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

User Rating:

9.5/10   

Creator:

Joel Hodgson
(more)

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 / ... (184 episodes, 1988-1999)
Jim Mallon	...	Gypsy / ... (139 episodes, 1989-1998)
Trace Beaulieu	...	Crow T. Robot / ... (135 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 / ... (94 episodes, 1988-1999)

(more)

Series Directed by
Kevin Murphy		(52 episodes, 1992-1999)
Jim Mallon		(35 episodes, 1991-1997)
Trace Beaulieu		(21 episodes, 1992-1996)
Michael J. Nelson		(18 episodes, 1992-1999)
Vince Rodriguez		(9 episodes, 1988-1989)
Joel Hodgson		(8 episodes, 1992-1993)
Todd Ziegler		(2 episodes, 1989)

Series Writing credits
Kevin Murphy		(143 episodes, 1988-1999)
Michael J. Nelson		(133 episodes, 1989-1999)
Joel Hodgson		(127 episodes, 1988-1999)
Paul Chaplin		(125 episodes, 1991-1999)
Bridget Jones		(125 episodes, 1991-1999)
Mary Jo Pehl		(121 episodes, 1992-1999)
Jim Mallon		(96 episodes, 1988-1997)
Trace Beaulieu		(95 episodes, 1988-1996)
Colleen Henjum		(70 episodes, 1992-1995)
Frank Conniff		(67 episodes, 1990-1995)
Bill Corbett		(51 episodes, 1995-1999)
David Sussman		(28 episodes, 1992-1994)
J. Elvis Weinstein		(26 episodes, 1988-1990)
Mike Dodge		(24 episodes, 1994-1995)
Timothy Scott		(6 episodes, 1993-1994)
Tim Scott		(5 episodes, 1993-1994)
Faye Burkholder		(2 episodes, 1989)
Lynn-Anne Friese		(2 episodes, 1991)
Craig Tollifson		(2 episodes, 1991)
Tom Wedor		(2 episodes, 1991)
John Carney		(2 episodes, 1992)
Mike Gandolfi		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Kevin Murphy	....	associate producer / producer (140 episodes, 1988-1999)
Jim Mallon	....	executive producer / producer (103 episodes, 1988-1999)
Joel Hodgson	....	executive producer (43 episodes, 1991-1993)
Vince Rodriguez	....	associate producer (9 episodes, 1988-1989)

Series Cinematography by
Jeff Stonehouse		(5 episodes, 1997-1999)

Series Film Editing by
Bradley J. Keely		(110 episodes, 1992-1999)
Timothy Scott		(48 episodes, 1992-1994)
Tim Paulson		(15 episodes, 1991-1995)
Charles Zimmerman		(14 episodes, 1993-1994)
Karen Lindsay		(4 episodes, 1991-1992)
Bill Gibb		(4 episodes, 1999)
Randy Davis		(3 episodes, 1989-1990)

Series Production Design by
Joel Hodgson		(3 episodes, 1988-1993)
Trace Beaulieu		(2 episodes, 1989-1993)
Jef Maynard		(unknown episodes)

Series Art Direction by
Trace Beaulieu		(89 episodes, 1989-1996)
Jef Maynard		(72 episodes, 1992-1995)
Joel Hodgson		(66 episodes, 1988-1993)
Patrick Brantseg		(48 episodes, 1997-1999)

Series Set Decoration by
Joel Hodgson		(9 episodes, 1995-1996)
Jef Maynard		(9 episodes, 1995-1996)
Trace Beaulieu		(7 episodes, 1995-1996)
Wendell Jon Andersson		(2 episodes, 1996)

Series Makeup Department
Andrea Jackson DuCane	....	hair stylist / hair & makeup / ... (87 episodes, 1992-1999)
Clayton James	....	hair stylist / makeup artist (38 episodes, 1989-1993)
Faye Burkholder	....	makeup artist / hair stylist (19 episodes, 1988-1991)
Crist Ballas	....	makeup artist / special makeup effects artist (10 episodes, 1992-1996)
Jennifer Turner	....	hair stylist / makeup artist (2 episodes, 1997)
Brian Wade	....	special makeup effects artist (unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Jann Johnson	....	production manager (53 episodes, 1992-1997)
Peter Rudrud	....	production manager (35 episodes, 1997-1999)
Alexandra Carr	....	production manager (26 episodes, 1989-1992)
Jill Roozenboom	....	production manager (12 episodes, 1997)
Wendell Jon Andersson	....	production manager (6 episodes, 1996)

