watch it. I'll have to see if somebody recorded it.
Meanwhile, Kevin's "Life After MST3K" segment was very interesting. He talked about taking a break from everything after the original show ended, followed by the late, lamented TimmyBigHands (still waiting for "Kill a Guy: The Movie"). He also talked about "Edward the Less" (which I still haven't heard), "A Year at the Movies" and his later projects with Mike & Bill. He also mentions about writing some fiction in the future; I wouldn't mind seeing that.
As for "Atlantic Rim", that movie is such a mess. Bad CGI, cheap production values, annoying "heroes", a non-sensical script, and the mystery of why the makers of the far-superior "Pacific Rim" didn't sue them. Add in a crazed, eyepatched "villain" and Graham Greene's performance (which I hope was meant as a straight-faced parody) and you've got a train wreck. And, worst of all, I just learned they made a sequel. This is why I stay away from The Asylum and its product. The riffing was good, though. I liked the Invention Exchange (I can name a couple of books highly-appropriate for Supposi-Stories), the "Idiot Control Now"-style song was funny, and it's sad to know that people actually, really will talk saying "bro" as every other word.
I think this one turned out more-or-less OK. So, let's move on to week 202. The Outsiders selection is... "RT: Wide World of Shorts (2nd half)"... - Hosted by Jim McKay? ... and, for the Originals, the Gauntlet continues with "Lords of the Deep" (Show 1203). - I hope I don't get the bends.
Don't touch that dial...
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Post by kmorgan on Apr 20, 2019 6:53:13 GMT -5
Week 202 involved me being a forgetful idiot. Why? Let me explain...
When I did the Outsiders selection, I completely forgot about the RT Live show on Thursday. I did remember it in time, though, so I did get to see it. I got to the Rialto in Westfield early, so I got to see the Fathom test footage from the "Space Mutiny" re-riff, as well as the pre-show, including the video of Kevin performing "Mutiny of Love". Then, they got to the main show: "Octaman". Well, first there was a McGruff short on avoiding the dangers of household poisons and illegal drugs (MIKE: Yes, kids, stick with perfectly legal opioids!). "Octaman", itself, was a slog. It's a slow, cheap, dreary, uncredited remake of the vastly superior "Creature from the Black Lagoon". Even with a young Rick Baker on the crew, the creature is pretty bad, and the non-creatures aren't much better. And we now have "boat ride" and "cave tunnel" to compete with "rock climbing" and "sandstorm". The riffs were great, though.
As for "Lords of the Deep", it's another cheap rip-off, this time of "The Abyss" and all the other undersea adventures of the era. The movie was edited down for the show (an unfortunate choice for the Netflix era), but what we see doesn't measure up. The script needed a lot of work, most of the characters are interchangeable, and Bradford Dillman wavers between going full Shatner (noted by the riffers) and full Adam West (not noted). There was potential there, but they couldn't or wouldn't get there. It was a lot better than "Atlantic Rim", though. The riffing was good, though, including a nice nod to NuWho during one of the trippy vision sequences. I was surprised they didn't recognize Roger Corman in the cast, though. The host segments were good, including the series debut of Dr. St. Phibes from the live tour. One thing: when I first saw the still of the marionettes/drones before the season was released, I was hoping it meant they were featuring another Gerry & Sylvia Anderson show. Oh, well.
Anyway, Week 202, despite my error, turned out OK. So, for week 203, for the Outsiders, it's "RT: Wide World of Shorts (2nd half)"... - Shall we try again? ... while the Originals continues with the Gauntlet with... "The Day Time Ended" (Show 1204). - I guess that Timex didn't keep on ticking.
We'll be right back...
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Post by kmorgan on Apr 30, 2019 20:41:01 GMT -5
Running a little late. Allergy season has made me more concerned with tissues and decongestant. Anyway, week 203...
The selections from "Wide World of Shorts" run the gamut. There's "Self-Conscious Guy" (a young man's irrational fear of imaginary spotlights affects his behavior), "As We Like It" (the inspiring story of how beer is the true foundation of America), "Toward Emotional Maturity" (a young woman has trouble controlling her feelings, since she's a woman), "The Terrible Truth" (an anti-drug short from, I think, the 50s, featuring a surprisingly pretty heroin addict), and "Good Eating Habits" (a kid eats the wrong things too fast, decades before this would be the norm). As usual, the riffs are great. The shorts always seem to really inspire them.
