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Posted by , on May 30th, 2016 Over at the LEGO Web site, an idea has been submitted for a Mystery Science Theater 3000 set. If the idea gets 10,000 supporters, LEGO will consider turning it into an official release. Wouldn’t that be awesome?
Posted by Sampo, on May 28th, 2016 Alert reader Danzilla proposes:
This week’s episode discussion (Girl in Lovers Lane) reminded me of something that makes the episode particularly funny to me: Big Stupid’s hooker-obsessed, hobo buddy is named Danny, which is, of course, my name! While I am neither hooker-obsessed nor (at least currently) a hobo, I get a huge kick out of hearing the riffing crew saying my name over and over again! Lines like “He just broke Danny!” and “Danny should really come with a tote” just kill me, and in ways that any MSTie not named Danny wouldn’t really get. It got me thinking, who of my fellow fans out there share names with MST characters (both in the universe of the show and the movies themselves)? What were your reactions to hearing your name on screen, or seeing your name assigned to a particular character? Or, have you ever watched the show with a friend or family member who share THEIR name with an MST character, and what were their reactions?
Well, what comes to mind is poor doomed Chris the dog in 801- REVENGE OF THE CREATURE. I felt a special kinship.
Have you had this experience?
Posted by Sampo, on May 26th, 2016 
Movie: (1960) A whiny runaway is befriended by a world-weary drifter, but the duo’s arrival in a small town spells trouble for a local waitress.
First shown: 9/18/93
Opening: Tom and Crow are retrofitting themselves with bellybuttons; Joel approves
Invention exchange: The Mads present evil baseball promotions, Joel presents “Don Martins”
Host segment 1: J&tB sing “What a Pleasant Journey”
Host segment 2: The bots want to reenact the pool hall scene
Host segment 3: Crow is Crow Elam
End: Furious about the ending of the movie, the bots devise new endings, Joel reads letters, Frank devises endings too
Stinger: “Are you waiting for a bus?”
  (88 votes, average: 4.56 out of 5)
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• This is what I used to call a “little” episode. The movie has a very narrow scope. The host segments are fun but nothing spectacular. The riffing is decent but workmanlike. It’s good, not great. But, like practically every episode, it has its moments…
• This episode is included on Shout’s Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection: Vol. XV.
• Once again they’re doing stuff to the bots in the opening segment. This time it’s belly buttons. I do love the way Joel thinks it over and decides to go for it.
• Something I never noticed before: In the opener, when they turn on the electric drill, the lights dim a little for a second. A great subtle little touch.
• The baseball promotion invention exchange is as dark as Frank predicts it will be, at least for any baseball fan. I’m old enough to remember when my dad took me and my two brothers to “bat day” at Connie Mack Stadium in Philadelphia: every kid got an actual regulation wooden bat, and yet we behaved. I suspect there’d be mayhem in the stands if they did that today.
• Why does Joel’s jumpsuit come equipped with ONE kneepad?
• One of the best things about this episode is the songs. The song Tom makes up to go with the movie’s theme during the credit sequence is just marvelous. Joel and Crow add a line or two, but of course it’s dominated by Tom.
• This episode also features the “Camera three get off the tracks!! Arrgghhh!” sequence, which was later used in promos for the show.
• The other great song: “What a pleasant journey.” What can you say? One of the funniest songs of the series. The impression they’re doing, by the way is sort of a vague Woody Guthrie.
• The Mary Jo influence: Mentions of Appleton and Circle Pines.
• Callbacks: o/` “Leather coat…” o/` (The Beatniks) “To live like the E-lam…” (Robot Monster) “You’re stuck here!” (Fugitive Alien)
• One I didn’t get lat time around: Her neck looks like Randy Johnson’s. Commenters explained it to me.
• Elam does look like Garrison Keillor, which they point out at least twice.
• There are several references to the “This Side of Paradise” Star Trek episode again.
• Crow notes that Jack Elam was a fine character actor, “and for all I know he still is.” He was indeed still alive when this episode first aired … not so much now, sadly. He passed in 2003.
• I lost count of the “Carrie, you’re so very…” riffs, which did NOT get funnier with each iteration. For those who have no idea what it’s about: Check it out here.
• Yes, the truck driver does look a little like Gene Kelly, if you squint. I counted SIX riffs to that effect.
• The bots are upset about the ending of the movie in the final sketch, and there is also some outrage expressed in the ACEG, but J&tB don’t seem that upset in the theater when Carrie’s brutal and completely undeserved murder actually occurs.
• Cast and crew roundup: Art director Dan Haller also worked on “Attack of the Giant Leeches” and “Night of the Blood Beast.” Set designer John F. Burton also worked on “12 to the Moon” and “High School Big Shot.” Score composer Ronald Stein also worked on “It Conquered the World,” “Attack of the the Eye Creatures,” “Gunslinger,” “The Undead” and “The She-Creature.” In front of the camera Brett Halsey is also in “Revenge of the Creature.” William Coontz is also in “Bloodlust,” and Patricia Dean” is also in “Beginning of the End.”
• CreditsWatch: Host segments directed by Joel. The music for “The Train Song” a.k.a. “What a Pleasant Journey” was by Michael J. Nelson; the lyrics are by Frank Conniff.
• Fave riff: “This is a great date. I always wanted to be nuzzled by a hobo.” Honorable mention: “Did his head just turn into a big sucker?”
Posted by Sampo, on May 25th, 2016  Trace and Frank, aka ‘The Mads,’ will make an appearance in Pensacola, Florida, tomorrow, May 26, at 7 p.m. (doors open at 6:30) in the WSRE Jean & Paul Amos Performance Studio on the Pensacola State College campus (building 23) at 1000 College Blvd. Admission is free!
More information here.
Bob Barrett of WUWF.org has a story about their appearance, including an audio interview.
Posted by Sampo, on May 24th, 2016  LONDON–Burt Kwouk, perhaps best remembered as Inspector Clouseau’s manservant Cato Fong in seven of Blake Edwards’ “Pink Panther” movies, has died here. He was 85.
Other movie appearances in his five-decade career included James Bond films “Goldfinger” and “You Only Live Twice,” as well as Fred Schepisi’s “Plenty,” Steven Spielberg’s “Empire of the Sun” and Roger Spottiswoode’s “Air America.”
MSTies will remember that he appeared in the movie The Brides of Fu Manchu (his character’s name in that movie was Feng), scenes from which were reused in the movie in episode 323- CASTLE OF FU MANCHU.
Variety has the obituary.
Thanks to Timmy for the heads up.
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Trace and Frank, aka ‘The Mads,’ will make an appearance in Pensacola, Florida, tomorrow, May 26, at 7 p.m. (doors open at 6:30) in the WSRE Jean & Paul Amos Performance Studio on the Pensacola State College campus (building 23) at 1000 College Blvd. Admission is free!
LONDON–Burt Kwouk, perhaps best remembered as Inspector Clouseau’s manservant Cato Fong in seven of Blake Edwards’ “Pink Panther” movies, has died here. He was 85.