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Episode guide: 618- High School Big Shot (with short: ‘Out of this World’)

618s

Short: (1954) Industrial film aimed at keeping bread truck drivers on the straight and narrow.
Movie: (1959) A high school dweeb agrees to take part in a heist to win the favor of a hot but dumb classmate.

First shown: 12/10/94
Opening: Mike has a headache, and the bots are no help
Intro: Frank clones a dinosaur, while Crow mixes a potion that makes Tom Servo huge!
Host segment 1: M&tB have a suggestion: “specialty breads”
Host segment 2: Crow and Tom egg Mike, and don’t understand what they did is wrong
Host segment 3: Crow and Tom try to break into Gypsy’s diary
End: Mike reads a letter while the bots reenact the end of the movie, Dr. F. gives the dino something to chew on
Stinger: “A million bucks!”
1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (217 votes, average: 4.25 out of 5)

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• I’d say this one is hit and miss. Admittedly, the short is strange, but it’s a little long and it feels to me like their riffing kind of runs of out of steam toward the end. The movie is just a bit too drab for me, and while the riffing is great in some places, it kind of dies down in others. The host segments are hit-and-miss as well.
• This episode will come out in the spring as part to Shout’s Vol. XXXVIII.
• Suddenly Crow’s arms work, just in time for cymbal practice.
• Mike really does suffer from chronic headaches, as he said in this New York Times piece.
• “Jurassic Park” had been out for more than a year, so a bit about a cloned dinosaur was hardly a brand new idea, but I do like Frank patiently saying “No…no…bad boy…” as Dr. F is devoured.
• Props to Jef Maynard on giant Servo. Movie bad!
• Servo sums up how the short was used with his line right at the end of the short.
• Segment 1 is sort of a state park joke of a segment. Yes, the bread truck driver was kind of a dork. We get it.
• Segment 2 gets off a cute punchline … then keeps on going for some reason.
• Callback: “Might as well have Mitchell for a dad.”
• Non-spaghetti ball bumpers: Bulletin board, book, beaker.
• That’s Stanley Adams, the poor man’s Jackie Gleason, as they wry safe cracker.
• Segment three is kind of dud, but I do like the obscure reference to the ’60s TV show “T.H.E. Cat” which I absolutely LOVED when I was kid (so of course it was canceled). Oh and props to Jef again for the great blown up bots in this segment.
• Mayhem in the theater: Tom does a “Don’t Pay the Ferryman” joke once too often and Mike hurls him out of the theater.
• That sounds like Kevin as the voice of the dinosaur at the end. Kind of similar to his killer shrew voice.
• Cast and crew round-up: I am not going to do the Roger Corman litany again. Cinematographer: John Nicholaus Jr. also worked on “Attack of the Giant Leeches” and “Night of the Blood Beast.” Editor Carlo Lodato worked on “Attack of the Giant Leeches.” Makeup guy Harry Thomas also worked on “Night of the Blood Beast,” “The Mad Monster;” “Project Moon Base,” “The Unearthly,” “Bride of the Monster,” “Invasion USA” and “Racket Girls.” Set designer John F. Burton also worked on “The Girl in Lovers Lane” and “12 to the Moon.”
In front of the camera: Malcolm Atterbury is also in “I Was A Teenage Werewolf,” Peter Leeds was also in “Girls Town.” Byron Foulger was also in “The Rebel Set.” Bobby Hall was also in “Bloodlust.” Bill Coontz was also in “The Girl in Lovers Lane” and “Bloodlust!”
• CreditsWatch: Host segments directed by Jim Mallon. It’s with this episode that Julie Walker stops being called “Info Club Coordinator” and becomes “Info Club Poobah.” Bagpipe music: Peter B. Dysart.
• Fave riff from the short: “Make sure you stock your TRUCK UP, so that you don’t … well, you know…” Honorable mention: “I’m starring in Forever Plaaaaiiiid.”
• Fave riff from the movie: “How’s the German-expressionist date going?” Honorable mention: “I hate it when his face lights up.”

