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Episode guide: 1007- Track of the Moon Beast

Movie: (1976) A New Mexico mineralogist is struck by a meteor, and is transformed into a mindless humanoid-lizard monster.

First shown: June 13, 1999
Opening: Crow and Tom are blossoming everything
Intro: Mike attempts to escape using a remote-control Bobo
Host segment 1: The bots rush the Halloween season, and hollow embarrassment ensues
Host segment 2: This week on Legends of Rock: The Band That Played “California Lady.”
Host segment 3: Crow and Tom rig a remote camera, and catch a glimpse of Mike’s disturbing bedtime routines
End: Tom has injured a baby satellite, but soon all is well; Brain Guy and a brain-exposed Bobo bond, much to Pearl’s displeasure
Stinger: “Moon rocks? Oh, wow!”
1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (310 votes, average: 4.60 out of 5)

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• I like this one a lot. The movie is only marginally watchable and on this viewing I really noticed what a mostly placid, quiet little movie this is, which gives the riffers a lot of elbow room. It’s a classic example (“Teenage Strangler” is another one) of a group of people who got together in a town to make a movie, and didn’t really know what they were doing. The riffing is solid and just about all the segments are a lot of fun.
• This episode is included in Shout’s “MST3K: Volume XXXVIII.”
• Mike offers some thoughts here.
• References are here.
• Once again, props to the prop makers for the exquisitely blossomed objects.
• Servo’s head is still blossomed in theater and Mike crunches on some while watching the movie.
• In his comments, Mike makes reference to the classic moment where Johnny Longbow recites the ingredients of his stew recipe with a level of world-weariness more befitting the reading of a will. From that point on, they just won’t let the stew jokes go.
• The intro segment definitely has a late season 5 feel. It’s been a while since “bringing the satellite down” was the goal of a scheme.
• Mike’s face in segment 1 is classic; complete neutrality in the face of Crow’s increasing embarrassment and humiliation. Those pea pods look good, too. Oh, and this time I noticed that Tom’s arm is taped around Gypsy.
• Segment 2 is another gem, perfectly capturing those nostalgia/biography shows.
• Segment 3 is probably the weakest of the episode, but the Mike’s little puppet show on his bed is worth the price of admission. And I guess this is our one and only look into Mike’s bedroom.
• Fans have tracked down Frank Larrabee, the lead singer (aka the fish-lipped guy) in the band that played California Lady. He still lives in New Mexico and is a professional Appaloosa breeder. Fans who’ve tried to contact him for some backstage remembrances have gotten no replies, Maybe he didn’t appreciate being called “the fish-lipped guy.” No word on the eskimo and the friendly looking backup singer.
• Riffs that made you want to slap them: “His pants are Hagar, and they’re horrible.”
• Cast and crew roundup: Screenwriters William Finger and Charles Sinclair also worked on “The Green Slime.” Special effects makeup guy Joe Blasco did makeup for “Parts: The Clonus Horror” and “The Touch of Satan.” Special effects guy Rick Baker (who was uncredited here) also worked on “The Incredible Melting Man” and “Squirm.”
• CreditsWatch: Directed by Mike. A Bill Gibb is listed, along with Brad, as an editor for this episode and three more after it. Ed Dykhuizen and Sarah Lemanczyk begin their stint as interns that continues to the end of the season, except for one episode.
• Fave riff: “I need a wheat penny and a Glock.” Honorable mention: “They shot two klieg lights and a gaffer.”

182 Replies to “Episode guide: 1007- Track of the Moon Beast”

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  1. Fart Bargo says:

    This one is a solid ‘4’ for me. Good to great host segments. Observer’s Spin N Swoon after Bobo hits him with a cattle prod just slays me. Mike’s Legends of Rock was top rate. The movie itself minimally held interest due to the brain dead leads. Paul & Kathy are the templates for Heidi and Spencer. I did like the music though, same folks from Dr Z? What saves (?) this movie for me is Johnny Longbone, a movie hero who wheels around in a brown station wagon. Boy, Johnny jaw jacks almost as much as ‘Doc’ Lockhart. One last observation on the Moon Beast, outside of Norman Bates, no monster should be living with their mom.

