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Weekend Discussion Thread: Ten Essential MST3K EpisodesWell, this wasn’t what I was going to do this week, but then the gang at The Onion’s “A.V. Club” posted this article in which they list their 10 “essential” episodes. And I KNEW this would lead to days of people discussing where the list went right and where it went wrong. So why not just make it the WDT and leave it at that?
So, to be clear, this ISN’T your 10 FAVORITE episodes. It’s the 10 episodes you think everybody should see. Here’s my list: What’s yours? (We had a little glitch and comments got closed [and I also fixed those wayward question marks]. Sorry. Open again.) 92 Replies to “Weekend Discussion Thread: Ten Essential MST3K Episodes”Commenting at Satellite News
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I got into MST3K during the Sci-FI era, so my list does not have many Joel experiments:
Puma Man
Overdrawn At The Memory Bank
Leech Woman
Time Chasers
Parts: Clonus Horror
I Accuse My Parents
Pod People
Mitchell
The Brain That Wouldnt Die
Manos: Hand Of Fate
As Jorge Luis Borges once wrote, every categorization is arbitrary, because the Universe is arbitrary. Making a list about MST3K is hard because you can’t decide which episode is the summun, the winner, because the show is made of winners, this show has endured a quality throughout its history like never seen in tv show. I will try to select one or two episode per season.
1-Robot Holocaust/The Crawling Hand.
2-Rocketship X-M.
3-Gamera/Pod People.
4-The Giant Gila Monster/Bride of the Monster.
5-Warrior of the Lost World/Mitchell.
6-Danger! Death Ray!
7-Escape 2000.
8-Riding with Death/Prince of Space/Time Chasers.
9-Werewolf/The Final Sacrifice.
10-Merlin’s Shop of Mystical Wonders/Track of the Moon Beast.
But if I have to define this show in one quote, I would choose:
“Dis ziz absolutely fuscinating”
Just one more thing, shut up, Eric J, shut up!
Neptune Man: LOVE the Borges reference (he rules) plus your comment directed at Eric J…
My Top Ten All-Time Favorite Episodes (in chronological order):
424 — MANOS: THE HANDS OF FATE
506 — EEGAH
521 — SANTA CLAUS
601 — GIRLS TOWN
606 — THE CREEPING TERROR
610 — THE VIOLENT YEARS
615 — KITTEN WITH A WHIP
619 — RED ZONE CUBA
624 — SAMSON VS. THE VAMPIRE WOMEN
1009 — HAMLET
Joel:
301 – Cave Dwellers
415 – The Beatniks
505 – The Magic Voyage of Sinbad
507 – I Accuse My Parents
Mike:
519 – Outlaw
523 – Village of the Giants
612 – The Starfighters
703 – Deathstalker and the Warriors from Hell
804 – The Deadly Mantis
814 – Riding with Death
There were many more selections, but these are the ones I’d start with.
#45: I should not have laughed as hard as I did at that. And yet…I remember…
Like many others, “essential” for me seems to me a fantastic overall episode. A balance of goofy movie, great riffs, and enjoyable host segments. My humbly opinionated list, in episodical order:
Pod People
Gamera Vs. Guiron
The Day the Earth Froze
Eegah
Mitchell
Village of the Giants
Angels Revenge
Hobgoblins
Final Sacrifice
Soultaker
And as a bonus list, I would like to add the shorts “Mr. B Natural”, “Hired!”, “Last Clear Chance”, and “Robot Rumpus”.
Gamera- The beginning of a legend.
The Day the Earth Froze- The 1st entry in the great Russo-Finnish Quartet (plus the hilarious “Here Comes the Circus” Short).
“Manos” The Hands of Fate- MST3K Landmark Episode.
Eegah- Just… Yuck!
The Wild World of Batwoman- END!!! END!!!!!!
Santa Clause- Unforgettable. My mother saw the movie in theaters when she was a child (one of her first) and it has haunted her.
Beast of Yucca Flats- It’s just hard to believe this exists. It also was the first full episode I ever saw.
Space Mutiny- This movie just asks for it.
Werewolf- IMHO the best riffing the Brains have done and I find it the best episode to hook newcomers with.
