There are some interesting comments by the cast members. Much of the info is stuff we have heard before but some of it is new.
But at the very end the piece says this:
This spring Hodgson is hoping to start a new online incarnation of the show, one that will feature a fresh (and as-yet-unannounced) host and cameos from many MST3K alumni.
Thaaat might have been the headline.
New, online incarnation of MST3K???? That’s the real headline right there!!
Does anybody know if Joel has referenced that idea anywhere else? this is the first I’ve heard of it.
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“But this year Mystery Science Theater may finally get a long-rumored, heavily anticipated reboot. This spring Hodgson is hoping to start a new online incarnation of the show, one that will feature a fresh (and as-yet-unannounced) host and cameos from many MST3K alumni.
”
WAHHHHHHHHHHHT!!!?!??!?!?
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online incarnation….
I guess that will give them all the freedom they want. I realize no one has the answers but are we talking all public domain or is there a business model that includes funding for getting film rights?
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I’m getting woozy.
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Hmm… interesting. Joel tweeted a link to the article, but no mention of this reboot. Will it have the bots? That would require making up with Jim, I suspect.
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I like the comment from MSampo in the Wired comments section: “Well, I don’t know if I’d agree to “definitive,” but very nice piece.”
:)
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As much as I would love this to happen (read: have a debilitating stroke), I’d wait for an official announcement from Joel (or whoever is really in charge) and take this article with a grain of salt. No one wants this more than I do. I’d just rather bide my time and wait. For now. ;-)
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The concept of a true new incarnation of MST3K has been discussed before. It sounds like the biggest obstacle is everyone seeing eye to eye on how it should work, particularly Joel Hodgson and Jim Mallon. I remember Joel talking about how he came to Jim several years ago about a reunion show but they both wanted different things from it. Joel ended up starting Cinematic Titanic and Jim created the short-lived Bots cartoons on mst3k.com. Something interesting may come from the current ideas, but a new incarnation of the show would have to survive a lot of obstacles.
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I.. uh… what?
Can I cast my vote for John Mulaney if we’re doing a new host?
*dies*
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I suspected, when Cinematic Titanic closed down, that something like this might be coming. Cable television no longer makes sense – those wonderful, chaotic, make-it-up-as-you-go-along days of the early ’90s are long, long gone – but the Internet might be a great home for a new MST3K. If I could have a wish granted, I would wish that whoever winds up hosting can bring something like the playful, gentle spirit that permeated the show during most of the Joel years. I love Mike as host and many of my favorite MST eps are Mike eps, don’t get me wrong, but the interplay between the robots and Mike never worked as well for me as it did between Joel and the ‘bots. There was something about the creator/dad vibe that was both touching and funny.
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Oh, and Sampo, it should be “lead,” not “lede.”
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Beyond the thoughts about a new MST3K, I have to say that I really like the different tone of the quotes. It feels a lot more honest when people admit that there were tensions between members of the team. Joel and Jim both saying they felt that the other was trying to seize too much creative control reminds me of the post-breakup interviews from a lot of famous rock bands(although much more civil). It was such a long time before Joel admitted that a lot of the reason he left the show was creative differences with Jim over MST3K: The Movie, so it’s refreshing to hear them both give their sides of the story. It was also interesting hearing some of the other cast members point out issues they had with Best Brains while still mixing it in with the usual praise.
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@11: No, Sampo has it right. /waves around his master’s degree in journalism like a jerk
But seriously, I’m intrigued. If Joel does bring it back, I’d guess we’re talking a whole new crop of writers with occasional appearances by the CT crew. Maybe Bill and Kevin. So we’ll have to adjust.
Besides, isn’t Joel based in Philadelphia now? I noticed that tidbit in one of the many 25th anniversary pieces in November.
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I’d vote for Chris Hardwick as the new host. He’s a HUGE Mistie and would bring in his own fan base.
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I’d prefer the new host to be someone less well-known than Hardwick. I wonder if Josh would be willing to reprise his Dr. Erhardt character as the primary Mad?
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I guess it makes sense that something like this might come up. Joel has been wanting to do this for at least six and a half years apparently, and we are getting close to having every episode on DVD.
If they got a new show going, I think they need a host with a sort of old-fashioned feel to him. Someone who has been around a while, like a Jerry Seinfeld type.
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The big question: who does Tom & Crow? Do you recast them as well? As much as I’d love to have Kevin & Trace team-up again, that might be the best solution.
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It’s certainly exciting news if it comes to fruition.
Also, The Grammarist has KidFlash’s back:
The More You Know
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I keep pinching myself but I’m not waking up.