As for "The Day Time Ended", I didn't think it was too bad a movie. Confusing as all get out, sure, but not bad. There's an off-kilter atmosphere, and some good stop motion work. For this one, I don't think I'd mind seeing it uncut and unriffed, if only to see if there was more of an explanation of the plot. There was very good riffing, though it was a big oversight not to make at least one "Dallas" joke in recognition of Jim Davis' presence. The host segments were good, especially the "Concepts" song. Then Larry Ehrhardt appeared, and things got great. When I first saw this episode, I hadn't heard about his appearance, so it was a pleasant surprise. Now, I still think it turned out very well, though I seriously doubt those ashes are, indeed, the remains of Dr. F and Frank.
Two good ones this time. So, let's move on to week 204. For the Outsiders, we have..."ConventioCon II Highlights: Keynote"... - From back when I could afford to go to conventions. ... and the Originals head into the home stretch of the Gauntlet with... "Killer Fish" (Show 1205). - Funny, I don't remember Abe Vigoda in this one.
Stay tuned...
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Post by kmorgan on May 7, 2019 22:29:22 GMT -5
So, how are we doing?
I was at ConventioCon II and remember attending the keynote. It turned out very well, including the intro of Barry Schulman, who ran TSNWSRN back when it good (though he did make a mistake in his speech about the show), the video tribute to Trace in the light of his departure from the show, and the surprise showing of the hilarious "Assignment Venezuela". It was a great kick-off to the whole event. The recording I have is one I got from Cheezy Flicks. It's a pretty standard fan taping. The sound isn't great, and the video can be off-target and out of focus. But it's still a great record of the event. Oh, and if any of you reading this have videos or photos on Con II, look for a plan-seeming guy with a reddish beard wearing a cool-looking PCTC jacket. I'm somewhat familiar with the man.
As for "Killer Fish", this is another one where the editing is a problem. There are so many double-, triple-, and quadruple-crosses that it's tough to keep up. They should've left in just a bit more of the movie. Still, it's an OK crime thriller, and I thought James "Not the Finder of Lost Loves" Franciscus pretty cool as the criminal mastermind. The riffing was good, though I was surprised at the complete lack of "Airport '75" riffs directed at Karen Black. The "Under the Dam" song was a big highlight, and any of the gang's predictions re: the killer fish would've been much cooler than what we got.
Well, 204 seemed to go alright. Let's move on to week 205. The Outsiders selection is... "Return to Eden Prairie (Pt. 3)"... - I'll need a GPS for that. ... and the Originals conclude the Gauntlet with... "Ator, the Fighting Eagle" (Show 1206). - I wonder if Miles O'Keefe responded to this one.
Don't touch that dial...
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Post by kmorgan on May 15, 2019 0:29:36 GMT -5
So, how did week 205 go?
Part 3 of "Return to Eden Prairie" was good. Featured with the 25th Anniversary DVD set, this segment focused on the characters from the original show. It runs about 30 minutes and includes clips and stills on both the major characters, and some of the bit parts. There are also comments from the cast members. It was very interesting, and included some details I hadn't been aware of (like Dr. F was partially based on a character Trace did in a pre-MST performance piece). I do wish it'd been a bit longer and more of the cast were able to appear.
As for "Ator", this movie is even worse than "Cave Dwellers". Ator seems a bit dumber than in the later movie, which I suppose is understandable. The print they use is less-than-ideal in a couple of spots, too. Plus there's the all-but-traditional slaughter of the innocent villagers, the prophecy the bad guy is well aware of and actually helps along, and the third-wheel female lead that the hero would actually be better with than the main female character. The spiders the villain is enamored with don't help matters. I admit, though, that the way the movie was cut down might be affecting my perceptions. The riffing was good, though. The host segments worked OK, including the return of Dr. St. Phibes. The finish of the Gauntlet worked OK, and could double as yet another series finale, if needed (though I figure the show will continue). One interesting thing: the final song implies Jonah is deeply scarred by his tenure on the S.O.L., but both Joel & Mike seemed to get through it with no permanent damage. Hmmm...
Things seemed to go well this time. So, let's go to what's left of week 206. The Outsiders selection is..."The Last Dance RAW"... - Looking back on series finale #2. ... and the Originals selection is... "City on Fire" (Show K-16). - Where's Smoky the Bear when you need him?
We now pause for station identification...
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Post by kmorgan on May 18, 2019 6:20:06 GMT -5
Well, here we are again, after an abbreviated week 206. How'd it go?
"The Last Dance RAW" was very interesting. Basically, it shows the host segments, and one movie riffing clip, from "Diabolik", then shows how it was filmed, courtesy of Jim and his camcorder. Having worked in TV for more than thirty years (as a volunteer at Piscataway Community TV), I could relate to the set-up and sometimes repetitive filming. And I liked how we saw additional details, like Kevin's views about the Bobo makeup (not very complimentary) and the high-tech VFX tools BBI used (like kitchen matches). And we get to see the cast & crew wrap the show...for a while. Good stuff.