       3 likes

  2. ck says:

    Not a bad movie, but it’s best to watch it while
    enjoying some munchies. perhaps, say, a stew. I’d
    suggest one with chicken, green peppers, rattlesnake,
    velveeta, hair, corn, chili, onions, Nummy Muffin Coocol Butter…

       4 likes

  3. creepygirl says:

    This is a solid 4 star for me also. The riffing is great and this movie really lends to that. I was and am still a big fan of VH1’s Behind The Music. So the band that played California Lady skit had me in stiches and still cracks me up. This may be my last fave episode of season 10. The rest are still good but not as high on my list.

       2 likes

  4. Pinback65 says:

    Crow’s slowly-deteriorating mental state in Segment One is one of my all-time favorite bits. Kind of dark, but very, very funny, it’s the segment I most point to when explaining the difference in the character when Bill took over from Trace. I have no preference, mind you; they’re both hilarious.

       7 likes

  5. Tim S. Turner says:

    I love them spying on Mike in his room. “That’s right, you big dope!”

       3 likes

  6. continuing legend says:

    This is my favorite episode of all time. The only weak part for me is the last host segment (and it’s Tom, not Crow, who injured the satellite, BTW), but the rest of it is just GOLD. This episode just RULES. I love it. I am not being very coherent, but I’m tired. I might post more thoughts later.

       2 likes

  7. Dan in WI says:

    Not even close to my favorite episode. The actually laugh out loud laughs were few and far between though there was a good supply of smirkers. But it was a treat for me in a different way. Those of you in the Norteast Wisconsin (Green Bay) television market are surely aware of the Ned the Dead Show aka Chiller Theater. For those of you not aware, his show was sort of a proto-MST3K and has actually been around longer than MST3K. While not on the air continuously it has been around for over 25 years. In it’s current form it consists of commercial break host segments on a much more bare bones set. It does include a cast of costumed characters. There is very little riffing over over the run of the movie itself but there are many 5-10 second cutins showing the two main characters making longer jokes that simply wouldn’t fit between the movie dialog. The also begin each episode with a segment called “Doc’s Movie Lore” where one of the main characters does a couple minutes of notes and trivia about the movie. It is somewhat similar to Daddy-O’s Drive in Dirt on this website.
    Well a couple weeks back Ned the Dead showed about a two year old rerun of this movie. It was fun to compare and contrast the treatment of this movie by the two different groups. The biggest laugh getter by Ned occurred during the flaming falling metiorites early in the fill. They referred to them as flaming charcoal briquettes. When they were on screen they would yell out “Charlie’s cooking Johnsonville brats, Johnsonville brats, Johnsonville brats…” It’s a reference to a long running commercial series for a Wisconsin sausage manufacturer.
    Anyway….

    As for the MST treatment:
    Then current and amazingly STILL current reference: Kent Brockman.

    I thought Mike was really channeling his inner Joel when he chided Tom for shooting that baby satelitte with the arrow. That really was a speak Joel would have delivered.

       2 likes

  8. John Seavey says:

    “Pretty soon I’ll be throwing up chicken, corn…onions…”

    Really, what strikes me about this film is how unattractive everyone is. You don’t really notice it until about 2/3rds of the way through, because they don’t give anyone close-ups (a wise decision on the director’s part) but everyone looks as though they’d been somehow eroded. Like a human version of the Crazy Horse sculpture.

    This one is decent, fun, but not spectacular. Four stars.

       5 likes

  9. Colossus Prime says:

    Crazy note from IMDB: The guy in the Moon Beast suit was a make-up artist on Touch of Satan, and Clonus!

    The blossoming bit has three great parts: Mike’s delivery when discovering they blossomed his wallet, the way Crow says, “Your head,” and Pearl’s greeting of, “Mike, Crow, Snack,” is all awesome. And then everything about the hot wired Bobo is fantastic. Love Pearl’s emotionless presentation of, “It’ll either kill him or allow us to control his every motion,” all leading back to Tom with his blossom and fried head. “Sorry, Pearl, can’t help myself.” Man do I love Bobo.

    Mike’s purposeful non-reaction in segment one is so incredibly perfect. The tragic story of the band that played California Lady isn’t a laugh riot, but the ridiculous-ness of the “facts” is very funny. “And then we’ll kill him,” is delivered so perfectly. And Tom is cute with his little bow.

    The great riffing throughout is the only thing that gets me through this painfully bad movie. On its own I’m sure the movie would cause me to subconsciously stab a screwdriver through my eyes. Bad acting, dumb story and horrible explanations within the story.

