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Statement from Shout! Factory about Vol. XXXIII

We at Shout! Factory know MSTies were looking forward to the titles for Volume XXXIII today, but unfortunately we cannot announce them at this time. We know the fans are just as excited for the next volume as we are, and the moment we can share the titles, we will. We appreciate your understanding.

Sarah J. De Bruin
Manager, Publicity
Shout! Factory

Stay tuned, folks.

109 Replies to “Statement from Shout! Factory about Vol. XXXIII”

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  1. Captain Cab says:

    I’m surprised there still hasn’t been a posting here on the site regarding Shout’s deal for the Gamera episodes expiring. It was tweeted in response to a fan by Shout and also tweeted at the Sat News twitter feed. So grab that Gamera box set now while you still can.

    Also very nice of them to at least let us know they’re still waiting on the announcement, miles better than the vague runaround and long release droughts we got from Rhino as someone else said.

       2 likes

  2. Aaron Bossig says:

    Captain Cab:
    I’m surprised there still hasn’t been a posting here on the site regarding Shout’s deal for the Gamera episodes expiring. It was tweeted in response to a fan by Shout and also tweeted at the Sat News twitter feed. So grab that Gamera box set now while you still can.

    Also very nice of them to at least let us know they’re still waiting on the announcement, miles better than the vague runaround and long release droughts we got from Rhino as someone else said.

    Anything else expiring soon? I’m in a mood to catch up on my MST3k boxes, and it’d be good to know which ones to prioritize.

       0 likes

  3. Captain Cab says:

    @Aaron Bossig

    Sorry, that’s the only one I know of.

       0 likes

  4. Th1rt3eN says:

    georgewendt:
    Toho?!? I can dream!

    I wish! They need to work a deal with Toho and release the Godzilla episodes (re-release in the case of Godzilla VS. Megalon) I would love to see those in a box set with Amazing Colossal Man and War Of The Colossal Beast!

       1 likes

  5. Th1rt3eN says:

    Weepy Donuts:
    As I’ve said before… as long as Shout! Factory doesn’t include a “re-release” with the new set, they are guaranteed my money. I can wait for an announcement, especially since the delay makes me more excited for Volume XXXIII. (Plus, it gives me some more time to just enjoy Volume XXXII.)

    by re-release are you including the Rhino releases or just Shout? I don’t mind re-releases as long as they are former Rhino releases and include mini posters. In some cases like Amazing Colossal Man and Godzilla VS. Megalon re-releases are necessary for people who weren’t able to secure those episodes before they got pulled.

    That being said I own those episodes in question and would still gladly buy them in a box set. Eventually we will run out of new releases and it will be up to shout to re-release those hard to get gems. I want a complete set so I’m kinda locked in to whatever they release provided it’s a physical DVD or boxed set.

    I’m happy for any new MST3K anything as long as it isn’t streaming episodes, those are meaningless because you can’t own and add them to your collection.

       4 likes

  6. Droppo says:

    Add me to the list of folks that do not mind Rhino re-releases IF they’re also released online.

    I adore Shout! They’ve done a phenomenal job and every MSTie should be thankful.

    My only gripe is that I wish every ep was available to stream (on iTunes, Vimeo or Amazon). That’s how I prefer to watch them. I’ll buy everything (the DVD’s and the streaming eps) b/c of the extras but I really want the streaming eps.

       3 likes

  7. MattK says:

    Perhaps KTMA episodes, the LOST KTMA Episodes, or…dare we hope…NEW EPISODES? Most likely No to all three, but one can dream…

       2 likes

  8. pondoscp says:

    Every time I read this post I think the titles for the new set are:

    Sarah J. De Bruin
    Manager, Publicity
    Shout! Factory

    Stay tuned, folks.

    Then I focus my eyes, and realize that was just wishful thinking.

       10 likes

  9. Alex says:

    pondoscp:
    Every time I read this post I think the titles for the new set are:

    Sarah J. De Bruin
    Manager, Publicity
    Shout! Factory

    Stay tuned, folks.

