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Post by kmorgan on Jul 19, 2020 20:55:19 GMT -5
Well, let's look at week 266.
"TV Wheel", for those unaware, was a project Joel worked on between MST and CT. It basically involved a way to record a comedy show without edits, involving the use of a big turntable. (Joel explains it much better than I can; look it up on YouTube.) Anyway, the result was kind of mixed. Some of the bits (like the "Thunderbirds" spoof and the Vick Lawton catalogue) were pretty funny, while others were just a bit too weird. I didn't really mind, though. As noted, this was the HBO version, which features just the program without commercial breaks. There's also a TFNWSRN version, broadcast just after the premiere of "Laserblast", which includes intro and outro segments with Joel explaining the concept. As for "Statical Planets", you have to watch it for yourself. I have no idea how Joel would've taken this concept if it had ever gone to an actual feature. Maybe you can offer an interpretation.
As for "Final Justice", it's pretty much garden variety "Tough cop who doesn't play by the rules out for revenge" stuff, just like a multitude of other similar movies. This one is just a bit stupider, and a bit more distasteful. (Yeah, we all knew that girl would get killed for talking, but did it have to be within two minutes later?) Joe Don has been in good movies, and given good performances, but this movie ain't among them. By comparison, "Mitchell", the movie and the character, look much better. The riffing is generally OK, but I have to go along with those who feel they hit Joe Don too hard. (Supposedly, this is the reason he got mad at BBI; he figured the jokes were too personally-directed.) The host segments weren't bad, but the final one with Mike's attempted escape was really funny.
Okay, let's move on to week 267. For the Outsiders, I'm going outside the rotation for two on-line presentations. First, it's..."The Mads are Back: Glen or Glenda"... - It's a benefit performance, but I guess I have to provide my own angora sweater. ... but also... "RT: Stranger Things (Season 1, Episode 1)"... - I have yet to see this show, so I'm going in cold. ... while the Originals selection is... "Horror of Party Beach" (Show 817). - SODIUM!
Please stand by...
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Post by kmorgan on Jul 27, 2020 22:39:12 GMT -5
Sorry, folks. I was out late last night at a double feature of "Forbidden Planet" and "House on Haunted Hill". But that's another story. Anyway, week 267.
The Mads riffing of "Glen or Glenda" was the second time I'd seen them with this odd movie. I'd previously seen them feature it at one of their live shows at the Colonial. This time was just as funny as before. They got a lot of mileage out of Bela's comments, the dated attitudes and the weird semi-"adult" material put in by the producer to pad out the running time and bring in the guys. Even operating from different locations via Zoom, Trace & Frank worked very well together. Afterwards, there was a brief Q&A using questions submitted via the simultaneous chat. They addressed things like their attitudes towards Ed Wood (they consider him an earnest if less-than-good filmmaker), how their general attitudes on social issues informs their jokes, and a few ideas for future projects (like another appearance with Svengoolie). They also announced another upcoming live riffing (via computer) in August. They'll be featuring "The Tingler", another one I saw them use at the Colonial. I'm looking forward to this one.
The RT "Stranger Things" riff was...interesting. Unlike the Mads show, which has hosted by YouTube, this one was accessible via Netflix through the Scener app. Unfortunately, there were technical issues. It took me a while to figure out how to access the show. Then, when I got in, I found out the guys (all at different locations) were also having trouble. They couldn't communicate with each other, and had trouble running the episode. While the moderator tried to get the situation under control (like figuring out who had the "remote"), the guys jokingly called it "an unqualified disaster". Bill even logged out, thinking they were calling it a night. However, they got things running semi-OK, started the show and Mike & Kevin riffed away, with Bill joining up in-progress. It was tough for me to judge the episode, having never seen the series and knowing little about it (it looked like a cross between "Freaks & Geeks" and Stephen King's "childhood is Hell" stories), but it was nice to see Winona Ryder on-screen. The riffing was good, with the best gag coming when we see a bunch of people in hazmat gear, with Bill quipping, "Going to the grocery store: 2020". Once the episode was done and the guys had signed off, the moderator treated fans to about the opening twenty minutes or so of the "Last Airbender" movie riff. It was pretty funny, too.
