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Herc's Seen Joel Hodgson’s
MST3K Follow-Up:
CINEMATIC TITANIC!!
I am – Hercules!!
“Cinematic Titanic” FAQ
What is “Cinematic Titanic?”
“Mystery Science Theatre 3000” vets Joel Hodgson (the original Joel Robinson), Trace Beaulieu (the original Crow T. Robot) and J. Elvis Weinstein (the original Tom Servo) have reunited to mock more movies, this time for DVD release. They are joined this time in the mocking of the movie by fellow MST3K icons Frank Coniff (the original Frank) and Mary Jo Pehl (the original Pearl Forrester).
So there are now five voices mocking the movie at once?
Correct.
How long has it been since Joel Hodgson did this sort of thing?
A while. His last regular episode of MST3K, “Mitchell,” was cablecast almost 15 years ago, Oct. 23, 1993, but he also guest-starred on one 1999 MST3K episode, “Soultaker.”
Is CT as funny as MST3K?
Maybe a little funnier! I found myself laughing aloud a lot. “Is that a really tiny desk or is he wearing wooden pants?” may have elicted actual tears.
Which movie does this pilot mock?
“The Oozing Skull” (1972), a.k.a. “Brain of Blood,” “The Brain,” “Brain Damage,” “The Undying Brain” and “The Creature’s Revenge.” It’s about a brain transplant gone terribly wrong. It stars Grant Williams (“The Incredible Shrinking Man”) and dwarf Angelo Rossitto (“Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome”).
Is a pre-feature short mocked?
Sadly, no.
Do we see the commentators’ shadows in front of the screen?
We do! The shadows of all five commentators adorn the lower right and left corners of the screen, some of them standing on risers. I believe they are situated, from left to right, thusly: Weinstein, Hodgson, Pehl, Coniff and Beaulieu.
Isn’t this already downloadable on Mike Nelson’s website or something?
You might be thinking of rifftrax.com, which offers audio-only commentaries that you’re supposed to synch up with expensive DVD swill like “The Phantom Menace,” “Star Trek: Generations” and “Fantastic Four.” Nelson often does these with Kevin Murphy (the latter-day Tom Servo), and sometimes with Murphy and Bill Corbett (the latter-day Crow), and other times with his hot, funny wife and at least once with the dude who played Doogie Howser. Nelson, Murphy and Corbett also have their own direct-to-DVD series, “The Film Crew.”
Are there CT skits?
After a fashion, but no one ever leaves the “screening room” on CT. The feature is freeze-framed, and the performers, always in shadow, perform strange little sketches. Hodgson is central to none of them.
Do the commentators dwell in space on a super-secret satellite? Are the commentators put there to see how much filmic torture they can endure?
There are no robots or character. The five commentators plays themselves, although a sixth figure appears briefly as the shadow of Al Hirt.
Is there a funny title song explaining the premise? Is the phrase “you should really just relax” employed?
No and no.
What kind of pop-culture references can we look forward to?
Referenced are The Pussycat Dolls, Mapquest, Tammy Wynette, “Close Encounters,” Burning Man, Birdseye frozen dinners, Jiffy-Pop, Jack LaLanne, “M*A*S*H,” Amy Winehouse, Phil Spector, “The Addams Family,” Lindsay Lohan, Cat Stevens, Whammo, A&W, Nancy Sinatra, Howard Stern, “The Amazing Race,” “Spider-Man,” David Blaine, Quinn Martin Productions, THX-1138, “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” “The Love Bug,” Ikea, Dean Martin, “Sunset Boulevard,” “Fantasy Island,” “Valley of the Dolls,” The Pep Boys, Underdog, “The Blair Witch Project,” Slinky commercials, Pepperidge Farm commercials nerf, Melanie Griffith, Kenny Baker, Dinty Moore, Clint Howard, PinkBerry, Syd Field, TicketMaster, Google Earth, Diet Squirt, Benny Hill, Walter Brennan, the George Foreman Grill, Doug McClure, Mel Blanc and Tennessee Ernie Ford.
Do you miss the bots?
The bots are missed.
How can I get my hot little hands on a copy?
The launch party in Minneapolis isn’t until Feb. 12, but you can already purchase the disc online here.
$29.99 For All Nine Discs!!
50% OFF SCI-FI SALE!!
Herc Says ALL-STAR SUPERMAN Represents The Best Superman Stories In Decades!!
Readers Talkback
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Sidewalk kinda looks like ice cream if you squint at it.
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I've always been a fan of MST3K, but I haven't purchased any of the latter day crew stuff (i.e. rifftrax, etc) but I may have to check this out
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Please bring back MST3K, accept no substitutes...
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MST3K showed it at Boston University before it aired on cable. My friends and I hung out in front of the theatre for 8 hours so we'd be first. Good times, good times.
