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Post by kmorgan on Jan 19, 2022 1:19:09 GMT -5
Running late again. Sorry, folks. So, week 344...
"Night of Shorts 6" went OK, sort of. There was an audio problem just after the first short started, forcing Frank to riff alone. He did a good job, though. After it was done, Chris made a few adjustments and Trace was back for the rest of the program. Now, if you want to see & hear that solo effort from Frank, you won't. When the download was available, the riffing from the first short was taken from a rehearsal, when both Mads were audible. Unless we get a special edition release, we'll only have, as Trace called it, the Snyder Cut. The shorts were "It Must Be the Neighbors" (previously riffed on by RT), "Telephone Courtesy" (for those who have no idea how to answer a phone), an unnamed short on dating (it's pretty much "What to Do on a Date", in COLOR!), and "Better Use of Leisure Time" (complete with ghostly admonitions). The guest was John Erler of Master Pancake; I've heard of that riffing show but haven't seen it yet. The Q&A was very interesting, including questions on BBI's attempted lawsuit against Master Pancake's predecessor, favorite films of Sidney Poitier, and my question: "Do you (or did you) have a favorite movie theater?"
As for the "@ Midnight" episode, Jonah, Felicia & Hampton did OK, I thought. The problem was with the show itself. Even though it's more comedy than quiz show, it's too fast & disorganized for my tastes. And they go for easy laughs too often. And, being an aging child of the 70s, I didn't get a few of the jokes. Usually, I can just breeze past such things (like Reginald Maudlin jokes on Python), but it was just too jumbled for me.
As for "Hamlet", it's not my favorite Shakespeare play. (I prefer "Henry V", actually.) And this isn't my favorite version. (That's either Arnold, Gilligan or "Strange Brew".) But I guess it's generally watchable. And Ricardo Montalban does quite well providing Claudius' voice. The riffing was OK, as were the host segments. I know some fans rate this episode rather low, but I thought it worked.
Something of a mixed bag, I guess. So, what's on tape for week 345? The first Outsiders selection is... "The Making of MST3K"... - That the TSNWSRN making-of special. ... and the second one is... "RT: Galaxy Invader"... - Haven't seen this one in a while. It has an alien and rednecks, apparently. ... and the Originals selection is... "The Magic Voyage of Sinbad" (Show 505). - THAT'S NOT SINBAD!
Please stand by...
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Post by kmorgan on Jan 25, 2022 8:52:04 GMT -5
Late again. So much for the New Year's "I'm going to be on-time" resolution. Anyway, week 345...
"The Making of MST3K" is pretty good. Understandably focusing on the TSNWSRN era, it does include a few bits from the TFNWSRN era. While not as extensive as the segments made for the DVDs years later, it's enjoyable and features some great behind-the-scenes footage.
As for "Galaxy Invader", I had all but forgotten about this one. And with good reason; this is a very unpleasant movie. A rather non-descript alien lands, and is hunted down by a bunch of profit-minded rednecks. The alien is a complete cipher, and the humans are either pretty reprehensible (especially the abusive, gun-toting father) or fearfully non-functional. And it all adds up to pretty much nothing. And it's from the same writer/director as "The Alien Factor", which was inflicted upon CT and, while heavily padded, is slightly better. The riffing from the guys is OK, including the big argument over the whole "calling the sheriff" thing. But the movie is just too much of a slog.
On the other hand, "Magic Voyage of Sinbad" is enjoyable and very imaginative. It's also really, really off-kilter. I can see with the Brains have so much affection for it, both as a movie and as a riffing inspiration. I think I prefer "Day the Earth Froze" in terms of the Russo-Finnish quartet, but this one was OK. I may just try and track down the original version, if only to find out what was going on. The riffing was very good in this, and I liked the host segments. I don't remember there being a Junior Jester chapter at my high school back in the day; I was in Key Club and worked at the radio station. And I wonder if the Chairman of the Board was informed about the Rat Pack Chess Set, live Steve Allen was told about the Steve-O-Meter.