Then, there was an unexpected third Outsiders feature. The Mads were on Tuesday, RT was on Wednesday, and Thursday featured an online MST panel for the homebound 2020 ComicCon. Moderated by Erik Adamsof the AV Club, it featured Joel (from the general Philly area), Bill (from Minneapolis) and Josh (from L.A.) They had an interesting conversation about their respective beginnings in comedy, how they approached their characters, and the sources for some of the riffs. They also mentioned a few things I hadn't known before, like how they considered dropping Crow from the show after Trace left. They also pitched & plugged a few different projects (like a documentary directed by Josh), and announced that they were participating in a fundraiser for a Native American cultural center that had been burned down during the Minneapolis riots. As a bonus, they said that, should $10,000 be raised by MSTies, that the three of them would riff a new short, in character. (It turned out that the panel was pre-recorded in early July, word got out about the fundraiser, and they were at almost $20,000 by the time it was broadcast.) If you missed it, it's still posted on YouTube and it's a very interesting conversation.
As for "Horror of Party Beach", I agree that women seemed like a particular target for the "horror", as usual. Still, for all of the movies many, many limitations, the Del-Aires were actually pretty good. I wonder if there's a soundtrack album. The riffing was good, and the host segments were OK, especially the closing sniping between Pearl & Flavia.
Whew! It's been a while since I've written up as long a post as this for here. Anyway, time to move on to week 268. The Outsiders selection is... "Between the Riffs"... - The CT "behind the scenes" special. ... while the Originals selection is... "MST Triple Decker". - The music video special. All original hits! All original artists!
We'll be right back...
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Post by kmorgan on Aug 4, 2020 22:17:25 GMT -5
Sorry, folks. I've been sweating out Hurricane Isaias. Too many memories of Floyd, Sandy and other incidents. Anyway, week 268.
"Between the Riffs" is an additional feature on the CT Live "Terror on Tiki Island" DVD. It only runs around 18 minutes, but it's quite good. The Titans talk about their liking of doing the lives shows, and make some nice comments about each other. There's also some footage of them interacting with the fans. It's a nice little segment.
As for "MST Triple Decker", it's a repackaging of previous "Play MST for Me" VHS releases from BBI. It runs about 90 minutes, and doesn't include all of the musical numbers from the original run. However, it does include a few not featured elsewhere, like the "Doughy Guys" bit and music. It also includes the music-related "SOL Legends of Rock" sketch from "Track of the Moonbeast". Oddly, while it has the multiple Toms singing from "Quest of the Delta Knights", it doesn't have them singing from "Starfighters". You can also notice how the first two thirds (from vols. 1 & 2) include on-screen titles for each segment and a funny intro voice-over from Trace, the last third (released after "Diabolik") is just a straight no-frills compilation. I still thought it was OK, though.
Well, now that the rain has stopped and the wind has died down, I can move on to week 269. (While allowing myself time to lug stuff back down to the basement. The Outsiders selection is... "Carnival of Souls" (Mike-only version)... - Is this P.O.P. or are the rides extra? ... and the Originals selection is... "Jungle Goddess" (Show 203). - That char-broiled hamburger sandwich isn't plant-based, is it?
Don't touch that dial...
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Post by kmorgan on Aug 9, 2020 23:05:55 GMT -5
Time to look back on week 269.
"Carnival of Souls" is one of those movies that can be enjoyed both riffed and unriffed. It's actually a fairly creepy movie, with that ominous deserted amusement park working well as a setting. It has a real "Twilight Zone" feel to it. And, yet, there are enough off-kilter moments to provide good riffing material. I haven't seen the remake, but I doubt that a more modern take on the story in color would be an improvement. This version was released in that period between MST3K and the Film Crew (or Film Crew and RT), when Mike did solo commentary tracks. It alternates between riffing and passing along info on the movie itself. It generally works OK, but the later RT version (especially the live version) is funnier.