    “It stars nobody and features nothing. I hope you gag on it.” is such a great intro to this movie. Opening with Johnny Longbow trying to scare Paul then reinforces it. The entire scene hinges on Paul’s reaction to the sounds and the mask appearing out of nowhere and he gives us absolutely no reaction which makes the exposition that follows pointless and weird. Even with the bad acting, terrible dialogue it would have all actually made sense if Paul wasn’t entirely wooden. Of course it all feeds great riffing and an absolutely great host segment.

    I know we had a weekend discussion about worst actor/actress in a MSTied movie, but did we ever do one for the full ensemble? Because without even thinking about it this has to be in the top three. It’s all absolutely terrible, ESPECIALLY Kathy. My job requires me to sit on a computer almost all day but I listen to MST3K episodes to pass the time. Nearly every time I hear Kathy I get a headache from just how terrible she is.

    Favorites –
    Johnny: Lizard and Coyote were having an argument about what shape man would take.
    Mike: They fought and died. The end.

    Kathy: Paul, where are we exactly?
    Crow: I’m telling you! What do you want, longitude and latitude?

    Tom’s drawn out singing of “Fame, fame, fame, fame…”
    (I’m a sucker for Bowie references)

    Mike: [as Johnny talking to Kathy] So how’s the pretending you’re not old going?
    (This line is so mean it’s awesome)

    The entire scene of the cops shooting at Paul-beast while Kathy is clearly in their line of fire is awesome even without the riffing.

    Johnny: Paul is not Paul anymore!
    Crow: He’s SUPER PAUL!

       7 likes

  10. rcfagnan says:

    Am I mistaken or do Mike and the bots call Johnny Longbow “Johnny LongBONE”? I think the host segments really outshine the movie, yet another one where our monster is Paul! For some reason, I always used to confuse this one with “It Lives By Night.” They just feel like the same movie. Maybe because they’re both an ick-seventies-kidney-stone-of-a-films…

       1 likes

  11. I'm not a medium, I'm a petite says:

    I’ll go 4 on this one… the legends of rock bit ( brilliant ) pushes it over from three. not that there is anything wrong with this ep.. it’s just a little low-energy for my taste on the movie riffing.

    And I didn’t like the terminal-bobo bit. Maybe physical humor is not Kev’s forte, especially trapped in a gorilla suit. It might even put me in a bad mood for the rest of the show :(

    Observation: Anyone else note that the mod-squad line-up of the band that played California Lady ( native american , bland white guy, blond chick ) neatly reflects the line-up of our three movie leads ?

       1 likes

  12. Sampo says:

    Thanks for the catch, Continuing Legend. Now fixed.

       1 likes

  13. PLLDD says:

    There’s a poster of Targo in Mike’s bedroom. Now that’s creepy.

       1 likes

  14. MPSh says:

    Yes, they did call him Johnny Longbone, and he was the best part of the movie.

    The stew ingredients recital was a hilarious little moment – kind of like Johnny was irritated at having to repeatedly list all of the ingredients. Mike and the ‘bots took that little moment, plopped on a stool next to it, and milked it for all it was worth. Classic.

    I have to second the “Super Paul” riff as well.

    I kind of liked the California Lady song. Much better than you might expect in a movie like this.

       2 likes

  15. Dark Grandma of Death says:

    Track of the Moon Beast was filmed in Albuquerque. As a native Albuquerquean, I feel as if I should apologize.

    This is one lame ass movie. The scene where the professor, students, and photographer perform their ineffectual prank is an incredibly awkward exposition moment. And I agree with Colossus Prime about Kathy as one of the MOST irritating characters in any movie; how many times does she whine Paul’s name? Paul himself spends too much time out of breath, shirtless and sweaty, not very interesting despite turning into a hell beast.

    Johnny Longbow and the sheriff have several scenes in and around the Geology Museum in UNM’s Northrup Hall. UNM has lots of interesting architecture, but maybe the filmmakers couldn’t get permission to film any of that.

    I have to rebut the riff about New Mexicans thinking about killing themselves two or three times a week. When the heavy winds last for days on end, we might think about it several times a day.

    Also, Paul’s house is not really in a “fall-out shelter neighborhood.” It’s just Rio Rancho. The confusion is understandable.