Two good 'uns and one bad 'un. So, let's move on to week 346. The off-rotation Outsider is... "The Mary Jo Pehl Show" (Episode 5)... - That's live on Twitch tonight, with a look at the "Partridge Family" library. ... while the on-rotation one is... "RT: Terror by Night"... - Bridget & Mary Jo, and Holmes & Watson, on the Flying Scotsman! ... and the Originals selection is... "Girl's Town" (Show 601). - I hope it doesn't matter that I'm not Catholic.
We'll be right back...
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Post by kmorgan on Feb 2, 2022 0:06:08 GMT -5
So, how did week 346 go, apart from the snow?
Mary Jo's show was good. She & her guests talked about a few tie-in Partridge books. From the sound of it, the books included mainly mystery or suspense stories, having little to do with the show. More like a cross between Scooby-Doo and "Dark Shadows". But it was an engaging conversation, including a mention of some controversial picture of David Cassidy that ended up in Rolling Stone. Oh, and they're now offering T-shirts reading, "Proud member of the Partridge Family Book Club". I wrote on the chat that I'd get one for my brother Pat for Christmas, though he'd punch me in response. We also voted on the next featuee for "Movie Jo Night". "Omoo-Omoo, the Shark God" narrowly edged out "Cats".
As for "Terror by Night", it's one of the later Rathbone/Bruce entries. It's OK in spots, but the script makes Watson & Lestrade seem even more stupid than usual. The crook was Moriarty henchman Col. Moran, though with a much less-impressive air gun than in the original stories. The riffing from Bridget & Mary Jo was great, though. They mainly tried to figure out what Watson offered to the investigation.
As for "Girls Town", it's a better-than-average JD movie, with Mamie Van Doren doing as good job as good/bad girl Silver. The movie did OK making the authorities tough, yet fair, though their grasp of how to handle mentally-disturbed stalkers is highly debatable. And some of the hipster slang is nearly as bad as the type used in "The Oscar". (Did anyone really call a telephone an "Alexander Graham"?) I guess Mel Torme was barely acceptable as a villainous jerk, but I really didn't buy Paul Anka as a tough guy. The riffing was very good, though I wish they'd have not interrupted the Platters. The host segments were generally OK, including the intro of the Umbilicus, which seemed to change in every episode it was mentioned. I watched this via a "broadcast edition", which included commercials for ConventioCon I and the upcoming premiere of "Invasion U.S.A.".
Three good ones this time. So, onward to week 347. We've got all rotation selections this time. The first selection for the Outsiders is... "Cheap Seats" (w/ guest stars Mike & the 'bots)... - Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, if you don't get sued. ... and the second is... "Hook, Line & Sinker" (w/ Jim)... - It's an interview on the making of "Blood Hook". Haven't seen it yet. ... and the Originals selection is... "The Incredibly Strange Creatures..." (Show 812). - Feelthy peeg!
Please stand by...
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Post by kmorgan on Feb 6, 2022 1:05:14 GMT -5
Well, I'm a bit earlier than usual. There's a reason for that, which I'll get to. But, first, week 347...
I didn't watch "Cheap Seats" to any real extent when it was first run, but I have this particular episode a few times. I thought it was pretty good. The episode had a martial arts focus, and the hosts riffed on a creative breaking contest (boards, bricks, soda cans) and a K-1 bout (one big guy fighting another big guy). Their jokes were generally OK. Mike & the 'bots showed up in silhouette to riff on the shows version of host segments, with the hosts spoofing martial arts, like their version of the "finger thrust through the soda can", using a cardboard coffee cup. (Crow's riff: "Ninja proctologist!") The guys also joked about the concept of making humorous comments on video footage. (Odd idea, right?)
