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Episode guide: 913- Quest of the Delta Knights

913

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Movie: (1993) In medieval times, a young boy comes under the protection of a wizard, and they plot against a malevolent ruler.

First shown: 9/26/98
Opening: Crow’s in the shop, but the loaner Crow has a radio!
Intro: Worried about a lack of results in her experiment, Pearl trades places with Mike!
Host segment 1: Pearl completes her observations, while Mike, Bobo and Observer enjoy a guy’s night
Host segment 2: The Sir Thomas “Neville” Servo Consort of the Middle Ages Just After the Plague Singers performs an ancient Air on a Delta Knight
Host segment 3: Leonardo Da Vinci visits, and he’s a good fella
End: The bots mourn the loss of Pearl; the annual Delta Knights pancake breakfast is a success
Stinger: Even his co-star is embarrassed by Mr. “I’m Comeeeng!!”
1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (233 votes, average: 4.20 out of 5)

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• A pretty good but not great final episode of the season, complete with a switcheroo in the theater, more workmen coming and going as they please, another choral treat from Sir Thomas, an almost TOO goofy movie and solid riffing throughout.
• Paul’s thoughts on this one are here.
• This episode is not yet available on DVD, and Shout officials despair that it ever will.
• Of course, the highlight of this ep is Pearl taking a turn in the theater, where she seems a little more Mary Jo-ish than Pearl-ish. But I think it works better that way. I’m not sure sustaining the Pearl character AND doing a good job riffing could really be pulled off. Yes, Mike did it with Eddie, but even that wore thin after a bit.
• I love the loaner Crow sketch. It may be one of my all-time favorites. Maybe it’s because that’s pretty much how my car runs.
• In the Intro segment, Servo says “No movie, no Mike.” I think he meant that the other way ’round. That was the best take they had? Or did nobody notice? Or am I missing something?
• Nice callback: “My boat.” a reference to a classic bad movie moment from “Waterworld,” referenced in episode 808- The She Creature.
• One drawback of this movie choice is that we get a rare foray into attempted comedy here, especially the scenes with Richard Kind. As expected, the riffing suffers a bit during these moments. Indeed, the whole movie really doesn’t seem to take itself very seriously, pretty much a prerequisite for a great episode.
• Self referential riff: “Later at Castle Forrester…”
• Several LOTR references: Legolas, Bombadil and Gollum.
• The medeival aire (words and lyrics by Kevin) is lots of fun. By the way, you can hear more of the “dirty” song at the end on the “Clowns in the Sky 2” CD.
• Also: Somebody put boobs on one of the Tom Servos! Yikes!
• Bill, in full James Gandolfini mode, is terrific as a mobbed up Leonardo Da Vinci in segment 3. He really sells it. One of the better hexfield viewscreen visits of the later years.
• Obscure reference: “Timothy? Where on Earth did you go?”
• Patrick is again a workman visiting the SOL. This time he’s “Eggs,” the pain leakage repairman.
• Always nice to see the big clown hammer make an appearance.
• For the pancake breakfast scene, the cast and crew pretty much called every relative and friend willing to be on camera. It held the record as the segment with the most number of people, though some of Moon 13 scenes in season 11 may have beaten it. In addition to Paul, they were: Benjamin Bakken, Andrea Jackson DuCane, Ari Hoptman, Katie Johnson, Mikey Johnson, Anne Kleinschmidt, Joe Kleinschmidt, Marie Kleinschmidt, Rick Kleinschmidt, Edna McKeever, Tom McKeever, Rachel Mertz, Dara Moskowitz, Kathleen M. Murphy, Sandy Oian, Gerald A. Pehl, Nick Prueher, David Rudrud, Tom Schufman, Krista Skogland, Lorin Skogland, Anna Stonehouse, Dan Tanz and Marshall Tebben.
• Cast and crew roundup: Nobody who worked on this movie worked on any other MSTed movie.
• CreditsWatch: Directed by Mike. Intern Nick Prueher would be back one more time in season 10 but this was intern Dan Tanz’ last episode.
• Fave riff: Sit outside and pet our millipedes! Honorable mention: Well, the movie lost me. It lost me and it’s trotting off without me.