    Then I focus my eyes, and realize that was just wishful thinking.

    Those are definitely the best episodes from seasons 900, 43, 87 and 1000

       8 likes

  10. pondoscp says:

    The episode “Shout! Factory” from Season 87 is a particular favorite of mine. It’s where, for an entire episode, J, M&TBs (including Beeper, who came back for this season), riff on the Shout! Factory youtube vids where they talk about the releases of the week.

    I love you guys

       3 likes

  11. Weepy Donuts says:

    Th1rt3eN,
    When I wrote “re-release” I was referring to both Rhino and Shout! Factory DVDs. But I should clarify that I was discussing the Box Sets.

    I loved the Shout! Select program, where previously released episodes were available individually. I upgraded a couple of the individual episodes (Beginning Of The End, for example) from Rhino VHS. But I wouldn’t want someone who bought Beginning Of The End on Rhino DVD to have to buy it again as part of a Shout! Box Set.

    I would love I Accuse My Parents to be released on DVD through Shout! Select.

       3 likes

  12. proczach says:

    Hurry up Shout! I have to go pee :cry:

       7 likes

  13. ck says:

    Perhaps new movies are possible. Isn’t Cinematic Titanic stopping?

    Butyou might need someone new with the bots other than Mike or Joel.
    I do like Pearl, Brain Guy, and Professor Bobo still as villains.
    Or perhaps, in a shocking twist, Gypsy becomes evil.

       2 likes

  14. EricJ says:

    ck:
    Perhaps new movies are possible.

    Shout already tried that, with The Film Crew.
    HOO-boy!…Long story short, that may have been the single crucial deciding factor that finally convinced Shout to start releasing the old series instead. And believe me, nobody blamed them.

    Reading between the lines on a few of the press statements, that may be how we got Cinematic Titanic, as well.
    Simply put, Film Crew was the rocky, teetering, 1000-ft. edge of the cliff for ever expecting the Rifftrax folks to possess the professionalism or discipline to be able to revive the old series again.

       3 likes

  15. Atorgo says:

    Huh. When it comes up here I recall reading nothing but positive comments on The Film Crew – shocker that the first slam is from the man who hates Nelson, Murphy and Corbett: EricJ.

       26 likes

  16. Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy says:

    I practically stole my Film Crew set when Shout had that amazing sale for the four pack set for 12 or 15 dollars. (thanks to the person on this forum who posted information on the sale.)

    The first thing I thought after I watched all four was, “I really wish they could have made many many more episodes of The Film Crew.”

    The second thing I thought was, “I wonder if I can find some headphones like the ones they are wearing? If that’s not MST3K convention wear, then I don’t know what is.”

    Maybe hook up a portable “wearable” PA system to the headphones then walk around, crunching on popcorn with the mic on. Deliciously irritating.

    Take THAT, Apple Watch!

       11 likes

  17. Mike "ex-genius" Kelley says:

    Yeah, The Film Crew was indeed the closest MST3K we’ve ever had. While I do enjoy the Cinematic Titanic discs I have, they are funny in a completely different way (more like a Rifftrax Live show — again, nothing wrong with that, just not classical MST3K style).

    But it wasn’t Mike and Co. (or even Shout) that killed The Film Crew, but the fearless (brainless?) “leader” of MST3K (who shall remain nameless because he isn’t even due that much credit). Really stupid considering that nothing else will ever become of the robots and the original concept, Jim.

    While I’ve been a huge fan of Rifftrax, particularly the shorts, even I have to admit that in the last year or two they’ve seem to lost whatever it was they had that made them good. I chalk that up to the writing staff — clearly Mike isn’t doing the majority (or even *some*) of the writing anymore and the substitutes just don’t have that magic (I’d rather believe that than believe Mike has lost his way). Titanic had *very* sharp writing and didn’t stay around long enough for it to fade, but I doubt that it would have considering the folks involved probably didn’t want to farm their stuff off to lesser lights.

