So we all know that every episode of MST3K begins with a remind that “it’s just a show. I should really just relax.” But I think every fan out there has blatantly ignored that advice on multiple occasions. We are all obsessed with the show and thus cannot resist dissecting it in a fashion better fit for “Star Trek.” MST3K basically celebrates its lack of continuity, from casually joking about Servo’s arms not working to not even acknowledging Frank’s tendency to come back to life one week later without fanfare. Sometimes a shallow explanation is made, like citing the existence of an air duct on the way to Servo’s seat in the theater, but, most of the time, the poor continuity is just part of the humor. So I would like to dedicate a weekend discussion to “The Science of Mystery Science Theater.” What explanations have you come up with for aspects of the show that aren’t meant to be explained?
Okay, I’ll give you one I’ve conjectured on: Why was it called “The Satellite of Love?” Perhaps Gizmonic Institute was building the rocket to send couples into space and show them romantic movies to study their, um, reaction? Hmmm?
And how DOES he eat and breathe? What do you think?
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@ #89, Steve K:
Bravo, good sir. Henceforth I shall forever refer to it as “scooping out the load pan bay.” :-D I am in your debt.
#99-yay, that goes right along with my jumpsuit theory!!! I knew I couldn’t be the only one.
Watch-out-for-Snakes #88: Just how did the Umbilicus (from Seasons 6 and 7) work, anyway??
It’s essentially a space elevator.
“By the way – anyone else find it a little weird that Gypsy is a one-eyed, purple-headed snake?”
Pondering this, it does seem odd that Joel would give the only female robot the body of – as you say – a one-eyed, purple-headed snake. It makes me wonder what kind of life he had back on Earth, what kind of relationship he had with his mother; seemingly not much of one, because he doesn’t seem too concerned about being trapped in orbit.
But wouldn’t he have been tempted to make Gypsy a bit more… conventionally attractive? There was obviously a thing going on between them, and she is pretty in her own way, what with the curves and the kissable lips. But, you know. She doesn’t have a torso. And he was a young man.
Telling secrets. That’s what I’m talking about.
Why is it that they can only take Rocket Number Nine to view what ever is happening outside the ship?
if joel was to be the only one watching the movies the Mads sent up, why are there so many seats in the theater!?!
Merely a theory for posters #52,#95 & #99 (regarding the movies’ being chopped up into 15-minute segments): I believe this was a practical decision by the creators of the show, and not REALLY caused by Joel’s disassembling of the satellite’s equipment. I’ve only seen one KTMA episode (“SST:Deathflight”), and the thing that kept bugging me was how long the movie portions were, especially the parts where no one was making any comments, and the TV viewers were forced to actually watch the wretched movie. I have a feeling that early on, the guys producing the show realized that 10-15 minutes or so of the actual riffing was the maximum people would watch before they started getting seriously bored with the flick-in-question. Breaks scattered throughout each episode allowed TV viewers to take a little breather, and, possibly, just relax (let’s face it– with the barrage of one-liners and pop references, people’s brains get a little saturated at some point). Another practical note: on several occasions I think jumping to a host-segment allowed the show’s editors to remove unneeded scenes from the movie without the TV viewers’ noticing, the way they would have noticed had the edit occurred right there in the theater. Just speculating, is all.
#99: That’s also a good theory, and I can add on to it.
Maybe Joel fully intended to go up in space also intending to bring Crow, Tom and Gypsy to Earth, but the appearance of Mike surprised him. So, when he finished fixing the malfunctioning SOL, Joel said it was good for another ten years.
Those ten years could have been the time Joel needed to return to Earth, raise enough money to build a new spacecraft (or upgrade what he already had), and return at some point before the satellite starts breaking down again so he can finally take the robots, plus Mike, back to Earth. Joel probably had no idea that the SOL would get brought back to Earth well before the deadline.
The explanation for all of the before mentioned items is simple. It’s just like Scooby-Doo. How does Scooby quick change into disguises and always solves the mysteries by accident? The answer is simple: they’re space aliens!
WHERE DID ALL THOSE EXTRA SERVOS COME FROM??
The eat and breathe thing never bothered me actually. You eat with your mouth and you breathe with your nose or mouth. How they were able to stand on the floor and have gravity, now that bugged me! :-)
BTW, I love all these conjectures being put out. Gizmonics Institute is obviously a very inept organization. :silly:
Snowdog- “I’ve often tried to map the layout of the SOL in my head. Have to try paper and pencil one of these days.”
Then- model it in plastic and balsa or whatever else- that would be too cool!
“#72- There have been a few theories concerning Joel’s not rescuing the crew.”
Like the one where the Brains didn’t bother to put very much thought into how both Joel and Frank shows up for the same experiment and why.
Even though they could have used the same “SOL mechanical problems” bit…Mrs. Forrester tells Brain Guy and Bobo to deal with it or she’ll kill them…Frank (as a “Second Banana Guardian Angel” that he is) comes to help them by locating the one person he knows who can fix the SOL – Joel – and transports him on board. Then Joel couldn’t rescue Mike and the Bots since he didn’t have any control over HIS being there.
Just a thought.
Re: Why the movies are divided into segments. Remember, the Mads are trying to monitor how debilitating the films are. So they stop the film at periodic intervals, have Joel or Mike perform while they watch him, and see how well he manages. Eventually, of course, they discovered they could just watch Mike cope with ordinary life and get their data that way.
@114 like Bill Corbett riffing his breakfast
#14 always wondered that myself. How come no one from Gizmonic or the Police Department for that matter ever raid the 13th sub basement of the insitute, if Dr. F. was showing his felony kidnapping and torture to the world.
We have W-A-A-A-Y too much time on our hands.
#116 – Actually, the police issued a ticket to the Mads in ep. 409 for noise violation – why didn’t they see what was going on then? Maybe Frank’s “Can I touch your gun” comment was to distract them….hm….
More questions:
Does Deep 13 have a kitchen? If they do they must have quite the oven to be small enough to bake Lemon Bars and big enough to fit the entire “Cake n’ Shake” cake in there…
Why is Gypsy infatuated with Richard Basehart?
How do the ‘bots know so much about pop culture and trivia, including what’s going on currently on Earth? Did they pick it up watching cable TV and radio? Or are they just programmed with Joel’s memories? What kind of service do they get up there, anyways? They have spotty telephone and “Information Superhighway” connections, obviously…
Why did Pearl kill Dr. Forrester for growing up (again) to be a mad scientist who tortured people with cheesy movies, only to go on to become… a mad scientist who tortured people with cheesy movies…?
You know, when my younger cousin first saw this show, he thought the name “Satellite of Love” was a reference to it being shaped like a bone.
Need I say more?
@116: I figure that, compared to getting Joel/Mike into the satellite and launching it, feigning consent forms must’ve been comparatively easy.