190 Replies to “Episode guide: 913- Quest of the Delta Knights”

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  1. Bobby 23-Skidoo says:

    “Now I’m going to attach Rosey Grier’s head to your shoulder.”

    Riff enhanced by the fact that when I recently rewatched the episode, I had just watched parts of The Thing With Two Heads (OK, just the motorcycle scene).

       1 likes

  2. swh1939 says:

    Apparently I liked this one better than Sampo did; I revisit this one often. I figured I was one of about seven people that would get the Joan Blondell joke, but it makes me laugh every time (even though I know that it’s coming up). The pee-throwing sequence is another guilty pleasure (not without the riffing though). I remember Corbin (Tee) being on a TGIF sitcom on ABC about the time this aired. He had a dead friend that was an angel — good kids stuff there.

       4 likes

  3. I'm Evil says:

    I seem to recall an interview where Mike identified this one as a movie they really had to fight for, as Sci Fi wanted them to stick science fiction-themed films. Mike went on to say that they were thrilled to win that battle, but that the end result was not as funny as they hoped. That latter bit surprises me, as I think it is as good as anything in season nine. I’ll be interested to read the comments, as I’ll bet (not unusually) they’ll be some divided opinions on where this rates. IMO, host segments are solid, too many great riffs to list, and a movie that constantly outdoes itself in terms of ineptitude. Four to four and a half stars from me.

    I like Host segment one: Pearl’s questioning of Mike is great, but his responses sell it. “Doing very well, Pearl, thank you.”
    I think the other standout host segment is, of course, the Servo Choir. I was not sure if Mike was doing anyone in particular in introducing the Servo Choir, but I love the description “livid with proudness.” I also quite like that they rhyme Archimedes and Wheaties.

    In the riffing, fewer swipes at ren fests than I would have expected (“Take care of my leather mug! Insult people from the suburbs.” and “Well, ‘Huzzah’ I suppose.”) Maybe they had abused ren fests enough after nine seasons (though I doubt it).

    Tee is pretty annoying, and you just have a hard time taking him seriously dressed like Holly Hobby (“Well, mmm-bop.”), and any hope for Leonardo is washed away with the line “I’m from Vinci.”

    Anyone know why David Warner played two characters? Were they supposed to be brothers? Was that bit cut? David lost a bet with the director? (“Hey! That’s also David Warner!”) Also, was there more Olivia Hussey? She just kind of disappeared (for better or worse).

    Upon seeing him in “Mad About You” I thought it impossible for Richard Kind to be more grating. I was wrong.

    A couple of other random thoughts: Second week in a row for a Deney Terrio reference.
    I was figuring this had to be the largest cast for an episode, and Sampo confirmed it. Seemed like more names in the credits than actual people I saw on camera.

    Some great riffing:

    Servo’s exasperation is great: “Well, the movie lost me. It lost me, and it’s trotting off without me.”
    “That was supposed to make us sad, right?”
    “You can go ahead feel something. I’m not gonna.”

    others:
    “You better get out of the way, I’m in a pee-throwing mood.”

    “Yeah, yeah fine. Look, I’m probably gay.”

    “Medieval Gold! 24 Madrigals by 24 stars!”

    “Bonanza: Now with femmie clothes.”

    “You are full of crap beyond your years, kid.”

    Prince: Athena was always a princess!
    Crow: Or a cheerleader or a naughty nurse.

    My fav: “The pee throwing scene ladies and gentlemen.”