Final Sacrifice- Rowsdower. Enough said.
Professor Gunther-what can I say, maybe I have odd friends, but I’ve reduced non-fans to hysterics with Red Zone Cuba and Manos…I’m pretty sure it’s their train wreck/”what-the-hell-am-I-looking-at”-quality. One guy actually blew beverage out his nose on the “I just broke my neck on that jump cut!” line.
1. Women of the Prehistoric Planet (Hi Keeba!)
2. Wild Rebels (For the kicks)
3. Eegah (Essential Arch!)
4. I Accuse My Parents (It won an essay contest too!)
5. Tormented (Who doesn’t love a Jazz Magician)
6. Cave Dwellers (They dared to have an invisible fight scene)
7. Teenage Strangler (Mikey!)
8. Manos (Shirley Bassey would be proud)
9. Werewolf (aka: Wurwilf)
10. Soultaker (Does anything really star Joe Estevez?)
It kills me to pick just 10. So honorable mentions go to Space Mutiny, The Girl in the Gold Boots and Time Chasers.
BTW, I should have also mentioned in my list (#33) that I chose Wild Rebels because it’s the one where we get know Gypsy a lot better.
I knew we did this discussion before…
https://www.mst3kinfo.com/?p=5731
Santa Clause- Unforgettable. My mother saw the movie in theaters when she was a child (one of her first) and it has haunted her.
AAAHH!! Tim Allen! 90’s Disney! No, not Martin Short in the third movie!…Make the nightmares go away! ;)
(Raise your hand, and make the pledge, NEVER to make the typo again.
Let’s make sure the next generation doesn’t make the same mistakes we did.)
These lists are really hard to compile. Here’s mine, in order of episode number.
201 – ROCKETSHIP X-M – The first crappy, white-guy-centric ‘50s sci-fi flick (with a few recognizable actors of some reputation) of the second season, which represents the real start of the show as it would be for the rest of its run.
301 – CAVE DWELLERS – Tremendously funny riffing, but also the movie’s a reasonably (comparatively speaking, of course) fun to watch slice of cheese.
321 – SANTA CLAUS CONQUERS THE MARTIANS – I like the way the host segments and riffing poke fun at Christmas but also respect its message and pay homage to the holiday as a common experience. We saw the cast was bunch of good guys.
423 – BRIDE OF THE MONSTER – Ed Wood’s the most famous incompetent director and Bela Lugosi’s the most recognizable actor from the golden age of horror (decades after his prime). Also, this episode features the first part of what might be the quintessential educational short.
424 – MANOS, THE HANDS OF FATE – “Manos” is well known for two of the best reasons: being a totally incompetent movie and Torgo. Plus, this episode includes the second half of a great short to wrap up loose ends.
512 – MITCHELL – The last episode of the Joel Era is an important entry for two reasons: 1) it gives critical backstory to the show’s past and future, and 2) it’s the best episode of the entire series.
519 – OUTLAW (OF GOR) – Possibly the best-riffed of all the utterly unwatchable movies (e.g., “Monster a Go-Go” and “Invasion of the Neptune Men”).
816 – PRINCE OF SPACE – Just a great episode. Aside from “Mitchell”, this one’s probably my favorite in terms of how the riffing matches the rhythm of the movie.
820 – SPACE MUTINY – A more contemporary entry is important to prove that some movies will always be rubbish, no matter the decade; plus it’s one of the best-riffed of the strongest stretch of Bill-as-Crow episodes.
904 – WEREWOLF – A solid outing of riffing set against a movie that’s so stupid. I think the more recent movies are harder to watch, honestly, and this is one that would never be watched save for Mike and the Bots.
1) Final Sacrifice
2) Manos The Hands Of Fate
3) Werewolf
4) Laserblast
5) Night Of The Bloodbeast (Thanksgiving Turkey Day Marathon Version)
7) Santa Claus
8) Bride Of The Monster
9) Robot Monster
10)Attack Of The Eye Creatures
For me, I first chose 5 episodes that are pivotal, plotty episodes, where dramatic cast changes and the like occur:
• Mitchell
• The Brain that Wouldn’t Die
• Laserblast
• Creature from the Black Lagoon
• Diabolik
I actually think The Brain that Wouldn’t Die and Laserblast are minor episodes, writing-wise, but they’re “important” episodes, so into the list they go. I considered Sampson Vs. the Vampire Women and The Projected Man because of the Frank & Castle Forrester changes, but, meh.
