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How Was the Show?An open thread for reports from this weekend’s Cinematic Titanic shows in Portland.
14 Replies to “How Was the Show?”Commenting at Satellite News
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All content posted on Satellite News is copyright © 2024 by Chris Cornell and Brian Henry, except where otherwise noted. This Date in MSTory is written and compiled by Steve Finley, Chris Cornell and Brian Henry. Copyright © 2024 All rights reserved. Please do not reproduce This Date in MSTory items in any form without express written permission from the authors. Items of MST3K news may be duplicated or reposted, as long as Satellite News is cited as the source. The views and opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of Satellite of Love, LLC. No warranty is expressed or implied that the information given herein is completely accurate, and in fact this information can and will change at any time. So there. Mystery Science Theater 3000, its characters and situations are copyrights and trademarks of Satellite of Love, LLC. Banner image created by Larry Lee Moniz. |
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FAN-TASTIC!
Thanks to Gruber for the T-shirt! Drinks are on me next time you come to Portland!
East Meets Watts is probably my favorite CT to date. I love Blaxsploitation and Kung-fu. (One of my favorite movies is The Last Dragon)
Just so everyone knows – CT == not really for kids. This movie is no exception.
There was a little girl sitting next to me (who had a great time) but I wouldn’t have wanted to be her parents with all the F-bombs and N-words used in the film / riffing.
But, me, I had the most fun that I’ve had in years. Thanks CT!!
(P.S to whoever had the Servo in the crowd. I’m very jealous, is that an original or did you make him? it was very high quality)
Great Show! I had seen East Meets Watts in Seattle (when it still had that *other name*, so this is the second time around for this movie, but I still loved it. The movie is perfect fodder for the Titans. My friend with me had never seen a CT before (but likes MST3K), and he laughed all the way through.
Since the previous tour, they’ve added a Q&A segment with Joel before the movie, and that was also a lot of fun.
Tonight I actually get to see one I haven’t seen before – bring it on!
I would agree with the others here, the show was great. Well worth it. I was impressed that the audience was all MSTies. We didn’t exactly “fill” the Newmark theater, but there was an impressive crowd. On my left was a couple who had met at an MST party and brought a picture of an ice statue of Tom Servo from their wedding. The crowd was overall very appreciative, although I noticed that Joel’s callback (“watch out for snakes, Trace.”) got a much bigger rise than Trace’s (“Rock Climbing, Joel.”).
I was a bit disappointed that I had gotten tickets for the kung-fu blaxploitation picture instead of something more “traditional” (wasn’t sure I’d be available tonight), but it was great, in fact. Somewhat along the lines of some of the cheaper spy-action flicks they used to do (think Secret Agent Super Dragon).
It was really interesting to see the cast there with their scripts, trying to keep the timing right with what’s on the screen. Although I assume that they still write them together and have heard the jokes dozens of times, the Titans sometimes crack each other up. Frank and Mary Jo seem the most susceptible. I got the feeling that Joel and Trace got more jokes than the others (maybe their voices are just the most recognizable to m, because they were the original riffers), but Josh had some particularly great lines. I wonder if they tell their “own” jokes or if they assign them like they used to for MST?
The warmup was pretty good too. I wouldn’t go out of my way to see Gruber again, but I wouldn’t turn him off either. It was particularly great to see Josh play the bass, because I’m a bassist myself.
Fingal/#1 : Did they drop the F bomb *themselves while riffing* or was that the movie? I saw BoTV in Minneapolis and there was only one F bomb dropped the entire night (by Josh in one of his musical warmup skits with Gruber).
Too bad the movie has the N word. But I’m sure the Titans deal with it as gracefully as the offensive blackface servants in BotV (at one point Josh said something like, “I couldn’t be more offended even they had a character named ‘Jewy Bignose.’ ha)
Does David Gruber Allen sign aswell?
There was more than 1 F-bomb, I know the Titans dropped them, I honestly don’t remember if it was in the movie at all.
A fantastic show tonight. The Saturday show had to compete with the Rose Festival Torchlight Parade (I think; I had never heard of it before), but it looked like the house was 5/6th full.
It sounds like this leg of the tour has a slight different format, so just a heads up for you folks in Dallas and Philly. As you enter the theater, you will be given a card, where you can write your email address to let you know when they are coming back (and oh, I want to see them again) and a question for Joel.