    Favorite riffs: “I need a wheat penny and a Glock.”
    “Thinking hurts…ow.”

       9 likes

  16. Dark Grandma of Death says:

    Oh, and as to the poster above Mike’s bed…I see that #13, PLLDD, says it’s a Torgo poster. My husband insists it’s a poster of the Outlaw Josie Wales. Which is it? Torgo would make more sense, MST-wise. Still, I’d hate to think my husband confused Clint Eastwood with Torgo!

       5 likes

  17. MikeH says:

    The only thing that really sticks out in my head about the movie was the “California Lady” song and the following host segment. For some reason it reminds me of camping as a kid and this the campside’s fireside “entertainment” Mike’s “biography” of the band was hilarious. Rest of the movie was quite tedious, Kathy being ok looking but quite stupid. Her comment on the stinger “Moon rocks, oh wow!” Her delivery of the line itself, it’s almost like she forgot how to express the line.

       2 likes

  18. WeatherServo9 says:

    BOO! Did I scare you? Isn’t it fun how I just played a mild prank on you? Let’s talk about it at great length while we enjoy some stew.

    So many of the movies from this era of the show (and the actual era of the 1970s/80s) that were shot in color seem so dull and lifeless. Especially compared to something like I Accuse My Parents or Batwoman or any of black and white movies which had real energy and life in them. Both this and Touch of Satan and a few others are just so slow and plodding – I can’t imagine how anyone could make it through them without riffing.

    The band that played California Lady and the band from Hobgoblins and the band from Girl in Gold Boots all must have had the same incompetent manager.

       5 likes

  19. FarmboyinJapan says:

    I absolutely LOVE the way Mike delivers the “Bone how are ya?” line!

    And any episode that references the now infamous “taking a crap on the foot cart” incident is OK in my book….

       1 likes

  20. Tork_110 says:

    I find this episode to be weak but host segment one with Crow getting more and more upset over Mike’s “reaction” is a classic.

    By the way, you’re all a bunch of dummy….heads! :twisted:

       0 likes

  21. Dan in WI says:

    One other comment I meant to make. During the stew eating scene I did crack up with the “eating noises” riffs. It reminded me very much of commentary Mike Myers made once about the peeing scene in the first Austin Powers movie. Mike Myers described that joke by explaining the extended length of the peeing was intended to be at first funny. But then as it dragged on it was intended to get a bit uncomfortable. But then as it continued to drag on it was intended to go full circle and become funny again.
    While hungry chomping noises aren’t as uncomfortable to the viewer as peeing, that Mike Myers description poppped into my mind as Mike and the Bots kept running with that joke throughout the scene. I did kind of go through those stages.

       3 likes

  22. AlbuquerqueTurkey says:

    Ah, yes. Track of the Moon Beast – Bill Richardson’s first attempt to bring Hollywood film making to New Mexico.

    Along with Dark Grandma, I too live in Albuquerque, and so this episode has a special place in my heart (a dark, lonely place, perhaps, but still special). There are so many comments I would like to make about this episode:

    1) I have never figured out if Johnny Longbow’s stew recipe is for green chile stew, posole, some local Native American variation of one of these, or some bizarre combination. I just thank God he wasn’t serving menudo, and listing THOSE ingredients: “Chilies …. TRIPE ….”

    2) The local scenery and references are fun. The scenes in the UNM geology labs are fun, as I’ve been there a few times. It seems like they did 1 or 2 location shots on Sandia Peak, but it’s hard to tell. I understand the producers wanted to go the Charles Pierce route, and film a scene at the football game, but then they found out nobody would be there.

    3) Albuquerque Police Officer, with his thumbs always in his pants – pretty typical. (To my APD friends out there, I am just kidding.)

    4) Dark Grandma, was that really Rio Rancho? Oh no – they really did LEAVE THE BRONX!!!

    5) With as many beautiful choices that they could have picked, our intrepid filmmakers picked some of the least enchanting locales to shoot in. What, the dead car lot in the South Valley wasn’t available?

    6) I don’t know if Johnny Longbow’s wild Native American lizard-meteor-coyote-whatever legend has anything at all in common with any local N.A. legends, but it just seems that back in the 70s, filmmakers could make up any goofy legend that fit their movie, and claim it to be some mystical, spiritual, Native American story.

