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Weekend Discussion Thread: Favorite Bill Corbett MomentsEvery time we post an updated list of all the discussion topics we’ve done, alert regular “Crowschmoe” complains that we’ve somehow missed doing a “Favorite Bill Corbett moments” thread. Well, let’s rectify that!
As Crow, one of my favorite bits of his is in episode 902- PHANTOM PLANET, in which Crow expresses his outrage and dismay that he has dressed himself like a Solarite. It’s vintage Crow 2.0. But I think my favorite moment is Bill as Leonardo “goodfella” DaVinci. What’s your pick? 164 Replies to “Weekend Discussion Thread: Favorite Bill Corbett Moments”Commenting at Satellite News
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My favorite Bill Corbett moment is easily Crow’s video deposition from 815, Agent for H.A.R.M. I can’t help it, I just think hearing Crow swear so casually is the funniest thing in the world. I never in a million years expected to hear the show get bleeped, so the first time I saw it I was shocked, and almost dead from laughing too hard.
Three words: “Do I pony?”
What else but the PBS fundraiser (I mean Public Pearl TV)
duet “When Loving Lovers Love.” Although there’s also the
dance at the end of Girl In Gold Boots that saved Pearl’s
aspirations to get into mad scientisising.
Crow’s “Dog and bear” monologue. My wife is apathetic about MST3K, but she still thinks his speech is absolutely hilarious. She’s also a big fan of “Oh the inanity! Oh the Japanity!”
Oh and FASHION MEANS COOGAN
I’ll agree with Danny Kay (Post #1) and go with the video deposition. The fact that it’s bleeped makes it even funnier, in my opinion.
Sampo, the Leonardo da Vinci goodfella bit is one of my favorites, too. But I also loved him questioning whether or not he was a Bellerian in Space Mutiny. Crow always looks good as a blonde, and here, his hair was perfect.
DEBBIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-Anytime Crow gets mad and offended. Bill just does it so well and is great with it just coming out of no where.
-All the times Crow’s lack of a strong sense of self has caused him to take on the persona of a character from the film they are watching to fill the void he has, in the bag!” and the fact that it’s a put on ego causes everything to fall apart at the sleightest (sp?)probing of his new him.
-Seven words: “Oh, will you just get in the bag!”
Turning Mike into Hugo and putting him in the cage is my favorite. I also like him blowing “Mrs. Dash air.”
Crow’s mad-scientist speech to Mike in Blood Waters of Dr. Z is one of my favorite Bill Corbett
moments. The voice is perfect. “At just the right moment…ATTACK!”
A second to the mad scientist monologue in Blood Waters of Dr. Z.
But let’s not forget Turkey Volume Guessing Man.
Easy, Crow travelling back in time to the cheese factory that Mike worked at in order to prevent Mike from getting trapped on the Satellite of Love.
Pretty much all my favorites have been mentioned so far . . . but “Tickle Me Carlo Lombardi” and “Droppy the Water Droplet” also come to mind. The delivery of Crow’s reaction to “Happy Bunny’s New Blue Suit” in Merlin’s Shop was priceless too, as was his report on Maltese Men.
Bill’s performance in “Loving Lovers Love” is a classic. And, during Prince of Space, when Crow keeps losing his chicken puppet. Classic!
One of my favorite Bill/Crow moments is also one of my favorite overall riffs: During one of the many slow moments of “The Touch of Satan,” Crow blurts out, “TALK QUICKER!” Cracks me up every time. I really liked how Bill gave Crow a shorter fuse.
Oh, and who can forget Bill as Krankor?! Priceless.
Oh, there are so many. Here are three of my favorites:
Short but sweet: in Giant Spider Invasion, while they’re trying to stay awake, Crow brings his caffeine-fueled jitters into the theater, and is laughing almost spasmodically over the littlest things.
Running gag: Crows “deals with the devil” in Devil Doll — mostly his reaction to Mike’s criticisms “What!? It’s like I can’t do anything right with you!”
Best “Brain-guy” bits: whenever there’s the slightest implication that he’s a “sexual” being (e.g, in the truck stop restroom with the “balloons”: “My many ‘lady friends’ will appreciate my caution.”
One more:
Crow’s “Let’s Talk Women!” presentation during “Hobgoblins”:
– (Crow) “Did you have any children?”
– (Cow with mustache) “I DON’T REMEMBER!”
As Crow, no doubt – “Turkey Volume Guessing Man”!
As, well, not-Crow, Loving Lovers Love and Bill as Krankor – pure gems!
