|
|
Post by TheEvilDead on Feb 9, 2004 13:25:55 GMT -5
About ten years I tagged along with my dad on a business trip to Chicago. I was younger at the time, and easily asmused. On the television it said Godzilla vs. Megalon would be on later that night. I'd seen the movie before so I decided to stay up to see it again. Well, to my surprise, there was a guy and two robots at the bottom of the screen cracking jokes. For the next few months I'd watch this show as often as I could whenever I tagged along with my dad to Chicago.
Unfortunately, my dad's business in Chicago was 100% complete so no further trips were necessary. I looked long and hard but never found the show airing back home in Toronto.
Three Years Later.
In late 1997 we got a satelliate dish, that picked up American networks. Pretty exciting stuff. The first Saturday I had the thing, I was surfing and there it was on Sci-Fi at I think 5pm in the afternoon. Mystery Science Theater 3000. What episode was it? Prince of Space, the original broadcast. In the weeks that followed I was bombarded with brillant episode after episode, Horror of Party Beach, Devil Doll, Space Mutiny, Time Chasers... Well, that string of episodes would make a fan out of anybody. My whole personality changed. Instead of dick & fart jokes, I was a bitterly sarcastic jerk who poked fun at everything and everyone.
So now years laters, I have a nice collection of VHS tapes, probably around 100 or so, a great mix of Joel & Mike stuff. It is a lonely existance being a Canadian MST3k fan. Everyone I know who knows about it learned about it from me. It's annoying trying to explain the premise, it doesn't translate well when I explain it. Any other Canadian fans on this board?
I sometimes laugh at the fact the two episodes I can attribute my love affair of the show with to be two of the all around best episodes ever, Godzilla vs. Megalon and Prince of Space. Had I tuned into some season one episode ten years ago, I might not be writing this today.
But strangely enough, it was Godzilla who started it all. A big monster whose films I still enjoy today, MSTed or otherwise. So thanks Godzilla, and thanks MST3k for helping me develope a kickass sense of humor.
|
|
|
|
Post by Afgncaap5 on Feb 9, 2004 18:52:26 GMT -5
Cool story, there.
Incidentally, and forgive me if this is a touchy subject, but what are your thoughts on Final Sacrifice? I thought they were a bit too strong with the "bashing of the country that made the movie," personally, though maybe I'm missing some satire that was in it.
Anyway, I ask because I have friends in Canada, and I'm wondering if Final Sacrifice would be an episode to hide from them, or show them at some point.
|
|
|
|
Post by ArtCrow on Feb 9, 2004 19:50:36 GMT -5
So now years laters, I have a nice collection of VHS tapes, probably around 100 or so, a great mix of Joel & Mike stuff. It is a lonely existance being a Canadian MST3k fan. Everyone I know who knows about it learned about it from me. It's annoying trying to explain the premise, it doesn't translate well when I explain it. Any other Canadian fans on this board? I just joined this board last week, I live in BC. It's lonely being an MST fan up here, boy can I relate. I discovered the show on a Seattle station when it was in syndication. The first ep I saw was Pod People, that one got me hooked. Been collecting episodes ever since. Other than a friend who clued me into the show I'm the only one who seems to have heard of it. I have introduced it to a few along the way, but mostly I'm met with blank stares when I mention it or try to explain the premise. To answer the poster regarding the Canada jokes in Final Sacrifice, personally I LOVED each and every one of them. No offense here, I was laughing myself silly throughout. |
|
|
|
Post by TheEvilDead on Feb 9, 2004 23:21:24 GMT -5
My take on Final Sacrifice.
One time in the summer of 1999 I believe I rounded up three buddies, and we literally started playing episodes at 7 PM, and we were up till 7 AM watching episode after episode. One of those was Final Sacrifice. If I had to guess, it and Space Mutiny got the most laughs. And all four of us our proud Canucks.
I'd ask them what they thought of the South Park movie or any other things you can think of that poke fun at Canada. Canadian comedy features a lot of making fun of our own country though, so they'll probably be fine with it, infact, I'd be surprised if it didn't become one of their favorties.
|
|
|
|
Post by Afgncaap5 on Feb 10, 2004 1:34:01 GMT -5
Okay, thanks for mentioning that one. I don't think that I'll introduce him to MST3K with that ep, but I might include it in a tape at some point down the line.  |
|
|
|
Post by TheEvilDead on Feb 10, 2004 11:23:16 GMT -5
I wouldn't use it as an introduction.
Well I do find the jokes funny, they are relentless and show no signs of actually LIKING Canada. I just have faith it was all in good fun.