    7) In the Band That Played California Lady scene – the band appears to be playing in a bar, but the main characters appear to be enjoying a concert at Popejoy Hall in comfy auditorium seats. Where were they?

    8) As always, M&TB did a great job with this movie. Thanks, guys!

       7 likes

  23. M "California Graaaaavy, Add Flavor To My Meat" Sipher says:

    Okay, maybe I missed some news-of-the-weird bit, but the riff “Does anyone need a food cart to crap on?” confuses me. Not that it isn’t inherently funny, delivered as such in Tom’s pleasant “girl-voice”, I’m just not sure what exactly the reference is.

    Host segments completely shine in this one. I love it when Pearl unblinkingly calls one of the SOL crew something else as if they were always that, like this episode’s “Snack”. Mike’s utter deadpanning while Crow’s mental state disintegrates further and further is classic, a weak premise made great through simple execution. And of course, Mike’s deep-voiced “Legends of Rock” speech. I think the part of “And then we can kill him!” that makes me laugh the most is Tom’s response. He’s not horrified by the suggestion at all. It’s more like “Look, not now, okay?” Again, the way these guys (and gal) can deliver patently ridiculous lines perfectly amazes.

    As for the movie… oh man oh man. Another “our main protagonist(s) die(s) and/or fails” ending. Between this, Dr. Z and the upcoming Lives By Night (plus the original ending for the second half of Merlin’s Mystical Shop… criminy. (Hamlet doesn’t count. Sorta.)

    The recurring stew bit, though. Classic.

       2 likes

  24. AlbuquerqueTurkey says:

    By the way, I can’t wait for the day when teri-cloth wear comes back into fashion.

       1 likes

  25. Thomas K. Dye says:

    The last really GOOD one until “Diabolik.” I love the laid back atmosphere of the movie… to the point where you actually hear hospital PA announcements while characters are reciting their dialogue. The main actress who played Kathy is hilarious. During that scene where the camera zooms in on her as she’s thinking, she totally does look brain-dead with her glazed expression and her shaky head movements (“Brain has performed an illegal operation and will be shut down”). That just cracks me up, in addition to “What do you think, Bobblehead Baseball Kid?”

    Everything works about this movie; it’s just so quietly incompetent. I will agree that “California Lady” is a cute song, but I don’t mind M&tB making fun of it. And damn, Frank Larrabee sure did look like Robin Gibb.

       1 likes

  26. GizmonicTemp says:

    I did a little remake of the “California Lady” song for iRiffs awhile back if anyone would like a listen.

    http://www.magicmarkerweb.com/californialady.mp3

       4 likes

  27. Yipe Striper says:

    this is one of my favs… but i feel dirty after watching it.

    its almost as if the writers would get to the point in the scene and they wouldn’t know what to do next so Paul would just get dizzy.

    Moon rocks, oh wow!

       2 likes

  28. superticket says:

    To M “California Graaaaavy, Add Flavor To My Meat” Sipher:

    The “crapped on food cart” was a reference to a what a drunk passenger on an airline flight did. It always sticks in my mind because to this day I wonder how angry-drunk you have to be to relieve ones self on a food cart.

    “Now, watch how hard we hid the wall.”

       3 likes

  29. GizmonicTemp says:

    Oh, and let me know what you think of “Californa Lady”. There are certainly other songs in the MST3K series that I’d love to revisit.

    Granted, I’m not a professional, but it’s just so darn fun!

       1 likes

  30. superticket says:

    I mean “Now, watch how hard we hit the wall.”

       0 likes

  31. Kenneth Morgan says:

    I remember watching this movie one Saturday morning on WOR-TV years ago, back in the days when they’d also show Tom Baker episodes of “Doctor Who” back to back.

    I thought the movie wasn’t too bad, actually. And I thought “California Lady” was OK; having lived through the 70’s, I heard much worse folk rock songs, believe me. As for the episode, I thought the riffing was fine, and my favorite bit was the “Legends of Rock” segment. Mike’s voice was just perfect.

    I’m surprised no one mentioned that Rick Baker did the makeup effects for this one; he’s since moved on to better movies.