As for Jim's interview, I thought it was good. It's just him, sitting in front of a black background, talking about the making of "Blood Hook". He mentioned about how he and his friend David Herbert (later the movie's producer) got the idea when making home movies during Ninth Grade. Jim's later job at a PBS station inspired him to pick up the project again. He talked about making the movie on a low budget with local talent, and how it pretty much worked OK. And how the experience, coupled with a newspaper misprint, led him to KTMA and a certain cow town puppet show. It was a very interesting talk.
As for "Incredibly Strange Creatures...", it is one seriously odd movie. Unappealing characters (yes, even Ortega), an incomprehensible plot, lesser musical numbers, and just general weirdness abounded. I suppose I might've better appreciated it if I'd seen it in a theater with Hallucinogenic Hypnovision. On reflection, Ray Dennis Steckler deserves credit for getting it made, but I really don't see how the movie is worth Kubrick's threatened lawsuit. The riffing was very good, particularly during the seaside climax and the musical numbers. The host segments were OK, including Ortega's first appearance. (I still figure he & Torgo teamed up and opened a restaurant chain after "Diabolik".)
Well, that worked well, I thought. So, for week 348, we've got one rotation item and two specials. For the Outsiders, the special is... "The Mads are Back LIVE: The Yesterday Machine"... - That's this Tuesday night, with a movie about time traveling Nazis. I think. We'll see. ... while the rotation selection is... "Movie Sign with the Mads: 'Citizen Kane'"... - Sing Sing, Morgan! Sing Sing! ... and the Originals special is..."The MST3K Time Bubble Tour: 'Making Contact'". - The weather should cooperate, so I'll be in Red Bank Sunday evening for the tour's finale.
We now pause for station identification...
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Post by kmorgan on Feb 14, 2022 23:34:58 GMT -5
Well, how did week 348 go?
"The Yesterday Machine" is one of the worst movies I've ever seen, which is saying quite a lot. Basically, a young teenage cheerleader disappears, while her boyfriend is shot by, apparently, Civil War soldiers. The girl's sister (who looks old enough to be her mother) and a reporter investigate, leading them to discover a former Nazi scientist with the cheapest-looking time machine I've ever come across. There's a plot to retrieve Hitler from the past, and a bunch of other stuff. And even though Chris cut the movie down for this showing, it's horrendously padded out. Fortunately, Trace & Frank did a great job with the riffing. And the Q&A with Beez as guest went well, also. No definite word on a re-issue of "Darkstar", though. On the other hand, they did use a question I submitted: "Is there a classic movie that you haven't gotten around to seeing yet?"
As for MSWTM, they and Carolina and guest Ken Plume had a very interesting conversation. In addition to the movie, itself, the discussion ranged from Orson Welles' other movies to the notorious John Wayne stinker "The Conquerer" to Herman Mankiewicz's Hollywood career. And I was glad that, while they felt "Citizen Kane" was a truly great film, they didn't condemn "How Green was My Valley" for winning Best Picture.
And I did manage to get to Red Bank for the "Time Bubble Tour" finale. It was cold, but the roads were clear and there was no precip. It was a fairly easy drive right down Rt. 18 most of the way, and I got a pricey but convenient parking space across from the Basie. I had a good seat in the forward section of the balcony. The house wasn't packed, but there was a good crowd. And the show was just as funny as it was in New Haven. As I've posted before, I just hope they recorded one of the shows; the material in a live performance was too good to lose. And the "Carol of the Bells" riff still got applause.
Three good ones last week. So, what's set for week 349? Well, the Outsiders selection is... "American Scary" (featuring Joel)... - A great look at horror movie hosts. ... and the outside-the-rotation feature is... "Movie Jo Night: O-Moo O-Moo the Shark God"... - Neither I nor MJ know anything about this movie, except that it looks awful. ... while the Originals selection is... "Gamera" (Show 302). - Would somebody please get Kenny a good psychiatrist?
Stay tuned...
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Post by kmorgan on Feb 22, 2022 9:20:10 GMT -5
Running late again. So, let's look back at week 349...
