Since I'm the person that like to introduce anyone into the stuff I love, this is among the top on the list. If you're a very big geek like me, you should know about one of the greatest TV show of all time, Mystery Science Theater 3000. And you will be asking if it was so great, why haven't you heard about it? Why didn't you see it in any other mainstream network channels? I'll tell you a little bit about this show.
Mystery Science Theater 3000 (or MST3K) is a comedy show, created by comedian Joel Hodgson where it broadcast in cable channels from Comedy Channel to Sci-Fi Channel and ran for 11 seasons from 1988 - 1999. The back story goes that in the future, mad scientist and bad guy Forrester launched a regular joe, Joel out into space in a spaceship, Satellite of Love and experiment on him by forcing him to watch bad movies alone and testing his insanity and spirit, thus finding the weapon for world domination. In order to overcome the mad scientist's scheme, Joel built robots, Tom Servo and Crow. T Robot to accompany him in the theater, where they mock the bad movie with witty and sarcastic riffs, prevent themselves from going mad.
Basically the entire premise was to actually broadcast a bad movie in its entire running time and have three guys riffing and mocking it. It may sounds like a lame and immature idea. However the genius part of the premise are the writers, performances and the deliverance of these riffs on the movie subject. The writers are not giving out curses and child-like remarks, they spend time to create intelligent, observant and witty quotes and comments that are accordance to the timing of the film. And they are GOOD, WITTY and MEMORABLE jokes. You know it works when you watch a very bad movie and a good riff hits it out of the park. Another great part is the performance and the personality behind the three riffers. They don't have a bland personality, each are unique and each have distinctive voices. And hey, this has been going on for 11 years, so you know why its good.
How I was introduced to this, of course Youtube, where we can find anythign on that. I wasn't actually introduced to the Joel Hodgson-era, but actually to the Mike Nelson-era. Mike Nelson was the star writer of the show, replaced Joel at season 7 and became the main host through the remaining years. There is a debate whether Joel or Mike is the better host, but I prefer Mike since his is more wittier and inventive. I watched one episode, where they covered a Battlestar Galactica ripoff, "Space Mutiny" and I was laughing my ass off to each sarcastic remarks and spot-on impressions of the characters. And I was hooked to the show, I began to look at other episodes, perferably in season 8, 9 and 10.
So Mystery Science Theater 3000 is off the air. What happened afterward? There is a huge cult following where many Internet nerds start to do their own MST3K thing on other movies. But the biggest thing is that Mike Nelson and the same cast started their own website called Rifftrax.com, where they still do the same as MST3K, except not just bad movies, but more good and recent movies like Jurassic Park, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Star Wars and even The Dark Knight! And they still haven't lost their touch :D
So you're interested in checking out the infamous show of Mystery Science Theater 3000? Well I will give you the Top 5 best episodes I will recommend you to watch. Each of them are soooo great!
5. Final Justice
Texa Ranger Geronimo fights off the Mafia in Italy. Could be a low-blow on John Baker's large physique, but always a laugh at this ridiculous cowboy outfit.
4. The Final Sacrifice
A boy and a scruffy man with a mullet fights off against a weird cult, consisting of ski-mask wearing wrestlers. And whenever your name is as ridiculous as Roswdower, you are bound to make fun of.
3. Puma Man
Man finds out he's a superhero called The Puma Man, where he is blessed with the super powers of a.... puma. And he doesn't fly, he pounces!!! SIDEWAYS!!!
"Puma Man. He flies like a moron."
2. Prince of Space
English Dub of the 1950s space adventure, where a space hero go up against a group of space aliens.... in SPACE!!! And these space aliens look like chickens for some reason.
1. Space Mutiny
The first one I was introduced to and it is still remains my most favorite, simply because there are soooo many things to make fun of! Like Lance Butchmeat, his girlfriend who like his mom, and Captain Santa Claus.
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