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Episode guide: 317- The Saga of the Viking Women and their Voyage to the Waters of the Great Sea Serpent (with short: The Home Economics Story)

Short: (1951) Four college girls major in home economics.
Movie: (1957) Viking women set sail to rescue their men who have been enslaved by barbarians.

First shown: 10/26/91
Opening: Joel says: Consider the lowly waffle
Invention exchange: Joel continues to consider waffles; The Mads demonstrate their meat re-animator, Joel shows off an iron that turns waffles into pancakes
Host segment 1: Joel has reprogrammed the bots to love waffles and asks them to suggest new uses for waffles
Host segment 2: “Waffles!”
Host segment 3: Willy the Waffle gives a spirited defense of waffles
End: The Waffle song, Dr. F is “re-animating” Frank
Stinger: “But you don’t understand! I’m a PRINCE!”
1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (98 votes, average: 4.50 out of 5)

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• Let me just say: waffles. Things get into the heads of the Brains during the course of doing an episode, and sometimes it just leaks out. I think this is one of those times. All in all, this one is lots of fun. The movie is, if such a thing is possible, even lamer and sillier than “Teenage Caveman” and the riffing is solid. As for the host segments, well: waffles.
• This episode will be included in Shout!Factory’s “The Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection, Vol. XXXIV.”
• The clip from “The Crawling Eye” that has been part of the intro since the first season has been replaced with Godzilla’s tail slide attack from episode 212- GODZILLA VS. MEGALON.
• Dr. F calls Joel “Aunt Jemima” twice in one segment.
• Trace’s expressions during the invention exchange are priceless.
• Tom and Crow both make LOTR references at the beginning, though Crow says “I’m ashamed I know that.”
• Callback: Tom rediscovers the Creepy Girl (Catalina Caper). It’s a calamity! (Gamera vs Guiron) “The law is the word…” (Teenage Caveman)
• In segment two, after Joel delivers his line, he throws the plate up in the air, and then has to duck out of the way of it.
• Tom and Crow are already in theater when Joel arrives after segment 2.
• How many now-middle-aged people had the problem of not being allowed to stay up and watch “Love, American Style”? I know *I* did.
• As has been chronicled, the Willy the waffle bit is based on the “Case of Spring Fever” short, which they watched during this season but never riffed until season 10.
• Joel’s line “We got a party to go to” at the end of segment 3 is a “Laugh-In” reference.
• Crow still has his Willy the Waffle outfit on when entering the theater after segment 3.
• Then-current reference: Rosie Ruiz.
This commercial is referenced again. I thought I would let younger viewers know where it comes from.
• The show ends with a great song, but how come there’s no “lyrics and music” credit for it in the credits. Guess it was a group effort?
• Backstage stuff: In far shots, the sea serpent was actually special effects guy Irving Block’s finger, covered with clay, with a fin stuck on it. Really. And, of course, this is yet another Corman movie largely shot in Bronson Canyon.
• Oh, and just for the record, Jonathan Haze does NOT play the prince, as some, including whoever wrote the episode summary in the ACEG, think.
• Cast and crew roundup: cinematographer Monroe P. Askins also did “The Human Duplicators. Special effects guy Jack Rabin also worked on “Robot Monster,” “Rocketship X-M and “Invasion USA.” Special effects guy Irving A. Block also worked on “Rocketship XM” Special effects guy Louis DeWitt also worked on “The Phantom Planet.” Makeup guy Harry Ross also worked on “The Mad Monster” and “Lost Continent.” Assistant director Robert Kinoshita also worked on “The Phantom Planet.” In front of the camera, Sally Todd was also in “The Unearthly.”
• CreditsWatch: Andrea DuCane came in to do makeup for the only time this season. Trace and Frank are still “villains” and Dr. F’s last name is still spelled “Forrestor.”
• Fave riff from the short: “Kegs will be tapped. Men will be used.” Honorable mention: “…while Kay struggles with basic motor skills.”
• Fave riff: “…and no time to figure out how we saw all that!” Honorable mention: “Not a chest hair among ‘em” and “I’m Todd the Baptist!”

107 Replies to “Episode guide: 317- The Saga of the Viking Women and their Voyage to the Waters of the Great Sea Serpent (with short: The Home Economics Story)”

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

    jeepers I forgot it was Thursday… I haven’t had a chance to read the earlier comments… apologies in advance.