For me, Bill Corbett’s ‘Brain Guy’ was simply THE BEST……as far as I’m concerned, he could do no wrong.
However, if I have to pick one, I would probably choose the moment where Brain Guy meets his all-time greatest nemesis…….Steffi, the babysitter ( as played by ‘Beez’ ), from “The Touch of Satan” (#908).
From their deep philosophical ‘dissection’ of Dr. Suess’s “Green Eggs and Ham”, to the joys of playing with blocks, and the battle of wills over fruit snacks, nookies, ‘blankies’, and Brain Guy’s nap schedule, the showdown between these two was, for me, one of the monumental highlights of MST’s entire 10 year run.
Can’t wait to see what everyone else comes up with……….no doubt I’ll find myself constantly thinking, “Oh yeah, I completely forgot about that one!!!” :-))
Wow, so many. Of those not mentioned:
Theater: “Movie Lady, do you need a push?” from The Screaming Skull. Also, “Where’s the money, you sonofabitch?” from Boggy Creek 2. I don’t know why, but it always cracks me up.
Crow host segment: Traveling back in time to live with Mike’s family. Though the cheese factory, the obscenity laced deposition, and TVGM are some of my favorite skits in show history.
Brain Guy host segment: Turning the other Observers into Packer fans.
A lot of classic bits have already been mentioned, so I’ll avoid them. One of my favourite scenes is from the last “Ancient Rome” episode (I can’t believe I forget the title!), and they’re trying to get Mike to free them.
“Brain Guy, bring Mike Down!”
“OK, Pearl. Mike, you’re a loser and nobody likes you!”
“No, idiot! I mean, bring Mike down here!”
“Oh, OK!”, he says, and brings CPA Mike Down to the rescue.
etc. etc…
Oh, and more bonus points to his tribute to Dr. Tongue and Hugo in Girl with Gold Boots…
I think Bill’s finest moment was when he took over the role of Crow. That took guts, especially since Trace had done such great work in that role. Otherwise, I actually prefer Bill’s post-MST3K work with the Film Crew and Rifftrax.
But if I had to choose one shining MST3K moment, I’d choose Crow’s obscenity-laden video deposition in defense of Mike during his trial for crimes against the universe in “Agent for H.A.R.M.”. Bill seemed to like saltier material than his colleagues. Maybe it’s an East Coast thing…
Hands down it would have to be Crow’s report on Maltese men
I’ll second the Krankor appearance. The laugh was perfect. I’d Crow’s Civil War documentary from episode 805 and appearance as an imp in episode 806.
Oh, and I also love the “Tickle Me Carlo Lombardi” song in “The She Creature”:
“Who’s that fat little funny little doll?
It’s Tickle Me Carlo Lombardi!
Whose little dydee needs a GOOD LITTLE CHANGE?!
It’s Tickle Me Carlo Lombadri!
Tickle Me Carlo Lombardi and Tickle Me Carlo Lombardi sold separately.”
All while Mike is struggling with the horrible doll…
The angry countdown in Neptune Men stands out.
My favorite moment was his rant about how awful Maltese men are in Final Justice…also the end credits of that show…just soooo funny.
I loved the duet he did with Mary Jo for Pearl Pearl Pearl Pearl Pearl. I can’t imagine how many takes it took them to get through it without laughing.
I think one of my very favorites was from “Space Mutiny” when Tom and Crow are having a dog fight in the escape pods during the first break. When Crow says “Ooh, careful! You just ripped a whole in my torso… Wheeeeeee!” Just the delivery of the “wheee” part gets me every time.
I know for me right right out of the gate with Revenge of the Creature was Bill’s Crow being excited about there being a movie. The fact that he was alone on the SOL for hundreds of years and never noticed/remembered the theater or went into it cracked me up from the get go.
Same episode I also like the fact that Crow doesn’t let the “list of celebrities at the concert event” riffing go, even after Mike has given up.
Oh and just a quick check but I don’t think there’s been a Favorite Mike Moments Weekend Discussion on that list. I could be wrong but my haphazard quick scan didn’t see that one.
Steffi the babysitter for the win.
Ooh – also, Mole People, just before and after Crow’s sanity comes back.
“This me, OR me’s . . .”
“Apparently I couldn’t conceive at some point.”
Bill’s Crow alone accounts for about 25% of my enjoyment of the show, I think.
This may seem odd, but one of my favorite things about Bill’s Crow is that hilarious cackle that he does sometimes in the theater whenever something strikes him as funny. It’s very much present in Overdrawn at the Memory Bank, when Servo is making all the fat guy noises while the Chairman is speaking to Fingel.
