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Weekend Discussion Thread: Dream Guest Riffer

Alert commenter “DiskoJoe” suggests:

What guest riffer would you like to have seen in the theater with Joel/Mike and bots, if it was possible? The two people that come to my mind would be Ernie Kovacs and the early Woody Allen (circa “What’s Up Tiger Lily?”). I think that they could have given the bots a run for their money.

Well, Groucho Marx would be the obvious choice. I’d also love to have any or all of the members of Firesign Theatre in the seats.

Who would you pick?

164 Replies to “Weekend Discussion Thread: Dream Guest Riffer”

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  1. Gary Bowden says:

    Richard Pryor..

       3 likes

  2. Jettison Bobby says:

    Episode: Samson vs. The Vampire Women
    Guest riffer: Strong Bad
    Result: Pretty hilarious

       2 likes

  3. R. D. Lester says:

    I agree with the suggestion of Joe Bob Briggs, and would also like to suggest David Letterman.

       2 likes

  4. EricJ says:

    Ah, Joe Bob Briggs…For those who saw him do his own full-movie riffing (mixed with historical commentary) on the disk for “Jesse James Meets Frankenstein’s Daughter”. :)

    Jonathan Winters you can’t riff with, you just sit back and listen in amazement. :)
    And I assume @6 and @8 weren’t picking Michael Palin on the basis of his world-travel shows, but he’s got a quick wit for commentary:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9jldGInh2k

       2 likes

  5. the2ndsuitor says:

    Joe Bob Briggs – the Legend

       4 likes

  6. losingmydignity says:

    Peter O’Toole

    “If God could do the things we….ah, well. He did, didn’t he?”

       1 likes

  7. Tim_Servo says:

    FOR GODS SAKE DON’T LET PEEWEE HERMAN IN THERE!

       3 likes

  8. fry1laurie says:

    Let’s face it:We’d ALL love to be the one in the theater ourselves, cracking jokes and having the times of our lives.

       5 likes

  9. Patti says:

    Another vote for Paula Poundstone. She’s great on “Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me.” Excellent improv.

       2 likes

  10. eegah says:

    H. L. Mencken
    Mark Twain

       2 likes

  11. This Guy says:

    Doug Walker (aka That Guy with the Glasses) and Noah Antwiler (aka The Spoony One) are both excellent riffers and MST3K fans, as are quite a few of the other hosts at Doug’s website, thatguywiththeglasses.com.
    Love some of the duo suggestions like Mitchell/Webb and Baratt/Fielding. Maybe Jemaine and Bret from Flight of the Conchords, too?

       1 likes

  12. Edwin B says:

    @61 – Bret and Jermaine would be great! Nice pull.
    This thread gave me an idea: when a movie comes out on DVD include an audio track with riffing by the MST guys, or have an MST alum sit in on the actual audio commentary. Wouldn’t this be a great selling point for Sci-Fi and Horror movies? Imagine if the upcoming Star Wars Blu Ray had a reunion of the MST cast to riff it, for example.

       2 likes

  13. GizmonicTemp says:

    I’m gonna second and third Mel Brooks.

    Why do I have this feeling that there would be a lot of “Hello, boys!” riffs? :shock:

       2 likes

  14. Fart Bargo says:

    Alright I withdraw Pee Wee and replace him with Sarah Silverman.

       1 likes

  15. The the Eye Creatures says:

    I agree with any of the Monty Python crew. Might I add The Three Stooges.

       2 likes

  16. Miss Mary says:

    Charles Nelson Reilly !!!!

       1 likes

  17. Not Merritt Stone says:

    Karl Pilkington, so he could make observations that no one else would. Don’t sit him next to Servo though because you wouldn’t be able to tell them apart.

       1 likes

  18. Flying Saucers Over Oz says:

    To be honest, I’m not too crazy about tampering with the basic MST3K recipe. Still, setting aside all our little Walter Mitty fantasies about joining in and just focusing on celebrities, I think I’d go with Craig Ferguson. He’s extremely sharp and funny and very good at just letting things pop out of his mouth. Much of his show is ad-libbed and hilarious and even when it isn’t working, his jokes about how it isn’t working work.

       3 likes

  19. rocket9 says:

    Dan Castalanada and Hank Azaria would fit in perfectly!

       3 likes

  20. kismetgirl88 says:

    Love to see Mel Brooks. But also Nathon Fillion and Kevin Smith. Both there blogs are very funny.

       2 likes

  21. nochatman says:

    Kevin Smith and Jeff Anderson (Silent Bob and Randal from Clerks)

       0 likes

  22. EricJ says:

    @66 – Oh, so you’ve seen “The Life of Reilly”, too?:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3G-envKrYk
    (Just watching Crow’s one-man Gene Rayburn show, one of the Brains HAD to have seen it before the fact. The parody of Reilly’s show is just too uncanny.)

       0 likes

  23. hollyhox says:

    No one! I don’t like the guest riffers on Rifftrax! Stick with what works. Too many cooks spoil the broth.

       2 likes

  24. Spalanzani says:

    Doug: Actually, Groucho, Chico and Zeppo would make an awesome riffing team; Harpo would only be in the sketches, naturally.

    Seconded. Now, if Harpo’s only in host segments, I guess that would make him the equivalent of Gypsy. I guess we know the real reason he doesn’t talk: he’s running the higher functions of the Marx Brothers.