    The Home Ec short is brilliant. Perfect material for them, so culturally obsolete, so earnest and eager to bend the minds of young women, and our team maniacally flails away at it until there is nothing left but a five pound party.

    The movie, which in other contexts would be fine, pales in comparison. Nothing wrong with it, but it seems a tiny bit flat. But that notwithstanding it is a nice thematic pairing.

    My favoirte riff.. for medium sized children try a middle school…

    also please note the short / movie double riff.. a Carol Bly riff in the short and a Robert ( husband of Carol ) Bly riff in the movie. Not super funny, but an interesting… i dunno.. juxtaposition ?

    I think the waffle themed segs were good enough.

    Question: When Forrester asks if the reanimater paddles will work on waffles, is it because he wants to reanimate the waffles Joel had just turned into pancakes, or because he wants to pancakify some waffles himself ?

    almost a 5….. but I go 4.

       4 likes

  2. Alex says:

    The episode having waffles in the entire host segments seemed a little odd, and did get a bit boring after awhile (but who can’t love Willy the Waffle ;D). NOOO WAFFLES. -whistles-.

    The riffing to this is overall pretty good. This movie is on my to-do-list to watch uncut. :P

       0 likes

  3. Kouban says:

    I’d like to know what proper movie Corman got the ship and costumes from. Sadly, imdb doesn’t have any trivia for the movie.

       2 likes

  4. Dark Grandma of Death says:

    The Home Economics Story is absolutely one of my favorite shorts ever. There’s something about that college atmosphere, the way the girls whip through the years (“Soon, you die”), that makes me like the short all by itself. Add to that some out-of-the-park riffing, and it’s a winner!

    The movie is typical Corman, feels like it was filmed over a long weekend. There’s a plot of sorts, true, and the movie has a beginning, middle & end, but…I can’t get past the squeaky-clean, well-groomed “Viking” men (yeah, right!) & how they’ve been slaves underground for, what, three years? They’ve got perfect hair, they’re all clean-shaven & exceptionally sparkly. I know, it’s just a movie & all that, but come on, make a little effort, will ya, Roger? Jeez, give your audience at least a sense that you care!

    Also, I always thought Jonathan Haze was the prince, but now that people have pointed out Haze is really Todd, I guess I can see it. I think I just assumed, after seeing Haze in Little Shop, that he was the same scenery chewer that delivered the whiny line about “But you don’t understand…I’m a prince!!” I kind of like Haze in his other roles, including It Conquered the World & Gunslinger, so am glad to know that he played the ineffectual but not unbearable Todd, NOT the horrible Senya.

    And I hope you’ve had your cocktail or three by now, Sharktopus; heck, after that Corman critique, I’d buy you one!

       6 likes

  5. Watch-out-for-Snakes says:

    Something I forgot to bring up:

    So yeah
    This is the movie that gives us the line, “I’m a Grimault Warrior!”
    Spoken by the wussy little Prince guy, right?

    Welllllll,
    Unless I am mistaken
    (and I could be)
    Joel and the Bots never make a riff on that line,
    they don’t when it is spoken,
    they make no mention of that line again during this episode,
    (I think)
    BUT they would later callback to it
    (usually Crow)
    in later episodes, right?


    I didn’t hear Joel or the Bots ever say “I’m a Grimault Warrior” in this episode is what I am getting at.

       3 likes

  6. Fred Burroughs says:

    I saw this ep for the first time last week and I did finally understand what all the references to “Grimald warrior” were about. They don’t make a big deal about it in the movie, but even in this sea of movie acting mediocrity that Prince shines through as one of the best scenery-chewers in MST. He is violently whiney, effeminate and arrogant, I guess the character calls for that but wow did he nail it. (kind of like the prince character from Braveheart, now that I think of it.) But I can see how the silly performance needs no explanation, it’s funny all by itself.

       5 likes

  7. rcfagnan says:

    “Aw, y’know, everytime the Vikings make it to the Super Bowl, they choke!”

       4 likes

  8. losingmydignity says:

    I’m fond of this one. The short is one of the great ones and certainly a major moment in shortstory.

    The riffing is strong in this one–the best of the Cormans and I don’t usually like Cormans.

    Poor Susan Cabot. Have they ever gotten around to making that movie about her–the one that was supposed to star what’s-her-name?

    One of my earliest memories is seeing this film on TV. The serpent made quite an impression on me. I remember waiting and waiting to see it. It’s not a bad little special effect. For a Corman.