"American Scary" is a really great documentary. It's about TV horror movie hosts from the early days to around 2005, including Vampira, Zacherley and the original Svengoolie. It's also a nice look at the days when true local origination TV programming existed, before heavy corporate control and infomercials. I really enjoy this video, and I wish they'd do an update, with more classic clips and a look at Sven's MeTV show and the MST relaunch. Speaking of MST, Joel is there for a few comments, but there are no stills or footage from the show. (I understand there was a miscommunication with BBI. One hopes an update would rectify that lack.)
As for "Movie Jo Night", "O-Moo" is, apparently, based on one of Herman Melville's lesser-known sea-based works. It's a familiar story of an obsessed group seeking the eyes of a shark god idol (actually two enormous black pearls) and the traditional curse that goes with it. The movie is said to be set in the mid-1800s, but a lot of the dialogue (not to mention 1940s revolvers) is straight from the then-present day. There's a bunch of padding, the jungle set from "Jungle Goddess", misplaced wildlife (A tiger? On a tropical island?), and a couple of routine fistfights. And the usual really dense white guys. There were a lot of good riffs on the chat, with Mary Jo and Chris pointing out several of them (including one I wrote!). MJ also wondered how close to the original story the movie was (as she put it, "You don't @$%& with Melville."). I'd never seen the movie before, I wouldn't mind seeing the Mads or MJ & Bridget give it a try.
As for "Gamera", this is from when Gamera was still, like the G-Man, still an antagonist. Gamera, though, lacks the tragic anti-nuke message that Godzilla brought. It's also the only one in b&w. I wouldn't call it the most serious one (that'd probably be the kid-less "Gamera vs. Barugon"), but it's not as kid-friendly. And, be honest, doesn't Kenny need heavy therapy and meds? The riffing was great in this, especially the frequent riffs at Kenny's expense. (Yeah, I'm piling on, but he deserves it.) The host segments were good, especially Mike's appearance as Gamera.
Well, those went OK, I thought. Let's move on to the next milestone, week 350. The off-rotation Outsiders selection is... "The Mary Jo Pehl Show (Episode 7): Chris Gersbeck: The Reckoning"... - Live on-line tonight, MJ gives Chris his 6-month evaluation. Will it be on a point scale, or just comments? ... while the on-rotation selection is... "RT: Swing Parade" (3-riffer version)... - Three riffers + three Stooges = ? ... and the Originals selection is... "Gorgo" (Show 909). - Well, at least the kid in this one isn't nuts.
We'll be right back...
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Post by kmorgan on Feb 28, 2022 23:10:04 GMT -5
Well, let's look at week 350.
The latest episode of Mary Jo's show went very well. MJ interviewed some of Chris' references (including Trace and Frank) and they confirmed that, yes, Chris did work for them in some capacity. They also went over some of his noteworthy points (like the sea shanties), and MJ followed it up with Chris. They also featured his initial job interview with MJ, covering the important points (like who made the fixtures in the men's room). It was all very funny. Much funny than my evaluations, I can tell you.
As for "Swing Parade", it's a fairly standard 40s musical comedy. The son of a big businessman is trying to open a nightclub, and falls for a girl who, unbeknownst to him, is there to serve him a writ that will close him down. There are the usual misunderstandings, a good musical score, and a happy ending. The main attraction is the presence of the Three Stooges. However, they were a disappointment. At the time, Curly was in poor health, so he's not his usual self. Plus, they're strictly in support, and their parts could've been played by pretty much any other comedy team of that era. I mean, they're OK, but not great. The riffing from Mike, Kevin & Bill was also OK. They focused on the staggeringly elaborate production numbers in the nightclub, and being wary of Moe's wrath. Not their best effort, but funny.
As for "Gorgo", the movie is pretty good. The VFX are well-done, it gets its point across (about how greed can cause all sorts of problems), and young Sean is a rare "monster child" who talks sense, doesn't get top level security clearance, and doesn't wear short shorts. And it achieved the desired effect of getting us on the monsters' side. The riffing was very good in this one. I thought the host segments were OK, especially "Waiting for Gorgo". Leonard Maltin's guest appearance also worked fine, I thought.