As for "Jungle Goddess", it's one lousy movie. Yes, it's kind of watchable, as long as you try to ignore the racism, sexism and colonialism. And the fact that it doesn't make very much sense at all. Sure, George Reeves does what he can, and Ralph Byrd does OK playing a total self-centered jerk, but it's not enough. As for Chapter 1 of "The Phantom Creeps", Bela Lugosi is great as the villain protagonist. And while it's mainly interested in just setting up the premise, there's enough going on to catch your interest. I've seen the rest of the serial, and it's pretty good. Sure beats "Batman & Robin". The riffing in this one is good, with the guys giving "Jungle Goddess" the disdain it deserves. The host segments were also good. I thought Mike was good as White Devil #1, and I didn't mind the noise from Jim's toy gun. I thought "My White Goddess" was funny, with an early example of Kevin singing with himself. And seeing Forrester experimenting on himself, rather than Frank, was unusual.
So, that went well. Let's move on to week 270. I'll be spending a few days at my Ancestral Home in PA, so I'm going outside the rotation for the Outsiders with... "Farm Family" (w/ Bridget & Mary Jo)... - As long as they drive a John Deere, I have no objection. ... while the Originals selection is... "Parts: The Clonus Horror". - So, do they respond to "Order 66", too?
We now pause for station identification...
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Post by kmorgan on Aug 18, 2020 11:56:38 GMT -5
I don't know why you guys put up with me, when I have no sense of time. So, with that conundrum, here's a look back at week 270.
The "Farm Family" shorts are among my favorite RT efforts. First, because Bridget & Mary Jo do such a great job with the riffing, and sound like they're having a really good time. And second because the shorts make me feel nostalgic. Until I was 18, I'd spend my summers on the farm that is my Ancestral Home, and we'd visit there several times throughout the year. So, I was very familiar with the routine of farm life in these films, particularly since they were made in 1967 & 1968, just shy of my decade of the 1970s, but close enough. I noticed that the cow barn was a real cow barn, not that OR-type of thing from "Uncle Jim's Dairy Farm". I was very familiar with those milking machines, though I'd lug the milk in a bucket to the bulk tank. And the county fair was just like the fair I went to (and would've gone to this year, except for COVID). These were feel-good movies for me, reminding me of my more carefree youth. One thing, though: the kid was riding in the cab of his dad's pickup. My brothers & I rode in the back of my Grandpa's pickup, usually standing up behind the cab, looking over the roof. We were made of sterner stuff in those days.
As for "Clonus", it's one of those movies that has an interesting premise, but is lacking in execution. (Not that "The Island", the big-budget unauthorized remake was really better.) There is a good attempt at a paranoid atmosphere, and Peter Graves does OK as the potentially evil candidate. But the low budget, script problems and some lesser acting bring the score down. Still, they did give it a try. The riffing was good, though they could've cut the number of "Biography" gags in half with no trouble. And I was a bit surprised they didn't notice that CloneRichard was also Chet from "Emergency". The host segments were OK, especially the two S.O.L. kids shows, prefaced by Mike's cool Belloq impersonation.
Things turned out OK this time. So, let's move on to week 271. For the Outsiders, I'm going outside the rotation for..."The Mads are Back LIVE: The Tingler"... - That's tonight, via computer. Don't forget to scream. ... and the Originals selection is..."Village of the Giants (Show 523)". - So, how fast is H.G. Wells spinning in his grave?
We'll be right back...
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Post by kmorgan on Aug 24, 2020 23:33:15 GMT -5
So, let's look at week 271.