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Andy Kaufman? "You're so stooopeed!"
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I don't know about this idea. I never really got into the "plot" and backstory of MST3K and focused on the films, but for whatever reason, it seemed good-natured PRECISELY because these guys were forever stuck on a spaceship being used as lab rats and had a reason to be disgruntled at these bad films. This will just be a collection of real people mocking a film, which is less of a fun premise. I don't know how this will work.
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If these hit netflix I'll check them out but until then rifftrax has been doing very well at keeping the flame going for MST3k fans and mary jo did a rifftrax as well.
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Very good stuff--Joel and especially Frank are in top form. The Al Hirt bit alone makes it worth seeing. Plus, dwarves = funny!
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Trace's very last joke could also be a call back the "Daddy-o"'s classic "Want some?" host segment. Or maybe just a funny joke.
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[smack, thump] "I want an answer!"
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the thing that always bugged me about MST3K was the obscure outdated early-90's references, when you knew the joke would have been funny, it just never was because I had no idea who the fuck yahoo serious is. i'm really excited about this. watch out for snakes
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it used to come on saturday mornings with reruns and was pretty much the only reason I woke up. did a license or something run out? what gives?
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For my bride-to-be. She's an MST3K fanatic and I can't wait to see it myself!
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Well, Comedy Central cancelled it because it wasn't as 'cutting edge' as South Park and Crank Yankers. SciFi Channel picked it up, but they cancelled it because they needed mor room in their budget for 'Mansquito2". Originally, Joel wanted to bring back MST3K, but Jim Mallon wouldn't let him (only god knows why) so now we have Cinematic Titanic. Also, check out Jim's half-assed answer to actually having more episodes, mst3k.com. It sucks so bad, you don't know weather to laugh or cry. But mainly it's there to put even more money (that he won't share with the rest of the mstie crew) in Jim Mallon's pocket.
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I've missed this show tremendously as it kept me alive late nights in college and after repeats and all. To have them back is great, but something is missing and the warmth and familiarity is lacking even though I remember them all. Some tuning and get this fucker back on the air and I'll be a happy camper. And, send in the 'bots. There ought to be 'bots. Fewer folks too, maybe trading off or something would do the trick.
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Ok, I'm on board. I wonder if they cuss in these? MST3K was pretty G rated with a few undertones of R.
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Joe Don Baker. Linda Evans. A bottle of baby oil on the nightstand while Joel and the bots shriek in terror. Good times...
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I can't wait to see the CT stuff. But I also would highly recommend Rifftrax to anyone out there. Frakkin' hilarious. In fact, I caught them live last week doing Plan 9 From Outer Space (which is actually kinda atypical of the movies they choose). Be sure to watch all of their Star Trek riffs. Brilliant. It's good to have all the MSTers back in action.
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WAFFLES WAFFLES WAFFLES WAFFLESWAFFLES WAFFLES WAFFLES WAFFLESWAFFLES WAFFLES WAFFLES WAFFLESWAFFLES WAFFLES WAFFLES WAFFLESWAFFLES WAFFLES WAFFLES WAFFLES
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Well, in this case it is. I think it's because of more people slamming bad movies, but this is great. I am hoping that this will lead to friendly competition, better efforts to mock bad cinema, and maybe even the Oscars and Golden Globes in the future. Imagine that!
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nothing but good reviews...5 or 4 1/2 stars all the way from everyone. helluva lot cheaper than buying those $60 mst3k dvds. i'm psyched.
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So far the Film Crew is a little saltier than CT. Some mild cussing, mostly from Kevin Murphy. CT has more gross-out stuff, mainly due to the content of the movie. The Al Hirt thing I mentioned earlier is rather gross...
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And I'm all out of sushi
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god i missed those guys!
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... also (allegedly) kept the Film Crew guys tied up in court for almost a year before they could release their DVD's.
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I miss the series terribly - been watching the few episodes I taped that didn't get destroyed when my basement flooded. ALso, comedy groups all over have picked up the format - notably the Sinus Crew (formerly mr. sinus theater)are freakin HI-LAR-I-OUS. It's the only way to watch "showgirls" and "dirty dancing". Nothing's better than the original MST3K, though. favorite episode=Mano:Hands of Fate<P><P>does anyone know if Rifftrax are on Itunes?
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Nothing against Joel, but Mike is da man. Check out the MST3K of 'Red Zone Cuba'. I'm still freaking laughing at it and it's been a few years.
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"It star Grant Williams ('The Incredible Shrinking Man' and dwarf Angelo Rossitto..." I'm sure the late Mr. Rossitto would be proud that you abridged his film legacy into one word ("dwarf"). Jesus, couldn't you have parenthetically appended FREAKS to his name?