Well, a fairly good selection, I figure. So, we're on to week 351 and another milestone. First, we have two Outsiders from the rotation. Selection one is... "CT: Legacy of Blood"... - John Carradine once said this was his worst movie. Ponder that. ... and selection two is... "ConventioCon II Highlights: DOOM"... - It's Mike vs. all challengers! ... and, for the Originals, we're off the rotation for... "Santo in the Treasure of Dracula" (Show 1301). - Yes, it's the new season on the new platform. I just hope somebody will tell me how to access it.
Don't touch that dial...
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Post by comedyc on Mar 1, 2022 12:58:12 GMT -5
I just hope somebody will tell me how to access it.
They better! You paid good money for it!
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Post by kmorgan on Mar 8, 2022 0:17:40 GMT -5
And now a look back at week 351.
"Legacy of Blood" is one icky movie. The patriarch of an utterly repellent family dies, and the rest of the bunch, including equally odd servants, has to live together in the family home (played by Stately Wayne Manor) in order to inherit all of his millions. And then they start dying. Thing is, you can't root for the killer (no need to bump off the dog, pal) or the victims (they're too sick to live). And it all comes down to a double-twist ending and a coda that is thoroughly annoying. I've seen worse movies, but not much worse. This was from when CT was still using the plotline of the group riffing movies for preservation in the "Time Tube". The idea was OK, but I preferred the straight live shows, where the cast could tailor the show to the audience reaction. As for this one, the riffing was good and I liked the host segments.
As for "DOOM", I've never played the game, so I had no idea what was going on. I guess it's basically "shoot your opponent" or something. This fan-made video showed Mike up against previously selected fans. It was one event I wasn't able to get to at ConventioCon II. The video has the usual problems (poor audio, focus problems) and it runs a bit long (around 2 hours), but it's OK. And the clear fan favorite among Mike's opponents was young Rusty, who seemed to do OK.
As for 1301, I'm not going to go into detail, since it hasn't been fully released yet. But I can say that I was able to log into the Gizmoplex and watch the episode. There were a few technical difficulties, but it introduced us all to the wonderfulness that is WHITE DOT. The movie was... lacking in certain ways. I will say that the funniest scene for me needed no riffing: our first look at Santo, in a nice gray suit and tie, still wearing his silver mask. I nearly fell over laughing. I can also say that the host segments were good, and the riffing was both funny and well-paced. Now, I could go into more detail, but only if it's OK with you guys.
Things went OK, I thought. So, let's move forward to week 352. The non-rotation Outsiders selection is... "The Mads are Back LIVE: The Devil's Hand"... - At least it isn't the Devil's Manos. ... while the rotation selection is... "This is MST3K"... - It's the "making of" special with Penn hosting. ... and the Originals selection is... "The Space Children" (Show 906). - Look, can I launch the Thunderer now?
We now pause for station identification...
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Post by kmorgan on Mar 15, 2022 8:02:45 GMT -5
I'm behind schedule again, folks. Before I have to get ready for work, let's look at week 352...
"The Devil's Hand" is a low budget flick about a cult that, it seems, recruits the really stupid among us to serve the devil. Robert Alda plays a guy with having an average romance with a nice girl, until he finds out someone has contracted the making of an obvious voodoo doll of said nice girl. It's made at the shop of at the doll shop of a friendly neighborhood cult leader, played by Neil (Commissioner Gordon) Hamilton. Meanwhile, Alda has been seeing a beautiful woman in his dreams. She's real, he meets her, and about an hour later, he's selling his soul in the cult's service. Don't try to think about it too much. The movie's low budget means we only get about three locations or so. The details about the cult are rather sketchy, as are their supposed evil powers. Alda's character is pretty dim, while Neil Hamilton just doesn't have the Lugosi-style charisma needed for an evil cult leader. Plus bongo drums. Lots of bongo drums. Fortunately, the riffing was great. The Q&A guest was Dave Hill, whom I'm not familiar with. It was an interesting session, though. And Millie made an appearance!
