Cool News
Learn What’s On MST3K’s
20th Anniversary Set!!
I am – Hercules!!
An answer at last to the question that seems to plague every HercVault talkback! Oct. 28 will bring:
* Four episodes new to DVD:
1) “First Spaceship on Venus”
2) “Laserblast”
3) “Werewolf” and
4) “Future War.”
* New interviews with Joel Hodgson, Mike Nelson, Trace Beaulieu, Kevin Murphy, Bill Corbett, J. Elvis Weinstein and Jim Mallon.
* Footage from the 20th anniversary reunion panel.
* Lobby cards and a Crow T. Robot figurine.
Look! Press release!
Limited Edition 4-DVD Box Set Includes Collectible Crow T. Robot Figurine and Lobby Cards
Featuring Never-Before-Released MST3K Film Episodes:
First Spaceship On Venus, Laserblast, Werewolf and Future War and All-New Bonus Content
AVAILBLE ON OCTOBER 28, 2008 FROM SHOUT! FACTORY
Multiple Emmy®-nominated and Peabody Award-winning Mystery Science Theater 3000 (MST3K) is a true cult classic. Its high-camp rendition of B-movies from every genre to the small screen makes it one of the most memorable pop culture shows of our time. Brimming with laugh-out-loud commentaries from caustically hilarious space travelers Joel Robinson, Mike Nelson and their robot pals Crow T. Robot and Tom Servo, MST3K was a genuine phenomenon. Its popularity spawned an MST3K fan following that numbers over hundreds of thousands of fans world-wide.
Celebrating 20 years after MST3K’s premiere on television, the entire creative team reunites for the first time when Shout! Factory proudly presents its MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000: 20th Anniversary Edition DVD box set on October 28, 2008. A sumptuous ode to this cult-classic series, the 20th Anniversary Edition DVD box set features four of the show’s most requested unreleased film episodes – First Spaceship on Venus, Laserblast, Werewolf and Future War, and boasts exclusive DVD bonus content that explore the genesis, life and afterlife of MST3K. Fans will thrill to watch all new interviews with the entire MST3K family– including Joel Hodgson, Jim Mallon, Trace Beaulieu, Mike Nelson, Bill Corbett, Kevin Murphy, J. Elvis Weinstein, as well as footage from the 20th Anniversary Reunion panel and much more! Moreover, this lavishly packaged 4-DVD box set contains collectible lobby cards and a figurine of the world famous Crow T. Robot – all assembled in a collectible embossed tin and only available with the purchase of this DVD box set.
Earlier this year, Shout! Factory secured the worldwide home entertainment rights to a vast library of original MST3K episodes that have never-been-available on DVD or for digital download. The MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000: 20th Anniversary Edition DVD box set is the first of a series of DVD box set from Shout! Factory, in association with Best Brains, Inc.
FIRST SPACESHIP ON VENUS
In the 1960 sci-fi thriller First Spaceship On Venus, a mysterious magnetic spool found during a construction project is discovered to have originated from Venus. A rocket expedition to the mysterious cloudy planet is launched to discover the origin of the spool and the alien race that created it.
LASERBLAST
In 1978’s Laserblast, young actor Kim Milford plays an ostracized teenager who stumbles upon the remains of murdered mutated alien in the California desert. Along with the alien’s remains, a high-tech laser gun and power source are accidentally left behind by the extraterrestrial murderers. While examining the equipment, the teen inadvertently mutates himself with a laserblast, and embarks upon a murderous rampage.
WEREWOLF
1996 horror flick Werewolf begins with an archeological dig in an Arizona quarry. The Native Americans at the dig site recognize an unearthed skeleton as the remains of a werewolf, yet the team of archeologists are skeptical. When a dig assistant becomes infected and transforms into a werewolf, the ambitious team leader begins a horrific experiment, infecting the oblivious townspeople with the werewolf virus.
FUTURE WAR
In 1997’s action-packed Future War, a race of evil cyborgs kidnap humans from Earth’s future to use as slaves, and take dinosaurs from the past to use as trackers. A determined slave, the “Runaway”, escapes and makes his way to present-day Los Angeles. There he must fend off the cyborgs and their trackers, the police, and the government, befriended by a prostitute-turned-nun who runs a halfway house.
The Mystery Science Theater 3000 series was created by Joel Hodgson and produced by Best Brains, Inc. After a year on KTMA TV in Minneapolis, its national broadcast life began in 1989 on the Comedy Channel (later to become Comedy Central), where it ran for seven seasons. The show’s final three seasons aired on the Sci-Fi Channel. The premise of the series features a hapless man who is trapped by mad scientists on a satellite in space and forced to watch old B-movies of questionable worth. To keep sane, he’s built two robot sidekicks, and together they do a running commentary on the films, affectionately mocking their flaws with inspired wisecracks and acting as a demented movie theater peanut gallery. Series creator Hodgson originally played the stranded man, Joel Robinson. When he left in 1993, series head writer Mike Nelson replaced him as the new B-movie victim Mike Nelson, and continued in the role for the rest of the show’s run. The format proved to be popular. During its eleven years and 198 episodes (including one feature film), MST3K attained a loyal fan base and critical acclaim. The series won a Peabody Award in 1993, and was nominated for writing Emmys® in 1994 and 1995.
