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Visit our archives of the MST3K pages previously hosted by the Sci-Fi Channel's SCIFI.COM. Goodbye Sci-Fi Mike Nelson, Kevin Murphy and Bill Corbett reflect on MST3K's final broadcast. |
By Sampo, on August 18th, 2017 BORN ON THIS DATE
1893: Enzo Masetti, who composed the movies’ original musical scores in episodes 408- HERCULES UNCHAINED and 502- HERCULES.
1896: Alan Mowbray, who played the producer Gordon in the short ONCE UPON A HONEYMOON, seen in episode 701- NIGHT OF THE BLOOD BEAST.
1902: Dmitri Surensky, cinematographer for the movie “Morozko,” seen in episode 813- JACK FROST.
1903: Perry Finnerman, cinematographer for the movie in episode 307- DADDY-O.
1904: Emil Kolisch, who was responsible for the sound in the movie in episode 513- THE BRAIN THAT WOULDN’T DIE.**
1910: Emile Meyer, who played Cal Anders in the movie in episode 509- THE GIRL IN LOVERS LANE.
1915: Leo Needham, who played a truck driver in the movie in episode 906- THE SPACE CHILDREN.
1920: Shelley Winters, who played Andrea Harper in the movie in episode K16- CITY ON FIRE.
1923: Katherine Victor, who had the title role in the movie in episode 515- THE WILD, WILD WORLD OF BATWOMAN.
1923: John Bramall, sound recordist for the movie in episode 909- GORGO.
1924: Gunther Stoll, who played Curt in the movie in episode 323- THE CASTLE OF FU MANCHU.
1930: Grant Williams, who played Neil Foster in the movie in episode 802- THE LEECH WOMAN.
1930: Igo Kantor, who was the supervising editor for the movie in episode 104- WOMEN OF THE PREHISTORIC PLANET, the music editor for the movie in episode 420- THE HUMAN DUPLICATORS and the technical supervisor for the movie in episode 423- BRIDE OF THE MONSTER.
1931: Lynette aka Lynn Bernay, who played Dagda in the movie in episode 317- VIKING WOMEN AND THE SEA SERPENT.
1952: Best Brains’ favorite Patrick Swayze, who was saluted in Crow’s song “Let’s Have A Patrick Swayze Christmas” in a host segment in episode 321- SANTA CLAUS CONQUERS THE MARTIANS.
1957: Denis Leary, who was mentioned in a host segment in episode 560- EEGAH!*
DIED ON THIS DATE
1952: Ralph Byrd (age 43), who played Bob Simpson in the movie in episode 203- JUNGLE GODDESS and Static in the movie in episode 520- RADAR SECRET SERVICE.
1973: Frank Mills (age 82), who played a plant worker in the movie in episode 602- INVASION U.S.A.
1992: John Sturges (age 81), who directed the movie in episode 401- SPACE TRAVELERS.
1997: Don Knight (age 64), who played H.K. Muldoon in the movie in episode 608- CODE NAME: DIAMOND HEAD.
1998: Persis Khambatta (age 49), who played Natasia in the movie in episode 501- WARRIOR OF THE LOST WORLD.
2004: Elmer Bernstein (age 82), who, among the many movies he has scored, composed the music in the movie in episode 107- ROBOT MONSTER.
2005: Meredith Nicholson (age 92), cinematographer for the movie in episode 623- THE AMAZING TRANSPARENT MAN.
This Date in MSTory is written and compiled by Steve Finley, Chris Cornell and Brian Henry. Copyright © 2017 All rights reserved. Please do not reproduce This Date in MSTory items in any form without express written permission from the authors.
* = According to the IMBD this person is alive. If you can supply evidence that he or she has died, and when, please let us know.
** = If this appears next to a birthday, the IMDB indicates that the person has died, but the IMDB does not have a full death date (probably just a month and year or just the year he or she died). If you can give us the exact date (with some sort of proof we can check), please let us know.