    A-

       2 likes

  9. In_Stereo says:

    I’m Todd the Baptist!

       3 likes

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

    “Would she smoke thin black cigarettes and reject the Triune God?”

       12 likes

  11. Sharktopus says:

    After this and Teenage Caveman, I still can’t get over how buff the “little wormy guy” from Gunslinger really was. And he was the ridiculous Mexican soldier from It Conquered The World, too? Jonathan Haze was certainly versatile, I’ll give him that.

       3 likes

  12. Cornjob says:

    This is another one that really takes me back to the early 90’s in my first apartment watching MST with my friends. After this episode whenever someone in our group was being too slow we would say their name and then add, “This is God. pick up the pace!”

    The movie in my opinion (as of today anyway) is that this is the dumbest of the Corman’s. Teenage Caveman had a rather neat story, even if it was told badly (it’s plot is one of the reasons I suspect Cave Dwellers might be a post apocalyptic instead of pre-historic film).

    But I just can’t believe this bunch of incompetant, passive, body-hairless dimbulbs are the same Vikings that struck terror in the hearts everyone they terrified. Right. These guys couldn’t take on the rock monsters from Missile to the Moon.

       6 likes

  13. briizilla says:

    5 stars.
    Heh, I kind of think Corman gets a bad rap from J&tb. His movies are bad, but they’re bad in a watchable sort of way, like a Steven Segal movie. Compared to Monster A Go Go or Blood Waters of Dr Z this movie looks like Rashomon.
    Plus the dark haired Viking chick is SMOKING hot.

       2 likes

  14. Stressfactor says:

    Okay, don’t hate me but….. I actually think there’s a decent idea buried in the “Viking Women” movie.

    If made today with a bigger budget and a better script it might have been a pretty good action romp.

    There’s some proto-feminist stuff in the beginning with the women making the decision to go after the men and their initially not taking much crap off the other tribe. Too bad all that vanishes once the women find their men.

    Of course nearly everyone looks entirely too “Hollywood” and Bronson Canyon is really obvious as the backdrop even without the riffing team obliquely pointing it out.

    This is one film though where I like the riffing on the short a bit better than I like the riffing on the main feature. The “Look at my crotch” chant in particular had me laughing so hard my dog gave me a strange look.

    As for the waffle sketches… eh. I get what they’re doing in going out on the ‘weird’ limb for this set but most fall short for me. Although I *adore* the voice Trace comes up with for “Willy the Waffle”.

       1 likes

  15. EricJ says:

    @64 – Okay, don’t hate me but….. I actually think there’s a decent idea buried in the “Viking Women” movie.
    There’s some proto-feminist stuff in the beginning with the women making the decision to go after the men and their initially not taking much crap off the other tribe. Too bad all that vanishes once the women find their men.

    Every director has his kinks:
    Quentin Tarantino likes the feet. Wes Craven likes obscene phone calls. James Cameron likes catgirls and male-humiliating dom girls with guns. Hal Warren likes to be slapped by girls in nighties.
    And Roger Corman likes tough girls in Daisy Mae cutoffs (Gunslinger, Swamp Women, the end of It Conquered the World).

    Fortunately, as we are to believe, that is what Viking Women wore.
    Still, at least it does give the lie to the belief that ALL females in American International movies were carried off by monsters.

    The Home Ec short is brilliant. Perfect material for them, so culturally obsolete, so earnest and eager to bend the minds of young women, and our team maniacally flails away at it until there is nothing left but a five pound party.

    “Jane got a real thrill out of dropping that letter in the mailbox–”
    “–(GIGGLE!!)”
    “It’s here already!…Oh, shoot, I mailed it to myself.”

    The 50’s ephemerals had just the right mix of serious and naivety to set up a straight line with every pause in the narration, that here, they come so fast and silly, you don’t even have time to think about the lazy PC-housewife riffs:
    (school assembly)
    “Your Period & Mine: A Lecture”
    “I’ve taken several heavy blows to the cheek with a lead pipe.”

    @54 And I hope you’ve had your cocktail or three by now, Sharktopus; heck, after that Corman critique, I’d buy you one!

    (Kind of sad, when look back and realize who GAVE us “Sharktopous”…
    Saw Roger & Julie at a film festival appearance few years back–Julie’s running the show now for SyFy and the DTV’s, and she doesn’t care. :( )

       0 likes

  16. MikeH says:

    I’ve seen the movie several times, and still nothing real memorable about it for me. But I love the short. Seen it so many times, tons of riffs.