About Shout! Factory
Shout! Factory is a diversified entertainment company devoted to producing, uncovering and revitalizing the very best of pop culture. Founders Richard Foos, Bob Emmer and Garson Foos have spent their careers sharing their music, television and film faves with discerning consumers the world over. Shout! Factory’s DVD offerings serve up classic, contemporary and cult TV series, riveting sports programs, live music, animation and documentaries in lavish packages crammed with extras. The company’s audio catalogue boasts GRAMMY®-nominated boxed sets, new releases from storied artists, lovingly assembled album reissues and indispensable “best of” compilations. These riches are the result of a creative acquisitions mandate that has established the company as a hotbed of cultural preservation and commercial reinvention. Shout! Factory is based in Santa Monica, California. For more on Shout! Factory, visit www.shoutfactory.com
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...just to hear the gang sing during the end credits to "Werewolf."
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first time in my life I remember actually hurting from laughter...this may have to be purchased...
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http://tinyurl.com/683sch <p> I envisioned it way differently, but could be cool...
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simple as that. I can't believe Harry hates this, HOW CAN HE LOVE EVERY MOVIE!?! watch DEATH BED!!
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I really expected more from a 20th anniversary collectors set than a meager 4 episode. I'll still get it, but the 20th anniversary surely deserves better.
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"Rifftrax" is a clear case of too much of a good thing but it's still a group of some of the funniest people ever (I wish they'd do an original project sometime). Mike Nelson's books and the RiffTrax blog are funnier than the movie riffing itself.
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Oh now I have to have it.
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I'm pumped. Personally, I don't see how Harry can't something that is such a love letter to movies. Certainly some of the later episodes were rougher on the films, but all of the Joel seasons are chock full of hazy-pot-fueled love for all things weird and wonderful. Some of the movies can be enjoyed on their own, but 99% are FAR from the "genre classics" Harry proclaims. Just cause it's junky doesn't make it saintly.
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Not sure how I feel about this. Four films? No Godzilla? No Amazing Colossal Man? No shorts? Well, it does say it's the first in a series of box sets. Fingers crossed for down the line.
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Very glad to see it included on the set.
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subjectively i like joel and mike equally. objectively joel was the better host.
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Even the worst episodes were funny as hell. I only saw a couple with Joel, and those were awesome. I did see just about all the episodes with Mike, and I kinda prefer his humor to Joel. I would buy the DVD's but they are way too expensive. I guess rifftrax is better than nothing...
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that Future War was already released in a box set. "Is that Jean Claude Van Damme?" "Naw, it's more like Jean Claude Gosh Darn."
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You named two of only 3 movies that have ever been pulled from release. ACM was released on VHS way way back, and then Bert I Gordon's estate decided to pull their permission. Same with Godzilla VS Megalon. (the third movie is Beginning of the End, which is a shame because I'd put that episode in the top 20 Mike episodes)
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That episode is still one of the funniest things I've even seen. The films so insane that it didn't need a commentary - but it ending up eith one of the funniest ones too - "All ABOARD!"
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The only MST3K movie I actually saw in a movie theater. It kind of scared me as a kid but made it all the funnier when I saw the guys at MST3K make fun of it years later.
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They spoofed Troll 2 in the past...they should release that with all the Troll 2 stuff going on.
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July 26, 2008, 7:11 a.m. CST
They all laughed when I accused my parents and I killed them...
by Nasty In The Pasty
Let's see if they'll be laughing nooooooooooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwwww
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is when they crack open Leonard Maltin's review book and list off every movie he gave less stars to than Laserblast. "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom... 2 stars... not as good as Laserblast..."
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I am biased to Mike because I came of age right as Joel was finishing up and Mike transitioned to the host. By then the riffing was pretty good (from both hosts) and the formula was worked out. Joel's early episodes are, understandably, a work in progress while Mike's were pretty much all top notch, riffing-wise. But also, Joel was resigned to his captivity while Mike was always bucking convention and trying to escape. I guess I just identify with Mike's character more. Which is why I think it's funnier when they really rag on the movies because they're pretty bad. They are playful when the movie demands it (Giant Spider Invasion, Deathstalker, Space Mutiny) and hateful when the movie is just awful (Invasion of the Neptune Men, Hobgoblins, any Coleman Francis movie), whereas Joel sat through Manos, Time of the Apes, and those horrible Hercules movies while being goofy and upbeat--I wouldn't be like that, I'd be more like Mike, so I identify with that style. Though, I'll grant that Joel was pretty brutal in Mitchell and Eegah.
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Really?
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How I love it... I can not fuggin' wait for this set. Met Joel, Trace, Mary Jo, Frank and J. Elvis in Dallas... it was magical. Mary Jo signed my copy of Glitter. I will never let go of it.
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...I'll throw in on the theory that Puma Man is the best episode ever. "PYUMA-MAN!" "That's "POO-ma man." "HYOOMAN!" "THAT'S HOO-MAN... oh wait..."