133 Replies to “Episode guide: 618- High School Big Shot (with short: ‘Out of this World’)”

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  1. Rex Dart says:

    Wait, it’s been a while since I’ve seen this one, but I want to check that I remember the ending correctly. I thought that at the end, the main kid and the safe-cracker live, but get arrested. I thought only the evil girl, the other crook guy, and maybe Vince got killed in the shootout. Hell, that was a really confusing scene, with lots of people killing each other for no apparent reason.

    This and “Sidehackers” are the two most depressing MST3K movies ever. Although I think they managed to make this one much funnier than Sidehackers.

       1 likes

  2. MikeK says:

    I saw a rerun of The Rifleman a few weeks ago. In it was none other than “Depressing Dad”, only this time he was playing “Angry Dad”. He was the surly father with a son who was a talented artist.

       6 likes

  3. Tiffany Lamps says:

    Love this episode, watch it all the time. Depressing Dad rules. Glad I never had to split a very small amount of date money with my Pop…

       5 likes

  4. Smooth As Silk says:

    Love this episode, watch it all the time. Depressing Dad rules. Glad I never had to split a very small amount of date money with my Pop…
    “C’mere ya little rascals, heheh…”

       1 likes

  5. The Bolem says:

    Was ‘My Size Tom Servo’ auctioned off as part of the great Ebay purge, or does one of the Brains still have him? I’d assume the dinosaur was, but the huge Servo seems so awkward and fragile I’d think he’d be tough to ship.

       0 likes

  6. Cornjob says:

    Wow! It’s a good thing I was stabalized on strong anti-depressants before I saw this. Definitely the most depressing MSTed movie.

    I really feel for Marv. Smart, hardworking, well intentioned. A good kid with a promising future. Except for one thing. He’s all messed up inside. Just being a teenager in High School will do that to you. As Tom Servo once put it, “Does just walking through it make you want to kill yourself? Well then it’s a High School!”. But being an overeducated introverted nerd (and I mean nerd here in the best way, being one myself) with a Dad like his would drive Buddha to mental illness. I think Marv was remarkably well adjusted considering his circumstances.

    The stupid things Marv does can mostly be chalked up to plot contrivances the writers had to resort to in order to get to the end they had in mind. Throw in the poor judement of an inexperienced adolescent under the intoxicating influence of first time attention from a pretty girl (even if he knows she’s a Succubus), and I can I can kind of buy him being unable to fake a term paper convincingly.

    Yes, I see a lot of my younger self in Marv, though I didn’t let people take advantage of me as much, and I never planned a heist that got a dozen people killed. But I also had two happy stable sane parents, unlike Marv.

    I like to think of Marv as getting the councelling he needs in prison so he can go on to complete his education, get married to a nice lady, have 2.3 kids, and have a nice life before eventually dying.

    I’d also like to comment on the absolute nihilism of the filmakers here, particulary regarding gender. Every woman (Betty, Marv’s Mom, Dad’s almost girlfriend) is a heartless, golddigging, lying, treasonous, tramp who uses up and discards men on a whim.

    Men on the other hand are either smart screwed up losers (Marv), stupid bullying losers (Vince), or stupid losers beyond description (Marv’s Dad). And it all ends in death, and despair, so why bother.

    I am a lifelong severe chronic clinical depressive who thinks that the human race will exterminate itself in the relatively near future. But my outlook on life is downright sunny compared to that of the people who made this movie.

    Re the short: This is the first time I encountered bread based religeon, but with scientology and all these days, why not?

       12 likes

  7. MikeK says:

    I think a better ending would have been a successful heist, but then Marvin gets home and finds his dad hanging from the ceiling.

       6 likes

  8. Very schizophrenic episode for me. The movie’s very hard to get through. By the way, I’d like to thank others in the thread for the info that the lead actor was killed soon after. Thanks, I wasn’t depressed enough by the movie.

    The short, however, is a laugh riot from beginning to end.

    “Next the devil’s gonna show up as a hooker.”

    (betting on asbestos tips for the pitchfork) “You’d think Hell would just provide those.”

       0 likes

  9. crowschmo says:

    Who knew bread delivery was so interesting? :roll:

    And so important in the Grand Scheme of Things, apparently.

    I wonder if there is a devil and an angel fighting over my line of work? :evil:

    I laughed quite a bit during most of the short. The best parts were when M&TB’s were pretending to be the bread guy, bullying people into buying his “Stuff”.

