Fairfax County, Virginia — Tom Shales, the Pulitzer Prize-winning television critic for The Washington Post and spent nearly 40 years at the paper, died Jan. 13 at a hospital here. He was 79.
He died from complications due to COVID-19 and renal failure.
His decades-long career as the chief TV critic for the newspaper began in 1977, and he quickly became known for his sharp commentary on television, stars and more.
But for MSTies, it was Shales’ effusive praise of MST3K made him a beloved figure among the fan base. Calling the show “patently irresistible,” he called on readers to “throw a fit” if Comedy Central was not offered by their cable provider.
“It is, in short, a joy, a treasure, a golden voyage of discovery, a sweet-natured celebration of human fallibility.” He later appeared on NPR, again praising the show.
The Hollywood Reporter has the story.
Thanks to Tim for the heads up.
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Terrible news.
That photo featured above is when Shales filled in for Gene Siskel when people thought he was merely sick, not dying of cancer.
He commented then that Roger Ebert and him looked physical similar.
Frank Conniff posted on his Twitter (X) account about Shales passing.
May his writing and commentary be a blessing for his long time readers and we MSTies.
Also one of the, ahem, only OTHER mainstream MSTie fans brave enough to come forward and say the show had lost its mojo during the Mike years–
Not just the change in host, but the change in tone, and in comic energy toward the movie.
Eric J.:
Where are your sources that Shales wrote that?
You’ve posted here for years you don’t like Mike.
Post your proof that Shales stated what you claim.
No matter what, Shales died at 79.
Can you fathom what his family, friends, colleagues, and readers must be going through?
Please. Enough with the fussing and name calling. We are all, I mean all, entitled to our opinions. There are only a relative few of us MSTies left.
MST3K has a Twitch channel, YouTubes, DVDs, and is available on Peacock TV, Plex – Free Movies & TV, Tubi – Free Movies & TV, Freevee, AMC, Vudu or Prime Video.
MST3K is multigenerational.
Let’s please refrain from personal attacks and name-calling. Feel free to disagree with another commenter if you’d like, but please be cordial (or, at least, somewhat civil) when doing so.
Thank you.
All I can say is I definitely find myself rewatching the Mike-era episodes most frequently.
And FWIW, couldn’t find Shales’ full longer reappraisal of the second era, just his highlight review of the Brain That Wouldn’t Die changeover–
Back when Mike still had his Nice Chuckleheaded Temp persona, and Shales’ chief complaint seemed to be over Mike’s lack of delivery….Fun, huh?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1993/10/23/tv-previews/1d505a1e-4d7e-45e2-ae42-1d8990492607/?utm_term=.61829f43a64e
Eric J.:
Shales also mentions in that article he disliked “Mitchell” which is iconic.
Do you have any proof that Shales disliked Mike in general?
Transitions to one lead actor to another is seldom flawless.
By all means, MST3K was back at full throttle after a couple of episodes.
Bill stated it took him four episodes to find his own voice as Crow.