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How Was the Show?

An open thread for reports from this weekend’s Cinematic Titanic shows in Phoenix/Mesa.

13 Replies to “How Was the Show?”

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  1. Bot Snak says:

    Unbefreakinglievable! That was the best two hours I spent in a LONG time! Hilarious doesn’t begin to describe the event, from Josh and Gruber doing dangerous Hiakus through the encore segment, I could barely breath between laughs.

    I particularly liked the occasional riff where they referenced “that other show we used to do a long time ago”.

    I occasionally had a hard time distinguishing between Josh and Franks voice, but that didn’t take away from the riffs at all – it never really matters who says what (except Joel impersonates little talking animals the best). Josh fit in so well with the whole ensemble you would never know that he wasn’t always part of this gang. For the first time (and not to take anything away from Kevin’s extraordinary talent) I wondered what it would have been like in an alternate universe where Josh stayed with MST3K and had evolved in that context. He is clearly not short on talent and I have a whole new respect for the man.

    Nuveena and I went to Hoodlums Music a few hours prior for the cast signing event (they signed our Tom and Crow replicas!) and no matter how many times I meet these guys, they always impress me with how freaking nice, gentle, warm, and pleasant they are to their fans. Not a spec of attitude. Longtime fans already know this about them of course, but it still amazes me whenever I experience it again. It was my first time meeting Josh and he seemed to have a permanent smile on his face. Every time before I have met Frank, he always seemed to be grouchy. This time I think I finally figured out what is going on – his humor – nay, his entire countenance – is so steeped in dryness (and shyness) that his demeanor is easily mistaken. For the record, he is as warm, gracious, and friendly as the rest of the gang.

    The cast also signed autographs after the show for everybody who wanted them and their DVDs were for sale as well as posters and t-shirts.

    I’m SO looking forward to tonight’s show! Even if it wasn’t a different movie on the second night, I would still go to see the first one again. In fact, I may travel to Portland and catch them up there. It’s THAT good!

    Only half the seats were filled for last night (and it’s a SMALL venue). Hopefully tonight will have a better attendance. Perhaps it was the result of it being Memorial Day weekend and a lot of people were getting out of town to escape the heat, but I don’t want them reconsidering a trip to Phoenix on their next tour just because not enough seats were filled! Heck, I’ll buy all the empties, just to make sure they come back!

    Thanks guys, for bringing back the best riffing this planet has ever known. Long live Cinematic Titanic! You’re unsinkable!

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  2. R. Hilton says:

    Looked like a bigger crowd to me. Great show; and, I must say, a good looking audience. Lots of young folks (a good sign). “Dynamite Brothers” is probably the most entertaining and best riffed film so far.

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  3. mstmolly says:

    It was so hillarious and a trill to see one of the movies with a group of fans!!! I went to the signing at Hoodlums too. It was my first time meeting anyone from the show and they were so gracious and took time for each person there. I thought that event had a pretty good turnout too.

    Bot Snack- your robots were great! It was a big thrill for my daughter to get to see Tom and Crow. She liked meeting the cast too but seeing the bots was a treat for her.

    I thought it was about 3/4 full at the theater. Great show and great crowd. I hope tonight will be even more full for them. When I was looking online at the ticket prices Phx was more expensive than Atlanta and there was only one price for all the seats- no matter where they were. I hope they will come back and maybe do a cheaper seat for the back balcony. The balcony was pretty empty.

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  4. Bot Snak says:

    We’re off to tonight’s show! I’m not bringing Tom or Crow tonight because they are a pain to hold in one’s lap (and Crow is relatively fragile).

    Yeah, it may have been fuller than half-full, but I was looking forward the whole time and didn’t really do a good head count. I hope tonight is full, though!

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  5. sandyfrank says:

    It was a fantastic show, the CT performers were all great and very fan friendly. Great riffing on this film. It is definitely worth going to see live. The venue was very small, it made for a very intimate performance, worth every penny. I don’t remember any Kung Fu type movies being riffed by any of them before, they defintely gave it the treatment and it was hilarious.

    I took my wife, although she is not a fan of MST3K and she loved it – they definitely gained a new fan from the show. We even spent the afternoon watching some of the other ones on DVD. She can’t wait for tonight’s performance. Here is a funny sidenote – she was taking pictures of me with the gang and Joel was the last one at the table. She thanked them for the pictures and said to Joel, “Now what was your name?” Joel was very cool, gave a little chuckle and answered “Joel.” I could imagine some famous persons might have been annoyed by it but he was very cool. She wants to get pictures with them tonight – hopefully she remembers thier names.