       6 likes

  4. Joe Walker says:

    Close, but that would be James *GandolfINI*. ;-)

       1 likes

  5. MiqelDotCom says:

    The opening “spare crow” is hilarious … it’s like he’s running on dos & diesel.
    “to have said goodbye to things”

    I don’t even know where to begin, this script is awful. Total lack of historical accuracy, geographic ambiguity, confused theology, schizophernic costume&set design, incredibly lame humor .. was this meant to be a movie for kids? I just don’t get it.
    Mike: “Sultans, Pirates … after them!”

    Of all of the ‘quasi-masonic secret society safeguarding ancient technology’ movies i’ve seen, this is the absolute worst on many levels – i’m glad the Brains got the chance to riff it!

    The princess is quite hot though, so that part is enjoyable! :)
    4 stars!

    And what is with the “I’MMM COOOOMMMING” guy in the treehouse chase scene? Is that supposed to be funny or something? Really weird.

       2 likes

  6. Jason says:

    So if the obscure riff is so obscure…why not explain it?

    Anyway, I do love this episode. The movie is kinda weird, the riffs were funny, and of course Pearl/Mary Jo riffing. And how could you forget “pots to throw pee at your neighbor!”
    -Jason

       1 likes

  7. Joseph Nebus says:

    This episode was also used for a neatly delivered bit of snark from The Onion, in their intermittent TV Listings section, to the effect of:

    8:00 Mystery Science Theater 3000 – Quest of the Delta Knights.

    10:00 Quest of the Delta Knights.

       4 likes

  8. robot rump! says:

    this one is a mixed bag for me. i did’nt really get all that much from Mary Jo in the theater. and i’m almost embarrassed for the “im commiiiiiiinnnnnnnng!!” nimrod, i have this image of the director walking up and saying “ok trevor, for this scene i envision you running amok screaming ‘im coommmiinnng!’ very loudly.” yep that’s what i see. other wise it was a riot. and since i dont know of anyone else saying it yet. the barmaid/ princess/ love interest Theena was kinda hot there. just me i’m sure.

       1 likes

  9. Emily says:

    I LOVE this episode, mostly because I am a sucker for anything pseudo-medieval and Ren Fest-y. I agree that the riffing isn’t at 100%, but it’s a fun episode that always makes me laugh. There. I’ve said it, I’ll say it again if I have to.

       5 likes

  10. Bat Masterson says:

    “That’s mah pee!”

       3 likes

  11. MiqelDotCom says:

    lol @ #8 robot rump –
    Not just you, I mentioned the hotness of the princess in post#5 :)
    It’s not just the cleavage, she’s just hot in general, I’d put her in the top 10 ‘babes of mst3k’ category.

       2 likes

  12. Brian says:

    The brief homage to Peter Gabriel’s “Sledgehammer” was one of those “They wrote that joke just for me!” moments. :cool: :lol:

       2 likes

  13. TrumpyDumpy says:

    “I’m commmmmmmmmmmming!” is an instant classic! Also love the Pearl segment in the theater. “Can you say my name” ‘Uh-get bent. Nope, guess I can’t’ crakes me up everytime! I remember seeing this one while at my Grandparents on SciFi on New Years Day so this episode also has a special place in my heart for that as well.

       6 likes

  14. Sampo says:

    Joe Walker–thanks for the catch! Now fixed.

       2 likes

  15. Spector says:

    Not a bad episode, certainly loved the segments with Pearl in the theater and Mike down at Castle Forrester playing poker and hanging out with Bobo and Brain Guy.

       3 likes

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

    They did ALMOST get Archimedes’s death right. Supposedly he really was in the middle of a project when a soldier killed him (against orders, btw, because the invading leader wanted Archimedes, one of the greatest minds of his time, taken alive), but the soldier did so, allegedly, because when the soldiers raided his lab, all he said was “Don’t disturb my circles” (where he was sketching something) and kept working, as if he barely noticed them. The soldier got annoyed and killed him.

    >>>“No movie, no Mike.”

    He think he meant that in the same sense of “no more pencils, no more books.” A straightforward list of two, not cause and effect.