       3 likes

  25. ptomreeves says:

    I vote for Bruce Campbell! He’s the B-Movie king and one funny guy.

       7 likes

  26. Fred Burroughs says:

    BoB and Ray would be great, they could ad-lib the most insane interviews, with the most unnecessary cruelty at odd moments. Chris Eliot or David Mirkin (from Get a Life & Simpsons)would be my second choices; they could all do great host segments, too.

    Second nod for Dave Thomas/Rick Moranis.
    For commentators (not comedians), I’d be curious to see how someone like Ann Coulter would do (on the polemic side) or Chas Krauthammer (on the dry side). Often the movies are so goofy, Joel or Mike just plays the ‘straight man’ to the silliness; a good straight man would do well, like maybe Tom Poston. (I’m dating my self, I’m really not that old…) Ernie Kovacs in silhouette would try all kinds of sight gags, I’m sure.

       2 likes

  27. fonyo says:

    Another vote for Richard Pryor. Uncensored. Oh, and alive.

       1 likes

  28. Canucklehead says:

    That’s easy: Joe Don Baker! Let him record a commentary for Mitchell or Final Justice, then bring in the guys (and gals) to riff the commentary.

    Let the battle live on!

       2 likes

  29. Slartibartfast, maker of Fjords says:

    #36, I think I prefer Steve Smith. Having seen him play his character live in Burien, Washington was a hoot. It’s just easier to get real riffers than fictional characters. And if you can add Patrick McKenna, that would be great also.

       1 likes

  30. Disco 3:16 says:

    Some interesting thoughts. Groucho, Mel Brooks, Dennis Miller, all would totally rock. I can just imagine what CNR could have done on a sword and sandals epic like Hercules. I could see Ryan Styles, Colin Mocherie, Josie Laurence and/or Tony Slattery helping out on a live riff.

    I’d say me, but I’d hate to have my stint be “Oh yeah, that’s the one with that guy who didn’t seem to know what he was doing. Why was he there?”

       0 likes

  31. Anyone own the TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE 2 Gruesome Edition DVD? The cast and crew commentary. Believe it or not, Bill Moseley is actually pretty funny while watching it. So are the others of course. But Bill guest riffing a horror film episode might have been interesting.

       2 likes

  32. C. says:

    Tina Fey and Amy Poehler.

       3 likes

  33. Slartibartfast, maker of Fjords says:

    Now that I can think for myself, I would also add Joe Estevez. His interview on the SoulTaker disc was funny, and I think he would have a gift for it.

       1 likes

  34. Runciter says:

    Hmmmm. Dave Foley, Micheal Palin, Brian Regan, George Carlin, Ryan Stiles, Collin Mochery, Greg Proops, Eddie Izzard, Stephen Colbert, or maybe Demetri Martin.

       3 likes

  35. darthservo says:

    I vote for Jim Gaffigan.

       1 likes

  36. OnenuttyTanuki says:

    I’m going to go another route and say The Muppets, Stantler and Waldorf.

       1 likes

  37. Jack Perkins says:

    Paul Lynde

       2 likes

  38. ptomreeves says:

    Trace Beaulieu or Mary Jo Pehl.

       1 likes

  39. ptomreeves says:

    Woops! Mary Jo was already a guest riffer. Loved her wih Bill riffing that X-Files movie!

       1 likes

  40. The Toblerone Effect says:

    I could picture George Carlin, Dennis Miller, Chris Elliot, and Joel McHale all doing a great job riffing; while each has their own comedic styles, MST3K’s format allowed for varying tastes and attitudes to work.

       1 likes

  41. Canucklehead says:

    Mark Hamill or Seth Green. I think they would be very funny at it…

       2 likes

  42. Steve Vil says:

    Brian Regan or Jim Gaffigan. Some guy named Earl. Oh, and….. Chip Hitler.

       4 likes

  43. slappy magoo says:

    Christopher Guest and any of his usual suspects – Eugene Levy, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer, Catherine O’Hara, Michael Hitchcock, John Michael Higgins, Bob Balaban, Jane Lynch, Jennifer Coolidge and Fred Willard. throw in Joe Flaherty, too.

       3 likes

  44. Cabbage Patch Elvis says:

    I read Paul Lynde mentioned, and it made me wonder…how about a panel show with a classic assortment of celebrities from Hollywood Squares?
    Charles Nelson Reilly of course, maybe Willie Tyler and Lester… the options are endless! The film could be paused as the audience votes on the best riff.
    “Question – Torgo’s exaggerated physical attribute is—?”

    Cue Paul Lynde :”His bippy!”

       1 likes

  45. John Branch says:

    Robin Williams would be fantastic as well as Christopher Titus Drew Carrey and his teamfrom Whose Line Is It Anyway would be Natural fits I’d say

       1 likes

  46. John Branch says:

    OH ALSO Who is the Really talented Voice Guy who was On Ren & Stimpy? Jerry or Billy West Just Awsome Also Ralph Garman who has a thousand voices and works with Kevin Smith on his Podcasts.

       0 likes

  47. Stan McSerr says:

    Charles Manson and his “family”

       1 likes

  48. Vern says:

    Jim Varney. He seemed very versatile as far as voices and character went.

       2 likes

  49. Chris says:

    I would enjoy Stephen Colbert…

       4 likes

  50. Mr. B(ob) says:

    Forrest Acerman, Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, John Carradine, Christopher Lee.

       1 likes

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