    She consulted Robert MacNamera, and Ayn Rand
    Hey look. It’s Lou Costello in drag.
    I’m gonna take Bob for all he’s got
    And all recreate the last scene from Anna Karinina!!

    But can ANYONE please explain to me what the narrator in the short meant about a “five pound potty” Even though it gets a funny riff, it’s a weird comment. (Should head over and see Bob Dornan, he’s got a poopie suit for you!!)

       1 likes

  17. Sharktopus says:

    @ MikeH: I believe he really said “Five pound party.” What that means, you might need a time machine to determine.

    @ EricJ: Not that anyone asked, but I actually started using “Sharktopus” as an online handle about ten years ago, simply because the portmanteau always gave me a good giggle. I presumed, perhaps naively, that it was fairly original (I first saw it as a freeze-frame gag in an early Futurama episode), but turns out it’s been gaining steam as an internet meme for years. Naturally, the braintrust at SyFy couldn’t pass up an opportunity to cash in on an untapped, established, copyright-free monster.

    SyFy and Corman are a match made in B-movie heaven. But, as you pointed out, Corman has a pretty good track record of strong women characters. Sure, the may be naked and getting molested by alien monsters, but they’re strong and independent.

       5 likes

  18. Cornjob says:

    I also got a laugh at the pacifist viking leader who spares Scooby Doo’s life and blandly announces, “We wish only to go in peace”, or something like that. You can see why Europe was terrified of them.

    And though I’m not an expert on Norse Mythology, I’m pretty sure you need to die in battle to get to Valhalla. Being roasted while helpless doesn’t cut it.

    Maybe the Grimuelts were supposed to be the Vikings.

       5 likes

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

    I had always assumed that ‘five pound party’ was the large ( weighing five pounds ? ) box of chocolate that has just showed up for one of the gals,

    Elsewhere on the internet it seems that it may refer to a particular kind of Bridal shower. But I’ll stick to the box of chocolates theory.

       2 likes

  20. Sharktopus says:

    A box of chocolates that big might very well lead to a five-pound potty, especially if they’re sugar free. :shock:

       2 likes

  21. Rich says:

    Well- a waffle (or a stack of them) might make a reasonable car air filter!

       2 likes

  22. Smoothie of Great Power says:

    The short beats the episode for me on this one, but my favorite moment is from the outtakes video when Joel botches his line and says, “Pancakes,” instead.

    Favorite riff: “Everyone will die. I will dump pig’s blood on Carrie.”

       2 likes

  23. Sitting Duck says:

    Looking at those cheerleaders in the short makes you wonder if Kay is attending the college from Ring of Terror.

    For the longest time, whenever they did the, “I am a Grimault warrior!” callback, I thought they were saying, “I am a grim old warrior!”

    @ #23: So did the actress with the hard case agent ever make it, or did she disappear as is the fate of so many would-be starlets?

    @ #68: I think any violent will cut it. It’s the ones that die from disease who end up in Hel’s realm.

       2 likes

  24. SaintStryfe says:

    touches no one’s life, then leaves:
    “Would she smoke thin black cigarettes and reject the Triune God?”

    That is one of my all-time favorite riffs. I use it whenever something is getting all pensive. It’s just so descriptive.

       2 likes

  25. SaintStryfe says:

    Ryan:
    #13 – I agree with you about the Home Economics short. It does actually show the uses of it in the job market and not just the homemaker side. Still outdated, but at least they were trying.

    Yeah, as a film it does it’s job – I woulda been a lot more interested, assuming I was a girl in the 50’s. It’s silly to admit but I get a bit wispy on it. I really enjoyed college.

       2 likes

  26. snowdog says:

    I’ve always wondered if Joel said “Pancakes” intentionally on the Poopie outtake. “Waffles” is the only thing he had to say in this extremely short host segment. I’m sure everyone was expecting to get it done in one take, then Joel steps out and blows his line, probably as a joke. The world may never know. …unless someone asks.

    Also, if you look closely, he appears to be trying pretty hard not to crack up in the (presumably) second take.

