MST3K Returns!

[Henry88]

[jellydonut25]

So, Reptilicus legitimately took me four attempts to make it through. It was bad. Cry Wilderness, on the other hand, I thoroughly enjoyed and I'll probably stick with it now. More or less. Leisurely pace, for sure, but more interested now than I was after the first episode.

[Gentleman]

I'm about halfway through Yongary. It's the fourth episode of the new series I'm watching. I don't remember if that's the fourth episode or if I just skipped to the kaiju ones. Surprisingly it's not bad. I'm liking it better than Cry Wilderness, but then I didn't really care for that one, either.

[O.Supreme]

I'm definitely partial to the kaiju-centric and Doug McClure films in this season, but Cry Wilderness is flippin hilarious! That is definitely one to watch with a group of friends.

[lhb412]

I watched the first three episodes of the revival in their first days of release, and I did like them (especially Cry Wilderness, which I think is one of those films MST3K will be famous for discovering) but somehow I became petrified by the newness of it. It was a delayed reaction. I knew it would be different; with different writers and performers and it wouldn't be the same and I've always thought (as Joel does) that if MST3K were to be this big ongoing series that's the way to do it, like Doctor Who, constantly rebooting itself over the years. But somehow around episode three it just hit me; I'd been watching essentially the same group of writers and performers as MST3K for like 3/5ths of my life and the newness got to me and I just stopped.

Then a couple of weeks later I decided to essentially replicate how I first watched the series at age 12: one episode a week, mostly during the weekends and I guess that was the ticket because I warmed up to everything. Just finished The Loves of Hercules and a) so happy they got an Italian sword and sandal movie because those are great, and b) man, Mickey Hargitay is the worst Hercules I've ever seen. Surprisingly, I think Avalanche has been my favorite episode so far. It reminds me of the movies they did at KTMA: almost credible copies of the then popular disaster genre with name stars. Yongary is next and I'm excited for it.

Accepting Yont was automatic, as his Crow is so essentially Crow-ish it's kinda uncanny (I read somewhere that he had to be dissuaded from doing too uncanny an imitation of Trace because it kinda creeped Joel out). For me, Jonah Ray was the biggest question mark before the show came out, but now I see I shouldn't have worried - he's such an MST3K uber-fan I think he understands the performance style of the riffs the best and anchors some the earliest roougher patches with Hampton and Baron kinda gloming onto it from Jonah as it goes on. Jonah also has an easygoing nature that I'm sure appeals to Joel and fits the tone of the show. Also, I don't know what difficulties may or may not exist between Joel and the classic cast members, but it seems Jonah has befriended practically every one of them, so hopefully that bodes well for everyone coming back in some capacity as time goes by. One element that I did instantly love were the 'station ID' bumpers by Patton Oswald's Max. Such a neat little idea, and it makes me nostalgic for the format of older TV (I say while watching on a futuristic streaming service).

I do think MST3K is unsuited for the binging model. You don't watch a bunch of it at once (except on Turkey Day), you hang out with it a few times a week or month or whatever. It's just as much a hang-out show as a comedy show. My biggest complaint with the new show is that the incredibly, monstrously tight filming schedule means the performers really had to rush through and sometimes they almost seem whipped up into a frenzy. I think with more time to film they'll all be able to relax a bit into the MST groove and I think everything will come together a bit more.

Hopefully they'll announce the next season at the Comic Con panel!

[O.Supreme]

[jellydonut25]

The Time Travelers was a good episode. I think I'm getting into it a little more. It's still too fast and furious with the riffing in general, and thus far not a single one of the Gypsy riffs has been amusing at all, but it's at least gotten funny and the chemistry seems to be coming together more.

[canofhumdingers]

I used to love MST3K when I was in middle school. It was one of my favorite shows. Then I just kinda moved on. I went I don't know how many years before I watched another episode, but I think it was in college. I know someone gave me Santa Claus conquers the martians as a gift. Then I didn't watch any more for several more years. Tried watching a few classic episodes on Netflix maybe 5 or 6 years ago but just wasn't really into it for some reason.

Well, the wife and I gave this new season a go and we've really been enjoying it. We've watched the first four episodes and they've all been pretty hilarious. I'd say avalanche was the worst, largely because the movie just utterly sucks and even riffing it isn't enough to really make it even somewhat entertaining. Perhaps I missed it, but I couldn't believe nobody pointed out the hilariously poor attempt at hiding the native American's wheel chair at the end of cry wilderness...

