Please Allow Me to Introduce MST3K...

[mattperiolat]

To a girl.

Yep, this is one of THOSE threads.

A girl who is as far as I know completely unknown to our wise cracking crew, but loves movies and has a sarcastic sense of humor.

I admit I have preferences. For overall introduction, gotta go with the movie and This Island Earth. Figure the humor is strong enough and the movie is JUST terrible enough to not scare her off.

For Joel-era episodes, I'm thinking Cave Dwellers. Classic episode with the crew in top flight form and the movie is awful enough to still be enjoyable.

For Mike-era episodes, I'm thinking The Beginning of The End. I just love this episode because it's classic 50s cheese that the crew just eviscerates with glee. Plus, it's Peter Graves.

Any other introduction nominations?

[Mike Flugennock]

Ooooh, another pick-an-introductory-episode-for-a-newbie thread -- and, for a girl.

OOOOoooooooooohhhhhh, sign me up for thaaa-aaaaat!

Lucky dude, you've actually met a girl who might actually get into MST3K. The FSM knows, my wife is still my sweetie after twenty years, but she just can't hack MST3K -- even though she really digs Ed Wood. Go figure.

MST3K:TM is a fine choice, fersure. Cave Dwellers was just OK, I thought -- that movie, that is, not the Crew's performance -- although it does place high in my Top Ten Worst Ever Opening Titles/Credits Designs, just behind Warrior Of The Lost World, Space Mutiny, and Monster A Go-Go.

Beginning Of The End is a perfectly serviceable Savage Young Peter Graves vehicle, although I think It Conquered The World is better, if only because the evil Venusian overlord turns out to be a giant pickle that was rejected by the H.R. Pufnstuf Show.

Still, my own choices, were I still single and miraculously meeting my Dream Girl With A Vicious, Snarky Sense Of Humor Who Loves Really Bad Movies:

Joel Era: The Unearthly... John Carradine, Tor Johnson -- a cinematic one-two punch. I was so tempted to show her Manos, but it might be a bit heavy for a first date (although it's the most pants-pissing funny episode of Season 4) or, perhaps, Monster A Go-Go, but for its complex, open-ended plot.

Nelson Era: The Brain That Wouldn't Die... The movie's twisted, the riffing's rip-snortin'. This won out over The Incredibly Strange Creatures Etc. (a bit weird for a first date) and The Skydivers (a bit dark for a first date) even though I, an inveterate MSTie, still laugh until I hurt at both of these episodes.

[michaeljgleason96]

Well, I would start out by showing her every theme song. Then the Movie. Thats how I got into it. The theme song sucked me in. But for episodes, I suggest showing Manos, Warrior of the Lost World and any of the Gamera movies. Throw in a few KTMA episodes if she really likes it.

[mattperiolat]

Great advice, but I'm worried that Manos and TISCWSLABMUZ might be too... much, especially for entry level. Just saw Monster A Go Go for the first time today and might consider that to begin bringing the pain.

For other consideration to beginner episodes - Zombie Nightmare for Mike or Eegah for Joel.

[Torgo]

Eegah FTW.

Top that.

[smartpatrol]

Teenage Strangler

[oldmanmerton]

See...I think Manos, Monster A-Go-Go, and all those popular picks have too much Deep Hurting for the uninitiated.

I even thought Eegah was a pretty safe pick back in the day but don't anymore.

Basically I still operate under the stance of either you like it/get it or you don't, but if you want to play it safe it's hard to find the right episode. You even have to be careful with the host segments because some of the sillier ones can be a real turn off to a newb. And finding the right movie really depends on the person. I'd also steer clear of Season 8 (too much silly plot for a newcomer) and any of the milestone episodes or ones that differ from the usual formula.

I think the Movie is a good choice even though I prefer starting with a Joel episode AND Clay's over-the-top intro can be a quick turn off to the wrong person.