Get them into the show, then show them Rowsdower.
|
|
|
|
Post by Rowsdower on Feb 10, 2004 23:51:14 GMT -5
Hey, more Canucks, finally. It is lonely being a Canadian "Mystie"...for a while there I was alone on this board...and feared that I was alone in the real world as well. As you can see, I selected Rowsdower as my handle, now I must point out the fact that I did so only because a) it wasn't taken b) I'm Canadian and I thought it would be a cute joke (I was so wrong) c) everyone else seemed to have MST3K-related handles Why do I mention that last one? Well, at the risk of sounding like a total wet blanket, I'm not too keen on handles. Why? Well, truthfully I don't mind them...to a point. I just don't like being referred to as "Rowsdower" or "Ganubis" or any of the handles I've used on the interthingy. I prefer my real name, Matthew. whatever... Anyway, I find it hilarious that so many MSTies are so concerned with the Final Sacrifice episode...as if we'd be insulted by it. Are you Americans insulted by...I don't know...like 90% of the other riffs and episodes? I mean, the show is based mostly on American culture (or a lack thereof) and poking fun at it...and you guys dig it, right? If anything, we Canadians LOVE being mentioned or referenced in anything American. You see, Canada really is a softer, gentler, lamer version of the US...we now have the largest landmass of any country on planet earth and share this continent with the most famous one, yet we're totally ignored. It's a big joke up here...your average American knows next to nil about our country yet we live right next door and we're so similiar. I'm a little drunk right now (being Canadian and all) and this isn't coming out right...but, basically, Canada suffers from a major inferiority complex because of the aforementioned facts. We love being mentioned..especially in joke form...I love Final Sacrifice because of the endless 'Canada bashing'... too bad not more was made of the fact that Zombie Nightmare was made here (I believe there was at least one shot at Canada in there). On that subject...I'm going to try to post some pics tomorrow of where the 'Thor in the corner store and getting hit by the car' scene was filmed. I bought the beer I am now drunk on at the store that Thor roughs up those thugs at in Zombie Nightmare. |
|
|
|
Post by AndrewTS on Feb 11, 2004 2:28:43 GMT -5
Hey, cool. Godzilla vs. Megalon is probably my favorite MST3K ep ever (although I change my mind a lot), so good choice.  Hey, I agree. Check out MY extremely unimaginative handle! That isn't true! I know you have free health care, are bilingual, have weird looking money and your dollar is worth way less than ours, and you've given us a lot of good actors and great pro wrestlers. Oh, and Kids in the Hall, too. You also use a modified parliamentary government, and I could be wrong, but I think your Prime Minister is somebody named "Jacques." |
|
|
|
Post by Rowsdower on Feb 11, 2004 3:08:05 GMT -5
That isn't true! I know you have free health care, are bilingual, have weird looking money and your dollar is worth way less than ours, and you've given us a lot of good actors and great pro wrestlers. Oh, and Kids in the Hall, too. You also use a modified parliamentary government, and I could be wrong, but I think your Prime Minister is somebody named "Jacques." Well, close...ha I was being light on the "average American knows diddly about Canada" front, though it is true to a point. I like to think that, in general, MSTies are more learned than the average joe so...I don't see the Can-ignorance being well represented here. "Jacques"...no...I'm guessing yr thinking of Jean Chrétien (one of his middle names was Jacques so you get bonus points). Regardless, he's no longer our PM, this loser is. Free healthcare? ...er...to a point I guess. We pay for it through taxes so it isn't exactly 'free', but we don't pull the plug on those who can't pay up. Our healthcare system is a total shambles right now, especially here in Québec...I'm kinda scared. And yeah, there are a lot of famous Canucks...sorry about Rush, Celine Dion, Avril Lavigne, Bryan Adams...our music largely sucks. Even bands we're supposed to like, suck: Tragically Hip & Sloan. Parts of the country are billingual...the French are located mostly here in Québec and New Brunswick and scattered in the East Coast Acadian communities (Jack Kerouac was a descendent of such people), and I hear there are pockets in places out west...but really, everything is blended to the point that no one can tell the difference. People with French surnames speak English and vice versa. |
|
|
|
Post by ArtCrow on Feb 11, 2004 3:26:04 GMT -5
Some good points there Rowsdower, even though I'm way over on the other end of the country I kind of agree with you. I think we all know what cheesey Canadian productions are like, so Final Sacrifice was a breeze.
So what's your story, how is it you became a MiSTie?
|
|
|
|
Post by Rowsdower on Feb 11, 2004 3:55:29 GMT -5
I believe I recounted my story elsewhere but...well, it's pretty simple: I guess my first run in with MST3K was through the band Man or Astro-Man? and their cover of the theme song. It took me more than a half decade to realize it was the theme of a contemporary television show. Even then, I only got into the show once it was off the air. The first MST episode I saw wasn't even an episode (why I started this sentence this way, I don't know), it was the film. I was perusing the shelves of a video store with my pal and I came across Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie. The premise decribed on the box sounded fun so we rented it (I still did not make the connection to the song...I was smoking a lot of weed at the time...yeah). Anyway, we laughed our asses off and many riffs became running jokes with us; a simple imitation of Cal's "Ruuth" would have us in tears (incidentally, one of our albums-we have a band-closes with us imitating Cal's "ROOTH!"). A year or so later my friend mentioned to me that he'd seen some EPISODES and didn't find them as funny as the movie. I was like "Duh? There's a show?". Yes, the MOAM? song (coupled with the fact that on their live album, Transmissions From Uranus, they introduce it as the theme song from their favorite TV show), and the fact that it was listed as "THE MOVIE" (indicating that it had appeared in some other form elsewhere) hadn't sunk in (I can't help being dumb, I'm Canadian!). Eventually I started downloading episodes on peer-to-peer programs. I've now managed to see more than 130 episodes...all by download except It Lives By Night which my aforementioned friend was nice enough to tape off of Sci-Fi for me (he has illegal satellite and he COULD have dubbed at least two dozen episodes for me but it was a major hassle, apparently, for him to learn how to program his VCR...which would have taken, what, 3 minutes? @#@%$!). |
|