    “Try new, enriched ‘Stuff’.” – Crow :lol:

    Mike made a cop-doughnut joke, ahem. Servo almost scolded him for it.

    The movie was very depressing. Kind of dull, too. Not really one of my favorites as far as riffing goes, but a few lines stuck out.

    (During the opening credits)”So the Big Shot’s in band, big deal.” – Crow

    (When the teacher is talking to Marv)”You’re 28 – you SHOULD graduate.” – Servo

    (In the depressing house of Marv, when Dad needs some cash for his date) “You know, maybe if they sold off one of those Tiffany lamps…” – Crow

    “The mean streets of – APPLETON.” – Crow

    “Hey – I’m fake walkin’ here!” – Mike

    (When we first see the safecracker and his brother-in-law in the bro in law’s store) “It’s the all-impulse-item store.” – Crow

    (When they cut from the crooks playing cards to Vince and his pals) “Meanwhile, in the same room across town.” – Crow

    At the end: “This is the PTA, reminding you to do your homework.” – Crow

    A very important lesson, it turns out.

    They make a “Jerky Boys” reference. Wow. That’s old. What ever happened to those jerks?

    Overall, I’d say two stars – mostly for the short. I’ll say 1.5 for the short and .5 for the movie – that bought a lot in the Fifties.

       1 likes

  10. Cornjob says:

    Interesting idea #57, I see some possibilities there.

       1 likes

  11. MikeK says:

    “Cornjob says:
    May 2nd, 2009 at 6:48 pm

    Interesting idea #57, I see some possibilities there.”

    Yep, it would make a much tragic and ironic ending. Sure, the movie’s real ending had a lot of death, but it’s kind of a mess. Every time I watch this movie, I expect Marvin to go home and find his dad hanging from the ceiling. I know it won’t happen, but it should.

       3 likes

  12. Cornjob says:

    Maybe a discussion thread could be “Alternate/improved endings of MSTed films”. Girl in Lovers Lane being the archetypal example here.

       3 likes

  13. Manny Sanguillen says:

    I knew this episode was gonna be a winner immediately when I first saw it, and it delivered fully right through the end.

    The short is a classic, and is best seen as part of the episode rather than on a shorts compilation. It’s full force can only be enjoyed in conjunction with the opening segment where Servo takes the potion to make him big.
    Plus the specialty breads host segment is a nice closing.

    The movie is a hoot too, with good riffing all through it. I loved when Mike picked up servo and threw him out of the seat for his continuing to sing “don’t pay the ferryman”.

    Favorite riff in the short was when Mike said “and that means money! Money I can cover my naked butt with!”
    and a close runner-up was when the guy was messing with the shopping cart and Mike said “Be a real shame if this ran over your kid!”
    Favorite riff in the movie was the succession of riffs where the scene opened with them on a dock and Trace said “Sorry I made you work the docks for our date” then the dumb kid said “Betty…………….”
    and Mike finally said “WHAT?!!!”

       2 likes

  14. jjb3k says:

    “Mike made a cop-doughnut joke, ahem. Servo almost scolded him for it.”

    I noticed that too. Cop-and-donut jokes also make a few more appearances in Season 7. (But in Mike’s defense, it was Joel who signed that affidavit, not him.)

       2 likes

  15. The Toblerone Effect says:

    After just watching it, I had forgotten how good an episode this was! Unlike many here who got into the storyline of the movie, I made a point of not getting emotionally involved, focusing instead almost strictly on the riffing. I think having a character like Marv helped immensely; between his looks and uneasy behavior, it gave them plenty to work with, and they delivered.

    The short, we can agree, is another example of 1950’s goofiness. I get that the angel and devil characters here are symbolic of the differences between “hard work” and “apathy” towards one’s job, but to put it in this context is just bizarre. The devil in particular is laughable, with his femmy demeanor. If Hades is filled with characters like him, perhaps going to Hell won’t be so tough!

    Fav riff from short: As a scene opens with the delivery guy saying “You know”, Mike chimes “Sausages”, because of the sign on the window in the background. Its so strange its funny.
    Fav riff from movie: After Marv overhears the plans of the drug smuggling and million dollars, his boss calls him over, and Crow (as Marv) says “Heroine I come! D’oh!”

