Books by Sampo!

 

 

Support Us

Satellite News is not financially supported by Best Brains or any other entity. It is a labor of love, paid for out of our own pockets. If you value this site, we would be delighted if you showed it by making an occasional donation of any amount. Thanks.

Sampo & Erhardt

Sci-Fi Archives


Visit our archives of the MST3K pages previously hosted by the Sci-Fi Channel's SCIFI.COM.

Social Media


Official Vol. XVII Press Release

Here’s Shout Factory’s official press release about the next set:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The loyal MSTies asked for it, and now they’ve finally got it!

MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000: VOLUME XVII
featuring the very first nationally aired episode,
THE CRAWLING EYE,
and three side-splitting episodes
THE BEATNIKS, THE FINAL SACRIFICE, and BLOOD WATERS OF DR. Z
along with 4 limited-edition mini-posters and bountiful bonus features

In Stores Nationwide March 16, 2010 from Shout! Factory

Welcome to the Satellite of Love, the orbiting home of legendary hosts Joel Robinson and Mike Nelson, along with their robotic companions — Crow T. Robot, Tom Servo and Gypsy. Join them as they embark on their 17th, and perhaps most impressive, volume of gut-busting riffs on the classic cinematic missteps of yesteryear when Shout Factory, in association with Best Brains, Inc., proudly presents Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume XVII 4-DVD box set on March 16, 2010. The 17th DVD collection of the famed MST3K features the long-awaited episodes The Crawling Eye, The Final Sacrifice, The Beatniks and Blood Waters of Dr. Z, along with a wealth of bonus content including The Crawling Eye special introduction by Joel Hodgson, Mystery Science Theater Hours wraps on The Beatniks, The Main Event: Crow Vs. Crow at Dragon*Con ’09, a brand-new interview with The Final Sacrifice star Bruce J. Mitchell, Blood Waters of Dr. Z photo gallery, original theatrical trailers and more! This collectible 4- DVD box set is priced to own at $59.97.

MST3K: THE CRAWLING EYE
Things start to look eerily familiar to scientists Crevett and Brooks when mountain climbers begin losing their heads in the Trollenberg Mountains. Can the two investigators finally uncover the answers they’ve been seeking since encountering similar tragic accidents in the Andes?

The loyal MSTies asked for it, and now they’ve finally got it! The very first episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000 following its departure from KTMA is now on DVD, complete with the introductions of Doctors Forrester and Erhardt, Deep 13 and Joel’s very first Invention Exchange seen on the Comedy Channel!

MST3K: THE BEATNIKS
When a hold-up carried out by his two-bit hoodlum friends goes tragically awry, Eddie Crane’s bright future as a recording artist from the mean streets could be in jeopardy.

With a sadistically hilarious game of Rock-Paper-Scissors, a Tony Travis-themed slumber party and a full-fledged dramatization of a nobody’s transformation into a 1950s rock star (and back) starring none other than Tom Servo — Joel and the crew of the SOL certainly know how to usher in this Turkey Day favorite’s DVD debut!

Also includes the second segment of the short “General Hospital.”

MST3K: THE FINAL SACRIFICE
With the help of a mysterious map and a truck-driving drifter named Rowsdower, young Troy McGreggor sets out on a dark adventure across Alberta in search of the answers behind the hooded cult responsible for his father’s grisly murder.

MSTies have long believed they’d never see this Tjardus Greidanus–directed student-film-turned-MST3K masterpiece on DVD, so we’re especially proud to serve it up! This long-awaited episode also features “The Canada Song,” a treasured song by Tom Servo in one of the host segments. Join Mike and the ’bots of the Satellite of Love as they skewer the beloved “cult” classic that became one of the most requested episodes in the history of Mystery Science Theater 3000.

MST3K: BLOOD WATERS OF DR. Z
Seeking revenge against those responsible for stripping him of his tenure and the denial of human research subjects, Dr. Z mutates himself into a hideous — and murderous — half-human-half-fish-like creature!

Mike Nelson and the crew of the Satellite of Love — Crow T. Robot, Tom Servo and Gypsy — take on one of the most laughable treasures ever to grace the MST3K screen with a disgusting new habit for Crow, a day of fishing for the crew and — GASP — an unforgettable appearance by Brain Guy and Bobo!