    I’ve about reached the end of getting anymore Rifftrax.

       1 likes

  18. Mike "ex-genius" Kelley says:

    Geeze, after reading the last I hate to end on a downer note. Let’s just say I’m as excited as anyone else in hearing what Shout has come up with. Like many here, I believe they may have had a slight hiccup with a particular movie or movies and are just waiting to iron things out. Given the highs we’ve already reached, I doubt whether they have settled for anything less than at least one “ungettable” film.

    Perhaps they could at least tease us with the one (or more) films they KNOW will be on the set. You know, just “here’s one that’s coming” and they can do that for every month or two up until the final release.

       1 likes

  19. ck says:

    I wish there had been more Film Crew’s made. I know Mike Nelson said
    that concept is over, but perhaps they’ll reconsider. After all, it had
    historical information—including the intricate reconstruction of the
    Battle of Marathon.

       7 likes

  20. HeatUpTheDeathRay says:

    Count me as one who would happily buy anything Film Crew- (or Rifftrax- or Cinematic Titanic-) related that Shout decided to purvey. I simply don’t see any drop off in quality at Rifftrax, though there are bound to be hits and misses considering how consistently they turn out the product. Fun in Balloonland was the tripping-ballsiest, borderline craziest film I think I’ve ever seen (which is saying something, believe me) and I could barely catch my breath from laughing from start to finish. That’s far and away more than I can say for anything that’s currently on television. Horses for courses, of course (of course, of course), but as for me, give me my Rifftrax, and when they shall die, cut them into tiny stars, etc. :-D

       11 likes

  21. FordPrefect says:

    I’m not sure how that popular rumor with Mallon stopping The Film Crew got started. I’m not saying it didn’t happen, but every time I try to find a source for it, I eventually come to a “citation needed” road block. In one interview, Kevin said it died when the person in charge of the project at Rhino left and got replaced by someone else who wasn’t interested in releasing stuff like that on DVD anymore. Whether Jim Mallon tried to stop them or not, The Film Crew was not going to last. They had no deal going with any network, the bottom fell out of the Direct To DVD market, and the film selections were entirely based around “I think we won’t get sued if we riff these” logic. Rifftrax is much better from a distribution and film selection perspective.

       5 likes

  22. Droppo says:

    I haven’t found the quality of Rifftrax to be going down at all. Sharknado is one of their all-time best and their ratio remains far more hit than miss.

       9 likes

  23. EricJ says:

    Mike “ex-genius” Kelley:
    While I’ve been a huge fan of Rifftrax, particularly the shorts, even I have to admit that in the last year or two they’ve seem to lost whatever it was they had that made them good.I chalk that up to the writing staff — clearly Mike isn’t doing the majority (or even *some*) of the writing anymore and the substitutes just don’t have that magic (I’d rather believe that than believe Mike has lost his way).Titanic had *very* sharp writing and didn’t stay around long enough for it to fade, but I doubt that it would have considering the folks involved probably didn’t want to farm their stuff off to lesser lights.
    I’ve about reached the end of getting anymore Rifftrax.

    I’ll give credit to Mary Jo that I never really noticed her style of riffing in the SciFi/Mike era, until they showed up in the CT’s, and were completely missing from the Film Crew riffs:
    Basically, MK&B were now the “creative geniuses” responsible for their own material, had become one-trick ponies for their favorite riff wells, and pretty much mined the wells dry regardless of the movies–Kevin, for example, tried to shoehorn a Tolkien/Renfest joke into EVERY movie, regardless of the subject: In Wild Women of Wongo, Wongo is a fictitious island, just like Middle Earth!…In Giant of Marathon, it’s Greek, which is sort of like mythology, which is sort of like Tolkien–Huzzah!
    At least with RiffTrax, they occasionally had the strange movie or nerd-hit to distract their attention, but give them Peter Graves in Killers From Space and they dug up their old reference index card that says “Peter Graves…on Biography!”