"The Tingler" is actually a pretty good movie. During that period, William Castle could be depended on to present watchable, even enjoyable movies. Obviously the budget was a bit low, and there were script elements that needed a bit of work, but it still turned out well. Vincent Price was great, of course, as a character who could be the more-humanitarian brother of Frederick Lorance, his character in "House on Haunted Hill". There are even some still-scary moments. The main problem was the lack of wired-up seats (I dealt with that via a vibrating massage pad on my chair) and no loud screams (my brother Pat wouldn't appreciate it). Oh, well. The riffing from Trace & Frank was great. Technically, the presentation worked fine. At the last minute, they had to switch from YouTube to Zoom, but that was no problem for me. Both audio & video were good, and I liked Trace's mad science props in his room. The Q&A afterwards was very interesting, including an appearance by Price's daughter Victoria. She had some stories about her father I hadn't heard, like his appearance on a short-lived, very cheap cooking show on British TV. She doubted rights for a video release could be worked out, but she said the tapes still existed. (Somebody call the BFI about this.) I'm glad the Mads are, for now, making this a monthly event, and making the recordings available to ticket holders.
As for "Village of the Giants", I don't know. The movie just gets to me. Maybe it's how everybody's character (even Ron Howard as Genius) aren't too bright. Maybe it's how the movie tries to hard to be mid-60s hip. Maybe it's the hostage-taking; that kind of movie really gets to me. Or maybe it's how the mammoth punks are allowed to just leave after committing multiple crimes, including attempted murder. Like I said, I don't know. The riffing was good, though. And the host segments, involving Frank's firing, were funny. And I really liked "The Greatest Frank of All", one of the better songs, especially the Paul Williams sound.
Not exactly a split decision, this time, but close. So, let's go to week 272. The Outsiders selection is... "RT Live: Jack the Giant Killer"... - Which bone am I supposed to seize again? ... and the Originals selection is... "The She-Creature" (Show 808). - Featuring the slippery Carlo Lombardi.
Don't touch that dial...
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Post by kmorgan on Aug 31, 2020 22:14:41 GMT -5
Okay, time to look at week 272.
"Jack the Giant Killer" was a fairly well-made fantasy movie, with some pretty nice effects here and there. However, I can't say I really liked it. Pendragon was an OK, yet one-dimensional, villain. Jack seemed not too swift a good part of the time. And the secondary characters could get pretty annoying. Plus, I thought that the possessed princess storyline was actually distracting and unnecessary. In a way, this reminded me of "The Magic Sword", with the slightly-lunkheaded hero riding off to save the princess from the evil sorcerer, aided by magic that fails him at a crucial time, and opposed by an evil mole in the operation. Not really bad, but not great. Oh, and one more thing: CORMORANT! The RT live presentation went well, with some great riffing. The short, "What is Nothing?", was pretty good, and I seem to recall that kids actually do talk about such things, without chemical assistance. The two shorts from Rick Kyanka's daughter were...unusual. And I repeat that they'd make a good pairing with "Dexter and Computress Get Mandark".
As for "She-Creature", I had a tough time remembering this one before watching it again. It just left very little impression on me. It's dark gray or light gray, with no real highlights. Villainous Dr. Lombardi isn't very imposing, and the hero is a big nothing. The only thing I can really complement is the creature design, which was interesting. Basically, "The Undead" did the whole "past life regression" thing better, at a lower budget. The riffing was OK, though. The host segments were also OK, with Mike destroying his second planet, Observer joining up, and Mike doing a good job as Lance "DO NOT ACT" Fuller. But, the weight of the inconsequential feature drags things down.
Not too great this week. So, let's proceed to week 273. The Outsiders selection is... "Film Crew: Wild Women of Wongo"... - DANCE!! ... and the Originals selection is... "Master Ninja I" (Show 322). - Hold on, Tim; better things await.
We'll be right back...
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Post by kmorgan on Sept 9, 2020 20:17:35 GMT -5
I'm very late this time. My Labor Day weekend plans got scrubbed, and going back to work threw me off. Anyway, week 273...