About 20 minutes before the show starts, a series of odd theater announcements (some of which look British or Canadian, mostly from the 1950s) interspersed with facts about CT and stills of CT riffed films (actually not that different from what Rifftrax does for their live shows). Mary Jo then introduced Dave “Gruber” Allen (aka Todd Carlin) who came on to do some warmup. Then Trace, Josh and Frank each came on to do a bit. Josh did a great Steve Perry impersonation, then killed with KADD sketch, a radio station that plays only the best part of your favorite songs. Frank declared he was “gay for Portland” and then sang his theme song for “Convoluted Man”. Then Joel came on to answer the questions from the audience, though he did it more tongue in cheek; my question was “Would you consider an animated film?” and he answered it with “Well, Frank is already pretty animated…” When someone in the audience asked why Mike was with them, Joel called Trace onstage and asked him we had. Trace replied “A can of worms.”
After Joel’s Q&A, the move began, and boy “Danger On Tiki Island” is a big stinkburger. It goes nowhere, the monster is goofy and the other effects are questionable. It was a laugh riot. Poor Mary Jo kept flubbing her lines, but that was one of the nice things about seeing them live is just hearing the byplay, and some of the adlibs. Frank, though, had the best riff of the night: “I’ve got a position for that missionary.”
After the movie, there is a short encore, where they do some of the best riffs from the previous DVDs (most of which have been featured in the trailers). Then they headed out to the lobby for signings. I got my slip cover for MST3k Collection Vol. 9 signed (one of the two Rhino screwed up on, and had to pull soon after being released) as well as getting Mary Jo to sign her book, “I Lived With My Parents”, a book she has disavowed because of the poor proofing of the book, as well as the publisher now being bankrupt. Mary Jo signed it and the quickly slipped it back into my bag.
Overall, a 2.5 hours of fun well spent.
Great show. I wrote a blurb about it here if anyone’s interested.
And there are some pics I took here.
I guess my favorite riffs were the ‘trick or tricking’ one and the one about the missionary position. But really, there are too many great ones to mention.
It was just really cool to see the Titans all in person. I guess everyone who’s gone to these has felt that way, so add me to the list.
Great show! The comedy bits before the show were funny, especially Josh’s 30 second clip radio station. The movie was delightfully terrible and the riffing was hilarious! I was so excited to meet them after the show and will treasure my signed poster. I just hope I wasn’t too much of a babbling idiot. :)
Excellent show. Cannot praise enough. Lots of laughs and the cast was very gracious with us, the nerdy throng. See them when they come to your town.
:wink: Does David Gruber Allen sign aswell or is he easy to meet?
The show was absolutely wonderful. My family and I went to the Friday night showing of East Meets Watts. Gruber was just great. Frank’s “Convoluted Man” was a riot. The Q&A with Joel was way cool. This was my first exposure to CT and I admit I was a little startled at some of the profanity. The Titans dropped a few F-Bombs and the N-Word was used a couple times in the movie. Fortunately though it was neither rampant nor repetitive.
I’m the Dad of the little girl that Fingal mentioned. And he was right, she had a fantastic time, and luckily when you don’t ever read, hear, or use a particular word it tends to go over your head. Especially when it is mixed into a storm of 600+ riffs, gags, and jokes. Afterwards when we were waiting in line for autographs I told my 10 year old, “I’m sorry some of the language was so salty sweety.” And she replied, “It was?”
It was our first chance to meet the Titans. It is always a little scary to meet your heroes for the first time. No worries. They couldn’t have been more friendly, gracious, patient or kind. We were thoroughly starstruck. We also went to the signing Saturday afternoon at Videorama as well and were able to get pictures taken with the gang and went home near delirious with happiness. We will definitely be going back every time they honor Portland with their presence.
P.S. Fingal- We happened to share a bus ride with the nice gentleman who had the top notch Tom Servo and when we asked if he had built it himself his lovely lady friend said that she had purchased it for him on eBay.
P.P.S. Sick Nick- Gruber wasn’t at the autograph signing table but he was chatting with folks waiting in line and he struck me as very approachable if you wanted something signed. You might want to have your own pen for him to use is all.
Thanks for the great update. I want to get my Freaks and Geeks signed aswell so i’ll bring that along.
Sick Nick: In Phoenix, my wife and I chatted with Gruber for a good 15 mins after the show, alongside the autograph line. He is VERY approachable, friendly, gracious and willing to sign anything you bring him. All-in-all, a very “regular Joe”. I think he appreciates being recognized.