I also love it whenever he, or Servo for that matter, screams: “SURGE!!!”
Crow carrying martini trays in his little tuxedo during the musical number “Are You Happy In Your Work?” form I Accuse My Parents.
Everytime Crow seems to get strung out on something, it gets funnier. Like in GIANT SPIDER INVASION, when he gets strung out on coffee…or in FUTURE WAR when Pearl gave him those drug laced brocilli peices.
oops typo – from
I loved all the Brain Guy bits, especially the back and forth with Dr. Bobo.
#31
It was called Two-Part Mike Discussion. But the topic should probably should be re-visited someday.
Re. Bill:
My first thought, before I even saw Sampo’s choice, was also Leo. Then Krankor, and all the great Brain-Guy bits.
As Crow, his identity confusion was always fun. “I’m an imp!” Bear, Bellerian, etc. Made a sexy go-go dancer too.
And of the Rifftrax crew, his voice is my favorite of the three.
#34 Craigination, his cackling always got me too!
And I am sure I need not mention it, but I will anyway,
“YOU KNOW YOU WANT ME, BABY!!”
#35
That wasn’t Bill as Crow, it was Trace. We’re doing Bill moments. We thank you for your efforts but regret to inform you that your comment just isn’t what we’re looking for right now.
Boy, I remember gearing up for the sci-fi channel return of the show, and my dad told me someone else would be playing Crow. I was NOT happy. The episode, I’m sure you remember, was “Revenge of the Creature.”
Almost from the get-go, I was almost sold on his voice, his cadence, his delivery… but then the kicker came that totally put me over the top. It’s almost nothing compared to the other moments mentioned above, but when Crow asks early in the movie, “Can we chip in and buy that guy an ASS?”
And right then I knew, everything was going to be alright.
“… With Benazir Bhutto and Flavor Flav!”
It’s been said before, but “where’s the money, YOU SONOFABITCH?!”
Extending from #42, when Crow let “egrets, I’ve had a few” rip in Revenge of the Creature, that was the moment I knew Crow and MST3K were both in good hands for their new era at Sci-Fi. I only wish it could have been a longer era, of course.
Like #20, I forgot about many of these. But reading through the comments so far, I was happy to be reminded of Crow’s speech about Maltese men. That and his bleeped deposition both make me crack up every single time.
Thanks to Bill Corbett for taking over the role and for doing such a good job with it. He was fun to observe.
My top two were mentioned right away: Crow’s realization of a problem as he’s dressed as a Solarite and Crow’s deposition. Both make me laugh no matter how many times I see them.
Bill’s Crow is so beautifully insane and in just the right way to feel like an evolution of Trace’s. And as Brain Guy he pulls off the “stupid smart guy,” wonderfully with plenty of disturbingly creepy moments (as mentioned “Can I pony?”).
* Bill’s timing and delivery. Brilliant! The many situations, particularly as Brain Guy, in exasperation fumbling for words.
* Crow’s falling from very high heights (for various reasons, e.g., stuck in the bulkhead, cutting mile-high pie, etc.), the just-before-landing “Awwwwwooogghhfff!”.
*Brain Guy’s righteous indignation at being offered a hump by Pearl.
*Brain Guy’s tolerance at the surrounding stupidity of his cohorts, but then dropping to equal status or lower by his own.
*His femme voice, e.g., “No one has to tell Mr. Wayne about our little soiree”. Or as Lieutenant Crown Roast observing the very unthreatening Ward Cleaver and pompous John Agar, “Oh, they ARE evil”.
*Crow’s occasional tough guy, like when Hamlet was encountering his father’s ghost: “Yeah, that’s it Ham! Kick his ass!”
His blend and brand of humor along with Mike and Kevin’s is absolutely perfect as continued to be proven on into Rifftrax.
His contributions to Timmy Big Hands’ particularly in the round-robin story shared with Mike, Kevin, Paul Chaplin (and unsure — Patrick Brantseg?) “Cry Dry Your Eyes Sweet Bette”. Extremely funny reading.
In the short “Century 21 Calling”, there a World’s Fair exhibit called ‘How Animals Learn.’ Which led Crow/Bill to comment: “How do animals learn? I don’t care as long as they learn to taste good.”
All of Crow’s subsequent “STAY!”s in The Undead.
“THIS is our star?! No, I will not accept this as our star!”
-From Time Chasers.
Re #11, courteous martian (& others), how could I forget the host segment from Blood Waters of Dr Z, with Crow’s reference to Mike as a “skulking biped….heh heh heh!” and then getting wedged in the bulkhead? GREAT stuff!