Oh gosh please let this become a reality.
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The question about Josh isn’t ‘will he?’, but ‘can he?’, considering his recent health issues. Would he be able to contribute to a new web show or has he gotten the all-clear?
And yeah, I dread to think of new Tom/Crow voices. You’d assume Trace would at least consider the chance to voice Crow again, life permitting. But Frank’s Servo was just…. awkward.
Other than that, it really sounds like Joel and Jim need to legally bury the hatchet first.
I think there’s room for their version of a Doctor Who anniversary special at some point, where everyone who’s interested drops by the set and does… something. C’mon, The Three Hosts! Joel! Mike! New Guy!
…but I’m getting ahead of myself there.
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After Joel, Mike, New Guy I expected McCloud! :-?
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I read that paragraph at least 8 times after Joel tweeted out the link to make sure I was really seeing what I thought I was seeing. Surprise!
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Good article. The part about a new online incarnation got me thinking how great “MST3K” would be as an original Netflix show like “House of Cards” or the newer “Arrested Development”. I’m so excited I’ll need to get out the baby oil.
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I cannot take credit for this idea, which I’ve heard proposed by someone in the past, but it’s too brilliant not to be reiterated: the next incarnation of MST3K could feature Joel and Mike as the Mads, having been driven insane by the Forresters’ (as it turns out) successful experiment.
Perhaps a little dark for what is usually such an optimistic show, but it would be hilarious, and allow Joel and Mike to show off a different side while still being involved in a way that more appropriately accommodates their age and potentially minimizes their commitment.
I can see the personas already. Mike could be some iteration of his dismissive soulless executive impression (see: end credits to FINAL SACRIFICE and the NPR pilot he did with Kevin and Bill in which he played a character named Bob Nemesis), and Joel could portray a demented spin on his magician/inventor personality who amuses himself with cruel inventions more along the lines of the sort Dr. F and Frank used to concoct.
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#19–please explain. What’s wrong with Joel’s health? I hope he’s doing alright, and not just for my greedy desire for more MST3K
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I might be crazy, but am I the only one who doesn’t like this idea?, c’mon a new host, just cameos from former cast members? I think I’m too much of a purist for this really to excite me, somethings should maybe be left as fond memories.
‘
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26 – Are you Quint from AICN?
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Quint – I’m with you 100%.
Look, guys, the reason there aren’t many (any?) “reunions” that work is because what made the magic so special just isn’t possible to recreate. MST3K will never return, and can only be imitated, even if that imitation comes from some of those folks responsible for it in the first place.
I’d have liked to have seen a one-shot reunion involving all — for nostalgia purposes I think it would have been worth the effort — but other than that nothing good will come of anyone trying to recreate what was lightning in a bottle by folks far older and not able to do what they once did.
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#26 – Can’t say I wholly disagree with Quint. When I first read this news, I was like “Cool!”, but thinking more about it I fear that a new cast with different writers might just feel like a pale knockoff of the real thing. To be honest, even Cinematic Titanic and Rifftrax don’t excite me the same way MST3K used to when it would premiere every week on CC and Sci-Fi. They’re funny on occasion, but ultimately they feel like they’re trying too hard to recapture the magic of the TV show and coming up just short. And those ARE the original cast/writers, just split up into two different ventures.
I almost think MST3K was a perfect coming together–stars aligning, if you will–of the right people in the right place at the right time. Not sure duplicating lighting in a bottle like that is going to be possible. Of course, if this reboot happens I’ll be first in line to watch it…but something tells me it just won’t be the same. Probably because it literally won’t be the same.
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This does not surprise me. I seem to recall mentioning to one Mr. Chris Cornell that I thought I read something to this effect when Joel did his Reddit Ask Me Anything interview a few months ago when promoting the 2013 Turkey Day marathon. I asked, “Am I crazy or did I hear that Joel might bring MST3K back online?” The general consensus was that I was crazy, which I happily accepted at the time. Who’s crazy now, eh? Huh? Still me? Oh, poopie!
I don’t know if this is exactly the portion I remember reading at the time, but I did a keyword search of the Top 200 comments of Joel’s AMA and found this…
bubbasteamboat:
Hi Joel! Thank you for being here. MST3K is a uniquely fabulous show that has obviously withstood the test of time. Under what circumstances can you see bringing it back…maybe instead of on cable, keeping it online?
Joel_Hodgson:
You know, I would be up for it no matter what comes, but obviously you can’t beat the computer for getting your content right now. Online is really compelling right now.