    One can imagine the ex-Rhino MST3K fans at Shout tearing a piece of their clothing for what hopes had now been forever lost. :(
    CT’s press announcement of “From the ORIGINAL CREATORS of MST3K!” also had a pithier meaning, coming so immediately after the fall of Film Crew.
    (And even CT’s videos picked up considerably once they ditched the Film Crew-esque “underground bunker” and went for the live concert videos.)

       2 likes

  24. Floki says:

    Seems that with Rifftrax they put too much (mostly great) stuff out. It desensitizes you. The CTs trickled out and weren’t hard on the wallet that way. Rifftrax is putting out a ton and I can’t keep up in terms of both budget and time. Plus, it seems Rifftrax humor has gotten edgier and odder. Not that the hired hand riffers are bad. I’ve read Conor Lastowka’s book and for the most part it is funny, but also very edgy and far from MST3K humor.

       3 likes

  25. Mr. B(ob) says:

    My assumption about the delay like some others here is that perhaps they are trying to secure rights to something particularly difficult for the next set. Shout Factory has done a fabulous job since they took over DVD publishing for MST3K, I can’t wait to see what’s coming next.

       5 likes

  26. Atorgo says:

    EricJ: I’ll give credit to Mary Jo that I never really noticed her style of riffing in the SciFi/Mike era, until they showed up in the CT’s, and were completely missing from the Film Crew riffs:
    Basically, MK&B were now the “creative geniuses” responsible for their own material, had become one-trick ponies for their favorite riff wells, and pretty much mined the wells dry regardless of the movies–Kevin, for example, tried to shoehorn a Tolkien/Renfest joke into EVERY movie, regardless of the subject:In Wild Women of Wongo, Wongo is a fictitious island, just like Middle Earth!…In Giant of Marathon, it’s Greek, which is sort of like mythology, which is sort of like Tolkien–Huzzah!
    At least with RiffTrax, they occasionally had the strange movie or nerd-hit to distract their attention, but give them Peter Graves in Killers From Space and they dug up their old reference index card that says “Peter Graves…on Biography!”

    One can imagine the ex-Rhino MST3K fans at Shout tearing a piece of their clothing for what hopes had now been forever lost.
    CT’s press announcement of “From the ORIGINAL CREATORS of MST3K!” also had a pithier meaning, coming so immediately after the fall of Film Crew.
    (And even CT’s videos picked up considerably once they ditched the Film Crew-esque “underground bunker” and went for the live concert videos.)

    Well you would certainly know all about mining wells dry…

       26 likes

  27. unsung zero says:

    Floki:
    Seems that with Rifftrax they put too much (mostly great) stuff out. It desensitizes you. The CTs trickled out and weren’t hard on the wallet that way. Rifftrax is putting out a ton and I can’t keep up in terms of both budget and time. Plus, it seems Rifftrax humor has gotten edgier and odder. Not that the hired hand riffers are bad. I’ve read Conor Lastowka’s book and for the most part it is funny, but also very edgy and far from MST3K humor.

    I thought conor lastowka’s book was alright, but his kind of humor doesn’t really belong with the legacy MST3K guys’ humor. Just my opinion.

       3 likes

  28. Bad Wolf says:

    “Hey everyone, it’s a parade! Better call EricJ to come rain on it!”

       19 likes

  29. Mike "ex-genius" Kelley says:

    Geeze, sorry guys for the sidetrack in this thread. I heard a mention of Film Crew and thought to defend it but I got lost myself.

    But I do have to say that while Sharknado and Balloonland were…fun, they were in no way as good as Rifftrax once was, let alone up to MST3K standards. Heck, both films are just bizarre on their own and were “fish in a barrel” in terms of riffs (my wife and I actually had better riffs the first time Sharknado came on Sci-fi).