"Wild Women of Wongo" is a really bad movie, but it's not as bad as it could've been. Sure, there are attractive women in brief animal skin costumes, but they aren't as dumb as you might think. Yes, there are less-than-attractive people that are used for comic effect, but they end up with happy endings. Yes, the photography & color look lousy, but at least the camera is in focus. Yeah, the Greek chorus parrot is annoying, and the plot makes little sense, and the acting isn't very good, but on the other hand...I've seen worse. The FC do a good job, though. The riffing is great, and the host segments are OK (like the AC malfunction, and Kevin's attempt to plot the actual location of Wongo). While it's a shame that the series stopped after only four installments, it did pave the way for the longer-lasting RT.
As fpr "Master Ninja I", it's Eighties action TV. Violence without bloodshed or death (though that one ninja in the second epi-...sorry, half might've been electrocuted fatally; it's tough to tell). Corrupt businessmen and vicious gangsters who can't deal with amiable drifters. And no true "season arc" in view. As the guys note, it's practically the same as any other show of the era. It's pretty much there, and largely inoffensive. The riffing was good, and I noted that they went easy on Demi Moore (seen very shortly before stardom) and just wailed on Timothy Van Patten (years before he found his highly-successful niche behind the camera). I'm a bit surprised they didn't seem to realize that the guy they think is Sho Keshugi in the second...half is actually Soon Tek-Oh, who made at least four guest shots on "M*A*S*H". The host segments were good, and I liked the Mads invention. (I once spent weeks in the hospital on IV feeding, and I could've used something less bland in those tubes.) I do wonder what set Dr. F off so that he'd try to kill Frank again.
Well, those went sort of well. Let's move on to week 274 (what little remains of it). For the Outsiders, the selection is... "MST3K: Origins & Beyond at CONvergence 2009"... - This was one I didn't get to in person. ... and the Originals selection is... "Tom Servo's Favorite Host Segments (Vol. III)". - The clip-saga continues.
Don't touch that dial...
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Post by kmorgan on Sept 15, 2020 15:59:00 GMT -5
Okay, let's look at week 274.
"MST3K: Origins & Beyond" was pretty interesting. The guests were Joel, Frank & Mary Jo. (Frank noted that Trace wasn't there due to a death in the family, and Josh wasn't there because he didn't want to come.) It opened with the guests passing along DQ orders to their assistants, which arrived later in the show. I knew some of the stories they covered, like Joel building robots to sell at a local thrift store (can you imagine what those must be worth today?), and how both "The Omega Man" and "Silent Running" influenced the show's creation. There were a couple of things mentioned that I guess I'd forgotten, like how the riffing wasn't originally planned for the show but, instead, just grew out of the need to cover dead spots in the movies; and how, in addition to asking Frank to step in as Forrester's assistant, they also asked him to take over as Servo's puppeteer. (Frank turned the latter down due to his lack of puppet skills.) Mary Jo, not being there at the show's start, wasn't heard as much as the guys, but she did contribute some information, like her early days doing stand-up. And, thankfully, the audio for the segment was OK.
As for the third go-round on Tom's "Favorite Host Segments", it's an OK clip assembly. There are several really good ones included, like the "Sidehacking" song, Crow getting zapped with the "peaceful" death ray, and why you can't give no matches to Mikey. Unfortunately, there aren't any new intros to the collection, but the blurb on the tape box was pretty funny.
That went well, I thought. So, let's move on to week 275. The Outsiders selection, from outside the rotation, is..."The Mads Are Back LIVE: Walk the Dark Street"... - That's live on-line tonight, featuring a Winchester-less Chuck Connors. ... and the Originals selection is... "Devil Fish" (Show 911). - Better make sure I've got tartar sauce.
We'll be right back... -
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Post by kmorgan on Sept 21, 2020 23:31:52 GMT -5
Time to look at week 275.
