.

Movie (1992): “I had the strangest dream. I was going to play Dr. Strange but then we lost the rights to the characters and we just made the movie anyway.”

Host: Emily.

Opening: E&tB are desperately seeking Roller Derby names that have not been taken. In Moon 1, the Mads are again visited by Dr. Kabahl, who wants to send the Mads on a time travel mission.

Invention exchange: The Mads are enjoying the wonders of soda water. E&tB invent the Gilbert and Celliphone (and Tom sings its theme song). The Mads have the palm-greaser, perfect for delivering bribes.

Segment 1: Tom’s serious lecture morphs into a (bad) comedy routine.

Segment 2: Emily is a guardian of reality but her landlord duties intervene. After intermission, the bots discover her secret orb is a bowling ball.

Segment 3: The bots “shimmy hypnotize” each other.

Close: The bots call a meeting of super hero league The Arrangers.” The Mads welcome Dr. Laurence Erhardt and ask him to use the Time Bag and bring back an MST3K host.

Thoughts:

• I think the fatal flaw in this episode is that the movie is too good. It’s no classic, of course, but it had a coherent plot I could actually follow, likeable characters (for a change), and actors who actually seemed to realize they were making a movie. They didn’t always succeed, but you can see them trying, which is more than you can say for, say, “Munchie.” Some very funny riffs, but they could have been a bit more plentiful. All in all, I got caught up.

As for the host segments. it’s interesting that they mostly were direct parodies of scenes from the movie. Maybe they got caught up too.

• Nice to see J. Elvis Weinstein with a nifty cameo.

• This episode debuted on June 10, 2022.

• Nice Christmas movie discussion.

• This week’s LOTR ref: “One does not simply walk into Mordrid’s.”

• Stinger: Kabal’s minion goes nutzoid.

• Fave riff: “I don’t work with spiders.”

• Honorable mentions: “For God so loved the world thiiiiiiiis much.” “Raymond, don’t! Everybody loves you!” “…Raven.” “…like Ovaltine and circus peanuts.” “They MIGHT be giants.”

Movie (1992): A daydreaming youngster acquires a mischievous creature who wants to be his friend.

Host: Jonah.

Opening: The Mads are thrilled that Dr. Kabahl’s plan is working. Meanwhile J&tB are knee-deep in the game GPC chose for game night.

Invention exchange: The Mads have created the Deadmill, an exercise machine for zombies. J&tB have the Sustain-A-Band, a rock show products that can survive rock star mayhem.

Segment 1: J&tB pull themselves together. Jonah disobeys Kinga and gets the oxygen turned off.

Segment 2: Jonah plays bootleg Dom Deluise tapes. Meanwhile Kinga orders around Pearl Synthia, and Mega-Synthia, then refuses Pearl’s desire for quality time. After intermission, The Mads hire Growler and M. Waverly.

Segment 3: Kinga hires Dr. St. Phibes to examine Jonah but instead she explains Munchies.

Close: The movie has fried the bots’ logic circuits. Meanwhile, Jonah and Emily hatch a plan.

Thoughts:

• I have to admit this one was a bit of a slog for me. It may be a good current example of what longtime fans have learned over the years: when a movie is an intended comedy, the episode can be difficult. It’s not impossible but there’s an extra degree of diffuculty. And I think we saw that here. There were some really funny riffs but they were a bit sparse.

• The character up there with Ardy is being voiced by the Man Himself, Ivan Askwith.

• This episode debuted on May 27, 2022.

• Gage recites Galadriel’s famous speech. Again, not as obscure as it once was.

• Dr. Donna St. Phibes, a B-movie monster conservationist and biologist (played by Deanna Rooney) first appeared in the live show and returned in season 12. Now she’s back again.

• A plot between Jonah and Emily begins. We’ll all be on needles and pins.

• Stinger: Gage says: “Gotta be Munchie.”

• Callbacks: “pretty nice” (Mac and Me)
“Guess I’m off to Deathstalker II.”

• Fave riff: “Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate, ACK!”

• Honorable mention: “Finish him!” “The slide-whistle of imminent doom.” “Parenting: the sometimes job.”