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Sampo & Erhardt
Sci-Fi Archives
Visit our archives of the MST3K pages previously hosted by the Sci-Fi Channel's SCIFI.COM.
Movie: (1966) A report of drugged chewing gum in Michigan sends a suave super agent to Amsterdam to investigate a sinister crime organization.
First shown: 8/7/93 Opening: Crow and Tom build a robot, who soon becomes annoying Invention exchange: Frank demonstrates virtual comedy until Dr. F. programs in a few hecklers, J&tB demonstrate micro-golf Host segment 1: Joel, Crow and Tom are a jazz trio playing the “Secret Agent Super Dragon” theme Host segment 2: J&tB read through Crow’s latest screenplay: “The Spy Who Hugged Me” Host segment 3: J&tB discuss spy movie post-kill puns End: Dr. F.’s holds a super-villain conference call Stinger: Jumping the Super Dragon, with xylophone accompaniment (153 votes, average: 4.21 out of 5)
• I don’t watch this one often, but when I do, it always surprises me all over again. It’s really a solid episode. The host segments are clever and the riffing is very good. My biggest gripe is the awful awful condition of the print.
• This episode is on Rhino’s “Mystery Science Theater 3000, Vol. 12.”
• References.
• Minsky the robot is an actual vintage toy, and that is what it really says. BBI named him Minsky in honor of artificial intelligence guru Marvin Minksy.
• Tom invokes “WKRP in Cincinnati” with the mention of “Chy-chy Rodragweez.”
• Callbacks: “I killed that fat barkeep.” (The Beatniks) Also: “Any talent to declare?” (Warrior of the Lost World), a mention of Ward E (Stranded in Space), “…but there was no monster” (Monster A-Go-Go).
• Joel wears his glasses in segment 2, which tells me he’s actually reading his lines off that script.
• Then current: “Herb from Burger King.” Also: “I ate the last Frusen Gladje.”
• Naughty riff: “We’ll be covering you from behind.” Crow: “You’ve been in prison too long.”
• Plot question–why did the bad guys choose a college town in Michigan to test their drug, when it’s fairly clear all their operations are in Europe? I don’t think the movie ever says.
• Frank is great in the ending segment, humming: ” …I sing whenever I sing…” and doing the exact minimum required to assist Dr. F. “Eagerly.”
• A very small cast and crew roundup: Set designer Arrigo Equini also worked on “Danger! Death Ray.” In front of the camera, Marisa Mell was also in “Danger: Diabolik,” Carlo D’angelo was also in “Hercules Unchained” and Benito Stefanelli was also in “The Pumaman.”
• Creditswatch: Host segments directed by Trace Beaulieu. Clayton James does hair and makeup for the last time in season 5.
• Fave riff: “Emo, avec lute.” Honorable mention: “Remind your engineers to use coasters on me.”
This is more than a week old…
The latest annotated episode is 517- THE BEGINNING OF THE END.
As always, post additions and corrections THERE, not here.
And this is a few days old…
RiffTrax’s MST3K episode this week is 417- CRASH OF THE MOONS. Boopie!
NEW YORK CITY — Actress Michi Kobi, who was known for roles in movies including “Tokyo After Dark” (1959), died March 1 at her home here, according to a statement released by her family this weekend. She was 91.
MSTies will remember her role as Dr. Hideko Murata in the movie in episode 524- 12 TO THE MOON.
Born Machiko Okamoto Nov. 2, 1924, in Sacramento, California, Kobi experienced a life-changing period during World War II, when her family was interned in a concentration camp in Utah along with others of Japanese descent. She turned to acting while in the camp, appearing in a production of “Our Town” as a means of self-expression. After the war, she studied acting at New York University.
Kobi’s notable films also included “Hell to Eternity” (1960). She was in the original Broadway cast of “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” in 1963, playing Nurse Nakamura. On television, she appeared on series including “The Californians” and “Law & Order.”
Other than a handful of small roles, Kobi largely left acting after the early 1960s, frustrated by the dearth of good roles for Asian women.
LONDON — Christopher John “Kit” West, the mechanical special effects ace behind such films as “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” for which he won an Academy Award, and “Star Wars: Episode VI — Return of the Jedi,” died April 16 at his home here. He was 80.
MSTies will recall that he did special effects photography for the movie in episode 111- MOON ZERO TWO.
Alert reader Sarah had an idea for a topic about reconnecting with an old friend/relative by discovering their shared love of our favorite cowtown puppet show. I’m going to expand it a bit and ask about discovering a MSTie in an unexpected situation. For example, I was interviewing a corporate executive about something completely unrelated and we got onto the topic of our hobbies. I told them about the site and suddenly we were talking Joel vs. Mike and RiffTrax and Cinematic Titanic. Amazing.
Has that happened to you?
Got an idea for a WDT? Email me at msampo at aol dot com.
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