       4 likes

  27. Lisa H. says:

    @Sharktopus in 35 (mindful that was four years ago, I skimmed following comments, but didn’t see any yea or nay), I’ve wondered that myself. “Pancakes” always seemed far too deliberate to me to be a genuine mistake.

    eta: Looks like someone got there ahead of me in the time between when I actually loaded this tab and when I posted my comment, heh.

       2 likes

  28. Prime Minister Jm J. Bullock (pondoscp) says:

    While “Viking Women And The Sea Serpent” may not be may favorite episode (it’s not even in my top 20), but I have recently come to appreciate it as perhaps the most perfect episode. Let me elaborate.

    “Viking Women” contains “The Home Economics Story” – perhaps the longest short ever? The thing goes all the way to the first host segment. That couldn’t have happened often. And the short did take a weird turn…

    The middle host segment, perhaps, in it’s utter simplicity, is the defining host segment of the Joel era. Absurd, subversive, perfect.

    Willy the Waffle! Who lives and who dies? A major call forward to Coily, the penultimate episode. This episode’s influence stretches far and wide, indeed. I know, they screened the Coily short, and sat on it for years. But the short is indeed referenced here, even if it’s not seen yet.

    Here’s a bunch of commonly reused riffs, along with multiple callbacks, from “Viking Women.” This episode may have the most callbacks to past episodes. *someone out there fact check me in this! You know, if you’ve got the time…
    – Here’s a waffle for you, Scarecrow! – before the movie starts
    – Hi Keeba – towards the end of the short and end of movie
    – followed by Hot and Saucy, Texas Style!
    – Frodo!
    – Thank you – for making us laugh again
    – come on, get in dummy
    – rock lobster!
    – being forced to attend Ren Fest
    – you’re a queer duck
    – coming up the rear is Beetlebaum
    – it’s the dogs from Teenage Caveman *multiple Teenage Caveman references (not to mention the same set as several MSTed movies)
    – Carroll Channing, that’s a lovely pantsuit
    – I’ll harm you! (and You’re harming me!, plus a third later)
    – 3 cheers for Captain Spaulding (getting the Marx Bros reference in there) and I cannot stay, I must be going
    – Must be Thanksgiving (a rare reference to Turkey Day)
    – How about a little fire Scarecrow! – 2nd Oz ref
    – Mary, don’t you know me?
    – You damn dirty ape!
    – Gilligan!
    – clown hammers
    – come on, girls!
    – You said you’d let me stay up and watch Love American Style
    – yep, pretty much
    – Football Practice!
    – I know!
    – And of course, this episode gives us But I’m a Prince! and Grimaldi Warrior!
    – multiple hot dish references
    – I’m the god of hellfire! (as Madam!)
    – Ah, Gamera! *what other episode contains references to KTMA movies and Season 10 movies? This may be the one and only.
    – Creepy Girl
    – the pain, the pain
    – hail Dorothy, the Wicked Witch is dead, hail Dorothy! – 3rd Oz ref
    – classic Mannix disarm
    – Doug Henning’s World of Illusion
    – come on teen gang!
    – let’s go form the New Christie Minstrels
    – Mighty Jack is pure beef
    – Corman needs to pad the film out (only love pads the film)
    – tonight on Music Through The Night…
    – sure, we all do!
    And probably more that I didn’t catch.

    the only thing missing was a Beatles reference. Perhaps I missed it? No obvious (to me, anyway) callbacks to Rocketship X-M or Jungle Goddess.

    All of this adds up to probably the perfect, or ultimate, MST3K episode. I base this mainly on the amount of references to things past (and even future) of the program. And I’m not surprised this happened in a Corman episode, full of stars we’d see over and over again, even beyond MST and into CT and RT. I am surprised Beverly Garland wasn’t in this. She must have been busy that week.

    Can’t wait for the upcoming Shout! release!

       5 likes

  29. Bruce Boxliker says:

    A great episode! Hilarious short, goofy Corman movie, and WAFFLES!

    I’m simultaneously drooling over & terrified of the large pitcher of syrup on the desk. Joel actually points out during the movie riffing that the entire waffle thing came from a single ‘Lego my Eggo!’ riff. Then it exploded into a glorious syruppy wonder! I think I need some waffles….