       6 likes

  17. jjb3k says:

    This episode has two good examples of a phenomenon I noticed in the SciFi era, wherein the Brains seemed to be attempting to create SciFi Channel equivalents to classic Comedy Central era moments. Here, we get Pearl in the theater, basically a reworking of Forrester and Frank in the theater from “Last of the Wild Horses”, and the Sir Thomas “Neville” Servo Consort of the Middle Ages sketch is an obvious sequel to the United Servo Academy Men’s Choir skit from “The Starfighters”, right down to the chorus breaking into a dirty song at the end.

    Some other examples I’ve noticed include Servo and Crow trying to escape the theater during the opening credits of “Hobgoblins” (first done in “Robot Monster”), or the bots playing a trivia game based on the movie that they can’t remember at all in “Gorgo” (first done in “City Limits”). In terms of movies, they seemed to try to match those up, too – “The Incredibly Strange Creatures…” feels like it was attempting to be the “Manos: The Hands of Fate” of the SciFi era (right down to Ortega becoming a Torgo-like recurring character), “Jack Frost” was an obvious throwback to the Russo-Finnish trilogy of “The Day the Earth Froze”/”The Magic Voyage of Sinbad”/”The Sword and the Dragon”, etc. Kinda feels like the Brains were attempting to retell their entire history to an audience that might not have watched the first seven seasons.

       2 likes

  18. Steve K says:

    This was definitely one of my favorite ones. It starts with the opening segment and gets better from there.

    Re the movie: Am I the only one geeky enough to notice that the slave auction/training to beg/spy bits are an almost word-for-word rip-off of the opening chapters of Heinlein’s “Citizen of the Galaxy”?

    #12 Brian: Not JUST for you. I will sit on the edge of my seat waiting for that bit ; )

       1 likes

  19. Bookworm says:

    @I’m Evil (post #3)
    Re: Mike’s introduction of the Servo Choir–

    As with his introduction of the United Servo Academy Men’s Chorus, Mike is imitating bill McGlaughlin, host of Saint Paul Sunday on NPR. Not so much matching the voice as exaggerating the mannerisms.

       1 likes

  20. Titanius Anglesmith, Fancy Man of Cornwood says:

    Man, the Bots sure did love the song “Timothy.”

       1 likes

  21. Steve K says:

    #16 — They also actually got Leonardo da Vinci’s “surname” correct — He was born in a town called Vinci, and da Vinci literally means “from Vinci”; he had no surname in the traditional sense. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonardo_da_Vinci) — I’m just glad the riffers didn’t think to joke on that by saying he lived for a while in some place called “Caprio”…

       1 likes

  22. Tork_110 says:

    ASK YOUR GIRLFRIEND: SHE’LL TELL YOU I AM! :mrgreen:

    I also came here to wonder what the hell happened to The Mannarjay character. She should have been pouting and overacting later in the movie.

       2 likes

  23. Laura says:

    I believe at the time the episode was supposed to air, SciFi actually aired the Un-MSTied version BEFORE the actual episode. Why, I had no idea then and I still don’t have any idea. Would anyone else here know what the deal was on that? Was it just coincidence?

       0 likes

  24. Dan in WI says:

    My impression is that the obscure Timothy reference noted by Sampo is of the canabalist song “Timothy.” Doesn’t that take place in a mine. I laughed at this one because it struck me as a callback to the end of the Pina Colada Song sketch from Monster a Go Go.

    And speaking of callbacks: “Paaaaacccckkkkkeeeeerrrrrs” from the Giant Spider Invasion.

       1 likes

  25. Raptorial Talon says:

    “No movie, no Mike” sounds right to me as well – no movie is good, but no Mike is even better. A fun bit of absurdity delivered from the ‘bot’s point of view (and note, they’re quite peeved when Mike does return).

    Good episode. Really nothing *not* to like here, except perhaps the film’s more awkward moments. Not in my top 5 but definitely in my top 15.

