Nearly ten years ago, we asked Joel 20 questions. Joel says he’s ready for another 20. Now, I can think of four or five I’ve wanted to ask him. Brian says he has a few. But 20 really good ones? We’re gonna need your help for that. So let’s hear ’em. Later next week, we’ll pick the best, combine them with what we come up with, and send ’em off to Joel. So have it!
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Weekend Discussion Thread: Questions for JoelI really wasn’t sure what this weekend’s thread would be, until last night, when I got an e-mail from Joel.
164 Replies to “Weekend Discussion Thread: Questions for Joel”Commenting at Satellite News
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Wow, tough topic indeed! I’ll try to do one serious and one silly.
1. Which movie (MST or CT) do you wish had gotten a more thorough riffing; i.e. which film do you think didn’t get mocked properly?
2. Exactly how did you eat and breathe while on the SOL? Not to mention waste extraction…
Instead of the usual favorite episode question…How bout “What’s your favorite episode you DIDN’T work on?” I’m sure by now he’s seen his fair share of Mike episodes.
Also, STATICAL PLANETS! :evil: I think internet streaming abilities are well past functional.
Whan Joel left Mst3k I heard he retained the rights to Gizmonics or his funny inventions.
I remember his stand up days he had his inventions in his act.
My question is is there any future plans to share any more of his inventions with the world anytime soon?…or ever?
Oh and he owes us four questions from 10 years ago because he was “really tired of typing and thinking about how my answers are going to affect future generations and checking my spelling and all” :)
You’ve suddenly been given an unlimited budget for three episodes of CT.
What three movies would you absolutely LOVE to riff to extinction?
Which of the movies that you’ve riffed in MST3K or CT could you see yourself possibly liking enough to own if you could?
Regarding the live shows — have you considered doing movies you HAVEN’T recorded yet? (i.e. to test material.)
Thanks.
Joel, in your stand-up comedy days, who inspired you the most?
A little lame, yes.
What are your thoughts on MST3K: The Movie? Like? Dislike? Indifferent?
Of the movies that were chosen for the “Mike Era” of MST3K, which one would you have liked to do during the “Joel era?”
Who’s your favorite Monkee??
Currently who are your biggest comedic influences who you bounce ideas off of, talk with about funny things, find yourself laughing with (or at), or see really doing original things?
Do you run (or joke around) in a particular circle of comedians aside from those associated with CT or MST3K?
1. We’ve already had REM and Madonna down here last year, so when can we expect “Cinematic Titanic Live in Brazil”?
2. Whose huge comic collection seen in a couple of episodes is?
3. “What’s your name?/Who’s your daddy?”, that’s from a Zombies song, right?
4. How do you deal with the utter weirdness of your fanbase?
Is there any possibility of riffing on shorts for future releases?
(I think it’d be cool if they released a few as iRiffs, but maybe that’s just me)
Since it appears as if there is at least no animosity between Joel and Mike (and perhaps some mutual respect) I think it would be *extremely* interesting to hear his response to the following question:
1. Given your amazing talents as a performer of material written by others and not to denigrate your own writing talents in any way, do you miss Mike’s contributions as your former head writer? More particularly, is there any aspect of his writing or take on things that you think is different (and thus lacking) from your own writing?
Boxers or briefs?
1. Would you ever consider (re)releasing Statical Planets or the XBox / Tv Wheel?
2. How many episodes of Cinematic Titanic do you envision doing? Hundreds? (Please say hundreds.)
3. How about a CT live show in Houston or Austin? :-)
1) How difficult is it to get the rights to the movies for CT? Are producers/studios more or less willing to make a deal when they learn that CT is interested in a title?
2) Has any big company or studio expressed an interest in a co-producing or releasing deal for CT, and, given the trouble BBI had with Universal over the MST3K movie, would you sign on to such a deal?
3) Do you find that certain actors, directors or companies seem to be always reliable in providing riff-worthy material?
Oh, and my compliments on CT. Keep up the good work.
