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How Was the Show?An open thread for reports from this week’s Cinematic Titanic shows.
35 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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It was a fun evening! The guys and MJ put on a terrific show and couldn’t have been nicer at the meet and greet. Legacy of Blood is my favorite on DVD so far and there were a lot of new jokes for this 1st time live riff.
Man, this movie is twisted but I love these kinds of movies anyway so this was right up my alley. Dave Allen Gruber was funny as well and Dana Gould was good, too. All in all, a great evening!
The Sunday night show was fantastic. The warm-up artists were way better than expected, and the CT part was laugh-out-loud funny from start to finish.
Oddly, MJ, Frank and J. Elvis seemed to deliver most of the knock-out jokes.
Joel flubbed a few lines, but somehow that just makes me like him more. The movie was a bit hard to hear at times, but it may well be that that’s a good thing, considering the movie, and I don’t suspect it will be a problem with the other movies. Those creepy incest scenes were much harder to stomach on a big screen.
After hearing them sincerely implore everyone to stop by the meet-and-greet, for an authograph or at least “just to say hello,” I honestly wonder if there are five nicer people working in show business. Sadly, I had a long road in front of me and couldn’t stay.
I thought the CT show was considerably better than the live broadcast of the Rifftrax show, but things are simply funnier when the artists are standing in front of you, I don’t suspect it was a matter of the quality of the content. I still find it a bit off-putting that these guys read their lines off of scripts during their live shows. I know that’s nit-picking, but really, would it be that hard to remember your 10 best lines and hope you nail the others? It would add a much-needed level of spontanaity to the show.
Still, an awesome show and it was just wonderful to see this folks live, who have made me laugh so much over the years.
I think it’s remarkable that they hit all their lines without the benefit of seeing time code. Josh and Trace told me at the meet and greet that they practice to time code and memorize the lines that way. I do not begrudge them for using scripts for what is basically 90 minutes of material. That’s a lot of jokes and it’s not like they do just one movie over and over. I would need a script for sure!
Maybe my memory is fuzzy, but didn’t the Rifftrax guys have reference scripts in front of them of the live event?
:shock: They’re doing 5 different movies in L.A. alone, not to mention the others that they rotate into the lineup for other cities. No offense, but you seriously expect the Titans to have them all memorized? Bottom line: The presence of a script never hurt the funny back in the MST days, and it certainly doesn’t now.
Did Dana Gould hang around for the meet and greet? Just curious. I think he’s hilarious and it would have been really cool to meet him.
Meadows: Yes, they did have scripts for the Rifftrax event.
Temple: I didn’t stick around, but I saw Gould as I left and it looked like he was staying for a while. The other warm up guys were also hanging.
Others: I did mention that I was nitpicking. ;) But yes, I do find it both lazy and somewhat offputting that they’re standing there with scripts. One of the problems with CT is that their delivery is vastly more obviously scripted than MST ever was (not to say that they weren’t reading scripts on MST, just that the delivery of the jokes was much more natural.)
Tell me, how would you feel if you went to a play and the actors were using scripts? And they have vastly more lines than the CT guys do.
Do you guys mean to tell me that you couldn’t memorize the placement of 10 great jokes and simply work with another dozen or two as best as you can? Really?
Perhaps I’m just too demanding for my own good. :) It is certainly a criticism that has been leveled upon me before, but I am firm in my opinion that a less scripted feel to CT would be a vast, vast improvement.
Tell me, how would you feel if you went to a play and the actors were using scripts?
If they were doing five different shows in five nights I’d say they were smart. If they were holding scripts and giving me a show half as good as CT, I’d say they were brilliant.
And really? Your memorized line count, plus the extra dozen or two (“as best as they can”) each would add up to about *half* of the riffing they are giving us, seeing as they do upwards of 600 jokes per show. I’ll take the scripts and the beginning to end laughter, thanks. Maybe I’m too demanding for my own good though. :lol:
Memorized spontaneity… hmm…
Scripts or not I think these folks are just plain, darn funny. As long as they keep the funny coming they can present it however they like. Close captioning might be a little disruptive, but otherwise…
I don’t care if they’re holding scripts, but there is one thing I think they could do to improve. (Bear in mind that I loved the 2 shows I’ve seen – they weren’t in LA, though.)
Boggy Geek touched on it – on MST, it sounded like the guys were just talking to each other, and sounded spontaneous. CT does come across as though they’re DELIVERING each joke, both live and on the DVDs. That’s the only thing I would change.