    Maybe it’s the volume they do, but I still think it’s more likely folks like Connor who aren’t the same sensibilities as Mike and company used to have. In any case, I do think RT has gotten stale and it’s only when I watch things like old MST3K that Shout puts out (see what I did there? Brought it back OT) that it’s apparent how unfunny they are nowadays.

    But it’s nice we have so much material — between the Shout releases, the Film Crew stuff, the Cinema Titanic, and the older Rifftrax, I have enough things to keep me laughing the rest of my (admittedly) short life. For you younger folks I suspect the riffing seems as sharp as ever (because it’s more pointed to your own sensibilities). Life is good.

       3 likes

  30. Dirk Squarejaw says:

    Count me in as yet another hardcore MSTie who loved the Film Crew riffs and who is constantly bemused by a certain poster’s bizarre and knee-jerk hatred of all things Nelson, Murphy, and Corbett.

       16 likes

  31. Herandar says:

    Mike “ex-genius” Kelley: (my wife and I actually had better riffs the first time Sharknado came on Sci-fi).

    Then why aren’t you selling riffs? (Don’t want to come off as antagonistic, but this claim makes think of the guy that thinks everyone in the theater wants to hear his riff. Mild bemusement and healthy doubt, if you will.)

       5 likes

  32. Mike "ex-genius" Kelley says:

    Well, all modesty aside, I used to make a pretty good living writing comedy (and even had a series up for consideration on Fox, if that means anything). But that was eons ago and I don’t think it even has a place here for discussion. And that wasn’t my point, which was that riffing on Sharknado doesn’t take a whole lot of skill, which I doubt that anyone can deny (I’m almost not sure that high camp movies like that, which are really intended to be silly and preposterous, are even worthy of riffing).

    But, as I said, different strokes. If you continue to like RT that’s fine as well. Heck, there are lots of folks who even hate (dare I say it?) MST3K. It’s a great and big wonderful world we live in.

       2 likes

  33. Sean says:

    Man, I hope the titles are released soon. All this waiting has us turning on each other!

       6 likes

  34. Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy says:

    Sean:
    Man, I hope the titles are released soon. All this waiting has us turning on each other!

    Luckily, there’s a doctor in the house.

       2 likes

  35. Sean says:

    Dammit, Bones! Doctor who?

       0 likes

  36. FordPrefect says:

    I think it’s strange when Rifftrax is criticized for putting out too much material. Did anybody have a problem when MST3K was doing 24 episodes a season?

       11 likes

  37. Slicer87 says:

    FordPrefect:
    I think it’s strange when Rifftrax is criticized for putting out too much material. Did anybody have a problem when MST3K was doing 24 episodes a season?

    I think the concern is that with RT making so many riffs that they are spreading themselves thin and reducing their quality. Personally I think RT’s quality has been sliding downhill for awhile. Their older shorts are much funnier than their more current riffing on shorts. They rely too much on running gags, some of which have long gone stale and internet nerd culture memes. Also RT sometimes is mean spirited and bitter instead of funny. However, RT is aimed at a different market and a younger generation than old time Misties. Perhaps that is why M, K, & B rely on younger witers for their riffs because they are more in touch with the young snarky internet crowd. Can’t blame Mike for going where the money is.

       3 likes

  38. Sean says:

    And let’s be honest – not every episode of MST3k is a home run. There’s always a few lackluster ones.

    Ironically, Season 7 is my favorite, with only six episodes.

       1 likes

  39. Bob (NotThatBob) says:

    Lets get back on track – anyone read any new news or hints or blogs or graffiti regarding Vol. 33 yet?

       0 likes

  40. Floki says:

    Daniel Griffith of Ballyhoo, on his Facebook page, says some interesting stuff about what he is working on for MST3K (someone alerted me to this on another MST3K board).