Right now, I also like Lost Continent, Women of the Prehistoric Planet (if she's a literary gal), Magic Voyage of Sinbad, or The Beatniks as introductory episodes. The host segments are funny without being pushing things too much, the riffing is great, and the movies themselves aren't the type so awful as to push people towards being easily distracted.

[mattperiolat]

I had not even considered the host segments just because I'm so used to them by now. Especially with Joel (no offense), they do seem to veer toward the strange. We can debate on if Mike made the show more accessible another time.

Not as a first time episode, but I already have my acid test, my nuclear option to see if she will REALLY like the show or not: my favorite episode in the Deep Hurting pantheon, Red Zone Cuba. But Coleman Francis is by NO MEANS an episode for the new kids.

What about Pod People or Amazing Colossal Man as an intro for Joel?

[Skyroniter]

I think The Movie is OK but a bit bland to test her mettle.

Give her some Lassie Shep... The Painted Hills. I hear girls like dogs and she should enjoy the short. If she does NOT appear to be enjoying the short, cut off the episode. Look her in the eye and tell her you love her and that you want her to have ten children with you.

If you have no fan copies, throw some Beast of Yucca Flats. Can't go wrong with Coleman Francis.

[kalidor2000]

My wife is a big fan of the show...and even some of the Rifftrax stuff, etc that have come since. Not quite as big a fan as me but, I am lucky she is into it as much as she is. She is almost always down for an experiment.

That said, she simply loves almost any Mike episode and is sort of 50-50 on Joel's. She claims it's Mike "harsher" style. How he tears the movie apart, rather than play with it, like Joel.
I think, maybe it's something more...

Anyways, take that for what it's worth. It might have to do with what your woman's personality is. Mine prefers that acerbic brand of humour...

[Skyroniter]

Good point, kalidor2000. From my website requests over the years, I'd say females gravitate a bit to Mike. Don't take me wrong... I think they're both dreamy.
Stick with my "ten children" idea. Don't push your luck by adding a puppet show to the mix!

[mrsphyllistorgo]

Here's the advice I've doled out to all you young whippersnappers over the years: DON'T START WITH MANOS.

I know, it's wonderful, the gold standard, the MST episode. But it's the deep end. The deep end with tidepools and sharp rocks and a dark, creepy bottom. It's simply too much for the uninitated, the newbie, the blinking fawnlike creature that is your intended woo-ee.

I recommend starting with a few shorts. There's all kinds: old fifties "keeping clean and neat" stuff, why study industrial arts, come to Puerto Rico RIGHT NOW! There's bound to be something that tickles her funnybone.

My suggestions for the movies: for Joel, Night of the Blood Beast, Tormented, and Girl In Lover's Lane. For Mike, The Brain That Wouldn't Die (It introduces Mike as well so that's a twofer!) Girl's Town and Teenage Crime Wave.

If she's into those, work your way up to such fare as Monster A Go Go, the Coleman Frances ouvre, and Wild Wild World of Batwoman.

It really all depends on the girl. Everyone here has their clutch-to-your-bosom favorites and their "meh" shows, and there's something out there for us all. Good luck!




And here they come! Lots of deadly little girlfreinds for everybody!

[Frameous]

Pumaman or Werewolf. Fast and funny, good for the uninitiated.

[tokiyoke]

I say go with something from the fifties or early sixties that was a watchable movie on its own as well as a funny episode. My recommendations are Eegah, The Horror of Party Beach, The Violent Years, High School Big Shot, I Was a Teenage Werewolf, or The Thing That Couldn't Die.

[mattperiolat]

I was not sure about the Girl in Lovers Lane, only because of Big Stupid and His quest against Hetrosexuality subtones. Plus, it's a really DARK movie at times. Probably save that one for later.

Curious... is I Accuse My Parents perhaps too... Soft? I mean, I actually like that movie, but might be good for a date and for Joel. Er, save for Rodney at the end.