And, in the light of other posters, any chance of a CT live show on the East Coast, preferrably the NY/NJ/CT Tri-State area?
-Joel, according to the Internet Movie Database, Jim Mallon said one of HIS inspirations for MST3K was “Rocky & Bullwinkle”. Did Jim really say that, and if so, what’s your take on that?
(in retrospect this question may not be appropriate, so just in case Chris and Brian choose not to send this, here’s some alternates)
-One of my observations for the Joel-era episodes was the characters tended to use the word “kooky” to describe the movie, but when Mike became the host, that word was almost never used. Is “kooky” a word you particularly use a lot?
-How come no attempt was made to have Cambot ever speak during the show?
Most fans love MST3K and everyone involved in it, and don’t get involved in stupid Joel-vs-Mike debates. However, we are totally fascinated with everything that happened, and I’d like to know the following:
After five years with you at the creative helm, what made Jim think he should direct the movie?
Are you on good terms with him today?
I have to ask a question about the pilot. First off let me say it was so amazing to finally see it after all these years. Thanks, Joel for letting us share in that primordial moment. Now the question(s):
After the pilot was given the OK there was a sales tape made to promote the premiere of MST3K on KTMA. In it we see Joel riffing on The Green Slime (“That’s no asteroid! It’s a battle station!) and also sort of dancing in his seat will the title of the movie is on the screen. Neither one of these moments is in the pilot shown at the various conventions in 2008. Can you explain this for us? Was more of the original movie riffed to demonstrate the process, but not used in the pilot? Was it trimmed out so as not to cause copyright issues? Did you go back after the original pilot and record a few riffs for the sales tape? I gotsta know.
As the Godfather of Riffing, what’s your take on the newbies popping up all over the place?
Rifftrax notwithstanding.
Joel, It’s been 13 years and allegedly everybody gets along. Isn’t it about time for a 3-day “MSTie-CineTrax-O-RiffTitanic-Con-O-Rama” to be held at the Superdome or other such suitably large (and MST-related) place? I promise not to dress as Torgo.
I once saw Cheech and Chong make fun of a bad sci fi movie in a comedy routine years before mst3k made its debut. Had you seen this before or did your idea evolve independently of this?
Is there any chance that we’ll see a MST3K theater segment with Joel, Mike, Crow (I prefer Bill C)and Tom Servo? Even just as a short? We were denied the oppurtunity in Soultaker after all :(
OR is there any hope whatsoever to see EVERYBODY (Rifftrax, CT Paul Chaplin and Bidgett) do any kind of ‘riff’ project together?
THANKS!
Matthew R., are you referring to the movie “It Came From Hollywood”? Wow…I had totally forgotten about that movie, but now that you mention it I remember watching multiple times it when I was a kid. It was always on HBO in the early 80’s!
Alas, no DVD exists of this. Darn…now I want to see it again!
Any chance of us getting some sort of MST3k:Generations release? Maybe the new Mads meet the old crew and vice versa.
Any truth at all to your choice of CT crew being those on “your side” during the season 5 rift?
How did Paul get left out of both major projects?
Question: if you were offered the opportunity to bring Cinematic Titanic (in its current form…no changes unless you wanted them) to cable television, would you accept? Or do you prefer the DVD purchase/download delivery system?
Also, I’m a huge fan of CT! I own every episode, and will continue to buy them as long as you keep putting them out! (Did I just answer my own question?)
I second the East Coast shows question. The Midwest and West Coast seems to get all the CT/Rifftrax love.
Joel, the Jollyfilter video’s made me kind of curious, what were some other projects you were involved in that for one reason or another never the public at large never got to see between when you left MST and when CT started up?
I’ve seen differing situations with the two different casts of MST3K. Obviously there can’t be too much of a rift between the two camps as Mary Jo has done work for Mike’s Rifftrax and her regular stint on CT.
So Joel here’s my question for you: Any plans for a CT collaboration with the Rifftrax guys? Anything at all? If not, why not? And if this isn’t something that hasn’t crossed your mind would it be something you’d be interested in doing?