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  6. Paul says:

    Just got home from Danger at Tiki Island! It was awesome! Loved every minute it. This was my first time meeting the cast, and it was so great to shake their hand and take pictures with them. They were so nice. One of my favorite riffs was spontaneous, right before they showed the best of reel and someone dropped a glass bottle on the floor (it happened like five/six times throughout the night) and right on the spot, Frank goes: “Just set those anywhere.” It was perfect!

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  7. Mark says:

    I saw both shows this weekend and I am still in awe at how marvelous the experience was. I brought my whole 10 year MST DVD collection with me and had them sign it after the show. I tried to sum up the million and one things that I wanted to say to these guys and it came out alot like A CHRISTMAS STORY where Ralphie totally knows he wants to ask Santa for the R.R. BB GUN but can’t get a damn word out. Any way, for coming accross like a head trauma patient they were super freakin nice and approachable. I hope they come back, maybe I can get a mili-fragment of my appreciation out to them. Keep CT ALIVE!!!!!!!

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  8. Paul says:

    Mark, I know what you mean. The whole week I was trying to think of cool things to say to the Titans, and I’m sure everything I said was baffling, muffled, gushy, gooey-praise. But they were so nice and accomadating to sign stuff, take pictures, etc. I loved the show, I hope they come back to Phoenix!

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  9. azwarwilf says:

    Wow, that was so much fun! My wife and I went to both shows and had such a blast. Sat next to Bot Snak and his companion for Tiki Island and found out that she and my wife frequent the same knitters’ forum! They were a beautiful and hilarious pair of nights. They were like rock concerts for Mysties: lots of like-minded people sharing the same groove and feeding off an energy you can’t get anywhere else. If you’re thinking of going to one of these shows; do it, do it, do it! They were enjoyable to the extreme. AND I got to shake hands and thank in person the most important celebrities in my life!

    I’m the hardcore Mystie but my wife said after the shows that she’s more interested than ever in watching MST with me. Awesome. And I too found a new appreciation for Josh. I can’t wait to go back and watch season one with my new impression of him. He’s a great riffer and was very fun as part of the warm up music. I’ve been following CT from its start, but I’m an even deeper fan now!

    And Gruber is a whole lot of fun too! He’s very funny and talented. I hope I’m the one to coin him “The Sixth Titan”. I asked him to sign my posters too. I hope he’ll continue to portray one of the “institute” guys on the DVDs. I wonder if he’s in the writing credits . . . He’s a very easy guy to talk to. He could probably chat with ease for hours with just about anyone. We waited as long to talk to him as we did for the main cast altogether!

    But anyway, to reiterate and sum up what I managed to babble to the cast, thank you Cinematic Titanic! Arizona loves you! Please come back again! Long live CT!

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  10. azwarwilf says:

    Oh yeah, and for the record, we were the weirdos who had the Titans hold an in-progress hand-knitted sock in each of our photos. I assured them that though my wife was knitting during the show, it was in no way detrimental to her enjoyment of it all, which was when J. Elvis declared, “We had her in stitches, people!”

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  11. R. Hilton says:

    Re-watched “Blood of the Vampires” after the Friday show and I suspect Gruber plays the mysterious executive who leads the cast into the theater spouting instructions before the film starts. How was the crowd for “Tiki Island” and did anyone ask when the next DVD is coming out?

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  12. Schippers says:

    Great show (my wife and I went to the Dynamite Brothers / East Meets Watts event). My wife opined that it’s more fun to see them in person – they’re all fantastic performers. You can tell that they have extensive backgrounds in the live comedy circuit. There was too much funny to recount (and I hope they get the DVDs up as soon as the tour is completed), but one sticks out in my mind: when the eponymous “dynamite brothers” thumb down a ride with the conveniently connected Asian lady, the quip was, “That’s how you get a law named after you.” And then as my wife and I were driving through Phoenix on our way back to Tucson, we pass maybe three or four hitchhikers (alas, no dynamite duos connected by handcuffs).

    Anyway, if there are any MST / CT fans out there who, for some bizarre reason, are contemplating attending a live show and need some encouragement, by all means GO. You get to “meet” (you don’t really meet these nice, hard working folks, only the showbiz facsimile) them, extort autographs, see a fantastic performance, buy a shirt… What more do you want?

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  13. AnM says:

    Hey Mark-we were behind you on line for autographs and took your pic with Trace. I hope it came out okay. And, I totally wish I’d brought my Crow for Trace to sign too! I’m jealous! And Warwilf-we had to ask about the sock since we were too far behind to hear what you were saying….
    It was our first live show and was well worth it-would have gone both nights if ‘someone’ didn’t have to work that Sat.
    We want Mary Jo and the guys to come back soon!

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