** = If this appears next to a death date, the IMDB does not have this person’s full birthday. If you can provide it (with some sort of proof we can check), please let us know.
By Sampo, on August 17th, 2017 
Movie: (1966) A fey spy is assigned to protect a scientist from foreign agents.
First shown: 8/2/97
Opening: M&tB are into “extreme” things
Intro: Mike is put on trial for his crimes against the universe
Host segment 1: Pearl and Bobo give their opening statements
Host segment 2: The bots give their video depositions
Host segment 3: Observer takes the stand
End: Crow and Tom hold a candlelight vigil, and the judge gives his verdict and sentence
Stinger: Spaz chop!
  (211 votes, average: 4.59 out of 5)
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• This is another one of those episodes where the segments kind of overwhelm the movie and the movie riffing. I hadn’t seen this episode in a while, and my memory of it was that the movie just kind of laid there and didn’t give them a lot to work with. I liked the movie segments more on this viewing, but still I think the segments are the real standout element. Kevin and Mary Jo are both terrific.
• This episode is included in Shout’s “Mystery Science Theater 3000: Vol. XXXIII.”
• Bill’s take is here.
• As Bill notes, that’s Bill as judge, except when Paul fills in at one point.
• References.
• This was the episode in which Patrick took over as Gypsy—and with his arrival every single actor who had been an on-camera regular when the show began had been replaced with other performers. Has that ever happened on any other show?
• I believe the opening segment features the first mention of Mike’s love of rice.
• As somebody noted in the comments, Mike is really not responsible for the first two planets being destroyed. The monkeys destroyed the first one and the nanites destroyed the second one. Camping Planet is on him, however.
• The one henchman looks vaguely like Prince, and that’s enough for an avalanche of Prince references. Mike tries to put an end to it, but then HE does one a little while later!
• The preppy looking henchman also prompts a lot of funny preppy voiced riffs.
• Mike wears his prisoner hat during all the movie riffing segments. No way to know for sure if he’s wearing the full costume.
• The last time we saw Brad “Little Amish Boy” Keeley on camera was in episode 507- I ACCUSE MY PARENTS when he played Rodney the exotic cake dancer.
• Oh, and: my copy has a commercial for Sci-Fi Channel’s “extra-sensory summer” that includes a mention of the “Making of MST3K” documentary.
• My copy also has a commercial for a repeat of episode 803- THE MOLE PEOPLE.
• Daleism: As Dr. Stefanik dies, he holds his hand up: Crow: He thought he was Dale! Note: This may be the final Daleism. It’s the last one I have a notation for.
• Cast and crew roundup: Producer Joseph F. Robertson also produced “The Crawling Hand” and “Slime People.” Special effects guy Harry S. Woolman also worked on “Hangar 18,” “The Incredible Melting Man” and “Laserblast.” Makeup guy Marc Snegoff also worked in “Catalina Caper.” Production manager Lou Place also worked on “It Conquered the World,” he directed “Daddy-O” and was assistant director for “The Undead.” He also acted in “Swamp Diamonds.” Score composer Gene Kauer also worked on “The Atomic Brain” and “Beast of Yucca Flats.”
In front of the camera: Wendell Corey also appeared in “Women of the Prehistoric Planet” and Rafael Campos also appeared in “Girl in Gold Boots.”
• CreditsWatch: Produced by Kevin Murphy and directed by Mike Nelson, the first time he’s directed this season. Patrick is listed as Gypsy for the first time. Bob Seabold finishes up a two-episode stint at grip.
• Fave line: “They’re out of fumar! Now what do we do?” Honorable mention: “First rule of women everywhere: First, do no HARM.”
By Sampo, on August 17th, 2017 BORN ON THIS DATE
1887: Cardinal Stritch, who was mentioned in a host segment in episode 415- THE BEATNIKS.
1905: Martin Obzina, art director for the movie in episode 203- JUNGLE GODDESS.
1907: Bernard C. Schoenfeld, screenwriter for the movies in episodes 411- THE MAGIC SWORD and 906- THE SPACE CHILDREN.