    Some here have asked that if Marv was so intelligent, why would he allow himself to get duped by Betty so easily? And why would he keep going back to her even after she made it clear that she was using him? Well, I don’t think that it’s so unrealistic that Marv could be so easily tricked; after all, brainy introverts, like Marv’s character, probably don’t have much experience with social interaction. They don’t know the clues or signs of someone who is trying to take advantage of them. Furthermore, once he’s had some time with her, Marv feels a sense of happiness to have a woman in his life (even if she’s obviously not interested in him, other than his chance of gaining some quick money). Marv’s social education is far inferior to his schooling.

    Lastly, it seems to me that the screenwriter of this movie had some issues with the female gender. Whether he was coming off of a messy divorce, or he caught his g/f cheating on him, there is a palpable sense of an axe grinding. Between the dialogue and the actions of Betty and the off-screen characters of Marv’s mom and Depress-o-Dad’s flame, the entire female race are a group never to be trusted.

    At least, according to the movie! :neutral:

       3 likes

  16. Manny Sanguillen says:

    I guess that’s where I differ with most people on here. I almost never get into the plots and goings on of the movies or shorts, but mainly focus on the riffing. Usually it’s about the 4th or 5th viewing before I actually make any effort to notice what the movie is actually about.

    I always eventually get around to that, but it’s never my first or even second priority.

    So thats why I never get too depressed to watch an episode, or too angry at a movie to enjoy it…since I’m just enjoying the riffing.

       3 likes

  17. The Toblerone Effect says:

    To Manny: I think you have to have that mindset with an episode like this; and I don’t think it’s fair that people who get too bogged down by the movie’s plot don’t seem to focus on just the riffing. I can be done, with some degree of concentration.

       3 likes

  18. Elfis says:

    This ranks as one of the best “sleeper” eps for me (along with #405 & #616). Could not watch for years after they came out.

    WE HAVE A WINNER! DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING !!!!!!!!!

       1 likes

  19. Fred Burroughs says:

    Yeah $550,000 might have been worth more in the 50’s, but give me that much today and I could do quite a lot with it. Play that money right and you’ll be set for awhile.

       1 likes

  20. RockyJones says:

    I’ll have to admit…after a couple more viewings of this one, the absurdity of the whole situation and the riffing kinda grew on me.

    One thing’s for sure…more and more, I find myself agreeing with Betty’s enraged rant directed at dressing-down the pompous, condescending English teacher. He just seems so damned overly-obsessed with the idea that a grade received on one lousy term paper about Shakespeare is really going to have such a huge impact on ANY of these kids once they’ve graduated, and just exaults in his ability to lord it over them. It’s one of those plain, honest “what color is the freakin’ sky in your world” moments that I just love, and IMO, Betty’s ONLY redeeming moment in the entire movie.

       6 likes

  21. Sitting Duck says:

    Nicolletta #43: This episode kind of grew on me.

    Don’t worry, I’m sure there’s an ointment you can use to treat it.

    Regarding the theology of Out of This World, it’s appears to be a serious mutation of the Book of Job.

       4 likes

  22. Dan in WI says:

    So Crow has a cymbal recital. Too bad we didn’t get to attend. I’ve sung the praises of Trace’s puppetry many times before. Crow playing the symbols was another great example.

    So could you say this episode marks the one time revival of the full-blown invention exchange? Frank has the dinosaur DNA cloning he’s working on while Mike makes that miracle growth formula with the chemistry set. It sure sounds like an invention exchange to me.

    Speaking of Mike’s growth potion, is that supposed to be some sort of callback to 523 Village of the Giants?

    Finally when giant Tom Servo enters the theater don’t you just want to yell out “down in front?”

    This might be the weakest collection of in movie host segments anywhere. The specialty bread went nowhere, the egging was bland and the dynamite made some interesting mangled bots but there were no real laughs there either.

    Meanwhile the riffing just wasn’t much better. They filled the space but the quality just wasn’t there.

    Favorite Riffs:
    Short:
    Delivery guy plays with a shopping cart “hey something new.” Mike “It’d be a shame if it ran over your kid.”