       2 likes

  32. Jimmy Doorlocks says:

    “Your own… personal… moon rock…”

       3 likes

  33. Son of Bobo says:

    I agree with Colossusprime on post #9, this has got be among the worst acting by an ensemble, with Kathy leading the way.
    Do you think Paul’s mother bought him his shorty pajamas?
    Two consecutives episodes with a charachter that just couldn’t keep his shirt on.
    I love the antiseptic comments after Paul’s weird delivery.
    Fave riff: Crow singing Weekend in New England.

       2 likes

  34. Ator In Flight says:

    “What up bitch!”

       6 likes

  35. Spector says:

    I found this one okay but as with many of the episodes in this season didn’t find it a particularly strong outing, although the host segments in this episode and throughout this season were very good. Like all of you really enjoyed the “California Lady” segment. Still chuckle every time at the mention of “fishlipped guy”. Three out of five for me.

       0 likes

  36. Sampo says:

    M Sipher: The incident in question occurred on a United Airlines flight from Buenos Aires to New York in 1995. According to accounts, Gerald Finneran, who was a successful president of an investment banking company, became intoxicated during the flight. When he was refused any more beverages, he decided to help himself. After being told to stop, he became abusive and threatening to the flight attendants and generally disrputive. Finneran’s grand finale was to defecate on a food cart in the first class section in front of passengers and crew. He used linen napkins as toilet paper, wiped his hands on service counters and service implements, and tracked feces throughout the plane.
    Finneran was arrested when the plane landed in New York. He plead guilty to a misdemeanor assault charge. He was sentenced to community service, alcohol counseling and 2 years probation, and had to pay more than $50,000 for airplane clean-up costs and ticket costs. Finneran died in 2005.

       4 likes

  37. Brandon says:

    “Thanks for the stereotype music!”

    “She gets up asking ‘what happened’? a lot.”

       2 likes

  38. Fart Bargo says:

    @23 “Does anyone need a food cart to crap on?” confuses me. Not that it isn’t inherently funny, delivered as such in Tom’s pleasant “girl-voice”.” I believe this riff has to do with the airline mentioned just prior to the riff. I recall a story about a passenger who was allegedly drunk and abusive to the flight attendants. He stripped and actually did er, ah, dueced on a food cart. Obviously this happen way before Sept 11.

       1 likes

  39. Iggy Pop's Brother Steve Pop says:

    I’ve always liked this episode, but it’s become more interesting to me since I moved to Albuquerque. A surprisingly accurate geographical riff: “Get your kicks… on me!” Since they’re headed toward Sandia Crest, I’m almost certain (for what that’s worth, as we found last week) that what we’re seeing then is a stretch of I-40 east of the city, which was indeed part of Route 66 at the time. (Now, of course, someone will tell me Crow is reacting to a big, obvious road sign, or something, that I’ve been missing all this time.)

    An amusingly inaccurate geographical part of the movie: Johnny and others are continually going back and forth from Albuquerque to “the reservation,” as though it were just up the road. Johnny is Navajo, and the Navajo Nation is way up in the corner of the state (and extends into other states).

    Paul is the perfect example of how, in the 1970’s, there was a whole generation of actors who confused “realistic underplaying” with “complete lack of affect.” It still amazes me that the director let the actor get away with it in the “rushing the Halloween season” scene, where the WHOLE POINT of the dialogue is that Johnny et al got a reaction out of him. The actor playing Johnny might have rescued it by playing his lines ironically, but instead it’s like they’re in two different movies. It’s just so bizarre, it’s no wonder it caught the Brains’ fancy enough for them to build a host segment around it.

    Favorite riff: “Your brain is the size of a chickpea.”

       4 likes

  40. Howard says:

    Love this episode! I lived in Albuquerque for a while, too, after this episode came out. It’s true to the region, apart from the geographical inaccuracy mentioned by Steve Pop. They still have the tram/ski-lift and you can still drive the same 2-lane highway up to Sandia Crest. Route 66 is still around in Abq too! The actor who plays Paul also appeared in a movie released by Something Weird Video — can’t remember the title — wherein he plays a gay stud! This might partly explain his lack of “screen chemistry” with his rock-stupid new girlfriend.

       4 likes

  41. Thomas K. Dye says:

    #39: Now, of course, someone will tell me Crow is reacting to a big, obvious road sign, or something, that I’ve been missing all this time.

    ‘Fraid so. It’s obvious when you cut right to the scene. I’d like to give the Brains credit, but it was my first idea for a riff when I saw the road sign as well.

