"Mystery Science Theater 3000" (1988) TV series 1988-1999

Creator:

Joel Hodgson

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11

Release Date:

24 November 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

We've got movie signs!

Plot:

In the not too distant future, a man and his robots are trapped on the Satellite of love, where evil scientists force them to sit through the worst movies ever made.

Plot Keywords:

Robot | Mad Scientist | Breaking The Fourth Wall | Anti Hero | Cult Comedy

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 1 win & 10 nominations

Cast

Kevin Murphy	...	Tom Servo / ... (182 episodes, 1988-1999)
Jim Mallon	...	Gypsy / ... (143 episodes, 1989-1998)
Trace Beaulieu	...	Crow T. Robot / ... (139 episodes, 1988-1996)
Michael J. Nelson	...	Mike Nelson / ... (121 episodes, 1990-1999)
Mary Jo Pehl	...	Magic Voice / ... (120 episodes, 1992-1999)
Frank Conniff	...	TV's Frank / ... (107 episodes, 1990-1999)
Joel Hodgson	...	Joel Robinson / ... (99 episodes, 1988-1999)

Also Known As:

MST 3000 (USA) (short title)
MST3K (USA) (short title)
Mystery Science Theater 2000 (USA) (working title)
Mystery Science Theater Hour (USA) (rerun title)
Mystery Science Theatre 3000 (UK)
The Mystery Science Theater Hour (USA) (syndication title)

Runtime:

97 min (199 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:M | USA:TV-14 | USA:TV-PG

Filming Locations:

Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

Company:

Best Brains

Trivia:

Originally a parody of Silent Running (1972) with Joel being captive on a satellite going nowhere, wearing a blue jumpsuit with patches all over it and having several robots as his companions to help him keep sane. Also the first episode was more of a direct parody as Joel finds some "vacuflowers" which start poisoning the crew similar to the way Lowell Freeman in Silent Running tries to keep his flowers alive.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: There are several times where the rod used to control Tom Servo is visible as he is being carried in or out of the theater.

Quotes:

Tom Servo: I'm glad I chose kicking butt as a living.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in City of Heroes (2004) (VG)

Soundtrack:

Gamera (in it's [sic] many forms)

My Best TV Friends at the Movies!

Comedy Central gets credit when credit is due. "South Park", the "Chapelle's Show", "Win Ben Stein's Money", "The Daily Show" and a few others -- were breakthough series for a very hungry comedy generation. But this was their very first hit, let no one tell ya differently.

At first, I thought Mystery Science Theater 3000 would bug me. A bunch of folks talking through a movie. I HATE that. But these guys have gone through and chosen a host of films that are bad to begin with. And you know as you're sitting in the comfort of your home, by yourself or with friends watching these same films, you are saying or thinking the same thing of what Joel and Mike and the 'bots are.

Yes, MST3K is "cheap", its stupid..but its a heck of alot of fun. There are a few movies they took that I didn't think deserved an MST3K "do-over" but at some points in the series, they did a unique thing and added in Cartoons, old Soap Operas and TV Series before showing the full feature. That was a laugh riot.

Comedy Central's MST3K went to the Sci-Fi Channel where they still show the series but I wish they would also show the ones with Joel and the 'bots along with the ones with Mike and the 'bots. In such a depressing time, it puts a smile on my face for two hours every Saturday Morning. It's simple and s-i-m-p-l-e.

Every year the Sci-Fi network does "Twilight Zone" Marathons which I love. I remember Comedy Central ONCE doing a "MST3K" Marathon, it's time to do another. This is the best comedy/sci-fi series to date, it deserves alot more than it got.

If not, maybe its time to pull the gang together and do another "Movie". The "MST3K" gang really blew it with doing "This Island Earth" when we all know "Manos, the Hands of Fate" would have gotten them Academy Award Nominations. Find another film like that, put these guys back into space (and hey, bring 'em back home!) and I bet it would surprise everyone in the film industry for how well it would do.

Great Series!