    We all know the vikings were well known for their desire to leave in peace, and keep their faces & chests perfectly shaved & shiny. I also have serious doubts that there’s a single God in the Norse pantheon that would help out this sad little tribe of ‘vikings’. They should eat more waffles.
    I’d like to point out to the mighty Grimald warriors that it’s much easier to burn people alive if you keep the wood piles UNDER them, and not 5 feet away (as you can plainly see in a couple scenes). A good diet of waffles would’ve done them wonders.
    It’s fascinating that LotR has gone from this thing that only ultra-uber-nerds knew about, to having it as part of our public consciousness. Amazing what 3 well-done movies can do. Even without any waffles in them.

    Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go make there be Nooooo waffles (whistles) at home (by eating them all)….then go buy more.

       4 likes

  30. Frederick J. Barnett says:

    I wonder if the Teen Titans Go episode where Cyborg and Beast Boy don’t say anything but “waffles” was inspired by this episode? ?:-)

       3 likes

  31. Sampo says:

    snowdog:
    I’ve always wondered if Joel said “Pancakes” intentionally on the Poopie outtake. “Waffles” is the only thing he had to say in this extremely short host segment. I’m sure everyone was expecting to get it done in one take, then Joel steps out and blows his line, probably as a joke. The world may never know. …unless someone asks.
    Also, if you look closely, he appears to be trying pretty hard not to crack up in the (presumably) second take.

    Lisa H.:
    @Sharktopus in 35 (mindful that was four years ago, I skimmed following comments, but didn’t see any yea or nay), I’ve wondered that myself. “Pancakes” always seemed far too deliberate to me to be a genuine mistake.

    I don’t have any definitive word from Joel, but it seems pretty obvious to me that Joel was just goofing around and that he meant to say it. You can tell from the knowing laughter from the crew that follows, and Kevin’s sarcastic cry of “You nut! Get outta town!”

       7 likes

  32. 317 – Viking Women Vs. The Sea Serpent

    Memorable Riffs from short:
    Narrator: “It was just a regular day…”
    Servo (as girl): “I think I’ll get a tattoo….”

    Narrator: “She got a real thrill out of dropping that letter in the box…”
    Crow: “WHOO-HOO! WHOO-HOO! WHOO-HOO!”

    Servo: “Don’t sit down!”

    Joel: “You know, she’s gonna look like an unmade bed in that dress.”

    Servo: “She had to steal from every grocery store in town. It was part of her hazing.”

    Memorable riffs from movie:
    Servo: “Corman…. the barbarian.”

    Joel: “So the Vikings gave us the under-wire bra.”

    Joel: “Guys this is weird…. the silhouettes of our theater seats are over there.” (points to edge of ship)

    Joel: “The women of Green Peace.”

    (Woman finds a piece of a ship in the water)
    Servo: “It says ’S.S. Minnow’ on it.”

    (Serpent attacks ship)
    Servo: “What a crappy day…. well, at least it’s not raining.”

    Man: “Unleash the dogs!”
    Servo: “Both of them!”
    Crow: “Bring the pooper-scoopers!”

    Crow: “Help me! Please! I’m being attacked by a ham sandwich!”

    (Man carries dancer out of the bar)
    Crow: “Carry out!”

    Crow: “He was with The Donner Party. The Richard Donner Party. Threw a party for the ‘Lethal Weapon’ cast.”

    Servo: “Alright, come on! Conjugal visit’s over!”

    Crow: “Forget this! I’m gonna go check out the Teenage Caveman set!”

    Crow: “Not a chest hair among them.”

    Servo: “Boy, the Vikings really stink this year!”

    Servo: “You’re wearing a shag rug, and you think SHE’S strange?”

    Character in Movie: “But, I’ve grown in many ways…”
    Crow: “Insert comment here.”
    Same Character: “I’m a woman now.”
    Servo and Crow: “I know!”

    Servo: “A couple of Swedish meatballs, coming’ right up!”

    Crow: “Remember to poke a few holes in him so he doesn’t explode!”

    (Serpent swims away)
    Servo: “Ah, forget it. I don’t like white meat.”

    (During the last few minutes)
    Servo: “Boy, this Home Economics film took a weird turn…”

    Fav. Riff from short:
    Woman: “I’m going to teach….”
    Servo: “Because I can’t do.”

    Fav. riff from movie:
    Crow: “I’m Todd the baptist!”

    Comments:
    – Joel likes to put CHILI on his waffles?! EWWWWW!

    – The re-animated chicken bit makes me think of the gag from the Bugs Bunny cartoon “Wackiki Wabbit” where Bugs uses a chicken puppet to fool to castaways.