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I remember returning home, very depressed, from a funeral. I tuned-in MST3K's spin on SANTA CLAUS CONQUERS THE MARTIANS and it was extremely therapeutic. I miss the guys, Pearl and the Bots. Goddamn the Sci-Fi Channel for the show's cancellation; the network obviously prefers their in-house slop (giant snakes, more giant snakes and MANSQUITO...which comparatively made ORGY OF THE DEAD look like THE LADY FROM SHANGHAI.
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The fact that they do current movies is the best part. I highly recommend the riff on 300. "I wonder if on July 4th, Leonidas says 'This, is, a SPARKLER!'"
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A bad day with Joel and company is better than the best of anything else Comedy Central has to offer. Hands Of Fate...out.
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I'll definitely pick this up.
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I was addicted to this show in college. Seriously, I would end dates early because the Mystery Science Theater Hour would be coming on in 5 minutes and I had to hurry back to my dorm to catch it. Hmm, not sure how proud I should be in admitting that...
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sad, but good to know there's at least someone to blame. that'll make me feel better. well, that and Mr. B Natural on youtube.
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Watched 'Space Mutiny' while recovering from my vasectomy. That wasn't a good idea. All the different ridiculous lead character names resulted in a split testicle. I think I'm generally a Mike Nelson guy, but I'll check this out fer sure, man.
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Haven't watched the whole thing yet, but I'm thinking 5 riffers at a time is a bit much, visually and aurally.
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It's great having all of the guys (and girls) back doing what they do best, but it's just not the same. MST's ultra low budget and lovable characters gave it a common-man charm that the successors have so far been unable to match. [p] Don't get me wrong... I'm incredibly grateful to be getting new material from the old MST crew (except for the god-awful mst3k.com shorts). I'm just disappointed that while the new stuff makes me laugh, all it REALLY does is make me long for more MST.
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Just showing my love of mst3k and "Space Mutiny";-)
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I was so excited about Cinematic Titanic I nearly cried. I am that screwed up.
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The fact that they do old movies is better. I don't want to watch Rifftrax do recent blockbusters and think "I was an idiot for seeing this in the theater." Hell, even when they do Raiders of the Lost Ark, I think, "Fuck, I've already seen this movie a thousand times," but give me some obscure dreck called "The Oozing Skull" and I'm all over that.
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I've listened to several RiffTrax and while it's not as good as MST3K, THE WICKER MAN one is to die for.
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"Mitchell" was required viewing in my Air Force days. The liquid-metal jokes, the Johnny Mathis jokes...damn, that episode was the best. Had no idea it was Joel's last episode. Good one to go out on.
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...man, I'm glad I live in Minneapolis! My house is a 5 minute walk from the original KTMA 23 studios (now a FedEx depot), and I got tickets this afternoon to the Feb 12 show at Acme! Sweet!
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God I miss Misty
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I just now discovered Rifftrax, just this second, and of course my bank account is overdrawn. The free samples were very funny though. 'sigh' I remember once, about eight years ago being drunk at a party in my home and just screaming at everybody about why Joel was better than Mike. Nobody was arguing, but I was screaming nonetheless. My memory is hazy but I clearly remember some girl saying, "Why is he so angry?" Those were the days. I'm tearing up a little, I had no idea the guys were still actively making fun of movies. It's a brand new day!
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"Overdrawn at the Memory Bank"! Great episode: "Mom, my nuts?"
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Jan. 24, 2008, 10:04 p.m. CST
The Gods to not approve of this inept car chase sequence!
by Osmosis Jones
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Daddy-O....
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Ah, Rocketship X-M
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God, that still is cracking me up. <p> Of course that was Mike and not Joel...actually was it Trace?
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RiffTrax, The Film Crew AND Cinematic Titanic? It's like an awesomeness salad! And I'm gonna toss it! ...wait.
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Or a comedy off.
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You leave my father out of this!!!
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Cinematic Titanic and Rifftrax are both great, but I want MST3K back.
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As good as Rifftrax is (and CT too, I'm sure)they just make me pine for more MST3K. I converted my wife to it with a double whammy of Hobgoblins and Puma Man
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dish of ice cream... Oh Joel, how I have missed thee. No one can top Manos.
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Booze is good food.
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I would hate that there were a Joel vs. Mike feud or something, and I don't mean between the fans but among projects. They're all genii, so can't they all play along? A Mike/Joel riff would be bliss. Also, a tip to fans: I often rip the audio off the (official, legally purchased) DVDs and load them on the iPod; then, I let the audio play at night, and as the voices filter through the unconscious mind, my dreams are often infused (and perhaps constructed) with the comments of the misties. Last night "experiment": Touch of Evil. It's really a weird but wonderful experience.
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practically all the seasons are available on DVD, but The Movie can still only be found on VHS? I have an old, old copy off of HBO, but its aging badly...