Then for my list,
• the movie. Because it’s the movie.
And finally, for the remaining slots, I chose 2 Joel and 2 Mike episodes that I consider to be the best of the best, in terms of joke writing, performances, and movie diversity (read: the most goofy movies that don’t have rocket ships).
• The Day the Earth Froze (The Magic Voyage of Sinbad almost beat this one, but the word “SAMPO!” is just too iconic)
• Manos: The Hands of Fate
• Skydivers
• Prince of Space (Pumaman almost beat this one, but…Krankor.)
110 Robot Holocaust
201 Rocketship X-M
303 Pod People
418 Attack of the the Eye Creatures
513 The Brain That Wouldn’t Die
602 Invasion USA
706 Laserblast
814 Riding With Death
910 The Final Sacrifice
1007 Track of the Moon Beast
:)
1) Godzilla vs. Megalon
2) Godzilla vs. the SeaMonster
3) The Amazing Colossal Man
4) War of the Colossal Beast– With the Funniest Short EVAH, Mr. B. Natural!
5) It Conquered the World
6) Gamera vs. Baragon
7) Gamera vs. Guiron
8) The Unearthly
9) Riding with Death
10) Jack Frost!
So, the “proper” (?) top ten essential episodes, as far as Cast entry/exit points go are (not my favorites by a long shot, for the most part):
1. Crawling Eye (1st episode)
2. Women Of The Prehistoric Planet (Last Josh)
3. Rocketship X-M (1st Frank & Kevin)
4. Mitchell (Last Joel)
5. Brain That Wouldn’t Die (1st Mike)
6. Bloodlust (1st Pearl)
7. Samson Vs The Vampire Women (Last Frank)
8. Laserblast (Last Trace)
9. Revenge Of The Creature (1st Sci-Fi Channel)
10. Diabolik (Last Episode)
Did I get it right? :)-
That’s not including the first episode where Gypsy was not voiced by Jim Mallon. Which one was that?
As far as what’s truly essential, it’s so subjective. Personally, I think about 50 episodes from the series are essential, the remainder being good to meh.
What’s the least essential, or most disposable of the series? Would the responses be of the episodes not mentioned in this thread, or would Sampo’s Theorem be in full effect? One man’s MST garbage is another’s.. you’re living in your own filth! You don’t see us doing that!
My list consist of 7 definites and three “either/or” choices:
The definites:
-Cave Dwellers. One of those episodes that can be brought up when it comes to the show “growing the beard”. A cheesy sword and sorcery film with plenty of good riffs (especially once the hanglider scene starts) and host segments.
-Pod People. Bad attempt to throw in an E.T. knockoff into a film’s script + Memorable host segments = Loads of fun.
-Manos: The Hands of Fate. Face it, you can’t consider yourself an MST3K fan without watching this episode at least once.
-Mitchell. Two main reasons for this being an essential: 1. Joel’s swan song (and the debut of Mike); 2. Joe Don Baker (BABY OIL? NOOO!!!)
-Jack Frost. The best example the Russo-Finnish films shown on the show, especially as the film is a hoot even without Mike and the ‘Bots (Grandfather Mushroom and Baba Yaga steal the film)
-Space Mutiny. A bad 1980’s sci-fi film, an actor who could be considered one of the unsung heroes of 1980’s action films (“Tell me again about Disneyland…”), and one of the most infamous film mistakes in any MST3K film. Need any more reason to watch this film.
-Hobgoblins. The Manos of the Mike era. Sure, the film’s plot is easier to follow than Manos, but given how the people making the film were obviously not taking the production seriously, it results one ride filled with cheese and filth.
The “Either/Or” Choices:
-Gamera/Gamera vs. Guiron. Definitely have to include a Gamera film here. The hard part is whether to include the original or the one that gives viewers an idea of the later Gamera films.