The Mystery Science Theater 3000 series was created by Joel Hodgson and produced by Jim Mallon. After a year on KTMA TV in Minneapolis, its national broadcast life began in 1989 on the Comedy Channel (later to become Comedy Central), where it ran for seven seasons. The show’s final three seasons aired on the Sci-Fi Channel. The premise of the series features a hapless man who is trapped by mad scientists on a satellite in space and forced to watch old B-movies of questionable worth. To keep sane, he’s built two robot sidekicks, and together they do a running commentary on the films, affectionately mocking their flaws with inspired wisecracks and acting as a demented movie theater peanut gallery. Series creator Hodgson originally played the stranded man, Joel Robinson. When he left in 1993, series head writer Mike Nelson replaced him as the new B-movie victim Mike Nelson, and continued in the role for the rest of the show’s run. The format proved to be popular. During its eleven years and 198 episodes (including one feature film), MST3K attained a loyal fan base and critical acclaim. The series won a Peabody Award in 1993, and was nominated for writing Emmys® in 1994 and 1995.

43 Replies to “Official Vol. XVII Press Release”

Commenting at Satellite News

We are determined to encourage thoughtful discussion, so please be respectful to others. We also provide an "Ignore" button () to help our users cope with "trolls" and other commenters whom they find annoying. Go to our Commenting Guidelines page for more details, including how to report offensive and spam commenting.

  1. Thad says:

    “featuring the very first nationally aired episode, THE CRAWLING EYE, and three side-splitting episodes”

    Ha, even the press release acknowledges The Crawling Eye is not a side-splitting episode.

       0 likes

  2. Cabbage Patch Elvis says:

    Even though I placed my order for this last month, I really needed this post. A little ray of light on an otherwise dark,gloomy day.

       0 likes

  3. dad1153 says:

    ^^^ You mean the MA thing, right? If so agree, depression has gripped me since last night and this has been one of the (few) things that made me smile today.

       0 likes

  4. Tor Johnson says:

    Now if on;y we can get the first KTMA episode??

       0 likes

  5. Tor Johnson says:

    *only* sorry

       0 likes

  6. Boggy Geek says:

    “With the help of a mysterious map and a truck-driving drifter named Rowsdower, young Troy McGreggor sets out on a dark adventure…..”

    Oh Shout Factory, you had me at, “Rowsdower.”

       0 likes

  7. Chuck says:

    Rowsdower . . .

    He’s dreamy.

       0 likes

  8. clonus says:

    Oh man, I am so happy they got the Rowsdower interview! This guy has a great sense of humor (judging by the email interview he did a few years ago), this should be good.

       0 likes

  9. Doctorb says:

    Mmm, might have to buy this, if only for <3<3<3 The Final Sacrifice <3<3<3.

    Though I'm STILL waiting on my Vol. XVI… stupid international mail…

       0 likes

  10. FINAL SACRIFICE rocks. I was born in Alberta. But Rowsdower and I are nothing a like.

       0 likes

  11. pablum says:

    The big news in this press release has to be the Rowsdower interview announcement. Otherwise, we knew most of this stuff already.

       0 likes

  12. Tattri says:

    Rowsdower, Rowsdower, rowsa-rowsa-Rowsdower, bowsa-bowsa-lowsdower, sobbity-sobbity-sowsdower, bibbidy-bobbidy-bowsdower, bobbidy-dobbidy-Rowsdower.

       0 likes

  13. Tattri says:

    Rowsdower, Rowsdower, rowsa-rowsa-Rowsdower, bowsa-bowsa-lowsdower, sobbidy-sobbidy-sowsdower, bibbidy-bobbidy-bowsdower, bobbidy-dobbidy-Rowsdower.

       0 likes

  14. Rachel says:

    Oh… my… god. Just getting Final Sacrifice was awesome, but an interview with Rowsdower? I think I just had a nerdgasm.

       0 likes

  15. Ryan says:

    Cool anouncement. I like how it’s worded as you can tell they are real fans.

    P.S. Shouldn’t there be a link to it in the article to order it through to benefit Satellite News?

       0 likes

  16. BathTub says:

    Woooo Great stuff. Really looking forward to it.

       0 likes

  17. ryan says:

    oh i wish i was back… in ole canada…

    Could this day get any better?

       0 likes

  18. FTD says:

    I’m definitely going to have to pick this one up. I am extremely excited.

       0 likes

  19. Bigzilla says:

    I actually like the Crawling Eye for some reason, and The Final Sacrifice is worth it for the Canada Song alone. Ultimately though, it’s just nice to know Shout seems to care.

