Alert reader Courtney writes:

I don’t know if something like this has been covered, but I’m wondering if we can collect a “required viewing” list of shows, movies, or music that is most often referenced in MST3K. My best example is Hogan’s Heroes – I never watched this show while MST3K was on the air, but it was one of my husband’s favorite shows from childhood that he introduced me to a few years ago and I couldn’t believe all the MST3K references I recognized after I first watched one or two episodes! Are there other movies, or tv shows – or particular episodes of tv series – that are recommended viewing for fans to understand the sources of some of MST3K’s more frequent jokes/references?

I checked and we have done required movies and required music threads, but not one for TV. So let’s get to it!

My pick is an easy one: “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.” They’ve done dozens of references, so they clearly love it. The Minneapolis setting of the show didn’t hurt either. “A little song, a little dance, a little seltzer down your pants…”

What show would you suggest?