-Santa Claus Conquers the Martians/Santa Claus. Both Xmas episodes are definitely a hoot. The problem here is which one to choose: one that has such memorable bits as A Patrick Swayze Christmas and Tom’s Christmas essay, or one that would result in an even amount of Joel/Mike episodes.
-The Puma Man/Merlin’s Shop. The last slot is a hard one to choose, as both are among the best of their respective seasons.
Planet of the Prehistoric Women: the host segments will lose people but it is the origin for ‘Hai Keebah!’
Attack of the Colossal Man & War of the colossal Beast. there’s too many Glenn Manning call backs to not have one or both and they do tend to encompass the feel of the show.
Bride of the Monster: Ed Wood’s best?
Mitchell: ’nuff said.
Red Zone Cuba: Coleman Francis at his best?
SoulTaker, Diabolik, Riding with Death, Hobgoblins:
to me, some of the best of the Sci Fi era and good fodder to pique curiosity in MST3k. i wanted to include Violent Years but everyone i’ve shown it to just get lost with the Tom Servo’s send off of Babs Streisand.
If you care about the “story” of the show…
101 (where it started… KTMA, I know)
201 (Josh leaves the case, Frank joins the cast)
424 (MANOS!)
512 (Joel leaves the cast, Mike joins the cast)
624 (Frank leaves the cast)
701 (Mary Jo joins the cast)
706 (Trace leaves the cast + end of CC era)
801 (Bill joins the cast + beginning of Scifi era)
1001 (Joel and Frank return!)
1013 (It’s been a good run!)
hmm….. well for me….
1. Manos since it’s a famous episode xD
2. Mitchell (Joel’s last ep)
3. Brain that Wouldn’t Die (Mike’s first ep)
4. The Green Slime pilot
5. Danger Diabolik
6. Fire Maidens from Outer Space
7. Samson vs the Vampire Woman
8. Laserblast
9. Bloodlust
10. Rocket Ship X-M
Basicly anything that has some historical events to them.
i love all you guys.
if i was ever stranded by myself on a deserted island… i’d want all of you there with me.
My list may tend to run “sci-fi” . I never saw the show on comedy central. Anyway here goes:
1 Thing that Couldn’t Die
2 Horror of Party Beach
3 Werewolf
4 Wild Rebels
5 Racket Girls
6 Final Sacrifice
7 Giant Spider Invasion
8 Attack of the Giant Leeches
9 Overdrawn at the Memory Bank
10 The Violent Years
Just off the top of my head:
1)Wild Rebels
2)The Amazing Collosal Man
3) Cave Dwellers
4) Pod Dwellers (got no reason to live)
5) Fugitive Alien 1
6)Master Ninja ‘I’
7)Rocket Ship X-M (found it on one of my old VHS tapes)
8)Godzilla versus Megalon
9)Zombie Nightmare
10)Angels Revenge
There’s a lot of episodes since then and I used to watch a lot of the Joel episodes and not as many as the Mike episodes. These are the ones I’ve seen since then and remember how great they were to watch on satudays back then. Eating Double Deluxe Cheeseburgers and playing video games on saturdays. Almost miss those days.
@ #68: Agent for H.A.R.M. was the episode where Patrick Branseg debuted as Gypsy.
10.The Crawling Eye
9.The Pumaman
8.Bride of the Monster
7.The Creeping Terror
6.Diabolik
5.Laserblast
4.Beast of Yucca Flats
3.Santa Claus Conquers the Martians
2.”Manos”: The Hands of Fate
1.Werewolf
okay… i’m just going to pick my fav from each season… in all honesty, season 8 is all gems except one for me…
104: Women of the prehistoric planet
212: Godzilla (jet jaguar) v. Megalon
301: Cave Dwellers – love me some Miles… this might be my “I can’t do without it” episode. at least as joel episodes go.
413: Manhunt in Space
505: Teenage Strangler
607: Bloodlust! it was hard to pick among the season 6 episodes… Colossus, Dead talk back, and DeathRay! are all heavy hitters.
701: Night of the Bloodbeast
804: Deadly Mantis… this might be my “I can’t do without it” mike episode.
906: Space Children
1008: Final Justice
there ya go!