       0 likes

  20. Big61AL says:

    The crawling eye!! Yes the print is rough. Yes the riffing is not super but as the national broadcast premier it is a good episode. My copy is so raggy it will be great to see a pristine dvd.
    Plus we get one of my favs…Blood waters of Dr. Z

       0 likes

  21. CaveDweller says:

    I’ve always liked “The Crawling Eye” too. There’s just soemthing about it that makes it different then most “giant *whatever*” movies, like the ones by Corman or Bert I. Gordon. I wouldn’t put it in the “best episodes of MST3K ever” list, but it’s a neat episode to see and it’ll be nice to have on DVD, since my tape is getting pretty raggy too. “The Final Sacrifice” is a fav. of mine (and a lot of other people) from the Sci Fi Channel-era, so that’ll nice to have. “Blood Waters…” isn’t one of the most remembered episodes, but I watched not too long ago and it’s a good one. I remember when Comedy Central first showed “The Beatniks”. It was a “lost episode” shown during one of the Turkey Day marathons. The scene where the hip “teenage” sings is classic! This will be a great set!

       0 likes

  22. Finnias Jones says:

    I’m buying this set, like all the others. Granted, none of these were on my wish list, but this is the archetypal MST boxset, 2 Joel/2 Mike, spanning the whole lifespan of the show:

    Historically important, decent old school B&W sci-fi/horror THE CRAWLING EYE 101 (I’d prefer Robot Monster)
    Juvenile delinquent “musical” with quotable lines THE BEATNIKS 415 (Daddy-O and Girls Town are much better)
    Fan-favorite low-grade sci-fi opus THE FINAL SACRIFICE 910 (The very silly Puma Man has the lovely Sydne Rome and Donald Pleasence)
    Grade-Z, so-bad-it’s-still-not-good BLOOD WATERS OF DR. Z 1005 (Squirm is a better film, Track Of The Moon Beast is funnier than “Zaat!”)

    I still don’t get why Shout! refuses to use season/episode #’s on their sets. Anyone with a computer can find this info for themselves, but why add a step to our enjoyment of these releases? And has anyone found a use for these “mini-posters’? Enlighten me…

       0 likes

  23. Watch-out-for-Snakes says:

    Rowsdower-mobile, AWAY!!

       0 likes

  24. Cabbage Patch Elvis says:

    #3dad – Thanks, yeah. On the national and on my state’s level, I’m really disappointed with the political bickering and childish partisanship. It’s nice to recharge with a good episode of my favorite cow town show. I’m finding a lot of comfort in those EARLY Rhino episodes, when it seemed like eons between release dates, and I always wondered if there would even be a new release. I watched Mitchell last night, and never thought that Joe Don Baker and John Saxon could be so comforting?

       0 likes

  25. H says:

    Very excited. It can’t come soon enough for me.

       0 likes

  26. Dennis (Mpls.) says:

    A great selection of episodes-I’m really looking
    forward to….wait someone is cutting my door open
    with a chainsaw…..more later….

       0 likes

  27. clonus says:

    I was actually really surprised to see “Dr Z.” on this set-that’s the one that SciFi had legal issues over, where it was pulled after one airing, and then aired once more three years later or something. It’s quite a rare episode, but a good one. A solid set all around.

       0 likes

  28. Bill Millican says:

    And has anyone found a use for these “mini-posters’?

    I recently had twelve of my mini-posters framed and mounted. Wasn’t cheap, but looks really cool.

       0 likes

  29. Josh says:

    At the same time, Amazon still hasn’t dropped their price anywhere close to previous pre-order numbers again. I wonder what happened? Did they finally realize they’d been eating up all their margin on the previous sets?

       0 likes

  30. Geode says:

    Josh (#29), Best Buy’s website has a preorder price of $49.99, which is $4 cheaper than Amazon’s current price (a little surprising, since Amazon usually runs cheaper than BBY).

    I would expect that, on release day, you will be able to find third party sellers on Amazon that are cheaper than that, which is why I have never gotten this whole preorder thing in the first place. I can wait a couple of days to get my stuff (especially this set, which I find to be a not-very-inspiring collection), and I always save good money at the same time.

       0 likes

  31. me says:

    well dad1153, as long as you’re going to inject some dreary politics into an otherwise joyful discussion of all things Misty I will chime in with MY perception of the events that took place in “MA”. It was indeed ” A little ray of light on an otherwise dark,gloomy day” BECAUSE Kennedy’s seat was filled by Brown and that’s MY viewpoint. Sorry to hear of your gripping depression but hey, that’s all WE’VE had since last year ’round now. Let’s get back to all things MST-we really don’t need to sour the topic with our political differences.