    After a series of rhymes: Mike “and remember to stock your truck up so you don’t…”

    Movie:
    Teacher “What’s it about?” Betty “It’s about Shakespeare and his plays.” Crow “She did write the paper.”

    Marv and his safecrackers are running late: Crow “I hope they didn’t miss the film’s climax”

       2 likes

  23. touches no one's life, then leaves says:

    Just think of all the 1950s teenage crime-doesn’t-pay films that MST3K DIDN’T dig up, still waiting to be riffed…

       1 likes

  24. Dan in WI says:

    #28 Thomas Dye: One inflation calculator I found on the internet makes the $550k cut of the loot worth about $4.7 million today. So it has gone up a bit since post 29 did the calculation in 2009.

       3 likes

  25. Tom Carberry says:

    Was this the feel good movie of 1958, or what? Our star of this little melodrama, Tom Pittman was born Jerry Lee Alten in Phoenix, Arizona on March 16, 1932. He had an extremely short acting career, managing to get over 35 credits in a bit more than three years. He died tragically in an automobile accident (some called it suicide, others claim it was an accident) on October 31, 1958 over Benedict Canyon in Los Angeles, California. Reportedly, he had been at a Halloween party at a friend’s. He liked driving fast, and went over a cliff in Benedict Canyon. Worried, after not hearing from him, his father reported him missing. After three weeks, the police found him dead, but most tragically he may have lived for hours or even days after the crash.

    Favorite lines (Out of this World):

    It looks like its casual day at 3M.
    Never let the devil dress you.
    [cab driver] Even the devil won’t go to the Bronx.
    But why does the strip club need bread?
    Never put donuts next to the kitty litter.

    Favorite lines (High School Big Shot):

    Is this the screen test?
    He has a haunting ugliness.
    …and that’s why The Plague [by Camus] is my favorite book.
    “Wow, you were just using me.” Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winner.
    Dad’s new girlfriend is named Smirnoff.
    “Why, Pop? You said you were through.” Well, its empty isn’t it?
    The mean streets of Appleton [Wisc.]. Hey, I’m Fake Walkin’ here.
    Boss is always in a good mood when the heroin arrives.
    It’s a Ma Kettle blow up doll.
    So, Mr. Peepers is a heroin dealer.
    “Kill your lights.” They don’t need them now that it’s the middle of the afternoon.

    Final Thought: I really hate this one—Dad had the right idea. I give this one 2 out of 5 stars.

       5 likes

  26. ToolAssist says:

    5/10 episode for me. The short is too long and drab and the movie isn’t much better. The host segments are also pretty lousy.

    Looking forward to Red Zone Cuba.

       1 likes

  27. Patrick says:

    “Better stock your truck up, so that you don’t … Well, you know.” One of my favorite MST lines of all times!!!

       4 likes

  28. Cheapskate Crow says:

    Couldn’t even make it through this episode again, the riffing wasn’t enough to save it for me. And how does Dad know who the hot chicks are in his son’s high school? I don’t even want to know. Loved the short though, especially with the riffs about the bread delivery guy terrorizing the grocery store. “But why does the strip club need bread?”

    Good host segments might have brought this episode up, but this episode seems to suffer from the season 6 long problem of mostly poor host segments. It really seemed like the short should have been right in the Brains’ wheelhouse for a good host segment but we don’t get one.

       0 likes

  29. Dan in WI says:

    Sampo> Tom Carberry raises a good question in #75: Was this the feel good movie of 1958? Or 1953 like you list? Or 1959 like Wikipedia says? I’m confused!

       1 likes

  30. rcfagnan says:

    I defended this episode the last time through and I’m still on board with it. Like Crow, when the booze store owner and his safe-cracking brother-in-law show up, I thought to myself, “I like this new movie better.”

       5 likes

  31. Mitchell "Rowsdower" Beardsley says:

    “Segment 2 gets off a cute punchline…then keeps on going for some reason.”

    That seems to sum up almost all the Mike-era skits. They always seem to lag for 5 seconds or so and it completely ruins the timing, where they just kind of stare forward like ‘heh, heh, right?’ I never understood that.

