How about TV Series that deserve a commentary track.
Some may be aware that riffing TV shows instead of movies was an idea put forward by Comedy Central in the latter days. BBI rejected it, but I always thought it might work. More recently, RiffTrax has done tracks for “Lost” and “Gray’s Anatomy,” (and they worked well!) so I think my feeling’s been justified.
I’ve recently been watching “Downton Abbey” and “Game of Thrones” on DVD and I think both would be a great basis for hilarious commentary tracks.
What TV show would you suggest?
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Almost any ABC “After School Special”.
Family ( amazingly overwrought prime time drama from the late seventies )
and throw in some cooking shows, classic and current: Galloping Gourmet, The Frugal Gourmet, Semi-Homemade with Sandra Lee.
@50
“Those awesome mid to late 90s science fiction shows that tried to be the next Star Trek: Babylon 5, Farscape, and Stargate. And that one crappy one, Earth: Final Conflict.”
Fixed it for you. : )
Not that B5 or, less so, Farscape couldn’t be riffed. There’s plenty of material, certainly. But those shows also have vastly stronger characterization, much more character-driven plots, much more overall continuity, more earnestly human situations, and much tighter writing than Star Trek has ever been able to maintain for more than a couple episodes at a time (maybe later DS9 excepted). In my experience, only people who don’t appreciate space opera or who can’t get past superficial stuff like the sets or costumes see those shows as somehow terrible. But, of course, to each their own.
The cast and writers of MST3K have explained several times that they stayed away from comedies, whether they were successful or not (e.g. “Catalina Caper”), but I feel that two family sitcoms from the 1950s, “Leave It To Beaver” and “Ozzie and Harriet”, would make great vehicles. Like the educational shorts they did from the 1950s, there are many opportunities to put a 21st century riffing spin on these conservative, looking at life-through-rose-colored-glasses icons.
Did anyone say “Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea” yet? Gypsy would be thrilled.
One of the dreadful early 1970s detective shows, like “Ironside” and “Barnaby Jones”.
“Miami Vice”, because it is such a pure slice of 1980s television.
Finally, “The Ghost Whisperer”
How about General Hospital soap-opera episodes from the 50’s? (Just kidding.)
@51 – Almost any ABC “After School Special”.
Even the cartoon ones with Timer? ;)
(Y’know, I think I’m one of the last few people alive who remember the days when “ABC Afterschool Special” hadn’t yet entered our national vocabulary for “Alcohol and teen pregnancy”.)
@37 – V: The Miniseries, V: The Final Battle, V: The Series, V: The Series(remake). Now this would be a dream come true(and probably not outside the realm of possibility for the two original miniseries).
V: the Original Miniseries at least had some respectable ambitions–The producer had originally intended to update Sinclair Lewis’ “It Can’t Happen Here” to an 80’s story of the rebellious anti-fascist underground, but when the network turned them down, the producer turned the Minutemen into aliens, and the post-Star Wars network drooled.
V: the Final Battle and V: the 80’s Series, however…ohh, lordy. Forget that “ambition” stuff, just bring on the bad girl, lizard makeup and cheesy laser effects.
X_flies, Battlestar Galitca (Old and new series.) Power rangers, and My little pony (*Old and new series.
I’m going to play devil’s advocate here, and recommend that the following series NOT be riffed:
Star Trek (TOS), Barbary Coast, TJ Hooker, TekWar, A Twist in the Tale, Boston Legal, and S**t My Dad Says.
One episode of each might be bearable, but there’s no way I could get through any more Shatner voice (real and badly faked.)
Here Come Honey Boo Boo and anything that is now on the History Channel, TLC and Discovery Channel.
@1
why stop at might jack, lets see them to time of the apes, and fugitive alien. maybe other things that sandy frank has “work” on would be fun to see.
TOS would work for Rifftrax pretty well.
TNG maybe, DS9 less. Voyager and Enterprise are fun punching bags but they don’t hold up for riffing so much.
TOS has a timeless goofiness that would have legs.