       0 likes

  32. mobileunit says:

    I was wondering what the gloomy day was all about. I thought Shout Factory was going discontinue MST3K DVD’s ! I’m old enough to know by now that it dosen’t matter which party is in power, they both stink……. equal.
    Can’t wait for volume 17 ! The Final Sacrifice, Haven’t seen this episode in nearly a decade and 3 others I’ve never seen before. Looking forward to this set ! Big Time ! :grin:

       0 likes

  33. ya'na'glachy baby! says:

    Let me first start off by thanking MST3K, Best Brains, Shout!Factory, all MSTie’s nationwide, and anyone else associated with MST3K… Thank you. MST has always been in my opinion the most loyal, fanbased( not just in having tons of loyal fans but actually listening to them)and coolest Company/Franchise/Show ever. I mean take this volume. 17 release for instance, me along with countless others requested interviews with cast or crew of The Final Sacrafice, and not only did u give us that but u gave us an interview with Zap Rowsdower himself! So once again in closing …MST3K, Shout!Factory, FANS, and everyone else Thank You:):):)

       0 likes

  34. Jeff in Denver says:

    I also have a lame dunk tank like Dr. Z in my basement. “Dr. Z, wont you love me?”
    Sarcasm is the weed of deceit, is it not? :shock:

       0 likes

  35. Stan McSerr says:

    There is a God!!!!!!!!! :smile:

    Rowsdower, my hero! :razz:

    He will be here soon!!!! :grin:

       0 likes

  36. dsman71 says:

    I for one am quite happy that this set is only 2 months away now…
    I have waited forever..I am the loyal fan who has awaited Crawling Eye for many years…It is the most important episode since it is the first episode of this great series…no its not as good as their further seasons, but it certainly a lot of fun to sit through. I love this movie with or without MST
    Beatniks is another episode I have watched quite a bit and thrilled its finally coming out…
    Final Sacrifice well Im not a scifi fan but this to me is very good episode. Im not goo goo over Rowsdower but I am happy for the legions of fans who finally get their wish. I liked the guy who sounded like a Jim Henson muppet
    Blood Waters of Dr Z is on my top 10 list of favorites of the scifi era
    Overall this to me is the best set they’re released title wise..and Ive liked them all..Shout really seems to care. I pre-ordered it the minute it came out.

       0 likes

  37. Big Daddy 320 says:

    I for one am very excited for this release. I have only seen part of Dr. Z. So, the rest are going to be first viewings. I have most all the episodes from dap. But, I like to wait and watch an episode coming out on dvd to get the best viewing. Besides, volume 16 was a great Christmas gift and this is coming out just in time for my birthday. I like it very much.

       0 likes

  38. ck says:

    “me” #31 probably most enjoys mst3000 movies where people are killed off, as they will be because Rethugicans want to deny them healthcare. January 19, 2010 will be a day that lives in infamy for Massachusetts voters.

    NOW back to all things MST.

       0 likes

  39. me says:

    consuming a lot of the kook-aid these days eh ck?

       0 likes

  40. Glen BW says:

    Finally, our favorite Canadian hero’s here! ROWSDOWEEEEERRRR!

       0 likes

  41. Pumaman says:

    fraking Shout Factory, charging 60 dollars. It was okay when Rhino did that, because you knew you were getting a good set, but Shout Factory always does a mediocre job.

       0 likes

  42. The Toblerone Effect says:

    For all of those who are whining about the election in MA on the 19th, just remember this: Martha CHOKELY didn’t bother to attempt any serious campaigning until the last week before election night. Because MA historically votes Democrat, she arrogantly figured the election of the Senate seat would be in her pocket once she cleared the primaries. She ran a half-assed and half-baked campaign, one so poor even the appearance of her heroes B.O. and Bill Clinton couldn’t save it. Had she taken Scott Brown seriously and ran even a slightly more competent race the results would have definitely been in her favor.

    Enough of that. I originally came on this link to comment on how great Volume XVII is shaping up. Like several others here, the fact that Rowsdower will be interviewed is a pleasantly suprising bonus. Two eps are ones I’ve never seen (Crawling Eye and Blood Waters), while the other two are personal favorites. The only negative is how will SF top themselves with Volume XVIII? After these last two sets, almost anything else will seem like a disappointment.

       0 likes

  43. thedumpster says:

    “The only negative is how will SF top themselves with Volume XVIII? After these last two sets, almost anything else will seem like a disappointment.”

    Couldn’t agree more. I’m starting to think that they are coming dangerously close to running out of titles that they can release with no strings attached. I can only think of a handful of episodes that haven’t been released that have a good chance to see the light of day.

       0 likes

Comments are closed.