Just got back from the Monday night show, “Danger at Tiki Island.” I love Gruber as the warm-up, but this time he only did about 10 minutes of material. They brought out Andy-somebody who did almost 20 minutes of not-so-funny material.
Then came Joel who introduced the CT crew and they got right into the movie. It was a truly bad film and truly great jokes. I think seeing it live really does add to the flavor of what they’re doing. You could tell this cast really enjoys what they’re doing and they even cracked each other up on occasion. There were also some moments where they clammed up and let the audience laugh at the absurdity of what was happening on screen.
The meet and greet was great and much more formal than when I last saw them at the Ford Theater in ’08. I was surprised more people didn’t stick around to greet them, but they seemed happy and pleased to meet everyone who stayed. I even got to talk informally with a few of them after the formal signing was over.
The only complaint I had is that the sound mix was a bit off. A few times I just couldn’t make out the riff over the sound of the film, especially when there was music in the soundtrack.
Regarding the script/no script controversy, speaking as an actor, a play is quite a different beast than what CT does. It is much, much easier to memorize a 2 hour play that has a plot, character development and structure than it would be to memorize a 90 minute, random, riffing script. It’s the difference between memorizing the balcony scene in Romeo & Juliet and in memorizing the 50 states and their capitals.
Actors in a play don’t carry a script around because you’re focused on what they’re doing and they’re trying to immerse you in the world of the play. With CT, the focus is mostly on the screen (although it is fun to watch them perform.)
And don’t forget that actors have plenty of rehearsal time to get that script memorized, usually a few weeks or months. While I’m sure the CT crew could put in that rehearsal time, that would leave them less time to work on new material.
So, bottom line, you can either have no scripts and less CT material or scripts and more new CT material. I vote for the latter.
I was also surprised that more people didn’t stay on Sunday for the meet and greet. It’s L.A. These guys aren’t really that famous by L.A. standards so it’s a little different than in other parts of the country. However, when I came to work tonight and told my co-worker that I met TV’s Frank, he got all excited and now he wants to see the show this week. As Joel always says “the right people will get it.”
Hi BG! Understand how you feel relative to script reading but it is simply not practical when trying to maintain quality in a multi-quantity enviorement. Besides these many different shows they are conducting at the moment, I am sure they are also working on future showa as well. I’m getting a migraine just thinking about keeping all these hundreds of wisecracks straight and timed! Lessser of the two evils my man.
Tell me, how would you feel if you went to a play and the actors were using scripts?
People used to go to network radio programs and watch the actors read scripts on stage. That’s simply how it was done in those days.
Another thing to consider concerning scripts: there are five people there with 600+ jokes very specific to certain times in the movie. Memorization in this situation would be problematic. If one of them flubs, they could ruin the next person’s joke – or even the next ten jokes. What if they forget which line is theirs, and two people try to deliver the same line at the same time? With the scripts they can always get back on track, and reliably deliver the majority of the jokes the way they intended. I imagine having the script there also takes a lot of pressure off the performance, allowing them to relax and have fun with it. At the shows I attended they seemed to really enjoy themselves and that spilled over to the audience.
For me, their physical arrangement on stage – the separation – is what makes the delivery appear less natural than MST. We’re used to seeing them all sitting together. When I concentrate on watching the film rather than them, they sound just as natural as they ever did.
I did mention I was nitpicknig, didn’t I!!! :)
Perhaps it’s not even so much that they have scripts, but more that they often deliver lines as a person reading off a script would (Mary Joe especially.) I wasn’t the one in my group that mentioned it, though it had been my gripe w/CT from the start. Still, I as I said, it’s an awesome show and highly recommended.
Glad I didn’t bring up the fact that they need to shade their on-stage reading lights so that they’re not in the audience’s eyes. I might’ve been crucified.
Boggy Geek, that would be A LOT of riffs to memorize and get the timing down pat for…and for 5 different 90-minute+ movies! No, I don’t mind that they have reference scripts in front of them (I’m naturally drawn to watching the movie anyway, not the CT performers), but I do agree with you that their delivery FEELS more scripted than MST3K did. I feel the same way about Rifftrax.
