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Post by kmorgan on Dec 31, 2023 19:24:21 GMT -5
Well, looks like we have a bit of time to put up the selections for week 447. Our last Holiday Outsider for the year is... "TV 23's 23rd Annual New Year's Eve Extravaganza"... - It's the original Melon Drop special from December, 1986, loooooooooooooong ago. ... while the on-rotation Outsider is... "MST3K-TM: The Motion Picture Odyssey"... - I'm pretty sure this is the "making of" video they did years later, when some of the pain had faded. ... and the first Original selection of 2024 is... "Teenage Strangler" (Show 514). - Hey, I have a car. Why would I steal a bike?
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
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Post by kmorgan on Dec 25, 2023 10:00:57 GMT -5
I've got a few minutes before I set out to visit my family and deliver presents, so let's look at what's up for week 446. The off-rotation Outsider for the week is... "The Mary Jo Pehl Show: Chit Chat & Tid Bits"... - That's live in the Clubhouse tomorrow night, so we can decompress together. ... and the Holiday Outsider is... "RT: Santa and the Three Bears"... - I just got this, and it features Bridget & MJ. Looks like a good one. ... and our Original for the Yuletide is... "Gamera" (Show K-05). - So far as I know, this was the first Christmas-themed episode (sort of).
MERRY CHRISTMAS, ALL!
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Post by kmorgan on Dec 22, 2023 8:48:14 GMT -5
Well, there's still a little bit of time, so here are those TBA selections. The Holiday Outsider is... "Movie Sign with the Mads: 'A Christmas Story'"... - Will it shoot my eye out? ... and the Originals selection is... "Master Ninja II" (Show 324). - Hi, I'm not Max Keller.
We now return to our regularly scheduled program...
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Post by kmorgan on Dec 19, 2023 17:10:59 GMT -5
Ye gods, that one was tough to get through. And I'm sure that the print they used had different dance party music from the MST print. Any ideas why this is?
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Post by kmorgan on Dec 19, 2023 17:09:10 GMT -5
Where do they keep digging up new shorts to use? And I'm surprised that relatively few of them have been previously used by MST or RT.
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Post by kmorgan on Dec 19, 2023 17:07:17 GMT -5
Well, once again I'm remarkably unprepared for reasons that are too transparent to be recounted here. But, I can post a little bit of what's set for week 445. The off-rotation Outsider is... "Movie Jo Night: When Michael Calls"... - That's live tonight, and let's hope he isn't calling collect. ...while the Holiday Outsider is... TBA... - I have to check which one I haven't seen lately. ... while our Original selection is... TBA. - See above.
I am filled with shame...
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Post by kmorgan on Dec 12, 2023 16:25:11 GMT -5
I'm a trifle pressed for time right now, so we'll go right to the selections for week 444. The off-rotation Outsider is... "The Mads are Back LIVE: The Creeping Terror"... - That's live on-line tonight, and it's gonna be a slog for everybody, folks. ... while the Holiday Outsider is... "RT: Beyond Christmas"... - Featuring Bridget, MJ and HOLLYWOOD ACTOR RICHARD CARLSON! ... and the Originals selection is... "The Sword and the Dragon" (Show 617). - Russo-Finnish Fantasy, Vol. 3.
Don't touch that dial...
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Post by kmorgan on Dec 7, 2023 12:26:22 GMT -5
Well, there's a little bit of week 443 left. But first, a look back at week 442...
"Trapped" was actually a pretty good movie, with James Brolin... well, trapped in a department store with their remarkably ill-advised security system: near-psychotic attack dogs. It was pretty suspenseful, and Brolin's character was reasonably smart. The scenes involving his ex-wife & devoted daughter were less interesting, actually. I was surprised, though, that her new husband (played by Earl Holliman) was not portrayed as a shallow jerk. MJ & Chris seemed to like this one, while noting several plot holes. And MJ did accurately predict the closing shot.
As for "The Five Doctors", I've (I'll be honest) whined about how the BBC have blocked RT from releasing even a just-the-jokes version of this live show, for whatever reason. I'd hoped they'd relent for the show's 60th birthday, but no dice. And a fan-made combo of the commercially released episode & a fan-made audio recording put up on Facebook has been taken down. Then, to my surprise, I found it reposted on Archive.org. (But you didn't hear that from me. And don't spread it around!) So, I did get to see it this year, after all. The episode, itself, has problems, what with the lesser VFX, the lack of Tom Baker, the need to fit in everybody into the plot, and so on. But I've seen much worse. (At least they don't short circuit the entire backstory.) And this was my first exposure to any of the other Doctors on TV. So, it's certainly worth a watch. And the accompanying short, a British safety PSA called "Play Safe", does NOT kid around. The riffing from the guys was good, if a bit sharp at times. I think they'd have a field day with "Vengeance on Varos", though.
As for "Attack of the Giant Leeches", it's not one of my favorites. I'm not really sure why. Maybe the movie is just a bit to dark in tone and gray in picture. And the first part of "Undersea Kingdom" isn't one of the better serial chapters they've done. Still, the riffing was fine and the host segments were OK. The holo-clowns were deeply disturbing, though.
So, let's move on to week 443. We've got two Holiday-themed Outsiders this week. The first one is... "RT: Charlie's Christmas Secret"... - I think this has MJ & Bridget, if I recall correctly. I don't even remember what the secret is. ... and the second Outsider is... "RT: Santa & the Ice Cream Bunny"... - This is the studio version. I'm in trouble. ... and the Originals selection is... "Phantom Planet" (Show 902). - This is both good & beautiful, I hope.