    “This episode was also used for a neatly delivered bit of snark from The Onion, in their intermittent TV Listings section, to the effect of:

    8:00 Mystery Science Theater 3000 – Quest of the Delta Knights.

    10:00 Quest of the Delta Knights.”

    And that’s quite accurate too: I saw Delta Knights three times on the Sci-fi Channel – and assumed it was standard fare for them – before I was shocked to see they had admitted it was deserving of the MS3k treatment. It’s one of only three films I had heard of *before* seeing them on the show, thanks to Sci-fi’s desperate need to fill airtime.

       1 likes

  26. Tim S. Turner says:

    I love this one. My friend worked as a production assisstant on it(you can see his name-Bruce Mitchell) and I called him when it was on screaming, “Your movie is on MST!!” He loved it. Apparently the majority of the sets were from the RenFest in Marin County. I love the way they use the SF Palace of Fine Arts for the Roman flashback. Cheese City. ;-)

       2 likes

  27. Gummo says:

    This one gets LOTS of replay in our house.

    The fact that the movie itself can’t decide if it’s a serious period adventure story or a lame spoof of a serious period adventure story is just the beginning of what’s wrong with it.

    How many times do directors have to think, I’ll shoot my movie at the Renfest and it’ll look like I spent millions instead of tens of dollars! before they realize …. no, it won’t.

    Richard Kind is like Grady Sutton (Last of the Wild Horses) in that he can be a really funny guy IF he’s handled correctly by a director. Otherwise, ouch.

    Mrs. Gummo, who’s seen the original (in fact, it used to play constantly on Sci-Fi) says, yes, there is a LOT more Olivia Hussey in the original. But it’s all just her talking & plotting, so no great loss there.

    Loved the host bits in this one, loved the riffing (“That’s mah pee!”). Great episode.

       3 likes

  28. Colossus Prime says:

    Such a great opening segment. Mike’s dry delivery is hysterical though I can’t tell if (character wise) that’s just how he’s answering or if he’s purposely doing it that way because he knows it’ll annoy Pearl. Both are very plausible. The edit of Pearl teleporting up and grabbing the bots is amazingly well done, and Mary Jo is great in the theater.

    Best line from the song, “I’m strong and I’m savvy and I’ve got these.” That and the entirety of, “the dirty one.”

    Seeing David Warner in this didn’t bother me, he is an incredible actor but he’s never seemed to take himself too serious and therefore has fun doing movies like this. At the point that this episode aired I was somewhat familiar with Brigid Brannagh from Kindred: The Embrace (then Brigid Walsh), but I wasn’t THAT familiar with her. I’m sure the kid playing Tee fainted a few times on set. BTW – I’ve read great things about her work on Army Wives.

    I’m sure someone is going to mention it as a missed opportunity, but I’m ok with them not making any references to Sarah Douglas. Given how small the roll is it may have seem forced since the only thing to really go by is her appearance in Superman.

    This is one of those movies that makes me want to know all that I can about its production. It’s just so incredibly all over the place with historical references and downright silly. In fact it is so silly that it kills any emotional impact of Baydool’s death.

    Baydool: My name is, Baydool. Can you say, Baydool?
    Pearl: Let me try; get bent. No, I guess I can’t!

    Baydool: That’s a fine name.
    Tom: If you’re gay.

    Crow (30 minutes into the move): Hey! That’s also David Warner.

    Tom and Mike breaking into Sledgehammer.

    Baydool: Am I trailing blood?
    Mike: Gah! Umm… no, no, you’re fine.

    Tom: There’s a midget under her dress pushing up.

       1 likes

  29. Finnias Jones says:

    Je m’appelle Bite Me.

    3 stars (2 w/o the host segments).
    I’d seen this a few times and never thought much of it before learning it was a generally hated Season 9 show and now I can see why: the movie dictates the pace and it beats them. Maybe it was end of the season blues, but this is not a strong effort by the Brains.
    In retrospect, after witnessing Mary Jo in a the live Cinematic Titanic shows and watching all the CT DVD releases, she is not so bad in the first theater segment. Now, I actually wish they’d kept her there for the entire episode. Would have at least shaken things up. Sure, it improves once Mike returns, but I don’t think they ever scored a home run in this episode. In contrast to the so-so riffing, the host segments are outstanding, many focussing on how much the Bots love Pearl, despite many MSTies not sharing their affection.