I agree with those who say it's not a show for binging. We enjoy one or two episodes a month and that feels just right. One a week would definately be my limit.

But man, when it comes time for another, I feel the anticipation build and can't wait to get it rolling once we're on the couch. And I also love the fake station bumpers. Feels very authentic. I'm vaguely aware of the issues/disputes with and between previous cast members, but I really don't care about all that. I think whoever is making this new version is doing a great job and the entire cast is totally on point.

My wife has really liked it too. She was aware of the general idea of MST3K, but had never watched a full episode until now. She does share your sentiment, jelly, that the riffs can be too fast an furious at times which makes it hard to keep up. Personally I like it that way b/c when they really get on a roll it's just too funny. Thats when I get laughing so hard that it hurts, and I like that.

[lhb412]

[Reaper G]

[lhb412]

^ I made an exception for Turkey Day in my original post! They still do Turkey Day on YouTube, but I wonder if being with Netflix will change that this year?

[O.Supreme]

^Considering that, Wouldn't it be amazing if Netflix got us the new season on/around Thanksgiving?, that would actually be an awesome annual thing. But considering since we don't even know if new episodes are coming yet, I seriously doubt it, but I guess the next best thing would be releasing a new set of classic episodes on or around that day.

[lhb412]

^ Or filmed versions of the live shows they're doing now.

[Reaper G]

So, anyone else going to the live shows? I'm headed to LA next week just for that.

[O.Supreme]

I wasn't even aware of the live shows. After looking up the info the closest one to me is San Francisco. Unfortunately the travel and ticket prices are a bit out of my reach right now. They are playing 2 dates however, would love to know what the film on the 2nd day is...

[lhb412]

^ From what I've read they're doing Eegah and Argoman. They're a bit out of my way geographically, so I hope they've recorded them.

[O.Supreme]

yeah Eegah is the one playing in most cities, but I'm pretty sure these are live, which is cool, but the site also said they have a stand in for Tom Servo because the voice of Tom on the new season could not go on tour because he is spending time with his newborn child (which I totally respect). Some cities that have a 2nd date have a "mystery surprise film" . Wish I could afford to see these guys live, it would be awesome...alas I'll have to relay on fan reactions.

[O.Supreme]

[lhb412]

Already have good fan copies of five of those. Just need the other six...

Bravo to Shout for managing to release almost the complete series. That's a hell of an achievement! No fan though it possible before Shout came into the picture.

[O.Supreme]

So we can assume at some point the Netflix series will get DVD releases... and S!F will probably re-release all the older volumes that have been OOP since they took over for Rhino, but does anyone think S!F will re-release volumes they started with, or have some exclusive set? I mean the only set I actually own is Volume XXI (Gamera) and the theatrical film (This Island Earth) . For Example- next year If they released some super-deluxe set that had all the available films released (minus the obvious 12), I'd definitely pick that up.

[lhb412]

They've been slowly rereleasing the out of print Rhino sets for a year are two. I think they're up to Volume Five? Not sure what they'll do for the Rhino singles.

[O.Supreme]

^Yes I looked at S!F site, and they have volume 6 for pre-order. No doubt they will get to 7-12 (all the remaining Rhino sets) soon enough.

I wonder if they will refer to the one which replaced G vs. Megalon with Giant Gila Monster as "Volume 10", or as it was advertised back then "10.2"


Of all the sets, it looks like the only S!F produced ones that are currently unavailable are, 14, 17, & 21.

Also IIRC, there were no single DVD's that weren't reproduced in a box set of some sort is that correct? I think *Colossal Man* got an early VHS release, but that's it...

[canofhumdingers]

Man, around the second half of the season they really find their groove. The Loves of Hercules was pretty darn funny and then Yongary and Wizards of the Lost Kingdom were both flipping hilarious! They both had me in stitches laughing so hard I couldn't breath at times. "Great day to wear my Crabby McCrab-hat!"

[Benjamin Haines]

[lhb412]

^I need to get fan copies of the six episodes from that group I don't have... plus several KTMAs.

AND: Turkey Day is tomorrow and goes live on Youtube and a few other sources at noon!