1918: Victor Most, costumer for the movie in episode 610- THE VIOLENT YEARS.
1930: Harve Bennett, executive producer and creator of the TV series “Gemini Man,” seen in episode 814- RIDING WITH DEATH.
1930: Glenn Corbett, who played Neil Stryker in the movie in episode 305- STRANDED IN SPACE.
1933: Nando Angelini, who played Ward Jones in the movie “Operation Kid Brother,” seen in episode 508- OPERATION DOUBLE 007.*
1943: Robert De Niro, whom Mike imitated in an host segment in episode 608- CODE NAME: DIAMOND HEAD.*
DIED ON THIS DATE
1979: Vivian Vance (age 70), who was mentioned by Jack Perkins in episode 310- FUGITIVE ALIEN and mentioned in a host segment in episode 301- CAVE DWELLERS.
1981: Giorgio Ferroni a.k.a. Calvin Jackson Padget (age 73), director of the movie in the movie in episode 504- SECRET AGENT SUPER DRAGON.
1982: Barney Phillips (age 68), who played Det. Sgt. Donovan in the movie in episode 809- I WAS A TEENAGE WEREWOLF.
1983: Ira Gershwin (age 86), who was mentioned in a host segment in episode 312- GAMERA VS. GUIRON.
1988: Mike Mahoney (age 70), who played Sgt. Cooper in the movie in episode 906- THE SPACE CHILDREN.
1990: Pearl Bailey (age 72), who was mentioned in a host segment in episode 411- THE MAGIC SWORD.
EPISODE PREMIERE ON THIS DATE
1991: Episode 310- FUGITIVE ALIEN first shown. Michael J. Nelson debuts his recurring impersonation of Jack Perkins.
EVENT ON THIS DATE
1951: The movie in episode 208- LOST CONTINENT premieres in the U.S.A.
This Date in MSTory is written and compiled by Steve Finley, Chris Cornell and Brian Henry. Copyright © 2017 All rights reserved. Please do not reproduce This Date in MSTory items in any form without express written permission from the authors.
* = According to the IMBD this person is alive. If you can supply evidence that he or she has died, and when, please let us know.
** = If this appears next to a birthday, the IMDB indicates that the person has died, but the IMDB does not have a full death date (probably just a month and year or just the year he or she died). If you can give us the exact date (with some sort of proof we can check), please let us know.
** = If this appears next to a death date, the IMDB does not have this person’s full birthday. If you can provide it (with some sort of proof we can check), please let us know.
By Sampo, on August 12th, 2017 Tonight, in Atlanta, is the final stop on the “MST3K Live: Watch Out for Snakes” national tour, so if you’re headed there tonight, you might want to wait till tomorrow to join us.
I saw the show in Philadelphia (or, rather, in a leafy Philadelphia suburb north of the city called Glenside), in a lovely old movie house called the Keswick.
The show was terrific and I laughed and laughed all night long. Joel was, of course, great, and Jonah was cool and relaxed and very funny. But I expected that. I want to praise Tim Ryder, who filled in for Hampton Baron and did splendidly, but especially Rebecca Hanson, who was, really a standout and who was completely unflummoxed by a couple line flubs (I’m sure Joel had some notes for his cast after the show was over).
The first movie was, as advertised “Eegah!” and the riffing was very very good, and I liked that in four or five places they just accepted that the funniest possible riff had already been written and just went ahead and used them, but mostly offered a brand new take on that terrible movie.
The “surprise” second movie was 1967’s “Argoman the Fantastic Superman,” sort of “”Secret Agent Super Dragon” meets “The Pumaman.” Again the riffing was very strong and I loved it.
One negative thought: I’m not sure “Clowns in the Sky” is the optimal choice for a big closer. I miss Lou Reed’s “Satellite of Love.”
My grade: A.
Your thoughts?
By Erhardt, on August 11th, 2017 
Available for free to 2017 Kickstarter backers at the $30 level and higher. Other people can buy it here.
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