    Is Servo’s medieval Knight song based on anything in particular?

    The bearded, beret-wearing Ewok leader slightly resembles eccentric British folksinger Roy Harper.

    Mike: Oh, her dough has risen.

    Start of HS 4: I’m bad, jammon. Servo quotes Michael Jackson. Never liked that song.

    Bill channelling De Niro/Pesci as Da Vinci = hilarious.

    When they find the cave, Mike says: Timothy, where on earth did you go?
    This is from “Timothy” a 1971 by The Buoys, written by Rupert Holmes, who also wrote the MST favorite “Escape (The Pina Colada Song)”, about cannibalism during a mining disaster. http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=2005

    Mike: It’s the Blind Faith album cover. (referring to the topless girl depicted in the mural)

    Mike: So Da Vinci was a moron and stole all his ideas.

    Near the end as they blow up the cave,
    Mike: So guys, should we be feeling anything at this point, or…?
    Servo: You can go ahead and feel something, I’m not gonna.
    Mike: Oh, okay…

    The movie does feature a bevy a beauties though: the breastacular Brigid Conley Walsh, Sarah Douglas (Ursa!) and Juliet herself, Olivia Hussey. So it’s got that going for it. And of course David Warner is good in anything…

    The end credits of the movie, where Pearl returns to the theater with a technician, are good, returning us to the mad scientist experiment theme central to the show. I like how Mr. “Eggs” offers suggestions for why the pain/funny quotient is so low. Then Pearl breaks out the clown-hammer. Good times.

    Ask your girlfriend.

       1 likes

  30. Gary Bowden says:

    Not a favorite of mine.There are a few good jokes,but the movie doesn’t do it for me.I’d rather watch Deathstalker and the Warriors from Hell than this one.I wished they would have picked a movie that was really bad instead.This was more cheesy,which is alright I guess.I give it a 2 out of 4.

       1 likes

  31. Finnias Jones says:

    @29: (self-correction)
    s/b Start of HS 3: I’m bad, jammon.
    & “Timothy” a 1971 song by The Buoys

    Thanks to Dan @ 24 for reminding me of this: “I laughed at this one because it struck me as a callback to the end of the Pina Colada Song sketch from Monster a Go Go.”

       0 likes

  32. Wilford B. Wolf says:

    To me, this episode represented a missed opportunity for the Brains. David Warner also played “The Lobe” on Freakazoid! (a show that very much shares the same spirit as MST3k; hell, they even did a parody of “The Crawling Eye”!). I still feel they should’ve at the end where the evil Warner character in the end gets blown up to have Servo quip, “I feel so abused.” as a ref to F!

       0 likes

  33. ck says:

    About LOTR/Middle-earth references, I believe the first MST3000 movie I saw was Rowsdower and the
    LOTR reference by the kid (hero?) was the first indication it might be more then a children’s puppet show. It makes you wonder (well, me anyway ;-) ) if someone ever calculated how many Middle-earth/Tolkien references are in the series and if any other literary/tv/etc. allusion tops it.

       0 likes

  34. ck says:

    About allusions above, perhaps Gilligan’s Island is a candidate.

       0 likes

  35. Apollonia James (yeah, right) says:

    Travis: “They call me T.”
    Crow: “…It’s short for R.”
    :grin:

       0 likes

  36. Sampo says:

    CK–one of the regulars here has mentioned in the past that he/she is compiling a list of LOTR references. I forget who it is. To that person: I definitely want it for Ward E when you complete it!