It astounds me that Joel, Trace, Mike, Bill, et al did MST3K so perfectly for years, but haven’t quite recaptured the casual “living room” feel of the show with their respective riffing ventures. Even though you knew the MST3K guys had probably seen the movie half a dozen times before they taped the episode, it really did seem like they were watching the movie for the first time, and the riffing was happening spontaneously. (Even with a script in front of them!) For me, neither CT or RT has duplicated that sense of the guys just putting their feet up and “having a go” at the movie. It all feels like their putting too much EFFORT into it, if that makes sense.
Strangely enough, the best riffers on CT in my opinion are the ones who were not regular riffers on MST3K: Frank, Mary Jo, and Josh (his one season as Servo not withstanding).
That said, they are all very funny, and I still love what they do, and I think they’ll get it right eventually. In fact, I’m going to the Wednesday AND Thursday night Largo shows, and really looking forward to them!
I agree with my namesake in Portland that the only complaint I have about CT is that they do sound like they are delivering each joke and it’s not so spontaneous, although I think there were a few spontaneous lines when I saw them in Seattle for what was then called the Dynamite Brothers.
I think this is because in MST, you had three characters who were trapped and forced to watch bad movies so there was kind of a shared comraderie with the characters and they were joking to try to survive the experience. CT is really missing a reason for the people to be there, I know they’re trying with the time tube thing but it doesn’t quite work for me. Another big problem is you never see the characters, they are always in silhouettes, which hampers the host segments which haven’t come close to the MST days’ greatness.
Don’t get me wrong, CT is still great fun and I would definitely go see them again if they come anywhere near me.
Can’t we just to the topic at hand,which is HOW WAS THE SHOW?? Instead of all this nit-picking and arguing? It would be nice for a change.Listen,if I wanted to,I could do the same thing,but that still wouldn’t matter because I LOVE the show!!! Script or no script,that is the question.As long as they’re funny and keep coming up with new jokes,then that’s all that matters to me.Didn’t anyone ever feel that The Film Crew wasn’t up to par and felt like they were repeating the same old jokes? I know I did,but I still supported them.Since MST3K is no longer on the air,then CT and Rifftrax is all we have,right?? Can’t we all just get along?? :mrgreen:
The show was fabulous. I couldn’t stop laughing and I can’t wait until this one is released on DVD. I think Joel mentioned that this movie has one of the lamest monsters ever…and he was right!
I absolutely loved the “Theremin Moth” comment. (Referring to a cheesy butterfly that was so obviously hanging by a thread…and its sound effect was that of a theremin.)
Wish I could see all 5 shows. I’d even see this one again if I could!
Wow..it sounds like fun…wish I could have been there :cry:
It’s not everyday you see a film where a guy gets beaten up by a Butterfly.
There was also a Tom Servo reference. They showed a close-up of an old-fashioned oil lamp and one of them remarked “Wild West Tom Servo.”
Another favorite moment was when two girls were splayed out on two wooden Xs…waiting for the monster to come for his sacrifice. The riff was something about how the new Dos Equis ad campaign wasn’t quite working. Too funny.
>>”Can’t we just to the topic at hand,which is HOW WAS THE SHOW??”
No, this is the Internet, where being nasty or just unnecessarily unpleasant without fear of consequence is the reason for existence for many. :roll:
Though I didn’t see last weekend’s shows (wish I had), I’ve been to three live CT performances during the past 12 months. They were terrific shows and it never occurred to me to criticize them for using scripts any more than I would have criticized them for using scripts on MST3K. There are hundreds of jokes during every 90-minute show and, after all, they are comedians not the flippin’ RSC. I don’t have a problem with the use of scripts. Everyone knows the jokes are scripted anyway.
How could they name themselves after such a tragedy?!
Oops, wrong thread. :wink:
The tragedy is the particular film they are doing.
I’ve seen them six times. They need the scripts. God knows, I would. It does not distract at all. There IS a lot of ad libbinig. So, if that’s all you’ve got to say and worry or bitch about, please go someplace else and leave us alone.
And I’m sorry they’re cutting Gruber short. His whole warm up is always hysterical. Last time in Chicago, it was a totally different show each night. Except for Convoluted Man, of course.
A great orchestra, with accomplished musicians, always has their sheet music in front of them when they perform. These guys are an orchestra. I saw “The Alien Factor” last night and it was funnier even than when my partner and I went to see them perform “The Doomsday Machine” last year. There was one thing in particular where I think Trace caught the rest of the Titans off-guard and cracked up everyone on stage and off. It was a wonderful spontaneous riff that I’ll remember always. I spoke with MJ afterwards and she said she was really happy with this one in particular. The folks signed autographs afterwards and as everyone has already said, they’re the nicest people to meet. They all signed my DVD cover of “The Oozing Skull” and I’m still in the afterglow!