I'd seen the Mads riff on "Walk the Dark Street" before, at Steel Stacks in Bethlehem, PA. The movie doesn't improve the second time around. It's basically the 367,235th try at "The Most Dangerous Game", with a discharged Korean War soldier stalking a hunter (played by Chuck Connors) whose late brother was under the soldier's command. Said soldier completely fails to notice that Connors' character is a little funny in the head, and thinks that the two of them stalking each other through L.A. carrying 30-30 rifles in public won't be a problem. Add in a young lady who's connected with the two of them, a really bad print (though better than the one I saw before), loads of plot contrivances and nonsense, and you've got a less-than-effective thriller. The riffing was very good, though it was better when they had a live audience to play off of. As with their live shows, the language used is pretty much in PG-13 to soft R territory. And they both threw in a fair amount of jokes aimed at a certain political leader. Some scenes, though, were funny enough on their own, like 6 ft. 6 in. tall Connors driving a very small, very low-to-the-ground sports car. And, as a bonus, there was a Q&A afterwards with Trace, Frank and Special Guest Star Jonah. They had a good conversation about movies, ongoing projects, and comedy in general. All-in-all, a good show. And, as a ticket holder, I got to download the show for future viewing on down the road.
As for "Devil Fish", yeah, it's basically an ecological disaster movie with attempts at a "Jaws" vibe. But it's nowhere near as compelling. The titular creature is the result of misguided science and corporate greed, with lots of simple stupidity added in. The characters have no real depth to them, abd the plot makes little sense. The fish itself isn't too badly realized, which is a favorable point. On the other hand, the wholly unnecessary addition of a corporate hired killer apparently brutally killing most of the main female characters (thanks, BBI, for editing out those scenes) makes the movie lose favor. The riffing is good, once again. The host segments were pretty much OK, with the "Lord of the Dance" opening a real highlight.
I thought those worked out OK. Time to continue with week 276. The Outsiders selection is..."RT: Superargo and the Faceless Giants"... - Is Bill Parcells coaching them? ... and the Originals selection is... "The Dead Talk Back" (Show 603)... - Oh, it's true.
Don't touch that dial...
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Post by kmorgan on Sept 23, 2020 18:02:08 GMT -5
PLUS AN EXTRA ADDED ATTRACTION...maybe.
I found out yesterday that, tonight, RT will be testing their latest version of Scener (via Netflix) as prep for next week's scheduled on-line riff of "Starship Troopers". They're planning on riffing on the first episode of "Daredevil". I'll see if I can patch into this, and let's hope it works. The guys managed to cope with all the problems last time, but I'm sure they'd rather have things go smoothly.
Stay tuned...
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Post by kmorgan on Sept 28, 2020 23:22:58 GMT -5
Well, let's look at week 276.
First, the RT test run on Scener seemed to work OK. Unlike the previous attempt with "Stranger Things", which was plagued with technical hassles (and saved by some inspired ad-libbing from the guys), this one had only one problem. Mike's mic didn't work at first, but a switch to another one rectified that. So, they got going, but this was only a beta test of the set-up. Thus, they only riffed on the first ten or fifteen minutes of the 1st episode of "Daredevil". They focused on the show's apparent lack of lighting and subtlety, plus lots of Catholic imagery and guilt. The riffing turned out well, though. Like when newly-active DD takes down a crook, Mike quips, "I feel like I was knocked down by an Avenger with a much lower budget." I've noticed that, probably as a Kickstarter reward, I have the full jokes-only track for that episode, but I'm not sure if the show is worth it. What do you think, viewers at home?
As for "Superargo and the Faceless Giants", last year I saw this one unriffed at the Mahoning Drive-In near Lehighton, PA. (Great place, highly recommended.) It's pretty slow, actually, with a less than compelling hero and a sidekick who nearly approaches load status. Add in an unimpressive villain with unclear priorities and the movie has problems. And the Faceless Giants aren't exactly compelling, either. Still, it does have a good musical score and some impressive sets in the villain's lair. Not great, but it could've been much better. The riffing, though, is quite good. I liked Mike's Dalek reference late in the movie, as well as the frequent reminders of the hero's less-than-successful record. It'd be interesting to hear them riff on the first movie in the series, "Superargo against Diabolicus", which is briefly referenced in this movie.