       0 likes

  37. Wasn’t this the movie they finally got Barry Schulman to sign off on by getting him drunk? I don’t remember what interview with Mike that came from but i seem to remember they didn’t want them riffing on it cause they were still running the movie all the time on the channel. So a bit of alcohol got us this episode.

       0 likes

  38. Gummo says:

    I’d seen this a few times and never thought much of it before learning it was a generally hated Season 9 show

    Generally hated? Really??

    Weird. Makes me glad I don’t follow this kind of stuff more closely. I just watch and form my own opinions….

       8 likes

  39. >This is from “Timothy” a 1971 by The Buoys, written by Rupert Holmes, who also wrote the MST favorite “Escape (The Pina Colada Song)”, about cannibalism during a mining disaster.

    Uh, it’s a well known fact that Timothy was a duck.

       1 likes

  40. kismetgirl88 says:

    I love the way the gang make fun of kid in this movie. “MMMMMMM Boop.” “Look I’m going kill all the Ants”

    and my fav riff
    Travis “Master”
    Bate
    So dirty but funny.

       1 likes

  41. Roman Martel says:

    I always remember this episode as being a laugh riot and when I watch it, I realize that it’s funny, but not top tier. Then a few months later I’m convinced it’s one of the best of the Sci-fi era. I think its because I love when they tackle fantasy films, and they usually provide plenty of laughs. But I agree with Sampo on this one. “Quest of the Delta Knights” is in on the joke for most of it’s running time, and when a movie is in on the joke it actually makes it tougher to riff. To riff on a funny movie, the movie itself has to fail on nearly every aspect, like “Hobgoblins”. But “Delta Knights” isn’t nearly as poorly made, and the comedy isn’t as forced (with the exception of Richard Kind). Its more like the tone of the movie is light and fluffy, like a muffiny hat.

    Anyway, the host segments are fun, I like having Pearl in the theater (and wish she was in there for one more segment actually), and the movie has some classic moments (pee throwing and “I’m Coooooming”). I give it four dryer lint beards out of five.

       1 likes

  42. Stoneman says:

    I always thought Bill as Leonardo in the hexfield was a great Harvey Keitel imitation, but I never watched “The Sopranos” so what do I know?

       0 likes

  43. Manny, Moe and/or Jack says:

    My dough has risen.

    I don’t agree with Sampo’s statement, “…the whole movie really doesn’t seem to take itself very seriously, pretty much a prerequisite for a great episode.” I think Quest of the Delta Burkes, er, Knights is a good example of a movie where “They Just Didn’t Care,” which also makes for good riff fodder (Attack of the The Eye Creatures or Hobgoblins, anyone?) It seems like the people behind QotDK thought that as long as they filled their movie with lavish sets and costumes, nobody would notice the idiotic script and wildly uneven tone (it can’t seem to decide whether it’s high camp, low comedy or serious fantasy.)

    I’ve also noticed that they younger the actor in QotDK, the more seriously they take their performance. David Warner, Richard Kind and Olivia Hussey seem to play to the campier side of the script (especially Warner- just look at his post-pee-toss “That’s muh pee!” shrug and pretty much everything he does as the bad guy.) They’re pros, they could probably tell they were making a movie destined for late-night cable obscurity (Sci-Fi actually aired the movie the year before they riffed it- there’s a bunch of promos for it on my tape of Giant Spider Invasion.) But look at Tee, the Princess and the ur-Dan Cortese. They play every scene seriously, like they’re expecting QotDK do be their big break. Ur-Dan especially seems to go for a Han Solo “Charming Rogue” vibe, but since he has no talent or charisma he just come off as a pompous, grating jerk. It’s no surprise that they, like the movie, seem to have vanished into obscurity.