    A friend of mine said that getting to Sandia Crest from Albuquerque is a long trip, and thus added more geographical inaccuracy to the movie. However, Paul actually mentions it being a long way (“so we’ll have to go there naked” adds Crow). Tom’s remark about getting “moon shots at twelve noon” is therefore off the mark; they’re going at mid-day because it’ll take a while to get there. As, apparently, it does, because it’s dark when they look at Albuquerque “before electricity”.

       1 likes

  42. Ang says:

    It’s hard to say definitively but this may be my very favorite episode. It’s certainly one I watch the most and I like all the host segments and riffing is strong throughout.

    #10: I also kind of think of Track of the Moon Beast and It Lives by Night together. They’re both fun eps.

    Fave riffs:

    “Drink me in world, I’m freshly oiled and ready to rock!”

    “Smile Paul’s ass!”

    Johnny Longbone: “I know what you’re thinking” Servo: “I’m boring and my slideshow eats!” (Mike later said this riff still cracks him up.)

    Kathy: “Don’t touch it, let me do that.” Crow: “Words every guy wants to hear”

    “Boinking guards for the losers”

    Most fave riff that I use quite often:

    “How’s that pretending you’re not old going?” :mrgreen:

    Several years ago when my dad was working in Albuquerque I went out to visit him (from Texas) and we were driving along looking at the scenery and I ask him what the mountainous looking area was and he said “Sandia Crest”. I busted out laughing and he looked at me like I was crazy and it was a few minutes before I could stop laughing and explain to him that that’s where part of Track of the Moon Beast was filmed. It was a fun trip.

       3 likes

  43. monoceros4 says:

    Paul! Paul! Paul! Paul! I doubt whether any MST3K movie has failed any more spectacularly at making us empathize with its hero’s dark night of the soul. The entire last act of the movie is devoted to Paul’s inept suicide attempts, which I think is supposed to make us feel sorry for him, instead of feeling like screaming “Just stop larking about and KILL YOURSELF ALREADY!” at him. Failing to do that he could at least have killed his stupid girlfriend; I love how the bad editing at the end makes it seem like she found Paul and then got herself stuck within about five seconds.

    And I don’t think “California Lady” is that horrible either. Inoffensive, really.

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  44. fry1laurie says:

    One riff that my brother and I anticipated when watching this version was the “Help me, Paul.” “Or Spock.” “Star Trek and MST3K, working together for a funnier America.

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  45. AJB says:

    Mike’s comments actually contain an error, right at the end. He attributes the line “I’m boring and my slideshow eats” to Crow; it’s Servo who says it.

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  46. SAVE FERRIS says:


    “I kind of liked the California Lady song. Much better than you might expect in a movie like this.”

    .

    Couldn’t agree more, “MPSh”………..in fact there’s probably only one other MST (in-movie) song I like as much, “Happy Today”, performed by The Kevin Danzig Band (“Thank you……..our hand-hewn wood cd’s are available at the gate…….”) during the “Summerfest” scene toward the beginning of Soultaker (#1001).

    Now if we were talking about “host segment” (i.e., MST “cast”) songs, I don’t know that I’d honestly be able to pick a favorite with those…………just too darn many of ’em !!!!!!!!! :mrgreen:

    .

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  47. kismetgirl88 says:

    I like the behind the music special of “California Lady”. I miss Behind the Music with drugs, sex and rehab.

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  48. mikek says:

    I like Paul’s non-reaction to the prank. It’s accurate, because the prank is, as Crow said, pointless and confusing. Paul’s non-reaction adds some intellect to the character. If he were stupid, he might get scared, or at least surprised.

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  49. Son of Bobo says:

    More Film Crew than MST, but RIP Rue McClanahan.

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  50. M "What Up, Bitch?" Sipher says:

    Ah, Sampo, danke. I mean, I’d figured it was a Actual Thing That Happened, but… man. 1995? And this episode was in ’99? (taps chin) I don’t really recall nay other “crap on food cart” riffs save the one in Dr. Z only a couple episodes prior, so… I can only assume one of the Brains stumbled on this little news tidbit years after the fact and found it hilarious.

    And… man, I just drove on Route 66 last year as part of a cross-country trip. As I MIGHT do so again next year, I should look into what Moon Beast locales I might be able to see from the road… probably none.

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