As for "The Dead Talk Back", I know this movie doesn't have the best reputation. It's dull and slow and somewhat confusing at times. Plus Krasker seems to be a bit of a bull-stuff artist. Still, I thought the basic idea for the movie wasn't too bad. I've heard others speculate that Krasker purposely plays up his supposed supernatural studies as a way to trap crooks, like some early version of "Psych". I can see that idea having merit. And the accompanying short, "The Selling Wizard", was pretty good and actually kind of informative. And Annheiser-Busch making freezers isn't too big a stretch, when you consider Yeungling makes both beer and ice cream. (Haven't tried the former, the latter is very good.) The riffing turned out great for this one. The host segments were good, including Crow's endless guitar solo. (My brother Don is a fan of the Dead; I'll have to pass this along to him.)
Those went pretty well, I thought. So, time to move on to week 277. For the Outsiders, I'm going outside the rotation for..."Rifftrax Live: Starship Troopers"... - Well, live via Scener, anyway. ... while the Originals selection is... "Code Name: Diamond Head" (Show 608). - I'll be there. Aloha.
Don't touch that dial... '
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Post by kmorgan on Oct 3, 2020 22:34:25 GMT -5
Well, how did week 277 go?
For the third time, RT tried Scener for an on-line live performance. And, for the third time, there was a problem. In this case, I understand that the rush of fan log-ins crashed the system for around 45 minutes. I and a lot of others stuck it out, though. And the tech guys were up front about the trouble and kept us informed. Personally, I wasn't angry or even ticked off. I've been behind the control board when things conked out, and I know how it feels to scramble for a solution when you're on live. My heart went out to those guys, actually. Anyway, things finally got up and running. In the years since I first saw "Starship Troopers", I've picked up on the satirical approach Verhoeven was going for, and I can say that it works in spots. However, the movie is still prime riffing material. For the most part, the guys stuck with their original script, but with a few updated jokes. (However, they kept in the reference to the Teapot Dome scandal.) All in all, it turned out OK. They said they'll be sticking with Scener for future on-line events; one can only hope they'll make it work better.
As for "Code Name: Diamond Head", it's a reasonably OK TV-movie/failed pilot. I can see why it didn't sell, but it was basically entertaining in a late 70s fashion. I'd say Ian McShane was the best thing in it. He does well as the villain, and avoids the blandness Roy Thinnes was saddled with as the hero. Of course, should somebody re-riff this, they'll have to replace a bunch of the "Lovejoy" jokes with "Deadwood" and "John Wick" references. The short, "A Day at the Fair", struck a chord with me. It reminded me of the Wayne County Fair which, until this year, I hadn't missed since I was three. Hey, it's largely the same every year, but I enjoy the familiarity. And the funnel cake. The riffing was great, though. The host segments, with the three alternate Mikes, turned out good, as well. I get the impression I was one of the few who immediately realized Mike was impersonating DeNiro in the first one. And my Mom had a bunch of Frugal Gourmet cookbooks at one time; they have since been donated to a book sale.
Things turn out OK this time. So, let's move on to week 278. The Outsiders selection is... "RT: The Last Shark"... - It isn't a voodoo shark, is it? ... and the Originals selection is... "Terror from the Year 5000" (Show 807). - Is that a leap year?
We now pause for station identification...
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Post by kmorgan on Oct 11, 2020 22:52:52 GMT -5
Time to look back at week 278.