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skimn, a new version of The Movie on DVD is due out in May (there was a cheapo version released a few years back). This story has details on that, and on the show DVD's moving to Shout! Factory (home of The Film Crew):<p>http://tinyurl.com/yool49
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Certain lines from the original MST3K can still make a few of my old friends and I drop to the ground from laughter. If this is anywhere as good as the old MST, I'm there.
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Mitchell car chase FTW
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I bet the words "Where's my cocaine?" were heard a lot on this film.
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That makes you a noob. One of my greatest joys in watching MST3K is being able to flex the depths of the truly weird and worthless shit I know, and to hear people such as that bastard Yahoo Serious get a little bit of comeuppance.
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when it came to their jokes, they never asked them selves "Who will get this?" they always knew the right people would get it. "Sandy Fraaank Sandy Fraaank, dubs crappy movies from Japaaaaan! Sandy Fraaank Sandy Fraaank, likes to crap in his haaaand!!"
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So when and where is this "launch party"? I live the Twins Cities so I'd love to be there. I used to like Mike ("Mind Over Matters" is the funniest book ever written), but he and RiffTrax have gotten caustic and angry (and less funny) recently. Joel was the original and I always enjoyed his sleepier, gentler riffing—a good counterpoint to the more sarcastic bots.
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A lot of Kryptonian Jelly and a big assed box of tissues, I betcha!
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The Master will be pleased. Would you like your free "Crazy Bread" now?
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A talkbacker somewhere up there made mention of Yahoo Serious and I damn near pissed myself laughing at the mere thought of him. Oh Yahoo, where art thou? Surely you could land a role in "Wild Hogs Go Down Under"
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TOM: And why do I have a picture of a burger on the wall?
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I'd love to go, just need to find out where it's happening in Minneapolis.
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Duck-billed hair...Call me wild...Oscar Wilde! I don't care...Sideburns don't need your sympathy. God I haven't thought of that in ages!! lol
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IXII?
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I went to one with Joel and another one with Mike. Just fantastic to see the funny guys in action. After one of the shows, I even got Joel's autograph. He was very down to Earth.
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DVDPodblast is the first, best and ONLY alternate DVD commentary podcast you should ever bother yourself with. It's live off-the-cuff and fuckin' funny.
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It's at Acme Comedy Company in the Warehouse District. Tickets are $20 for the show, more if you want dinner too. 8pm on Tuesday, Feb 12. A fine pre-Valentine's Day date for a geek couple!
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Thanks for the info and it would be an awesome pre-Valentine's Day date.
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"He's the best"
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I want MST3K back on the air!
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hehe
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http://tinyurl.com/2s9yqh http://tinyurl.com/2tjr42
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Several reasons. First off, finding a network willing to open a TWO HOUR BLOCK for the show is near impossible. Comedy Central (formerly The Comedy Channel) had NO programming at the start, so they were taking anything at the time. It was a hit, so the kept it until the network bastards got greedy and started cheaping out the gang. Then Sci-Fi got it, and when the guy in charge left (the guy who LIKED the show), it got canned. Then there's the fact that NONE of the sets (and practically all the props) don't exist anymore. Just after the cancellation, Jim Mallon (the voice of GYPSY in the Comedy Central era - and the current owner of the MST franchise) sold EVERYTHING off via ebay (and I now own Dr. Forrester's and TV's Frank's lab coats as a result). Plus, Jim and Joel don't really get along so well. Joel tried to reconcile with Jim before the CT project took flight, but there was no mending the rift. Then there's the fact that Jim is really the only person getting ANY royalties from MST3K (he managed to cut everyone from the cast out of that deal) so for the most part, EVERYONE has a bit of a mad-on for Jim Mallon. Then there's Mike Nelson, who with Kevin and Bill (the latter day Servo and Crow) formed "The Film Crew", currently marketing their DVD riffs of bad movies via SHOUT FACTORY (a project originally set to go out via Rhino - but Jim Mallon got word, and strong-armed Rhino basically saying that Film Crew was too much like MST3K, and if you market them, I'll take MST3K and leave - so they caved and it took about 3 more years for The Film Crew to find a home). Mike then started RiffTrax, brought in Kevin and Bill to work there with him. He's making out nicely with that deal. Then lat last year, Joel announces Cinematic Titanic. Almost immediately after that announcement, Jim Mallon announces the launch of MST3K.com stating "The Bots are BACK" (but they're only back in the form of very badly written and even more poorly flash animated "adventure" by themselves - no Mike or Joel). But the Bots haven't been "back since early December, and there's speculation that Jim only did this to cash in on the new-found success of EVERYONE ELSE that he's managed to alienate. But there's been no "new" content for almost two months now, and folks are wondering if that site is doomed to fail... So in a nutshell, the reason there'll never be a return of MST3K is: Jim Mallon.
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