The Top Ten have to see for anybody. note these aren’t in order of preference just list as the ten
1 Mitchell
2 Teen-Age Strangler
3 The Dead Talk Back
4 Daddy-o
5 Riding With Death
6 WereWolf
7 The SkyDivers
8 The Beatniks
9 I Accuse My Parents
10 Space Mutiny
I forgot to mention I based this top ten as introductory and must see episodes for all because I find these to be ones where the Brains were simply on point with their writing and riffing. The timing, the chemistry was just stupendous and top form and thus the laughs never stop coming.
i just realized that we are, in agreeing to show these episodes to others, continuing Dr. Forrester’s world domination master plan.
worth the risk, clearly.
I know a lot of peeps chose episodes that have the storyline, and I can see the point…but for me, I will recommend a mix of genres for people to watch, because ONE or TWO will reel them in to watch more so mine
1) Prince of Space -The best of the Japanese sci fi…I know Gamera is more notable due to episodes, but with Krankor those who watch this will LIKE IT VERY MUCH
2) Space Mutiny – Best modern day sci fi/cheese fest…and no one cannot like the names for the hero
3) Final Sacrifice -Thriller -Rowsdower-The one guy who bought charcoal and not black tank top and Yosemite Gruff
4)Women of the Prehistoric planet – Not only 50’s sci fi at its best and the Hi Keeba…but one of the many films where the title makes you question if you are watching the right film 40 minutes in
5) Wild Rebels – best of the biker films IMO
6) Pod People – European horror film that falls flat and Trumpy riffs galore, plus the best song ever…it stinks
7) Daddy-O – 50’s teen flick with great cliche characters, you’ll want some
8) Santa Claus vs the Martians – everyone needs a funny xmas film
9) hercules- the best of the sandal flicks
10) The Day the Earth Froze – for russo finnish flair
I left out the spy flicks and TV movies because I think if you like the biker film, you’ll liek the TV movies and if you like Final Sacrifice, you’ll like the Sci fi ones
Yipe Striper: I, too, love season 8! Which one from that season doesn’t do it for you? (I actually have two I don’t love, although one of them I always enjoy once I can get myself to watch it, and the other I like in theory, but not so much in practice. Yes, my relationship to some episodes is much too fraught and complicated for my own good.)
I loved how you said you love everyone here! :)
#35
Eric, we get it…you have a cult mentality with your adoration for Joel and David Koresh…and ignore the fact that Mike Nelson was head writer for ALL of your favorites
You are the Hamlet of these boards
You are the Clayton,Clayton,Clayton of these boards and
You are the opposite of Batman
I’ll explain why Werewolf and Giant Spider are ESSENTIALS…because MSt3k had 11 seasons…not 6 1/2 and those two episodes are HILARIOUS but you don’t get it and never will…so stew in your own hate for whatever slight you think the show
Let the rest of us actually enjoy the show, won’t you?
“when will…when will they learn”
#83 Prof, I know, season 8 is great and if I were to make a wager…I’d say Terror from the year 5000…let’s see if they answer in kind
Terror from the Year 5000 is one of my very favourites–but of course you’re wagering on Yipe Striper. :) I’m going to say Neptune Men.
“I’ve got a lot money here, Mitchell.”
@Professor Gunther
Mixed up Zombies is the episode i didn’t care for. but in all fairness, i did not get through it the time i tried to watch it. So it is probably worth another shot. Every other episode in season 8 just had me from the beginning. they are all homeruns.
@Imapotato… ARE YOU READY FOR TERRRRRROOOOOORRRR?? no way! i love me some Terror from the year 5000! I gotta booger on my finger and I can’t get it off!