Series Art Department
Joel Hodgson	....	set design / gizmonic devices (128 episodes, 1989-1996)
Beth McKeever	....	props / props assistant / ... (54 episodes, 1996-1999)
Patrick Brantseg	....	designs / prop assistant / ... (34 episodes, 1992-1999)
Ed Miarecki	....	props (24 episodes, 1994-1995)
Helena Espinosa	....	props (6 episodes, 1996)
Trace Beaulieu	....	set designer / set design (5 episodes, 1989-1993)
Barb Oswald	....	prop assistant (3 episodes, 1991-1992)
Jef Maynard	....	toolmaster / set design (2 episodes, 1991-1993)
Dean Trisko	....	prop assistant / props assistant (2 episodes, 1996)

Series Sound Department
Timothy Scott	....	sound / sound editor / ... (38 episodes, 1991-1994)
John Sims	....	boom operator / foley artist (36 episodes, 1997-1999)
Bradley J. Keely	....	sound (31 episodes, 1993-1995)
Todd Ziegler	....	audio (18 episodes, 1988-1989)
Brian Wright	....	sound (18 episodes, 1991-1992)
Fred Street	....	sound post-production / sound / ... (8 episodes, 1991-1997)
Alexandra Carr	....	audio (2 episodes, 1989)

Series Special Effects by
Trace Beaulieu	....	special effects (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Ken Fournelle	....	lighting technician / lighting (61 episodes, 1991-1994)
Michael Parker	....	grip (45 episodes, 1997-1999)
Timothy Scott	....	lighting technician / lighting (39 episodes, 1992-1994)
Jeff Stonehouse	....	lighting technician (26 episodes, 1994-1996)
Dan Breyer	....	grip (22 episodes, 1998-1999)
Kevin Murphy	....	lighting / camera operator / ... (20 episodes, 1988-1992)
Bradley J. Keely	....	lighting technician (5 episodes, 1994)

Series Editorial Department
Lisa Erickson	....	color consultant (10 episodes, 1988-1989)
Jim Erickson	....	post-production assistant / post-production staff (3 episodes, 1989-1990)
Ken Fournelle	....	post-production staff (3 episodes, 1989-1990)
Jim Fuller	....	post-production staff (3 episodes, 1989-1990)
Karen Lindsay	....	on-line editor (2 episodes, 1991-1992)
Ellen McDonough Thomas	....	post-production coordinator (2 episodes, 1993)

Series Music Department
Charlie Erickson	....	composer: theme music (17 episodes, 1988-1999)
Joel Hodgson	....	composer: theme music / lyrics: theme music / ... (17 episodes, 1988-1999)
J. Elvis Weinstein	....	lyrics: theme music / composer: theme music / ... (15 episodes, 1988-1999)
Michael J. Nelson	....	composer: additional music / composer: theme music (8 episodes, 1996-1999)
Kevin Murphy	....	composer: additional music / lyrics: Air on a Delta Knight / ... (2 episodes, 1996-1998)