    That being said, I actually like this more than most of Season 6 episodes. It’s dreary, but has some good lines. And Depressing Dad. That’s about all I can say for it.

       0 likes

  32. Droppo says:

    OK, the Sampo rule applies here for me:

    High School Bigshot is a Top 10 episode for me. 5 stars all the way.

    The short is one of the most bizarre stories ever put to film. “Triumph of the bread” perfectly encapsulates the absurdity of it.

    And the unrelenting bleakness of the film set against Mike and the bots’ riffing cracks me up. It might be the single most depressing film ever made. And Tom Pittman’s character is so perfect for riffing.

    I still rank “am I a sweathog now, Mr. Kotter?” among my all-time favorite riffs.

       6 likes

  33. "Hotcha!" says:

    I liked the short but just can’t make it through the flick.

    You know…Sausage.

       2 likes

  34. Thomas K. Dye says:

    #31: Curious about the cut section between “Why not?” and “Jerks like that who end up as supervisors,” I noticed that he went on AGAIN about selling goodwill, plus displays and grocer volume. Probably worthwhile cutting that bit, as it’s duller than the rest of it. Although it does sort of answer why DuPont would sponsor a film about selling a brand of fictional bread — it’s the cellophane packaging they were interested in promoting; the rest of it was just fluff.

    http://archive.org/details.php?identifier=OutofThi1954

       5 likes

  35. MikeK says:

    “Out of this World” is one of the best shorts that they riffed on the show. Oftentimes when I’m in a grocery store, looking at the bread, the line “specialty breads” always comes to mind.

    High School Big Shot, one of those depressing movies that brings the show down, but you have to stick with it because it’s still a good episode.

       3 likes

  36. trickymutha says:

    This is one of the series finest hours (and a half) Out of this world is bizarre- imagine being a salesman for Staff bread and being subject to this training film. How drab. The film, well- the tribble guy, depressed dad, and Mr. Big Shot and his tart- small town dreams implode. The dark side of a Steinbeck novel. Hell- the riff “liquid assets” is worth the price of admission. This movie demands to be remade someday. My copy is marginal, and I pray to the SHOUT! gods they release it soon. *****

       3 likes

  37. Depressing Aunt says:

    I feel like I may start crying. I’ll just try to think of the joyous delight Bill’s Crow expressed when he first saw Depressing Dad in “Teenage Werewolf.”

    Stock your truck up so you don’t–woah! It’s like singing “The Name Game” with the name Chuck!

    I sincerely hope Mike has had more relief with his headaches since that linked article.

    For some reason I just love the way Big Tom keeps saying “Huh?” at the start of the short. I feel ya, Big Tom.

       3 likes

  38. losingmydignity says:

    This one is always better than I remember it to be (though the short is one of the more forgettable ones). Plenty of dark riffs–especially about pa–make this one pretty fun.

    The actress who played Betty went on to write some television much later in her life. Almost no pics of her to be found though. She is a beautiful woman.

    Sampo, you have the movie date wrong. It should be 1959. They really weren’t making “high school” flicks yet in the early fifties.

    B+

       3 likes

  39. pondoscp says:

    Another mid season 6 slice of wonderful bleakness. Not as wonderfully bleak as next week’s episode, but I love it. I love all the teenage delinquent movies they did.

       6 likes

  40. darthservo says:

    Stanley Adams also went on to great fame as TYBO the talking carrot in the LOST IN SPACE episode “The Great Vegetable Rebellion”

       7 likes

  41. Tom Carberry says:

    Regarding the date. It appears that it was filmed in 1958, but released in 1959. My bad! I can’t imagine why it sat on the shelf for a year **eyes rolling**.

       2 likes

  42. losingmydignity says:

    @91 Well,films are not always released the year they are shot.

       4 likes

  43. Fred Burroughs says:

    I actually was a bit impressed by this movie; it’s needlessly dark and depressing, but you do get drawn into Marv and his desperation. Betty is one of my favorite MST women–so beautiful, savvy and totally committed to her craft of using men. She has a past and motivation, too, not just one-dimensional; Marv, on the other hand, is not to be forgiven for begging Betty for a second chance, after she’s revealed to be evil. However, the plot, the heroin, the heist, the acting and the haircuts and attitudes, plays about the same now as 1959; i.e. it’s not too dated. Compared to other offerings of the same time like Giant Gila Monster, that is.