"This is MST3K", as noted, was the first "making of" special. It focuses more on the basic concept than on the show's history. (No mention of KTMA, for example.) It's an OK introduction, though. And, boy, do they all look young here.
"The Space Children" obviously owes a fair amount to "Day the Earth Stood Still", with a mysterious, ultimately benevolent alien trying to save us from ourselves. The addition of the cooperating kids is unusual for the day. It's a well-made movie with a message. But the adults seem really stupid. It's a high-security facility, yet security is really, really lax. Should I really trust these guys with my country's safety? The "Century 21 Calling" short, on the other hand, was much more interesting. That World's Fair must've been great. The riffing was OK, though they go overboard on the bald jokes. And there are no "Beverly Hillbillies" riffs, even though Mr. Drysdale was in the cast. The host segments were generally OK, especially Mike & the wreaking ball.
Well, time to move on to week 353. The off-rotation Outsider is..."Movie Jo Night: 'Sorority Girl'"... - That's on live tonight. And I don't have my pledge pin yet. ... and the rotation Outsider is... "Return to Eden Prairie" (Pt. 1)... - Seems we're on a bit of a MSTory kick. ... and the Originals feature is... "Manos, the Hands of Fate" (Show 424). - They're having a special showing on the Gimoplex on Friday, with live content as well. Perhaps it will ease the discomfort.
Stay tuned...
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Post by kmorgan on Mar 21, 2022 22:35:21 GMT -5
So, let's look back at week 353.
"Sorority Girl" is a cautionary tale from Roger Corman. It stars Susan Cabot (from "The Wasp Woman") as a real be-eye-itch of a sorority sister. She abuses a young pledge, blackmails her fellow students to ensure her perceived authority, and is just a real piece of work. Her narration makes us think we should pity her because her equally-self-centered mother has cut off her cash. And it all leads to a sequence at the beach where there's a rather surprising resolution, I thought. Running only about an hour (before a few cuts from Chris), the movie isn't too bad. Yes, some characters are kind of dense, but there are a few attempts at characterization. And there are a few surprising developments. Plus, Dick Miller is in it. Watching the movie with Mary Jo was good, as always. She apologized for the times she got caught up in the story, but we didn't mind. I'll watch to see if this gets repeated.
As for "Return to Eden Prairie", this is the 25th anniversary documentary series on the show. This segment focused on the crew members, specifically Jef, Patrick and Beez. They talked about how they got involved with the show, and how their work got more elaborate as the show progressed. It only ran about twelve minutes, but it was very interesting.
And the new showing of "Manos" offered a few surprises. It was hosted by Pearl & Sinthia, with a few new host segments featuring Jonah & the 'bots during the breaks. The showing opened with a newly-riffed short, "Pipeline to the Clouds", a 1951 General Electric short on our need for clean water. After the ep, there was a Q&A with Joel and Jackey Neyman Jones. And the episode itself was presented uncut and unaltered. I thought it turned out pretty well. And, yes, our hero WHITE DOT made a cameo appearance.
Three good ones this time. Now we'll move on to week 354. The off-rotation Outsider is... "The Mary Jo Pehl Show (Episode 8)"... - It's "Ask MJ Almost Anything" this time, and it's on live tomorrow night. I'll see if my question gets used. ... and the rotation Outsider is... "ConventioCon II Highlights: Costume Ball"... - Keep your eyes open for a red-bearded guy with a cool Teenagers from Outer Space outfit with reflective tape. ... and the Originals selection is... "SST Death Flight" (Show K-13). - Where's George Kennedy when you need him?
Don't touch that dial...
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Post by kmorgan on Mar 27, 2022 15:04:48 GMT -5
And we're back. How did week 354 go?