Series Other crew
Jef Maynard	....	toolmaster (77 episodes, 1991-1995)
Bradley J. Keely	....	technical supervisor / production coordinator (76 episodes, 1994-1999)
Tim Johnson	....	controller (68 episodes, 1994-1999)
Barb Tebben	....	info club Poobah / assistant: Poobah / ... (56 episodes, 1995-1999)
Heide LeClerc	....	manager: business affairs / manager of business affairs (54 episodes, 1991-1994)
Timothy Scott	....	technical supervisor (32 episodes, 1991-1994)
Patrick Brantseg	....	intern / utility infielder (25 episodes, 1992-1994)
Julie Walker	....	info club Poobah (24 episodes, 1993-1996)
Pete Keffer	....	intern (24 episodes, 1993-1994)
Michael J. Sheehan	....	intern (24 episodes, 1993-1994)
E. Jane Short	....	intern (24 episodes, 1993-1994)
Rob Burkhardt	....	engineer (22 episodes, 1992-1993)
Stephanie Hynes	....	intern (17 episodes, 1993)
Wendell Jon Andersson	....	intern / production coordinator (13 episodes, 1994-1996)
Alexandra Carr	....	production assistant / fan club coordinator (12 episodes, 1989)
Nathan Devery	....	intern (12 episodes, 1992)
Sara Swanson	....	intern (12 episodes, 1994-1995)
Dave Bellmont	....	intern (12 episodes, 1994)
Shannon McNeely	....	intern (12 episodes, 1994)
Peter Nicolai	....	intern (12 episodes, 1994)
Curtis Anderson	....	intern (11 episodes, 1992-1993)
Dan Breyer	....	intern (11 episodes, 1997-1998)
Suzette Jamison	....	intern (9 episodes, 1992)
Michael Parker	....	intern (9 episodes, 1994-1995)
Cyn Eells	....	intern (8 episodes, 1991-1992)
Christopher Wurst	....	intern (8 episodes, 1991-1992)
Joel Hodgson	....	gizmonic devices designer (7 episodes, 1991-1992)
Scott Bowman	....	intern (7 episodes, 1997-1998)
Elliot Cobb	....	intern (7 episodes, 1997)
Mytch Parks	....	intern (7 episodes, 1997)
Nick Prueher	....	intern (7 episodes, 1998-1999)
Erin Erskine	....	intern (7 episodes, 1999)
Josh Huschke	....	intern (7 episodes, 1999)
Danica King	....	intern (6 episodes, 1996)
Kelly Schrandt	....	intern (6 episodes, 1996)
Meshach Weber	....	intern (6 episodes, 1997)
Ed Dykhuizen	....	intern (6 episodes, 1999)
Sarah Lemanczyk	....	intern (6 episodes, 1999)
Kelly Nathe	....	intern (5 episodes, 1992-1993)
Barb Oswald	....	junior toolmaster (5 episodes, 1992-1993)
Steven Sande	....	intern (5 episodes, 1992)
Todd Severson	....	intern (5 episodes, 1997-1998)
Dan Tanz	....	intern (5 episodes, 1998)
Jann Johnson	....	production assistant / production coordinator (4 episodes, 1989-1991)
Ellen McDonough Thomas	....	production coordinator (4 episodes, 1993-1995)
Julie Van Goethem	....	intern (4 episodes, 1994)
Ben Mooers	....	intern (4 episodes, 1996)
Tamara Melloy	....	intern (4 episodes, 1997)
Joseph Olson	....	intern (4 episodes, 1997)
Randall Smith	....	intern (4 episodes, 1997)
Ken Fournelle	....	production staff (3 episodes, 1989-1990)
Jim Fuller	....	production staff (3 episodes, 1989-1990)
Steve Rosenberer	....	production assistant (3 episodes, 1989-1990)
Sara J. Sandborn	....	production assistant (3 episodes, 1989-1990)
Brendan Glynn	....	intern (3 episodes, 1992)
Cindy Hansen	....	intern (2 episodes, 1991)
Kirsten Lind	....	choreographer (2 episodes, 1993)
Jeffrey P. Young	....	director of operations (2 episodes, 1994)
Beth McKeever	....	intern (2 episodes, 1996)
Lane Stiller	....	intern (2 episodes, 1997)
Steve Zocklein	....	intern (2 episodes, 1997)
Frank Conniff	....	script supervisor (unknown episodes)

Series Thanks
Mark Gilbertson	....	special thanks (35 episodes, 1992-1993)
Bryan Beaulieu	....	special thanks (11 episodes, 1989-1992)
Bill W.	....	special thanks (7 episodes, 1991-1992)
David Campbell	....	special thanks (3 episodes, 1989-1990)
Randy Herget	....	special thanks (3 episodes, 1989-1990)
Rick Leed	....	special thanks (3 episodes, 1989-1990)

Production Companies

• Best Brains
• Comedy Central (1989-1996)
• Home Box Office (HBO) (1989-1996)
• KTMA (1988)
• Sci-Fi Channel, The (1997-1999)

Distributors

• Comedy Central (1989-1996) (USA) (TV)
• KTMA (1988) (USA) (TV)
• Rhino Home Video (1996) (USA) (video)
• Sci-Fi Channel, The (1997-1999) (USA) (TV)
• Shout! Factory (2008-) (worldwide) (video)
• Vivendi Entertainment (2008-) (USA) (video)

Special Effects

• Gizmo's Inc.

Other Companies

• Best Brains  lyrics to theme
• Blue Thumb Scenic  set design
• PostAudio Inc.  audio post-production

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:

At ComicCon 2008, the cast and crew revealed that the only film they refused to satirize after viewing was Child Bride (1938).

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:

Bela Lugosi: [on Lobo] Don't worry, he's as gentle as a kitten.
Tom Servo: Yeah, a big, bald, deranged kitten that could snap your neck like celery.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Simpsons: Who Shot Mr. Burns?: Part 1 (#6.25)" (1995)

Soundtrack:

Klack Holiday Serenade

The most Intelligent show created by the Imperfect race of Man

Mystery Science Theater 3000: The most intelligent show ever seen by the eyes of man, and created by man too.

This show greatly critiques the acts and creations of our imperfect society by making various remarks throughout the 'host segments' and 'movie segments' and makes good hilarity in the process.

If you have never seen it, you have to! I'd greatly recommend it for geeks and the fashionable alike, though the geeks seem to understand it a lot more.