That’s kind of a compound question.. But here’s my next one:
Any chances of you guys doing a riff of Jim Mallon’s film Blood Hook? I mean if Troma’s for it (which I don’t see why they wouldn’t) and Jim gives his blessing that is?
When you decided to leave the show, why was it necessary to relinquish your creative rights to the characters, etc. to Jim Mallon?
I’ve read you approached Jim Mallon about putting together another MST project before you decided to go ahead with CT. What sort of project were you envisioning at the time?
How did the recent MST skit come about on The Giant Gila Monster Volume 10.2 DVD and what was involved in its production? How did it feel getting back in the old costumes again?
Joel, seeing how certain characters never got to meet and interact on the show, how do you think the character Joel would have gotten along with Mary Jo’s character Pearl?
What’s Frank Conniff *really* like?!
Joel: WHEN IS CINEMATIC TITANIC COMING TO SEATTLE?
Question: In an alternate universe where the Comedy Channel sales tape failed and KTMA never ended up closing it’s doors, would have continued making public access shows?
How many fish can you name?
I’m particularly fond of MST3K episodes that used movies from the ’80s.
Are there any newer movies, from the ’80s and up, that are being looked at for use on Cinematic Titanic?
“Did you continue to watch MST3K after you left?”
If I promise to bring at least a dozen friends and buy you all a pint in the pub afterwards, will you do a live show in the UK? Pretty please?
We know by now that a lot of problems stemmed from Jim wanting to direct a MST3K Movie and your objections to that. But were you in favor of doing a Movie? Do you feel the movie would have had to have been focused on riffing or do you think you would have given Joel Robinson, Deep 13, and Gizmonic Institute more of a background?
Were there ever any plans to have Frank become Dr. Erhardt (an issue of the Satellite News stated that Frank would be playing the role in Season 2) or was it assumed all along that he’d be his own character?
Questions for Joel:
1) If asked, would you ever guest riff on RiffTrax & would you ever extend an invite to Mike, Kevin, or Bill to guest on Cinematic Titanic?
2) Is it possible to have a long awaited/much anticipated Mike & Joel dual-riff episode for MST3K’s 25th or 30th Anniversary – even if it was just a short? (plus, you could have duel Crow’s & Servo’s as well)
1) What was/is like traveling with the Band, Man-Or-Astro Man?
2) Out of all the oddball movie monsters that appeared during your time on MST3K, what/who was your favorite?
There’s a rumor that Val Kilmer is going to run for governor of New Mexico. Would you consider running against him, Joel?
Yeah, what’s the deal with Frank Coniff aka TV’s Frank’s beautiful head of snow white hair?
I second Sam’s question (#32). I wanna see the answer to that!
As for my own, I have two:
Have you ever considered doing projects in other media, such as a book or comic?
Do you miss the added dimension of puppet characters, or is it more liberating without them?
(Oh, and here’s a vote for a live show a little further south on the eastern seabord…like, say, North Carolina. Lots of colleges…)
With all the great theaters in the Washington, D.C./Maryland area, would Joel consider doing some live Cinematic Titanic shows in the Mid-Atlantic area? The Warner Theater and Strathmore Hall are great venues about the size of the State Theater in Minneapolis and they have great acoustics. Could Joel and the Titans please give the Mid-Atlantic area MSTies a live show?
P.S. We traveled all the way from Maryland to Minneapolis for the live CT show in October and it was well worth it, but of course, we can’t do that all the time. There are plenty of MSTies in the Maryland, D.C., Virginia area. The college tour theater showings of MST3K years ago always got a crowd of people. A CT show in this area would have fans!
:mrgreen: Were there any host segments you wished you would have done instead of the one that was chosen??? Were there any movie or movies that was worse than Manos???? Was there a joke that was used in a movie you didn’t think was as funny,but something else was????? How long would you like for CT to last??? Would you consider doing a whole dvd of shorts,like you used to do on MST3K???
Favorite movie on MST3K?
Is there any hope for a new “robot pal” ever to pop up on CT???
What films from your childhood made an impact on you?