“Alien Factor” was hilarious last night. The ad-libbed line Bob mentioned above was definitely a highlight, although I think my favorite riff of the night was one referencing Chevy Chase.
This may be the best CT I’ve seen so far, either live or on DVD. But then, I’m going again tonight for “East Meets Watts”, so maybe they’ll manage to top themselves.
I remember the Chevy Chase line, too. My boyfriend nearly choked with laughter. Wish I were going tonight but he’s got a work thing to go to.
Although “special guest” Maria Bamford did not perform, and no reason was given for her not being there. We got Gruber, though, so that was cool.
They were also selling “Alien Factor” “CT”-Shirts at the event. I didn’t buy one, but probably will tonight. Are they doing that for every movie, or just “Alien Factor”? (I guess I’ll find out tonight.)
I know that tour shirts exist for East Meets Watts, Alien Factor and Tikki Island because they were selling those in Philadelphia back in the summer tour.
Had a blast last night at CT Live! So much fin seeing everyone live. Chris Hardwick was a fantastic warm-up act. Gruber was awesome as well!
East Meets Watts was horrible. So many laugh out loud lines. I think one of my faves was: Hi. I’m a houseplant.
My wife loved: Oh crap I’ve walked into a Journey video.
My only complaints would be the seats in that theater are AWFUL and no size Medium Shirts!
After the show Josh told us that the night before one of the people who’d worked on Alien Factor had shown up to see the show. Kinda neat!
Great job to all the Titans! Come back soon!
I am still heaving nerd sighs. It was something to be surrounded by hardcore MSTies and watch The Alien Factor. It happened to have all my favorite elements – Thorazine-soaked acting, laughable monsters (3 of ’em, they called the hairy one “Fauxbacca”), 70s beards/clothes/references, and a twitchy Moog soundtrack.
Joel came out and introduced the cast, and gave a very earnest thanks to everyone for “supporting Mystery Science all these years.” Faint.
Gruber was a GREAT warmup, too. Did a whole thing on how lyrics and jazz don’t mix. Amen.
Joel’s brother, Jim Hodgson, also promoted an upcoming event benefitting the Down Syndrome Association of Los Angeles, of which he is the Senior Director (http://www.dsala.org). These people are nonstop amazing.
It was beyond great to see the cast cracking each other up; at one moment Mary Jo would barely be holding it together, at another it’d be Frank. Josh really kicks ass with his line reads, but they all are awesome in their own ways.
Trace! Trace! Trace! There. I hadn’t mentioned him yet.
I stuck around for the signing stuff and have never felt so at ease doing something like that. The titans are as nice as you’d hope.
Oh, about shirts: I’m a lady, and planned to buy every shirt in Small and chew up the scenery with ’em where ever I went. But they only had a Small of East Meets Watts. I was a little bummed, but that’ll happen when you like stuff with merch mostly geared towards guys. Am I right, ladies :twisted: ? Kill me.
“East Meets Watts” was pretty good. It didn’t make me laugh as hard as other CT outings, but it worked very well. Blaxploitation and kung-fu movies aren’t, in general, very riffable, but here it is. Josh’s reactions to Aldo’s awkward, liberal use of racial slurs was fantastic.
Speaking of which, I’m glad that both Hardwick and the crew weren’t afaid of using cuss words, but at the same time didn’t overuse them to the point of a fourth grader who just discovered the word “f*ck”. The on-stage curbing of “MST fan pandering” was a great jesture, too. I like the show as much as the next person here, but I’m glad these guys must recognize themselves as working comedians rather than cult-appeal catchphrase machines.
This movie is most well known to me under the name “Dynamite Brothers”, which is known by its Charles Earland soundtrack. That instantly became an idle conversation piece amonst myself and both the courtyard DJ (who was playing Mexican garage rock versions of Blue Cheer, for example) and the DVD-selling fellow playing Curtis Mayfield’s amazing “Back To The World” LP.
The Titans signed my “Frankenstein” DVD after I briefly mentioned to Frank, Joel and Trace that my introduction to goofy European exploitation movies was due to MST
The synchronized spit take during East Meets Watts was one of the funniest things I have ever witnessed. I missed a couple of the riffs after that because I was laughing so hard.