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Up here in Minneapolis, we were lucky enough to get MST3K from the beginning on local television. Joel was awesome, and frankly, Mike was a pale imitation. It didn't help that a lot of the formula also changed in a short amount of time -- invention exchange, Dr. Forrester, TV's Frank, etc. all went away in a short amount of time. That's okay, though, Cinematic Titanic is here, and they're doing a live show at the 2,500-seat State Theater in October. I can't wait!
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and I was there from the beginning of the Comedy Central stuff. I initially resisted Mike as I was such a fan of Joel, but slowly I began to prefer Mike. I appreciated his attitude (NeoMyers is right, Mike was feistier, Joel more laid-back). I also felt that the Mike episodes packed more jokes in. In the Joel episodes, there are sometimes long stretches with no joke. They're both excellent, though. It doesn't have to be Kirk/Picard up in here.
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Can anyone shed some more detail on the press release about DIGITAL DOWNLOAD??? Will we be able to download these from Shout! or what? I've already ripped a ton of episodes to my iPod but I'd love newer episodes.
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the Hands of Fate?
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They never did Troll 2 as far as I know. If you know different then tell us which season it featured in.
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Was it in the article and I just missed it, or what?
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Rowsdower gotta eat!
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Do the Hustle! "Puma man, taste great with syrup!" yeah, I wish it had the Puma Man also.
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That would be epic.
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I find myself saying "not as good as laserblast" quite often. One of the best bits of the whole series.
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How can anyone cruelly write off Gypsy like that?
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Mike and Joel are in the last Joel episode. <p> Or the First Mike episode depending on how you see it. <p> There may be a couple with Mike not as Mike.
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that girl had great cans.
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I was hoping they'd get Joe Don Baker in there somehow, perhaps an interview. Supposedly he did NOT like them making fun of him, heh. That was one of the funniest episodes I'd ever seen, even going back to 89-90.
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hahaha same here, saw it in the theater as a kid and it was a bit scary back then. Thought the arm-laser thing was cool, though.
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truly epic
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I liked both of them... My favorite episodes are about 50% Joel eps/50% Mike eps (not to be confused with Mike Epps). However, what I find interesting is that Mike was the Head writer for most of the series. And, he also wrote all of the musical numbers.
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I just can't get into the Joel episodes, try as I might. I'm fairly indifferent to this boxed set, wake me when they release a Final Sacrifice, Horror of Party Beach, Jack Frost, Revenge of the Creature set.
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"This is absolutely fascinating." The look on her face and the complete lack of anything even remotely approaching acting talent is just classic.
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I worked for Suncoast when they started releasing MST on tape and those were two that got played to death in my store, especially Amazing Colossal Man. I'm horrified to learn I won't get them on DVD. What was the other title that was pulled?
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i wish they'd come back and do more
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Since he invented the 'bots he had a great fatherly rapport with them, while Mike often seemed like the superior older brother some of us are cursed with.
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The fat jokes about the grossly skinny mom... the cops smoking pot scene.... hearing... 'alllrighhtyyy then' as he laserblasts
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If i'm not mistaken, wasn't Mike Nelson always head writer on the show? Even when Joel was hosting? though i believe Joel's name was always on the 'creator' slot.
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What's up with this hack? He grounded out some of the worst movies ever made--and he's insulted that MST is roasting his legacy? Shoot, there goes BEGINNING OF THE END, THE AMAZING COLOSSAL MAN, KING DINOSAUR, et al. Stop the boo-hooing, Bert. Your films suck. Somewhere, in the Great Beyond, Ed Wood is snickering, "Wow, my films really blew. But I'm Orson Welles compared to Bert I. Gordon."
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so picking joel or mike based on how funny their episodes are is moot since it was a team of writers to think up jokes, it's not like one was up all night writing everything and then getting in front of the camera. that said joel's more whimsical attitude was better complimented to the more crazy robots. mike's personality was great but he relied too much on the "oh damn this sucks!" thing especially when they were onthe scifi channel, which can only go so far. joel was a performer at heart, mike was a writer, and that's what each was best suited for. however when mike came on he did not fuck it up and managed it adequately.
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July 27, 2008, 8:57 a.m. CST
I have been coming to this site and even longer before I started
by emeraldboy
I have never seen an entire epsiode of MST3k. Why i live outside north america. IN ireland. I cant think of a single channel in the UK that has ever shown this. I am completely in the dark over this. I cant call it the greatest tv show ever because I have not seen it.
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This was shown on satellite tv in the UK back in the 90's on The Sci-Fi Channel. Don't think the dvds ever came out on Region 2 though, although it's easy enough these days to get a region-free player and import the Region 1 versions. If you've never seen an episode then you really do owe it to yourself to get hold of them, you won't regret it. Unless you have no sense of humour, in which case, you'll probably wonder why you bothered.
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the best MST3K is Cave Dwellers with Joel. "Ator flies and so does my heart..."
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I agree. Cave Dwellers was one of the first and funniest I ever saw.Good call! "Man, this plot is more complicated than Tolkien!"
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torrent
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