Source: http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/1risx8/i_am_joel_hodgson_the_creator_of_mystery_science
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“Lede” is jargon and as such should be avoided. “Lead” is a perfectly good word that means the same thing and is accessible to more people.
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I have to change my pants now… hopefully this is true! :D
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@KidFlash25 (#20)
Now, I can see that iconic scene of Ten, Eleven & the War Doctor all with their hands on the switch to blow up Gallifrey & the Daleks…and Forrester off-screen saying, “Push the button, Frank.”
I’m cautiously optimistic. I certainly hope this can work.
But I’m still waiting for CT to get together for DVD versions of “Astral Factor”, “Doll Squad” and that sword& sandal movie they did whose name escapes me.
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@27 – no, quint from Jaws, (I’m not very cool :)
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WOOOOO! Wait, that’s not inapprpriate! WOOOOOO!
I’d like to see a female host, actually. And I’m willing to give up rights to my idea for them being the black sheep of the Forrester clan, who doesn’t want to take over the world.
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JeffMcM–you’re right, of course. Force of habit.
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No wonder Joel’s been teaching classes on how to riff, he’s looking for recruits!
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Originally, Led Zeppelin used “Lede Zeppelin.” However, the last “e” was accidentally dropped by a Liverpool printer in charge of producing 12,000 pamphlets for a show. (the same bloke who printed 6,000 Beetles posters.)
The rest is history. Down the line, a myth was created about how Zeppelin originally wanted to use “Lead,” not “Lede.” This was a cover story to protect their jargon based origins.
Gimme some of that Olde Tyme Lede Zeppelin.
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@pondoscp (#37)
Sounds like a SyFy reality show…Riff Hunters Academy!
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….wh…what? What? WhaT? Huh? What! WHAT! I….I…I…it…it…the….I need to lie down.
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I come away with a mixed bag of emotions upon hearing about this possible rebo(o)t.
It’s very similar to my reaction to the recent announcement at phantasm.com that Phantasm 5 has already been filmed. It was done secretly and will be out this year.
While Don Coscarelli helped write it and produced it, he did not direct Phantasm 5.
But the trailer looks magnificent. I choose to believe Don knows exactly what he’s doing, as does Joel.
(WIRED, however, continues to drop the ball.)
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I kinda got the vibes when Cinematic Titanic abruptly shut down in 2013 (when it was still handily selling out gigs) that something like this might be brewing. I presume the success of the online Turkey Day event in November helped.
Looking forward to it!
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So, Joel’s going to do a reboot. Lots of questions.
1. Where’re they going to shoot it?
Joel lives in Pennsylvania. Mary Jo in Texas. Frank in NYC. Josh is still in LA. But there’s still a core group in the Twin Cities: Trace, Kevin, Jim, Paul(I think), Bill, and Mike Bridget recently moved back, too. That seems like the logical place.
2. Is BBI (Jim) going to be involved? Nobody says anything nice about him in the article. And he owns the majority of the show/concept. Joel still has enough to do shadowrama, hence, Cinematic Titanic. But, with MST3K being syndicated, it means Jim has been exploring monetizing the property, so actually “being professional” and just giving the green light to Joel isn’t out of the realm of possibility.
3. Are Mike, Kevin or Bill going to be involved? I’ve always gotten the impression that there’s some tension between, not Mike, but Kevin and some of the other former cast members over leaving and going out to LA.
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Those quotes from Mallon, ouch.
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Holy Cow!!!!!!
=-O
Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!
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And the new host is…. Stephen Colbert! No, wait a minute….
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I said it before and it’s never going to happen but Donald Glover would be the perfect host for an MST3k reboot.
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I’m not going to say that I’m skeptical because of a new host. Much like it did under Mike, the show could work under a new host as long as the new host is someone who could work well with puppets (and isn’t Jeff Dunham). If I’m skeptical for any reason it’s because MST3K has a sort of 90s TV charm that isn’t so easily duplicated today. It’s not like Doctor Who where the show will look better with a bigger budget or anything. If they modernize it too much, it won’t be MST3K. If they try to keep it low budget and everything it could work, but at what level? I’ve learned from the reboot of Whose Line that while a reboot may be okay in its own right, you’re never going to recreate the charm of the original no matter how hard you try.
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Wow, Megaton.
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It’s been said that Joel was interviewed along with the rest of the gang for the Ballyhoo documentary for The Movie’s Blu-ray release, yet he is nowhere to be found in the released version. I’m wondering if BBI (aka Jim Mallon) didn’t see fit to have Shout! edit out some of the juicier aspects of the film’s development from that all-too-short doc.
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