Who cares about Thanksgiving and Christmas?! This holiday season, I’m more interested in the next MST3K collection on store and cyber-shelves Nov. 9, 2010. ‘Mystery Science Theater 3000: Vol. XIX’ is a limited edition 4-DVD box set, which also includes an awesome Gypsy figurine. I’ll set her right next to my Tom Servo figurine.
The ‘Mystery Science Theater 3000’ (a.k.a. MST3K) series is one of my all-time favorites, and that includes everything I’ve ever seen on both the big and small screens. The “shorts” included in these sets are just as entertaining as the films themselves. Our favorites include ‘Cheaters’ and ‘Mr. B Natural.’
MST3K was created by Joel Hodgson and produced by Jim Mallon, and after a year on KTMA TV in Minneapolis, its national broadcast life began in 1989 on the Comedy Channel (later to become Comedy Central), where it ran for seven seasons. The show’s final three seasons aired on the Sci-Fi Channel.
The premise: A hapless man (first Joel, and later, Mike Nelson) is trapped by mad scientists on “the Satellite of Love” and forced to watch B-movies of questionable worth. To keep sane, Joel built two robot sidekicks – Tom Servo and Crow T. Robot –and they all do a running commentary on the films. It’s bitingly hilarious. Whenever we need a good laugh in the household, we pull out an MST3K movie.
The series ran for 11 years and 198 episodes (including one feature film), and many thanks to Shout Factory! for releasing the series on DVD.
More details about MST3K: Vol. XIX…
This newest collection includes the never-before-released episodes ‘Robot Monster,’ ‘Bride of the Monster,’ ‘Devil Doll,’ and ‘Devil Fish.’ Extras include a new intro by J. Elvis Weinstein; cult filmmaker Larry Blamire’s geek-out on ‘Robot Monster’; new featurettes on ‘Bride of the Monster’ and ‘Devil Doll’; ‘MST3K: Origins and Beyond’ from CONvergence 2009; original movie trailers; and four exclusive MST3K mini-posters by artist Steve Vance. My super-secret sources tell me there might even be an Easter Egg in there. Here’s the rundown…
‘ROBOT MONSTER’
The sinister alien Ro-Man has decimated the Earth’s population, leaving only eight survivors, including a professor and the family of young space enthusiast Johnny.
It’s “one of the worst films ever made,” which makes it perfect fodder for Joel, Servo and Crow as they explore their own fears of Ro-Man — errr … Ro-Tom — surrealism and, of course, the awful greatness (and the great awfulness) that is ‘Robot Monster.’
Also includes the shorts ‘Radar Men from the Moon’ – Chapters 4 and 5!
Bonus Features
- Brand-new introduction by J. Elvis Weinstein
- Larry Blamire Geeks Out
- Original ‘Robot Monster’ trailer
‘BRIDE OF THE MONSTER’
Horror cinema icons Bela Lugosi and Tor Johnson star in this unforgettable Ed Wood classic as the crazed Dr. Vornoff and his beastly assistant Lobo, who conduct heinous experiments on human victims in an effort to create a race of atomic super-beings that will conquer the world! [Insert maniacal laugh here.]
The film raises some intriguing questions: Do robots made of scrap parts aboard an orbiting satellite dream of electric sheep? Can Joel and the ’bots carry a tune? And is there anyone who doesn’t love cold Tater Tots ® and olive loaf?
Also includes the short ‘Hired, Part 1’!
Bonus Features
- Citizen Wood: Making ‘The Bride,’ Unmaking ‘The Legend.’
- Inventing the “Invention Exchange”
- Original ‘Bride of the Monster’ trailer
‘DEVIL DOLL’
Well … hello Dolly!
Before a sold-out audience in London, “The Great Vorelli” performs with his ventriloquist dummy, Hugo. The doll walks on his own. It talks on his own. It even threatens the audience on his own. But is Hugo the real villain? Or could it be that his ventriloquist owner has lost his marbles?
While Pearl and Brain Guy show the Romans how to have a good time at the Lesser God Day celebration, Mike, Crow and Servo invite you to their own open-window frat party, complete with special guests, devil dolls and their own British pub.
Bonus Features
- The Puppet Master: Richard Gordon on ‘Devil Doll’
- Original ‘Devil Doll’ trailer
‘DEVIL FISH’
When Dr. Stella Dickens concludes the recent string of grisly deaths and demolished boats can’t be the result of any known marine creature, she sets out to capture the beast, a genetically created bio-weapon that must be kept secret . . . at any cost. One thing’s for sure, however: The fish are biting!
Beware the dolphins, after Mike and the Satellite of Love crew decide to mock their intelligence. Meanwhile, Pearl is forced to convince unexpected visitors that the castle’s actually a luxurious cruise liner! No one’s safe — least of all, ‘Devil Fish.’
Bonus Features
- ‘MST3K: Origins and Beyond’ at CONvergence 2009
- Original ‘Devil Fish’ trailer
If you love MST3K, check out RiffTrax and Cinematic Titanic. Mike Nelson is a friend on Facebook, but he might be up to his friend limit by now.
Images: Shout Factory!
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