       2 likes

  44. Fart Bargo says:

    I LIKE IT VERY MUCH!, as my good friend Micky would aver. I have this in my top 20. A very loopey movie, good riffing, fun host segs. I just love it when a guest does some theater riffing with the bots and MJ/Pearl did not disapoint. Best riff by Pearl “Oh, their hats and underwear are interchangable.” LMAO

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  45. Torgo's Pizza's on my speed dial says:

    My favorite quotes:

    “You are no longer a slave.” You are the hostage of a madman.
    “You will sleep here.” In this basket.
    “She was always a princess.” Or a cheerleader, or a naughty nurse.
    Um, we make less when you dance.
    Did it for the money, folks.
    Is that a beard or a toilet seat cover?
    Hey, that’s also David Warner!

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  46. Ator In Flight says:

    I love this episode and it’s not just the heroic amounts of clevage.

    I remember watching this with my sister and really seemed to enjoy them putting Pearl in the theater.

    Favorite riffs:

    Pearl hitting Observer “Why do you keep on mouthing off to me? You get the same reaction.”

    “How about if I lit your head on fire,would that jog your memory?”

    Leonardo reacting to Tee appearing behind him. “Wha Who Tha Ahhhh!”

    One riff I can’t seem to place. Pearl’s “Dagnabit Lukie.”

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  47. CG says:

    I also thought that this episode was looked down upon, so I’m happy to see in the comments that that isn’t the case!

    While it isn’t my favorite episode, I rewatched this episode over the past few days and was thoroughly surprised at how much I enjoyed it. I found myself giggling or chuckling out loud at a lot of parts. When a “lesser” episode of a TV show makes you LOL, you know that your show is awesome.

    -The one big flaw of this episode is that there aren’t that many riffs. Now, don’t get me wrong; I believe in quality, not quantity, and not that Episode X is better than Episode Y because X has 30 more riffs. But this episode had a LOT of long, silent stretches, particularly during the opening auction.

    -I can’t believe that no one has mentioned my favorite line yet: “Are we being attacked or entertained?”

    -My favorite stinger description ever is “Even his co-star is embarrassed by Mr. ‘I’m Comeeeng!!'” Easily one of the best stingers ever. I hadn’t seen this episode in years and I always remembered that actor to be a midget, so I was surprised that it was a full-grown man.

    -So this movie is VERY confusing. The guy at the beginning adopts Tee, and then we find out all along that he was the real father? So…why didn’t he say so?

    -And why, exactly, is Leonardo da Vinci the biggest jerk in the universe? Not only is he just rude and whiny, but there’s nothing that says “admirable historical figure” like a guy forcefully sleeping with a sex slave. Oh, and constantly trying to sleep with her later, then calling her a filthy whore when she refuses.

    -And the ending? You know, if I ever find the cure to cancer in a mine shaft, I think I’m just gonna leave it there because “the world isn’t ready for it.” I’m sure the rest of Europe was pretty darn pleased at Tee for keeping them in the Dark Ages for another 200 years or so.

    -Servo is SO cute whenever he dresses up in costumes.

    -I liked the “building contractor” segment in the credits, but in a way I wished that they had just riffed the credits instead. Why? A bunch of people have random bizarre nicknames, like John “Cool Breeze” Smith and stuff like that.

    All and all, a fun episode. The tone of the movie reminded me a lot of those Lifetime “comedies” mixed with medieval stuff, so I’m glad Best Brains riffed on it.

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  48. MPSh says:

    Titanius Anglesmith, Fancy Man of Cornwood says:
    Man, the Bots sure did love the song “Timothy.”
    ______________
    Of all of us who are old enough to remember 1971, who doesn’t love the song “Timothy”?

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  49. “It makes you wonder (well, me anyway ) if someone ever calculated how many Middle-earth/Tolkien references are in the series and if any other literary/tv/etc. allusion tops it.”

    I’m trying to compile a list, although I’ve been pressed for serious leisure time lately. From what I’ve seen, there are definitely more Tolkien references than Star Wars ones, and quite possibly Star Trek as well, to get our geek trifecta covered. I haven’t pinned those down numerically though.

    If anybody notes a LotR reference and wants to e-mail it to me for the list, just look for the link on my comic page (the e-mail link is a bit small but it’s there).

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