@EricJ its okay, dude. I understand the need to delve deep into the show’s makeup and analyze it. You are free to wonder about other science facts. I’ll keep repeating to myself its just a show. And in doing so, I’ll really just relax for….
you know the rest.
i kid you guys not… every time the fiance asks claire if she thinking of adding Angelo to her string of conquests and HTom says, WHOA! I absolutely lose it. its such a horrible thing to say to someone… and it was almost like as he started to say it the very first time i watched the movie, I knew exactly what he was gonna say and a I thought, Oh no, he isn’t!
but he did.
and Dr. Hedges assistant! “why must you spew your rage?” I love miss blake and wish he’d taken her with him like Nedrick did with Marge Blaine in the Deadly Mantis.
which reminds me i need to check my antifreeze…
Yipe Striper: Doh! I was thinking of Zombies initially, but I changed my mind! :-) Interestingly (or not), Mixed up Zombies is the one I like in theory (or maybe in the abstract); that is to say, I think it’s a strong episode, with great riffing. But the movie creeps me out to no end. It’s just so UGLY. I’ve watched it only a handful of times, whereas I am in danger of watching Terror from the Year 5000 TOO MANY TIMES.
And just so you know, I REALLY liked everything you had to say about Terror from the Year 5000. (Maybe it’s just me, but I tend to think Miss Blake shows up Hedges; she knows exactly what the carbon dating thingy is all about, but she doesn’t need the fancy language; thus, “woman equals dumb” has always felt out of place to me. Maybe I’m wrong, though, and the riff makes me laugh anyway, because I appreciate its pro-woman point of view.)
I guess I’ll go in chronoligical order:
101-The Crawling Eye. Admittedly, this is not the best episode to show to someone first, but it does need to be seen for historical value. And it’s a major step above KTMA.
Any given Gamera movie. Even if you’re a fan of daikaiju movies, you gotta admit that any one of the five Gamera’s are about as silly as the next one.
422-The Day the Earth Froze. If I had to pick the best of the Russo-Finnish films, this would be it.
512-Mitchell. Showing this one is easier, and more entertaining, than to explain how Joel left. Plus, even beyond that, it’s just a great episode.
513-The Brain That Wouldn’t Die. Mike’s first, and a all-around classic bad movie.
621-The Beast of Yucca Flats. I’m sorry, THIS is the best of the Coleman Francis troika.
706-Laserblast. The last Comedy Central ep, and great riffing to boot.
801-Revenge of the Creature. The show is back, and they haven’t lost a step. Despite all the changes, it’s still funny.
904-Werewolf. A great introductory episode, with a terrible yet watchable film, wonderful riffing and nice host segments.
910-The Final Sacrifice. Like the above, only maybe this is a better example.
1013-Danger: Diabolik. Every good thing must come to an end, and I can’t think of a better way to go out. We can forgive the riffing, which isn’t stellar, but can you blame them?
Late to this discussion, went camping this weekend, it was great, had a good time (thanks for asking), but while I was away, it gave me time to think. What exactly did “essential” mean in regards to MST3k? Are we talking essential to the shows history? Or the episodes that best represent the show, considered essential to the fans? In the end, I combined both ideas, whittled it down to a list of 10, plus 10 bonus episodes that deserve mention. Because choosing just 10 should be criminal.
Top 10 Essential MST3k episodes:
#307-Daddy O -“Want some?!”
#321-Santa Claus Conquers the Martians – a holiday classic!!!
#402-Giant Gila Monster – you need a big monster movie on the list, this is the best!
#424-Manos: the Hands of Fate – maybe you’ve heard of it?
#506-Eegah – watch out for personal favorites!!
#512-Mitchell – Joel’s final episode, a great movie, great moments from Gypsy, a must see..
#621-Beast of Yucca Flats – a Colman Francis movie is more important on the list than an Ed Wood film, this one is my favorite (but I love them all)
#706-Laserblast – the “final”episode. A good one too, great example of the 70’s cheese they would often riff!
#820-Space Mutiny – the best example of the Sci-fi era of the show, great riffing!
#1013-Diabolik – the final episode. Gotta be on the list. I like it!
Bonus 10! :
#110-Robot Holocaust -my fave of Season 1.
#212-Godzilla vs. Megalon – I’ve always liked this one way better than any of the Gamera films.. almost made the top 10 essential…
#303- Pod People – “It stinks!”
#404-Teenagers from Outer Space – hilarious episode, weird backstory with the movie and actors, great times!
#501-Warrior of the Lost World – oh my god, MEGAWEAPON!
#509-Girl in lovers’ Lane -a personal fave, shows the diversity of fare they’d riff on!
#609-The Skydivers -Colman Francis strikes again!!