"The Last Shark" is interesting. Yes, it's a blatant rip-off of "Jaws". Yes, it fails in pretty much every way that "Jaws" succeeded. But, as it turns out, in one respect is actually closer to the book than the movie is. (Specifically, part of the fate of Vic Morrow's Quint-like character.) At least I can say that old school actors Morrow and James Franciscus do what they can with such low grade material (even if Morrow's accent is awful). And the overriding stupidity of nearly every character keeps your interest. The guys do a great job with the riffing, and I thought the joke about how the movie's original Italian title translated into "Please don's sue us, Spielberg," was very funny. And it was even funnier once I learned that Universal actually did sue the filmmakers for copyright infringement.
As for "Terror from the Year 5000", this movie has never made much of an impression on me. I missed it the first time it was shown (I didn't have TSNWSRN at that time), I've seen it infrequently since, and I have trouble recalling it afterwards. The visuals are all dull gray, the acting is bland, the characters are unremarkable, and the plot isn't exciting. The movie is just...there. The main thing I remember is the brief view of the poster for "I Was a Teenage Frankenstein", one of the movies Susan Hart has Locked away. The riffing is good, though, frequently bringing up the lack of promised terror. The host segments were OK, too, especially the song, "When I Held Your Brain in My Arms". (I can see this one on a 45, with Graham Chapman's "Medical Love Song" as the B-side.) The Pearl/Bobo duel in the background was funny, and the food pill segment brings the second Frugal Gourmet reference in two weeks. (I swear I didn't plan it; these are random selections.)
One good, one middling. Let's move to week 279. The Outsiders selection is... "RT Live: Manos, the Hands of Fate"... - Oh, dear. ... and the Originals selection is... "Shorts, Vol. 1". - Is there a sequel called "Longs"?
We'll be right back...
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Post by kmorgan on Oct 19, 2020 19:56:07 GMT -5
And, let's look at week 279.
What can one say about "Manos" that hasn't already been said? It is what it is. I recommend Jackey Neyman Jones' book "Growing Up with Manos, the Hands of Fate". It's a great story about the making of the movie. Oh, and I recently posted on my Facebook page that, after a lot of consideration, I went onto the site for the National Film Registry and recommended "Manos" for preservation. I wasn't kidding. If you're interested, I'll post the text of my recommendation. As for the RT live show, this was not exactly what I saw in my local theater that night. Due to a mess of rights issues, the visit from PseudoTorgo, and the clips from one of the "Manos" sequels (the one not endorsed by the aforementioned Jackey Neyman Jones) that ran over the evening's end credits have been excised (along with the spoof of "Take It Easy" that ran as the music track). What's left, however, was great. They included two of their better shorts: "Welcome Home, Norman" (Uuuuugh!) and "At Your Fingertips: Cylinders". They also used a better, and more complete, print of "Manos". The new jokes turned out pretty well, though I missed Joel's exasperated "Do something!"
As for the "Shorts" tape (yes, I have it on VHS), it included a bunch of the better shorts from the show, including "The Home Economics Story", "Junior Rodeo Daredevils", "Cheating", "A Date with Your Family", "Why Study Industrial Arts?" and "Chicken of Tomorrow". As the first tape in the series, it also had new intros from Servo. The only short I didn't much like was "Body Care & Grooming"; I really don't need to know about skin infections. On the other hand, it included the wonderfully odd commercial for the Rhino Home Video catalog.
That went well, I thought. So, on to week 280. For the Outsiders, I'm going outside the rotation for..."The Mads are Back LIVE: A Night of Shorts"... - They'll be live-streaming a group of shorts, as well as a special Q&A, tomorrow night. ... and the Originals selection is... "Hangar 18" (Show K-19). - Is it a wire hangar or a wooden one?
Oh, and I won't be watching this Wednesday's RT livestream-to-theaters presentation of "Jack-O". Normally, I probably would see it. Unfortunately, the theater re-closings here in NJ have caused an availability problem. Plus, I have a family commitment that night which takes precedence. I guess I'll catch it eventually.
What do you think, sirs?
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