Alert reader David Finn writes:

Last weekends topic of the Russo-Finnish films generated a universally loved idea for a DVD box set of the 4 films. This got me thinking about other ideal groupings of MST episodes. Granted this is mere wishful thinking as neither Shout nor Rhino have used common themes to organize previous sets. But we can fantasize…
A few to start us off… juvenile delinquents, hypnotism, made-for-TV, Corman, Lippert, kaiju…

All good ideas! Let hear some more!

We’ve gotten a lot of emails informing us that Roger Corman is going to receive his honorary Oscar this weekend. Apparently these folks missed the weekend discussion thread we had about it a couple of months ago. So we’ve moved it up to the top of the page today. If you didn’t comment then, you can comment now.
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The movie we discussed in this week’s episode guide was Roger Corman’s “The Undead.”

As Bill says in his write up: “Next time you have the notion to defend Roger Corman as a good director, watch this movie and repent.”

But there is one group that has not repented: The Motion Picture Academy’s Board of Directors, which recently voted to give ol’ Rog an honorary Oscar.

What do YOU think?

To help you discuss this topic, I could have gone to “Daddy-O’s Drive-In Dirt” and put together a list of the Corman movies done by MST3K but alert reader Dave (aka Finnias Jones) kindly did it for me. (Thanks Dave!)

Producer/Director:
• 311 - IT CONQUERED THE WORLD
• 315 - TEENAGE CAVEMAN
• 317 - VIKING WOMEN AND THE SEA SERPENT
• H01 - THE DAY THE WORLD ENDED (which I consider “canon” though purists might not. I wasn’t there at the time, but both extant versions are good, even if the riffing is inaudible and not the product of Best Brains, just the fans)
• 503-Swamp Diamonds
• 511-Gunslinger
• 806 The Undead
Exec. Producer:
• 406-Attack of the Giant Leeches
• 618-High School Big Shot
• 701 - Night of the Blood Beast
Of course Roger is responsible for many more movies, some better, some worse (CT’s “Wasp Woman” is his, and as producer: “Rock ‘n’ Roll High School,” the original “Death Race 2000,” etc.)

So what do you think of Roger? Does he deserve the Oscar or should he be, as one poster wrote in the episode guide thread, “indicted for crimes against cinema”?
(Me: Although I know he has been a mentor to several guys who went on to be good, and while I am grateful for him for providing some great MSTing fodder, I agree with Bill.)

Coming off this week’s episode guide entry, we’ve now done all four of the Russo-Finnish movies: “DAY THE EARTH FROZE,” “SINBAD,” “SWORD AND THE DRAGON” and “JACK FROST.”
So let’s settle this once and for all: Which is the best all-around episode? Show your work!

My answer may surprise you: I’m gonna go with “Sinbad.” Yes, “DTEF” has a lot going for it (including a great short), but Sinbad is just such a strong episode and that “city council” sketch is an all-time favorite of mine.

What’s your pick?

Every year, Web sites post hundreds of carved pumpkin pictures. This is three of them.

And check out the first pumpkin posted on Kim Carpenter’s blog.

An open thread for reports from this week’s Cinematic Titanic shows.

Okay, I’m not exactly sure how this works, so you may have to help. Alert reader Andrew writes:

I think it’d be fun to have MSTies suggest alternate actors for the MST3k episodes.

Hmmm… Interesting, I think…

Some above-average MST3kInfo readers have been doing this already,

They have? I want details!

but let’s have a good, focused round-table. Not necessarily a better actor, just different.

Um, okay! I’m gonna go with: Burt Reynolds as The Master in “Manos.” Can’t you just hear that goofy laugh as he chases the family around the house?

The latest edition of the Video Revue podcast is all about MST3K, and they show some love to Satellite News as well. You can download “Video Revue from Deep 13″ here.

Following along our search for those rare bits of actual quality in MSTed movies, alert reader Jay (aka Pemmican) turns to the writing and chooses:

…”The Rebel Set,” with its well developed characters and intertwining plotline. A *hokey* plotline - sheesh! - but apparently a storyline that was thought out and delivered at least a meager serving of pathos. Honorable mention? Recent DVD release “Zombie Nightmare.” Did you realize that a lot of the characters from the start of the film show up near the end of it?! Zounds

I think my pick for best written movie would be “Parts, The Clonus Horror.” Yes, it’s executed poorly, but the basic idea and the plot twists are well-plotted and thought provoking.

What’s your pick?

Part two of the discussion of that rare animal: the GOOD performance in a MSTed movie. This one’s for the l-l-l-l-l-l-ladies.

I didn’t have to think hard about this one: My pick is Beverly Garland, especially in “It Conquered the World.” Beverly is believable, genuine and sympathetic, despite acting opposite a giant pickle.

Who would be your pick?

Odd coincidence dept: I’m not a gamer, so before this weekend, I had never heard of Mega Man. This weekend my daughter played me some of “The Protomen” a rock opera loosely based on the video game that’s either incredibly epic or wildly self-indulgent. I’d need more hearings to be sure which it is. It’s certainly ambitious.

Anyway, it’s weird that I would suddenly be aware of the video game Mega Man and the next day somebody would email me about a Tom Servo mod for “Mega Man 3.” More info here.

Guess it’s just going to be a Mega Man sort of week.

Thanks to Brent for the heads up.