The latest episode of MJ's show went well. Many of the questions were on video, though a few were submitted through the chat. They ranged from "How did you get started in comedy?" to "Wha happa?" (that was from Frank). Some celebrity questions came from Dave Hill, Joel and Trace (who was apparently...no, you should see it for yourself). The answers were very interesting. They didn't use my questions, but that's the way it goes. They also selected the feature for the next Movie Jo Night (it's apparently a TV-movie called "Heat Wave") and the subject of the next episode (another cooking show). These shows are definitely worth watching.
As for the Con II Costume Ball, it's a fan-made video, with the usual limitations on sound and picture. But it was nice to see the event again, and I really enjoyed the memories. Unlike some costume shows I've seen in past gatherings, it didn't become an impromptu talent show (for the most part); people just showed off their costumes. Two that I remembered that were on tape were a very perky man as Mr. B Natural, and a group of nightgowned Master's wives who briefly wrestled on stage. If you have that video, at around 23 minutes in, you'll see some guy called Ken in a very good "Teenagers from Outer Space" costume (and I say that in all humility). Unfortunately, the tape ran out before they showed the hit of the evening: Mr. B Torgo. (If anyone has a picture of him, please post it ASAP.)
As for "SST: Death Flight", I've seen worse disaster movies. This one is hampered by an overly-familiar plot & characters, plus rather cheap-looking VFX. But the cast is, for the most part, made up of seasoned vets, of both disaster movies and/or TV movies, and they do a good, professional job. I do think they laid on a bit too much peril, though. The sabotage was enough; we didn't need the Senegal Flu, as well. The riffing was some of the best of the KTMA era. It was funny and well-paced. And the ad-libbed nature of the show was still evident in a brief coughing fit from Servo (well, Josh) and a blown line from Crow (well, Trace). The host segments were OK, especially the opening with the Mads.
Three for three last week. So, moving on to week 355. Tonight is Oscar night, the Night the Stars Salute Themselves! I've only seen one of the nominated movies ("Cruella", and that was only because I was there for a fireworks show at Becky's Drive-In that night), so I have no real investment in the show. Instead, for both Originals and Outsiders, I'm going for these off-rotation choices: "The MST3K Little Gold Statue Preview Special"... - Featuring the 'bots and Not-Ed Asner ...and... "The Oscar" (w/ commentary from Patton)... - Maybe he can explain why Harlan Ellison wrote this thing. ... meanwhile, my rotation Outsiders selection is... "The Last Flight of Joel Robinson".. - Well, they thought it would be, anyway. ... and I'm exercising my 2nd feature option on the Originals with... "The Land that Time Forgot" (Show 1107). - Doug McClure! Held over for a second week!
That's a lot to fit in for one week, but I'll try...
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Post by kmorgan on Mar 28, 2022 21:23:38 GMT -5
Wait a minute! WAIT A MINUTE! WAIT A MINUTE!!!
It seems I got my schedules mixed up for week 355. I'm going to have to ask Doug McClure to wait until next week. Why? Because I forgot about... "Robot Wars" (Show 1302). - The backer premiere is this Friday night on the Gizmoplex. So, do the robots have a fussy, British-sounding human translating for them?
We now return to your regularly scheduled program...
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Post by kmorgan on Apr 5, 2022 22:18:48 GMT -5
Once again, my lack of a sense of timing strikes again. So, week 355...
"The Little Gold Statue Preview Special" was funny, of course. Yes, they don't riff on movie clips, but the 'bots do well reacting to the press kit clips. It'd be pretty nice if they did a new Oscar preview special for next year. Maybe there will be funds left over from making Season 13.
As for "The Oscar", one almost suspects it to be the first true stealth parody. It's so overblown and overplayed that it's even funnier than the spoof SCTV did, "The Nobel". Yes, the cast is clearly giving their all and not phoning it in, but that just makes the result even funnier. Patton and his fellow commentators (Josh Olson and Erik Nelson) were all acquaintances of screenwriter Harlan Ellison, and they gave some details of the original screenplay (which had lots more backstory and would've probably made the movie run an extra hour). While praising the original script, they did note that everyone's pseudo-hipster dialogue is pretty much how Ellison himself sounded. And they're willing to laugh at the movie, while praising the workmanship.