Just bought and watched a used copy of the the mid-90’s show Superhuman Samurai Squad. It seems pretty ripe for picking for riffing. The fact the Tim Curry voiced the main Villain and the main hero is played by a Lawerence Brother make it even more so.
In fact, any of the Localized/Americanized versions of Japanese SuperHero/Giant monster of the week shows that were brought over to ride the coat tails of the original Power rangers would be good fodder.
VRTroopers, Big Bang Beetle Borgs, Masked Rider.
Other Choices to consider:
The cartoon kid friendly version of Tales from the Crypt.
DinoSaucers
The live action Ninja Turtles show with the female turtle.
Jim Henson’s The Storyteller
The Direct to or made for T.V. movies:
Adventures in Dinosaur City
Lost in Dinosaur World
The Last Dinosaur
The Land of the Lost
I nominate:
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LUCAN
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4va2HnpI2v0
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FUTURE COP
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZdLuz9SKGU
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WORLD OF GIANTS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrdrWG1HLYA
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THE PHOENIX
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SASkqWyn40 and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mo30VOUTVU
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UFO
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=US7IF31wDVM
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CLIFFHANGERS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwCSVp4pFwk
I’d love to see them take on “Return of the Green Ranger”, the one with a cloned Tommy vs. real Tommy. Along with a really badly done “fight” between the Tigerzord and Dragonzord (I don’t recall them ever sharing the screen), the B-plot involves the other Rangers in California’s past… in which it was colonized by the British. Plus the villain looks like an extremely low-budget Predator in a cape.
The Adventures of Bigfoot and Wildboy, any 70s Saturday morning live-action show.
Like I said the previous time, SeaQuest, especially the second season. Renegade-even though I watched it for a short time. Anything with ‘Power Rangers’ in the title should be shredded.
Renegade, The Lone Gunmen, John Doe, VR5, Sliders, MANTIS, Automan, any cartoon show on the qubo network, any cartoon produced by DIC, Square One, old Nickelodeon game shows, Ed Edd and Eddy, and Time Tunnel.
Friday the 13th: The Series
Automan
Manimal? Never seen this but the riffers references over the years have me curious.
General Hospital, The Bold & The Beautiful, Days of Our Lives, The Young & The Restless, definitely Downton Abbey (the only way you’ll get me to watch it), the original Power Rangers, Quantum Leap, Full House, Sister, Sister, any Hallmark Channel movie, and The Gilmore Girls.
That’s all I can think of right now.
1. Dick York-less “Bewitched,” which would be any episode where Dick Sargent is officially on as Darrin Stephens, or more so, the episodes where Mr. York was too doped out on painkillers to come to work, in which uber-weasel Larry Tate brings the usual grumpy client to the Stephens’ house as to wait for Darrin to get back from wherever he’s been on business at, while some historic figure has been brought back by Aunt Clara!! In fact, most characters from “Bewitched,” are practically riff-able on their own (Tate, grumpy client, Esmeralda, etc).
2. Any Hanna-Barbera show from the 70’s especially “Scooby-Doo,” clones as “Josie and the Pussycats,” “Clue Club,” etc. Practically all Filmation fare whether it’s animated such as “The Archies,” or live action as “Shazam!” Thanks to Filmation for producing lessons in their episodes, much like the riff-able short-subject films!!
Knight Rider screams for a good solid riffing. I’m not sure if it’s KITT or David Haasselhoff that provides such rich turf.
The very old and creepy Howdy Doody may have kindled an original love for puppets (I know, Howdy was really a marionett) with a mind of their own. If could be great if the strings don’t get in the way.
To complete the “Things that Shouldn’t be Talking” theme, how about that glue pot horse Mr. Ed. Last I heard he was complaining that Wilbur doesn’t ride him much any more. Kevin could certainly be a great backup voice.
Television comedies just don’t work. The fact that they don’t take themselves seriously in the first place is problem enough but the laugh track utterly foils any attempt at riffing.
My nostalgia channels had M*A*S*H and Maude on at the same time yesterday. Ogh. I think it would be pretty easy to take an episode of each of these “sitcoms” that was self-righteous, preachy, overacted, unfunny, and most of all, plodding and dull. Lots of space for riffing, some mocking, maybe a cheap 70s guest star freebie. Thanks for letting me get that off my chest.