#813-Jack Frost -the best of the Russo-Finnish productions!
#910-Final Sacrifice — Rowsdower!
#1001-Soultaker -the reunion episode! Joel! Frank! Robert Z’Dar!!!
(in no order)
The Deadly Bees — some of the most solid riffing in the entire series, in my opinion.
San Francisco International — ditto. The scene with Davy talking with his mom is pure gold.
Riding with Death — again, ditto.
Devil Fish — I like Italian horror movies from this era (Argento, Fulci). The porno music (which the guys point out) was perfect.
The Touch of Satan — hilarious. “I just said the meat was a little tough, I didn’t mean to everybody down.”
The Screaming Skull — one of the most dour, depressing movies they ever did, and in their hands it becomes comic gold.
Quest of the Delta Knights — I know some will laugh, but I actually like this kind of movie: cheap medieval knight stuff, like Deathstalker (another movie I like).
Soultaker — SUMMERFEST!
Track of the Moon Beast — nonstop riffing.
Hamlet — a Shakespeare play (and not a bad one, in my opinion), made hilarious.
Don’t you just love insecure people and their need to insult others in order to make themselves seem superior? I swear I can never get enough of that… oh no wait a minute I’m thinking about a Kit Kat bar. To EricJ; Eric G? I honestly can’t remember his handle and frankly to go back and get it right requires more respect than he shows. Sorry, but it chaps my hinder. This is the land of MST fans, people who love the show. We love it in different ways and for different reasons but we love it just the same.
Completely aggravates the pee out of me when some no self-confidence, faux jaded person has to insult and have cling to some outdated pointless boundary in order to pass himself (in his mind) as important or better than another. To #35 I say, Bite me! Won’t You? And to answer the question about why someone would include Giant Spider or Werewolf should be on this essential list. To quote the weekend discussion topic” It’s the 10 episodes you think everybody should see.
See it says everybody, not mstie fans who have seen them all and know all the behind the scenes stuff and the history. This is the list for people who have never seen any or may have seen one episode of this show. It’s a list saying if you are a mst fan or not the episode is so good, the movie riffed so well, it’s so funny that everyone should see it for the joy and laughs it brings. In that regards Werewolf and Giant Spider fit the bill.
Likewise, don’t really know where you get off insulting Best Brains by claiming they got lazy in the Sci Fi years. Were you there? Did you sit in the writer’s room? Were you on set? Or are you simply choosing to see something that isn’t there to justify your close minded assertion that the show got bad once Joel left. Hey, if you love Joel and that era, that’s fine. But insulting those who liked the show as a whole for all 11 seasons is just childish, rude, and frankly doesn’t belong on a MST fan discussion site. Have your opinions, but have the respect to not insult people that have a different one and the people who made this show so that you had something to enjoy.
And yes, Mike was the head writer for the last 9 seasons of that show, which means he was the guy that formatted the segment order and what segments would be used, even in the Joel segments
Now the original point I was going to make before I read that trolls little missive.
I was in such a rush last time that I listed without giving reasons, it’s just so Klandinkto
1 Mitchell- this is the episode I introduce everyone to MST with. It’ in color, the humor is right out of the gate and never slows down. The host segments are just funny enough to keep them interested and no one really has to be a Joel fan to enjoy. It’s simply a high note.
2 Teen-Age Strangler- As a Mike intro goes, this is pitch perfect. There is the gradual growth of a show in flux, but Mike certainly begins to develop his character in the regards to this show. The host segments all show where the direction was going and how great it would be once fully refined. The short is hilarious with the riffs about other short films to watch always getting high laughs. But the reason everyone should watch this episode is down to Mikey. That kid had it; that intangible that can’t be defined. He was spastic, odd, but you couldn’t ignore him. He was the star of that movie regardless of who really was. And yes, Mikey did steal that bike but we’ll keep that a secret.