As for "City on Fire", it's a lesser disaster movie. There are a few stars, but not as many as Irwin Allen would've gotten. There are the usual foolishly unsafe conditions (who puts a refinery in the middle of a city?), personal subplots (like the largely irrelevant photos), and carnage (yeah, we need to see loads of footage of those people burning like Anakin Skywalker). Henry Fonda does OK as he pays the bills, but Ava Gardner phones it in. But we do get to see Leslie Neilsen back when he was a dramatic actor. The riffing is good for a KTMA, since, by this point, they'd gotten the routine down. (It is surprising, thought, that they didn't comment on star Barry Newman's choice of car.) The host segments were OK, with a couple of them making it to the pitch tape they'd put together. And we'd get a mention of the Mad Scientist organization, not heard from again until the TSNWSRN days.
Things went OK, I figure. So, it's on to week 207. We're outside of the rotation for the Outsiders this week, with... "The Mads are Back"... - They're live at the Colonial tonight. Can any of you guys get there? ... and for the Originals, we have... "Manos, the Hands of Fate" (Show 424). - Ugh.
Please stand by...
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Post by kmorgan on May 24, 2019 22:47:55 GMT -5
So, how did week 207 go?
This was the third Mads show at the Colonial, one of my favorite venues. (I was there last month for a revival showing of the Adam West "Batman" movie.) I tried to get there early to get a close parking space, but I still had to orbit for a while before finding one at a municipal lot three blocks away. In any case, I was there early enough to pick up a show poster and a Dr. F & Frank photo, which Trace & Frank signed. Once again, I didn't try to be witty or anything special, just polite. Thankfully, they're very gracious to the fans. The movie was "The Creature Walks Among Us", the third Gill-Man movie. It's closer in tone to the original than "Revenge of the Creature" was, but it still missed the mark. It's rather slow, features a lot of unsympathetic characters, and has an unresolved ending. The riffing focused on the slow pace, two overbearing male characters (one a sexual harasser, one jealous & crazy), and even the aforementioned parking situation in Phoenixville. They didn't comment on how the two male leads (Jeff Morrow & Rex Reason) also appeared together in "This Island Earth", but did throw in a number of politically-themed riffs. The movie was followed by a Q&A, with questions addressing their work alongside RT (they enjoyed it), the Russian-made MST rip-off on YouTube (they suspect Joel of collusion), and coming back during Blobfest to riff on that movie (they were open to it). An altogether great show, I thought.
As for "Manos", what more needs to be added? I will make two comments. First, on my way home from the Mads show, I was diverted off Rt. 202 and soon found myself in unfamiliar, poorly-lit, rural territory. I wandered around in what I hoped was the right direction, somehow made in back in NJ, and finally found an identifiable site to park at. Having no GPS set-up, I called AAA and they helpfully plotted out a route back to RT. 202, which took me back to familiar territory. And, when I watched "Manos" and saw the ill-fated family wandering around lost in their car, it brought back some unpleasant memories of the previous night. At least I saw no signs for "Valley Lodge". Second, may I recommend Jackie Neyman Jones' book on the making of "Manos"? It's far better than the movie itself.
Well, this was an experience. So, let's move on to week 208. For this Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start of summer, I'm going outside the rotation for the Outsiders with... "RT: Summer Shorts Beach Party"... - Will Frankie, Annette and Eric Von Zipper be there? ... while the selection for the Originals is... "Outlaw" (Show 519). - CabotCabotCabotCabotCabotCabotCabotCabot.
Stay tuned...
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Post by kmorgan on Jun 1, 2019 6:37:27 GMT -5
Okay, let's look at week 208.
The "Summer Shorts Beach Party" turned out well. Along with the guys, Bridget & Mary Jo, Trace & Frank, and Paul F. Thompkins were along for riffing. The selection of shorts is very good, including "Ricky Raccoon Shows the Way" (a large furry something gives safety tips to a surprisingly ignorant kid), "Office Etiquette" (a young woman learns a job that has long since been rendered obsolete), "The Griper" (a whiny, complaining teen annoys the daylights out of pretty much everyone), "Rhythmic Ball Skills" (I'm very glad this wasn't in my school's curriculum), "A Touch of Magic" (an inferior semi-sequel to "Design for Dreaming", with less-interesting cars), and "The Baggs"(What the heck is this??). The riffing is top notch throughout. The only problem was that the audio level on the audience reactions was a bit low. I got this one as a DVD rather than a download because the DVD included the pre-show title slides, always a great feature of the live shows.