Stay tuned...
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Post by kmorgan on Dec 1, 2023 15:44:18 GMT -5
The only real problem I had with Season 11 was the opposite of the KTMA shows. On KTMA, the jokes were sparse, while they tried to fit in too many riffs during 11. But, as the season went on, they started to get a handle on the pacing. As for the upgraded production values, I didn't mind that. Hey, if Netflix was going to kick in enough cash, why not use it to make the show look better and get larger tier guest stars. To quote Max Bialystock, "When you've got it, flaunt it!" As for the all-but-obligatory "story arc", I found it unnecessary, but not a deal-breaker. I thought Season 12 worked fine, and they were continuing to progress. Personally, I thought they'd finally got it down for Season 13. Yes, they cut back on the production values (due to both financial and medical concerns), but I didn't mind that at all. They had a good selection of movies, talented hosts, funny jokes, the correct delivery rhythm, and White Dot. I wasn't asking for much, and I got what I wanted. Could it have been better? Sure, it could. But I wasn't going to switch it off.
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Post by kmorgan on Dec 1, 2023 15:31:31 GMT -5
They're riffing The Creeping Terror. My late brother Bri lived his life according to a simple rule: "People are basically stupid." I'd say 99% of the victims in this movie fulfill that rule, and then some.
This is gonna be a slog.
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Post by kmorgan on Nov 29, 2023 12:59:18 GMT -5
OK, I was truly surprised by two things in "Trapped". First, that Earl Holliman's character of the new husband wasn't portrayed as a total jerk, but was actually a smart and fairly decent guy. And second, Brolin & the ex didn't reconcile at the end. Both of these were major departures from the norm. I actually thought it was a pretty good movie.
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Post by kmorgan on Nov 28, 2023 11:21:39 GMT -5
OK, I'm way behind on reviewing my past choices. But I can at least look back at Week 441. So...
MJ's QVC spoof went very well. She & Chris struck the "TV Salesperson" tone just right; obviously a takeoff, but not too heavy. The testimonial videos worked OK, too. I had a few video problems on the Clubhouse channel, but nothing major. About the only downside was they ran out of omelets before I could go for my credit card. Darn!
As for the 2nd Cushing/Who movie, it's faster-paced and has more action than the first one. (Which, by the way, I saw at the Colonial in Phoenixville a couple of weeks ago.) It's true that it's made for a juvenile audience, but so was the series, back then. Personally, I thought it turned out OK. Cushing was great as the Doctor, they did a good job boiling down a six-part story into a 85 min. movie, and it was interesting to see Bernard Cribbins in the Whoniverse, pre-Wilf. The riffing from the guys was OK, though it did get a bit harsh at times. I'll give them a pass.
As for the Marathon/Telethon, I got to see all or part of a bunch of the shows, including "Giant Gila Monster", "Pumaman", "Santo and the Treasure of Dracula", and "The Starfighters". I liked the plugs from Matt and a comically-subdued Joel, and the sound effects during the breaks weren't a bother for me. I did get a bit annoyed with the negative comments on the YouTube chat, but I just turned it off when it was too much. I was sorry to see them fall short, but a setback is not a defeat. (I'm a Rutgers football fan; I understand the difference.) I'm sure Joel will try again next year. Oh, and I did catch part of "The Mask". Very odd movie, but a good episode. And I also spent my Thanksgiving with Charlie Brown, WKRP, Bob Newhart, football, my family, and "Day of the Doctor".
Well, I hope you all had a good Holiday, too. Now, on to week 442. Both Outsiders are off-rotation again. The first one is... "Movie Jo Night: 'Trapped'"... - That's live on-line tonight. James Brolin & killer dogs. Looks interesting. ... and the second Outsider is... "RT Live: The Five Doctors"... - I'll explain later; I wasn't expecting this. ... while the Originals selection is... "Attack of the Giant Leeches" (Show 406). - Sorry, I donated platelets last Saturday. I have to wait a while longer.
We'll be right back...
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Post by kmorgan on Nov 28, 2023 11:04:58 GMT -5
Put it in the bank. With the economy uncertain, even a Soultaker has to face the possibility of a salary cut or layoff.
Or maybe buy a couple of books. I hear Chris Gersbeck can suggest a few...
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Post by kmorgan on Nov 21, 2023 15:19:16 GMT -5
Well, I'm on a break at work, so I'd better get myself in gear. And I hope to get caught up during the holiday weekend. So, week 441, folks. The first off-rotation Outsider is... "The Mary Jo Pehl Show: The Mary Jo Pehl Show QVC Special"... - That's on live tonight. I'll see if I have any credit left on my cards. ... while the second off-rotation Outsider is... "RT: Daleks Invasion Earth 2150 A.D."... - Happy Birthday, "Doctor Who". I'll celebrate with the movie version. ... and, for the Originals, I'm going to be lazy and rely on... "The Mega Turkey Day Marathon Telethon". - Stay up with the 'bots and watch the stars come out! There's also a live watch-along of "The Mask" (Show 1311), but it's opposite MJ's show, thus I'll miss part of the live feed. Oh, well.
Happy Thanksgiving!
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Post by kmorgan on Nov 21, 2023 15:10:40 GMT -5
In the chat during "Incredible Petrified World", they asked which movie participants would like to see re-riffed. I suggested "SST: Death Flight". It was one of the better KTMA experiments, but I think lends itself to a re-try. Plus, it's one of the lesser-known previous experiments.
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