    Posted March 25 with photo going up stairway with walls decorated in movie posters: “Day one in LA working on a ‘top secret’ feature-length documentary… and a few MST goodies. I must say, I have been waiting to climb these stairs for many years (maybe as far back as my childhood). What an extraordinary man…”

    He confirmed he’s talking about Roger Corman, then added:
    “Some very big documentaries are on the way. Stay tuned…”

    This looks promising!

       5 likes

  41. Brian says:

    Sean @88 – Season 7 might be my favorite too. The riffing is so solid and sharp in those six eps. I remember watching Laserblast when it aired and thinking what a shame it was that the show might be going away at a time when it’s never been funnier.

       2 likes

  42. fatbarkeep says:

    Wow! Corman? What a coup that would be.
    Thanks for the info, Floki. I think all of us MSTies have respect for what Corman did for MST. Sure, we make fun of his movies, but we love the guy.
    Can’t wait to see that interview. Hopefully it all comes to fruition. VERY exciting!

       4 likes

  43. Blonde Russian Spy says:

    Sean:
    Man, I hope the titles are released soon. All this waiting has us turning on each other!

    I didn’t mean to turn you on. :)

       4 likes

  44. Manny Sanguillen says:

    So then, which Corman movies haven’t they released yet? My first thought is ‘It Conquered the World’.

       0 likes

  45. Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy says:

    Random suggestion to Daniel Griffith:

    “Roger Corman : Hardcore”

    I absolutely love the Ballyhoo Productions. They are a major motivator to purchasing the DVDs and I rewatch them every time I rewatch an episode featuring them.

    Personally, I cannot wait for Daniel to interview Joe Don Baker.

    Joe Don Baker IS Ballyhoo!

       1 likes

  46. Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy says:

    Bob (NotThatBob):
    Lets get back on track – anyone read any new news or hints or blogs or graffiti regarding Vol. 33 yet?

    Dear Mr. Hall Monitor(Not that Mr. Hall Monitor) : What would you have us do? Repeatedly state we think it’s a rights issue? :-)

    We are in a holding pattern here, and the fuel is going to burn no matter what we do while waiting for Shout’s announcement.

       2 likes

  47. Bob (NotThatBob) says:

    No offense intended Bones – we just got a bit derailed with the whole “Rifftrax/Film Crew” question. And see – there was a little good news.

       0 likes

  48. Pulatso says:

    Gentlemen, gentlemen! You can’t fight in here! This is the War Room!

       4 likes

  49. Th1rt3eN says:

    EricJ: Shout already tried that, with The Film Crew.
    HOO-boy!…Long story short, that may have been the single crucial deciding factor that finally convinced Shout to start releasing the old series instead.And believe me, nobody blamed them.

    Reading between the lines on a few of the press statements, that may be how we got Cinematic Titanic, as well.
    Simply put, Film Crew was the rocky, teetering, 1000-ft. edge of the cliff for ever expecting the Rifftrax folks to possess the professionalism or discipline to be able to revive the old series again.

    The Film Crew was great, I wish they did more than 4 episodes. Rifftrax is just as good, I just miss the skits. Whats your deal, what makes you think that was the problem? The reason they stopped doing The Film Crew was they wanted to start Rifftrax and riff big budget Hollywood movies as well as b movies.
    Rifftrax was a smarter move for them and has led to many more releases than we would have gotten if they continued filming a MST3K style show. Rifftrax costs less money to produce by nature of it not having host segments and a sound, camera, lighting, make up crews and craft services. Not to mention retakes, props, special effects, maned hours and all the extra editing and post production involved with that format.

    All that being said Rifftrax gives me a reason to watch movies that are otherwise unwatchable. Now if they would just riff the Hulk movie and Electra I would have a reason to take them off that dusty shelf comic book related movies.

       5 likes

  50. Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy says:

    Bob (NotThatBob):
    No offense intended Bones – we just got a bit derailed with the whole “Rifftrax/Film Crew” question.And see – there was a little good news.

    Absolutely none taken. I was just yanking your chain a little. :-)

       1 likes

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