As for "Outlaw", the movie is pretty lousy. For those who've seen the original "Gor" movie, it's sort of like the "Star Wars" ST: the happy ending of the original is massively short-circuited. Also, the production values are low, the acting is not very good, and it's just not very involving. One good point is Jack Palance, in a low point of his career, doing what he can with a standard villainous role. One very bad point is the ever-annoying Watney Smith, who deserved a lot more retaliation for being a jerky turncoat. The riffing was great, though. And the host segments were good, especially the "Palance on Palance" reading. As for the review of Mike's stage career, watch it and then read his book "Mind Over Matters" for a very funny look at his real attempts at live theater. As for "Toobular Boobular Joy", great song!
Nice start-up to the summer, there. So, let's move on to week 209. For the Outsiders, we're going outside the rotation (again?!) for... "RT Live: Star Raiders".. - It's live this Thursday, and I doubt Harrison Ford is in this one. ... while the Originals selection is... "The Dead Talk Back" (Show 603). - Oh, it's true!
We'll be right back...
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Post by kmorgan on Jun 8, 2019 23:36:04 GMT -5
So, let's check on Week 209.
The latest RT Live show turned out well. The "Telling the Truth" short was good, with the kids' obsession with smooth stones and their general lack of sense. As for "Star Raiders", it confused the daylights out of me. I can only figure they were simultaneously setting up "Star Raiders: The Beginning" and "Star Raiders II", so that we'll eventually be clued in on the plot. The visuals were low grade, the characters weren't set up very well, and I will say that Casper Van Dien did give it the old college try. It did provide some great riffing material, though. The guys did their usual fine job, and the pre-show title cards were very funny. And I didn't have to remind the theater manager about the pre-show.
As for "The Dead Talk Back", I thought the movie wasn't all that bad. It wasn't particularly well-made, but I thought the basic concept was OK. I'm kind of leaning towards the idea of Krasker being a genuine believer in the supernatural, who uses that reputation as a way to con crooks into getting caught. It could almost be considered the prototype for "The Mentalist" and "Psych". But it's still well-worth riffing on. And I liked the "Selling Wizard" short. Given that Yeungling makes ice cream, it shouldn't be a surprise that Annheiser-Busch makes freezers. (Holy cow, it's the link between Big Beer and Big Ice Cream!) The riffing was good, but it was tough for me to appreciate the Grateful Dead segments, even though they were funny. My brother Don is more of an authority on them.
Well, those turned out pretty well. Let's move on to week 210. For the Outsiders, the selection is..."RT: Attack from Space"... - It's a Japanese "movie" that's reminiscent of "Prince of Space" and "Neptune Men". Oh, gads. ... while the Originals selection is... "Track of the Moonbeast" (Show 1007). - Better cook up some stew, I guess.
Stay tuned...
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Post by kmorgan on Jun 16, 2019 20:48:58 GMT -5
Now for a look back at week 210.
"Attack from Space" is a real trip of a movie. I understand it's taken from a Japanese TV serial that pre-dates both "Prince of Space" and "Neptune Man". And, astonishingly, it's worse than the latter. Basically, a group of really goofy-looking aliens send "hero" Starman to Earth to stop a bunch of alien warmongers. There follows lousy special effects, needless Nazi references, a hero who vanishes for long periods of time, plucky kids (who, thankfully, don't wear upsetting shorts) and, even for a "movie" lasting 75 minutes, loads of padding. (Think Rock Climbing, only much worse.) The only thing making this one tolerable is some hilarious riffing from Mike, Kevin & Bill. By the way, there are three other movies in this series. I reviewed one of them, "Evil Brain from Outer Space", for the old Even Deeper Blurting board, and that movie is even more nonsensical than this one. I don't think I've seen the other two, "Invaders from Space" and "Atomic Rulers". I figure all three are great candidates for either RT or the revived show.
As for "Track of the Moonbeast", I thought the movie wasn't too bad. I remember seeing it on Channel 9's Saturday monster movies (back when they also ran back-to-back Tom Baker episodes of "Doctor Who") long before MST. Yes, it's steeped in the 70s and not very well acted, but it's not really terrible. And "California Lady" is a fairly catchy folk-rock song. And at least it got Bill Finger, the long-uncredited co-creator of Batman, a check for the script. The riffing turned out fine for this one. The host segments were very funny, as the 'bots rush the Halloween season, and Mike provides perfect narration for the "Legends of Rock" sketch.
One lousy movie, one passable movie. Split decision this time. So, let's move on to week 211 in progress. (Sorry, that's an "Adam-12" reference that just popped into my head.) Anyway, the Outsiders selection is... "Film Crew: Giant of Marathon"... - I doubt the Deltas showed up for this toga party. ... and the Originals selection is... "Escape 2000" (Show 705). - Leave the Bronx? I don't even live there!
Keep those cards & letters coming in folks...
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