3 The Dead Talk Back- I only saw this episode last November when I got a hold of the entire series from a friend (except the ones that were still in print from Rhino and Shout Factory) and it rocketed to the top five favorite episodes. The short is only so-so and rather a dud. However, the movie shines with a brilliance that it really shouldn’t have. The odd narrative wherein the movie itself didn’t even seem to know who should be narrating this thing confuses the viewer. But Krasker, like Mikey, is riffing gold. Every joke about him or to him brought tears to my eyes. The mystery angle was interesting, but just so much to enjoy and the story clips along rather briskly I find. The trouble talking to the deceased (Servo:Is that they’re dead.). Best riff ever. Simple yet effective.
4 Daddy-o- Again, pure brilliance. Dick Contino so hilariously miscast as a heartthrob. He seems to get the hot blonde merely by default as opposed to any real chemistry. When you are getting overacted by the perky female doll, there’s a problem with the casting. Ad the editing was just catastrophic.
5 Riding With Death- Best TV movie they ever did. Mike’s riffing on the pomposity of Ben Murphy is on point, Crow’s complete on point over the top impersonation of Buffalo required me to pause the DVD because I couldn’t stop laughing. Days later me and my friends would look at each other and repeat Crow’s southern gibberish and farting noises and lose it all over again. A brilliant, brilliant ep.
6 WereWolf- Kevin Murphy called this a gift from the comedy gods and he was right. You cannot tell me that the Brains were lazy in the later years when you watch this episode. The mash up of songs that they sing that fit the rhythm of the generic Native American music is a touch of brilliance. Lazy? Not the brains but definitely those who simply write the show off and never give it a chance.
7 The SkyDivers- This is a tough one to get through, but the reason it’s on here is for the Short. “Why Study Industrial Arts” is the best one they ever did. It’s a comedy goldmine and much needed in an episode dedicated to the dreary bleak world of Coleman Francis. That short is a must see for everybody.
8 The Beatniks- Top to bottom, beginning to end, this movie defines Joel’s time for me. The parent figure that Joel was is represented in the Tony Travis pajama party host segment. The loopiness of the movie, Moony. It has it all.
9 I Accuse My Parents- Again, comedy gold. Jim is kind of dumb, the story is all based on the flimsiest of premises. Jim lying about his mom and the school shocked that she’s a drunk ruining his life is just a little too naïve and out there from a reality point of view. His stumbling into organized crime by accident is the same. It is complete schmaltzy and inane attempts to show the culture of the US as it never truly was is just pure 40’s goodness. Capped off by the fact that this was a film shown to the troops in WW2 or Korea (or both) puts the exclamation point on the complete horrendousness of this film. And Joel and the bots make the most of it and never break their stride in the riffing. The last segment is a personal favorite with the bots in a tank to steal Joels “hamburger sammich’ and French fried potatoes garnish” is just great.
10 Space Mutiny- Space Mutiny, need I say more? I do? Oh, okay. Inept, inane, completely under budgeted for what they tried to achieve. Dave Rider, Cissy Cameron, David Winters, Sting, Debbie Reynolds, and God. This movie is a tribute to delusions of grandeur. The constant stream of stupid hero names in this comes across a lot more memorable than it did in 12 to the moon because of Dave Ryders hyper-animated acting, 80s wrestling physique and complete ineptitude as a hero that somehow is still treated with reverence. The dead flight controller who simply shows back up on the bridge in a “I hope they don’t notice this, but we completely put her in front of the pulling back camera so you had no choice but to see her” is so sad it’s actually humorous. The riffing is top notch, spawning as many catch phrases as Pod People, manos, and Bride of the Monster combined. They had a lot to work with on this movie and they made the most out of it, wringing out every bit of jokes, one-liners, and riffs that they could. There taking the movie to task for the miraculous return of LaMont is worth the price of admission alone. And the best riff I ever heard to this day: “Passed from editor to editor in a desperate attempt to save it”.
There’s a reason I didn’t include Manos, Pod People, or any of the Russo-Finnish movies in my list. The reason is that they are legendary to the MST fandom but not ones that anyone would pick up and enjoy first time out. I do believe that in those episodes cases one has to either be a fan of MST and therefore willing to stick it out or they heard about it and request to see it. But for a first time initiation into the show, or episodes that must be seen by all. I can’t recommend them because they are slow, plodding, and (in the case of the Russo-Finnish cases) too damn out there and the riffs tend to be a struggle to me. But, that’s me.