    – Because they ‘blue’ the black and white film, this makes the night scenes still look like daytime, because the sky no longer looks black. It’s weird.

    – Trace seems to fumble over the “Mongolian stir fry” riff.

    – When Servo says, “There lies the castle of my father” with a Bronx accent, it’s a reference to a supposed quote Tony Curtis made in the film “Son of Ali Baba”. It’s one of those ‘Beam Me Up, Scotty’ things. Curtis never actually says that in the film.

    – The infamous segment where Joel just says “Waffles.” Is that a reference to a particular waffle commercial? Also, I’ve heard people comment on this segment as being one of the least funny or creative host segments they ever did. However, I think that’s because when the segment ends, the joke isn’t quite over. When Joel enters the theater, he informs Servo and Crow, “I just did a real nutty waffle bit with Cambot.” I think that was the intended punchline. We, the viewers know Joel’s lying, but Servo and Crow don’t.

    – I guess Servo doesn’t have a foot fetish, since he finds the idea of a hot woman dancing barefoot on a table, disgusting.

    – I love how in Segment 3, Servo has a waffle inside his gumball head. Maybe that’s where food goes when it digests.

    -Also, here’s my personal theory for the whole “obsessed with waffles” theme throughout the episode. It’s well-known that ‘A Case of Spring Fever” was looked at sometime during this season, but for whatever reason (maybe rights issues?) they didn’t get around to riffing it until Season 10. Well, I’m guessing “Spring Fever” was intended for this episode, and they had already written the segments…. only to find out they couldn’t that short, and had to use the “Home Economics” short. Just a guess.

    – Oh yeah, and this is one of those films like “Women of the Prehistoric Planet” where the title is somewhat misleading. OK, yeah there’s a sea serpent in the film….. but just barely!

    – Servo likes his waffles with runny cheese?! EWWWWWWW!!!!

    Best Segment: The Willy Waffle segment is cute, and kinda funny when you know the context behind it.
    Worst Segment: Uh, yeah…. Segment 2 is kind of a lame set-up to a lame joke.

    Overall: It’s okay. **1/2

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  33. Prime Minister Jm J. Bullock (pondoscp) says:

    I forgot to mention that “Viking Women” is the Kevin Bacon of MST’ed flicks. You can trace virtually everyone back to it in under 6 degrees!

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  34. JCC says:

    Maybe they were talking about Pancakes, Waffles and Breakfast Foods in general right before they filmed that take?

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  35. Goshzilla says:

    Didn’t they write and shoot the host segment sketches before the theater segments? So, I’m dubious that the whole waffle theme came from the movie. If anything, they made the one waffle riff because they already had waffles on the mind. I’m guessing it was just some writers’ room wackiness that they needed to work out, and this particular movie is so dull they didn’t have much else to work with. To me this is definitely one of those episodes where the sketches (and the short, for that matter) overwhelm the movie.

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  36. Thom Sirveaux says:

    According to the ACEG, no one remembers how they got on the waffles kick, but I’m glad they did. Joel’s “Waffles. Oh no we got movie sign!” is a classic moment. I always liked these “theme” episodes, where there was a common thread running through the host segments (other than the movie itself).

    The un riffed version of “The Home Economics Story” is available on YouTube. Looks like the cut out about four minutes, mostly related to “The Group” and their sports classes.

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  37. Goshzilla says:

    As has been chronicled, the Willy the waffle bit is based on the “Case of Spring Fever” short, which they watched during this season but never riffed until season 10.

    Clearly this is the case, but where has been “chronicled”? I’m curious to hear the details of why they sat on such a delightfully deranged short for over seven years.

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  38. Sitting Duck says:

    @ #78: Most of the Commando Cody and Phantom Creeps shorts would go for a full movie segment.

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  39. Goshzilla: Clearly this is the case, but where has been “chronicled”? I’m curious to hear the details of why they sat on such a delightfully deranged short for over seven years.

    I think Bill Corbett was the one that cited that in the SciFi ACEG entry for “Squirm”. As for why they didn’t riff it until Season 10, I guess they couldn’t get the rights to it.

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  40. Goshzilla says:

    Hmm… Other Jam Handy films from that time (Hired!) were public domain. It’s hard to imagine someone was protective of the intellectual property that is Coily.