Oh, and since I was watching these Oscar night attractions, I missed the...unpleasantness at this year's ceremonies. They'll need to set up an actual fistfight next year to maintain the momentum.
Turning to the other selections, "The Last Flight" is a brief but nice look at Joel's departure in "Mitchell". Featuring comments from Joel, Trace and Kevin, it revealed that having "Mitchell" be his last show was just luck of the draw. They had some words about the movie, itself, and the process of selecting Mike as the new host. It's not real extensive, but I thought it was OK. Of course, we know now that Joel's departure was only temporary.
As for "Robot Wars", I'm going to be careful here, since I just saw the rough cut and the episode proper hasn't been released yet. I will say that the movie is lousy, but not as annoying as "Atlantic Rim". The riffing was, once again, funny and well-paced, and the host segments were good. Plus we got a couple of special appearances. After the episode, there was an appearance by Joel and some key production people talking about the idea behind the new season's "soft launch" and the show in general. All told, it turned out very well.
Okay, those seemed to work out fine. So, let's move on to week 356, or what remains of it. Our Outsiders selections are... "Encore 'Film Crew' Intros"... - Between TimmyBigHands and Rifftrax, there was the Film Crew. ... and... "Super Secret Movie Rules: Slashers" (w/ Mike)... - Well, he's there briefly. ... and the Originals selection is... "The Land that Time Forgot" (Show 1107). - Sorry about the delay, Doug. We're ready for you now.
Don't touch that dial...
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Post by kmorgan on Apr 12, 2022 7:31:40 GMT -5
Well, let's look back at week 356, shall we?
The intros were made by the Film Crew for a couple of theme weekends Encore did, one for sci-fi movies and one for midnight movies. They range from "Reefer Madness" to "Starship Troopers 2" to "The Thing". They're pretty funny, though it was a bit of a hassle to record them all and collect them.
"Super Secret Movies Rules" was a series made for VH-1 back pre-RT, I'm pretty sure. I was only able to catch one episode, the one on slasher movies. Mike makes a few comments, and he's pretty funny. There are also comments from several others, including Dee Snider, P.J. Soles and Joe Bob Briggs. But I thought it was a bit too obvious for me, and it was obviously made for an earlier generation than mine. And I do have to disagree with the show: "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" (which I have no desire to see) was not the first slasher movie. Usually, "Psycho" is considered the first, though others from that earlier period may have a claim to the title.
As for "Land that Time Forgot", it's the best of the Amicus/Burroughs movies. Yes, it's on a low budget, and the VFX aren't really top notch, but it's an old fashioned adventure story. They don't try to be campy or ironic. And it has a good cast (including an uncredited Anton Diffring doing the dubbing for Peter McEnery) and a memorable ending. The riffing is OK, though they still have the pacing problems that were common in Season 11. I thought it was funny how they speculated on what a sequel to the movie would be like, since there actually is a sequel (the lesser but OK "People that Time Forgot") and I was sure they'd use it for Season 12. And, while he wasn't bearded, I can't understand how they didn't recognize Anthony Ainley (who played Dietz) as the Master from 80s "Doctor Who". You'd think there would be at least one joke about how they couldn't forgive him for what he did to Tom Baker. The host segments were pretty good, especially the Mesozoic Ranch BBQ commercial.
Well, I think I still have time to post the selections for week 357 before I have to get ready for work. The off-rotation Outsiders selection is... "The Mads are Back LIVE: Night of Shorts 7"... - That's on tonight, but I have a ticket for baseball. I'll catch it on tape delay later. ... and the on-rotation Outsiders selection is... "Tom Servo vs. Tom Servo"... - Or, Josh vs. Kevin, if you prefer. ... and the Originals selection is... "City on Fire" (Show K-16). - Station 51, 10-4, KMG365.
We'll be right back...
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