    I don’t know why, but it is more funny to me when the movie is so dark, and M&TB wade in and just sit on the characters’ heads as they are already being bested by life’s crushing load. Ding! We have a winner.

       7 likes

  44. This Guy says:

    @92: True, although I can’t imagine this little gem had to go through months of post, an extensive marketing campaign, etc. Of course, nothing really beats the tacked-on, years-later ending of Doomsday Machine.

       1 likes

  45. Creepygirl says:

    HIGH SCHOOL BIG SHOT is on my Top 5 Mike episodes list.

    I love everything about this episode. The short is one of my faves and the movie just fascinates me.

    The riffing through out is great and I like the host segments.

    5 out of 5 stars.

       5 likes

  46. Angie Schultz says:

    …imagine being a salesman for Staff bread and being subject to this training film. How drab.

    No! No! I won’t hear of it! This is one of those shorts in which I Learn Something. Namely, there’s more to some boring jobs than meets the eye, and if you apply a little intelligence and industry to even a boring job, you might advance yourself.

    Of course, it does help to imagine driving a bread truck in friendly, sunny Kodachromeland — crisp, glistening bread wrappers as far as the eye can see, and free sweet rolls in the break room. Where do I sign up?

    The movie is a snooze and a downer. The characters could use some sweet rolls.

       2 likes

  47. Stefanie says:

    This is one of those times when I despise the short and find the movie superior. Sure a lot of the bread jokes are a hoot, but the thing with the devil and angel is messed up. The movie is depressing, but the guys make such great jokes that I find it worth watching.

       0 likes

  48. sol-survivor says:

    Perhaps Red was so angry about losing the bet with Whitey that he took out his frustrations on Marv and Depressed Dad. Depressed Dad seemed pretty depressed during his cameo in North By Northwest too, though, so maybe it was just how he was. Or maybe he just needed a specialty bread with higher fiber.

       1 likes

  49. Sampo says:

    Thanks for the catch on the date, folks. I think I got 1953 from the Wikipedia episode guide (I just changed it). IMDB says ’59 and ’59 it shall henceforth be.

       1 likes

  50. This is not a great episode. It is noteworthy for two things: the short and “Big” Servo. The short is weird, but maybe not weird enough. It seems to me like the devil in the “Out of this World” short gets forgotten when it comes to MST devils, which I guess is okay, as he is definitely no Pitch… The first Host Segment with the specialty breads hits me right at home, as I’m a baker (or at least I used to be professionally) and all the talk of “specialty breads” had me laughing. That butter stick bread looks like a winner to me….. Other than that, both of the other Host Segments are stinkers, the opening/closing with the dinosaur is pretty lame (although I like Frank’s “No….no…bad” line), and the movie itself….sheesh, what a bummer.

    High School Big Shot is a pretty lame movie, but memorable for Depressing Dad and the way he goes out (which is swinging).
    I’m with BIG Servo: “MOVIE BAD!,” but I guess they’ve had worse episodes (this season even) so I can’t trash the episode entirely, although it’s not very high on my “re-watch list.” Looking forward to the next few episodes, got some all time favorites coming up….

    RIFFS:


    short:

    BIG Servo: “Movie bad. Movie go away. HATE MOVIE!”

    Crow: “Never let the devil dress you.”

    Mike: “Why do they keep the bread in dresser drawers?”

    Mike: “Everybody down! The bread man is here!”

    movie: “I’d like to do business with salesmen like that..”
    Mike: “But this bread sucks.”


    movie:

    Mike: “He has a haunting ugliness.”

    movie: “You go with Vince..”
    Crow: “LOMBARDI!!”

    Mike: “She’s guilty of thought crimes!”

    Servo: “Might as well have Mitchell for a dad.”

    Crow: “You can’t art direct those stains on the wall.”

    as March is smoking,
    Crow: “Mmmm. Good reefer, man.”

    Mike: “Boss is always in a good mood when the heroin arrives.”


    Overall, this is a below average episode for me,
    I have trouble getting into it, not because it is
    depressing, but because of the lack of laughs.

    2/5

       3 likes

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