    Bill says in the SciFi episode guide:

    This short was considered a bunch of times for the show, going way back. Those of you who’ve been watching the show for a while may remember show 317- Viking Women and The Sea Serpent, with its many waffle-based sketches. Segment 4 of that show was actually based on A Case Of Spring Fever… The short itself was never used, but it did inspire this waffle-y version. Patrick Brantseg, who is far too modest about his considerable performing ability, was quite brilliant as the voice of Coily/Mikey, and kept us way entertained with it all week. Then we had to tell him to stop.

    Yeah. That doesn’t answer my question at all. Clearly I need to hire a P.I.

    And by the way, the cast roundup is a bit incomplete. Beside Jonathan Haze from Gunslinger, It Conquered The World, Teenage Caveman, and Swamp Diamonds (as well as The Day The World Ended and of course the lead in Corman’s Little Shop Of Horrors), we have:

    Richard Devon (the Timothy Dalton/Harry Shearer hybrid king of the Grimaults) from The Undead (He was Satan!)

    And among the Viking ladies:

    June Kenney from Bloodlust and Earth Vs The Spider (as well as BIG’s Attack Of The Puppet People and who I would’ve sworn was the clown girl in I Was A Teenage Werewolf, but IMDb disagrees)

    Sally Todd from The Unearthly

    And of course Susan Cabot who somehow wasn’t in any MSTed movies but you’ll remember from Corman’s Wasp Woman

    I have a feeling there are probably some other Corman regulars uncredited as warriors in the background. How was Beverly Garland not a Viking Woman?

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  41. Ralph C says:

    French toast!

    Oh I messed up.

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  42. Prime Minister Jm J. Bullock (pondoscp) says:

    I just watched a rather poignant episode of the show “Maron,” which plot revolved around waffles. Weird timing.

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  43. Cornjob says:

    Oh man, I’m getting over a really nasty stomach flu and all this talk about waffles with runny cheese and chili isn’t helping.

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  44. thequietman says:

    I can hardly wait for this one to get its official DVD release from Shout! Factory. The short was a fixture in my house thanks to it being included on Rhino’s first shorts compilation VHS. Dad decided we had to show it to my uncle because he attended Iowa State as a youth. I hadn’t watched it in some time but it’s still hilarious after all this years, even if some of the riffs strike a little too close to home in this day and age (particularly the “lone gunman” line).

    Some of my favorites:
    Narrator: This one was for the girls only..
    All in that knowing tone: Oooohhhhh!

    Narrator: But this was the year..
    Crow: The National Guardsmen were on campus!

    Having finally seen the movie, well… at least it had some actual sets instead of completely taking place outside.

    Fave riff (after the boar is killed): So Corman got the scene, catered the crew’s lunch and got a prop for “Teenage Caveman” all at the same time!

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

    “HI! How ya *doin’*?”

    Any fresh insights on the riff I asked about before?

    I can see how it might be considered just a generic “annoying voice” thing, as one correspondent theorizes, but really, if called upon, Trace could come up with a MUCH more annoying voice than THAT. ;-)

       2 likes

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

    – I guess Servo doesn’t have a foot fetish

    Perhaps understandable, since he doesn’t have FEET.

    Although, for all I know, people without feet (lots of stuff, including birth “defects,” happens to people) are renowned for foot fetishes. None of my business.

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

    Crow: “Pssst. Cheryl. Got any shovies?”

    Now, see, I thought she said “chubbies,” which I presumed was slang for marijuana.

    As I sit here, contemplating it, I’m not sure why I presumed that, but still, that is what I presumed.

    Browsing Yahoo results, I found this line:

    “Back then, damn few Shovies had either Muncie gearboxes or 12 bolt rears”

    Yes, one might think…

       3 likes

  48. Lex says:

    This short makes we wonder what kind of film they would make today about a woman’s place in the world. Probably some stuff like a girl can do whatever she wants or some strange fiction like that. Seriously, though can you teach manners to children in school now or is that not allowed? Are they trained to be like the Viking women in this film?

    “You don’t understand, I’m a prince!”

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  49. Cornjob says:

    I heard, “Chubbie”, too, which I also figured meant something like “fattie”, or “blunt”.

    I tend to take Servo’s comment about the table dancer as being more about the grimy floor she’d been dancing on before hopping up next to everyone’s dinner than a dislike of ladies feet in general. Even attractive bodies need occasional washing.

       2 likes

  50. Prime Minister Jm J. Bullock (pondoscp) says:

    100! I always wanted to do that 8-)

       1 likes

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