The other episodes of SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL, and especially THE MASTER (aka MASTER NINJA) with Lee Van Cleef. The 1970’s AMAZING SPIDER-MAN series, as well as more episodes of the INCREDIBLE HULK show. Episodes of WAGON TRAIN, which I think is public domain.
@75 – add the remaining episodes of “Gemini Man”.
While cruising YouTube today I stumbled upon an episode of “Donny and Marie” with Charo and Andy Griffith as the guests. Something like that would be perfect. Cheese and 70s fashions – there is no better combination.
I forgot one from the 70s: Project Bluebook
After seeing the Rifftrax take on Viva Knievel! I found this gem – an unsold Evel Knievel pilot starring Sam Elliot. This would fit in nicely.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tOQ_vdfNzk
Star Trek: TOS. I’m going to do my own riff of ‘Catspaw’ and have it shown at my funeral. You are all invited.
A bit late on this topic, as I was at a con this weekend. Since no one has mentioned it, I’d like to throw in Space: Above and Beyond, aka Melrose Space. Those had to be some of the lamest Space Marines ever.
Soap operas work very well (those General Hospital eps were great “shorts”) – I think old episodes of “Passions,” what with that witch Tabitha and little Timmy and all that what-not and falderal would be some of the awesome.
RE Dark Shadows. I think the problem with doing Dark Shadows would be the same problem they had when they did General Hospital and Commando Cody back in Season One: it was very hard to come up with new riffs to describe the same thing happening over and over again (“Window! Window!! Boy, that was close!” whenever Cody left his office to go flying, even though THAT scene was stolen from the last serial that used the flying suit).
Be that as it may, I think Night Gallery and the original Star Trek would provide excellent riffing material. Gilligan’s Island would probably kill the Brains, however – there’s only so far you can go for inanity…
I’d love to see Mission Impossible riffed, though. By the end of the series, it had drifted so far into fantasy, the riffers would have a field day…
The original Doctor Who might be interesting, too. They made a monster out of bubble wrap, for spirit’s sake – that’s got to be worth something…
You know, I love me some 70’s cop/detective/etc. shows, but I’d love to see Kojak, Cannon, and Mannix get some riffing.
Supertrain
There are a number of TV movies that would be great though. Horror at 30,000 Feet, Snowbeast
Starflight: The Plane That Couldn’t Land (AKA Starflight One). It was the first show my family recorded with their VCR, and it was horrible. Lee Majors and Hal Linden for the win! Just found that it’s on Amazon’s Instant Watch if you’re an Amazon Prime member.
The 70s show “In Search of” would work very well.
The Walking dead,Arrow,SuperNatural,Bates Motel,Hannibal,Revolution,Lost,Heroes,CSI-MIami,Criminal Minds,Game Of Thrones,Spartacus,Vikings,The Vampire Diaries,True Blood..i can go on and on with this ha :)
I also think thaT The X-files and Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spinoff Angel would be good..also Charmed and Smallville
I’m surprised the Brains weren’t into riffing old TV shows, seeing as how they did such an awesome job on stinkburgers like Master Ninja, Riding With Death, and that old General Hospital episode from 1963, which was one of my all-time favorite series of shorts.
So, aaaaaaanyway, here’s my list:
1. Any episodes of General Hospital from the 1960s.
2. Dallas
3. Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea
4. Lost In Space
5. The Six Million Dollar Man
6. Miami Vice
7. Ultraman
8. Highway Patrol (old Broderick Crawford series from the ’50s)
9. Adam-12
10. Friends (I know riffing a sitcom might be tough, but I really hated Friends)
M*A*S*H* was part of my regular viewing throughout most of the ’70s. It was actually quite good at first, but in the last couple of seasons Alan Alda really started getting on my nerves.
Maude would’ve been awesome on MST3K. Apparently, as a “leftie”, I was supposed to like it, but instead it made me want to gouge my eyeballs out with a spoon. It was one of those shows that made me wonder just why the hell Norman Lear was supposed to be so friggin’ great.
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