MST3K: The BIG Question...

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Hello fellow MiSTies. I just discovered this forum a few days and it's so cool to see that so many MST3K fans are still enthusiastic about the show and post so often and organize activities. This place is by far more popular about than any newsgroup I've found. This is my first post here so I'll tell you a little about myself first. My name is Jeremy, I'm in Tucson, AZ and I 've been watching the show since it's 3rd season (which is surprising because I'm only 21). Ok, now onto my question...

I've been watching MST3K for a very long time and I know just as much about the show as most any other hardcore fan but to this day, I'm ashamed to admit I still don't know why the show is called "Mystery Science Theater 3000." What an odd name. It's the most obvious question and I still don't know the answer. Why did BBi choose this name? Though I've collected many interviews from the cast and crew through the internet and tape trading I've still never heard an explanation. Am I the only one who doesn't know? I've heard that "3000" is supposed to make it sound futuristic because it takes place in the future (though not-too-distant ) but where does "Mystery Science Theater" come from? Is it some kind of throw-back to the old 50s sc-fi anthology shows (eg Science Fiction Theater from Back to the Future)?

What do you guys think?

Jeremy

PS I'm sure I'll really enjoy this forum. Thanks a lot guys. Keep circulating the tapes.

MST Fact: In the audio commentary on the Ghostbusters DVD Harold Ramis, Ivan Reitman and Joe Medjuck all appear as silhouettes in theater seats at the bottom of the screen as they talk about the movie.

[nightfalcawk]

Just for title length probably.

[Rex Dart]

Nice to see a fellow Arizonan here! Cheers!! ;D

[Cat Girl Ayame]

Wow. Lotsa Arizona MiSTies. We should have a convention, seriously.

Anyway, the explanation is (from what I have read) that Joel came up with the name. The "3000" he explained in the Satellite News "20 Questions for Joel Hodgson" piece. Joel said that it is not the year, because the show [took] place next Sunday. 3000 made it sound futuristic. I am not too sure about the rest, but I would assume it has something to do with Science Fiction Theater, Masterpiece Theater, or the like.

[civlyzed]

welcome aboard! I really like this board too...I never really tried the news groups, but I think this format is easier for a lot of folks.

A convention sounds good to me!, I'm in Colorado, but a couple of my friends moved to Tucson recently.

[Phantom Engineer]

Joel was a fan of The Firesign Theater comedy troupe. May have been an influence.

[Mr. Atari]

A convention sounds good to me!, I'm in Colorado, but a couple of my friends moved to Tucson recently.

Civ, I know you mentioned this before- Ft. Collins is it? Hooray for Coloradoans! And, to a lesser extent, Arizonians.

No hoorays for Canadians, though. Not after giving us Zombie Nightmare and Final Justice. But I kid. After all, you did give us hockey. Hooray for hockey!

Topic? Oh yeah, I heard somewhere that the name came from his standup routine. Something with his inventions. Sorry it's so fuzzy. Have you checked out the FAQ on Satellite News?
#nosmileys

[Afgncaap5]

Well, the reference to his standup routine is that he used inventions created in the "Mystery Science" lab.

The number 3000, based on what I've read, is a model number or something. Like, "This is the Weed Wacker Nine!" or "Here we have the Super Soaker XP-7000!" or "This is called the Terminator T-2000". So the name "3000" is just the Theater's model number (implying that there were previous such theaters for some reason).

So in all, the show is about a "Theater", model number "3000" that was created in the "Mystery Science" labs. Ergo, "Mystery Science Theater 3000." Or something.

[Ator]

If I remember correctly, Kevin Murphy stated in the MST3K Making Of documentary, that they "basically looked at each other and put mystery, science, and theater together. It was gonna be 2000, but 3000 was better, because it was a thousand more."

Oh, and for you Arizona MSTies, I used to live in Chandler, and I should be coming home for leave within a couple months. I'd like to meet a couple of you if you are around there.

[Rex Dart]

Ator said:

If I remember correctly, Kevin Murphy stated in the MST3K Making Of documentary, that they "basically looked at each other and put mystery, science, and theater together. It was gonna be 2000, but 3000 was better, because it was a thousand more."

Oh, and for you Arizona MSTies, I used to live in Chandler, and I should be coming home for leave within a couple months. I'd like to meet a couple of you if you are around there.

Where abouts in Chandler? I'm on Ray and Price.