Ask MST3k Creator Joel Hodgson 191
As turkey day approaches, we have the chance to ask Joel Hodgson whatever you can think of. If you've lived without electricity since the 80s, you might not be aware that he was the creator and original host of what may be the funniest show in history - Mystery Science Theater 3000, as well as the upcoming Cinematic Titanic. I've still got my fan club membership card even after nearly 2 decades. Standard Slashdot interview rules apply: ask your questions here, and we'll pass a bunch of the highest scoring ones for Joel to answer.
Rifftrax & The Film Crew (Score:5, Interesting)
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What do you think about the other efforts led by Mike Nelson like Rifftrax [slashdot.org] & The Film Crew [slashdot.org]? Is there a reason that you, Pearl, TV's Frank & Dr. Forester have split from Mike, Brain Guy & Tom Servo? I'm overjoyed that there are multiple efforts but why?
I think these days they go by their other names: you know, Mary Jo, Trace, Bill, Kevin, Josh, etc...
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Box Set Frustrations (Score:5, Interesting)
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Just bit torrent the seasons. Sure they're VHS dups and the quality suffers sometimes but that's half the fun.
Re:Box Set Frustrations (Score:4, Interesting)
Robert Fiveson, the director of "Parts: The Clonus Horror" which appeared in MST3K Volume 12 Set was smart about it appeared in an interview clip on the DVD. He said he'd originally realized that while MST3K would certainly mock his movie, which despite its low budget and cheesy production was actually a decent movie, so decent it was totally ripped off to create the recent "The Island" directed by Michael Bay. Fiveson went on to say that he received tremendous support from the MST3K fanbase when he pursued a lawsuit against the makers of "The Island", which ended in a settlement, IIRC. Fiveson said he's very glad to have been associated with the show.
All that said, however, there are still a large number of unreleased episodes of the show based on movies whose copyrights have lapsed or are otherwise in the public domain, and here's hoping Jim Mallon and everyone else in a position to do so will work with Rhino to continue these quality releases of the best TV show ever.
Expensive or not, I'm more than happy to support Best Brains and everyone who made this wonderful treasure of TV. Yes, that means I'd bought them all on VHS originally, but I think all those have subsequently been re-released by Rhino, and sadly, the rights have expired again on some movies meaning they can no longer sell Volumes 1 and 10 (I think those are the two).
Push the button, Frank!
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He said when they approached him to use his movie for MST3K that he initially didn't like the idea, but then changed his mind. That should be obvious from the context.
I also realize that I'd started a sentence, went off on a tangent and never finished the sentence.
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Or in region 2. Hint, hint.
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How did MST3k come about? (Score:5, Interesting)
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mystery_Science_Theater_3000#Inspirations_and_influences [wikipedia.org]
Public Access, Baby! (Score:2)
I used to live about 10 miles away from Best Brains back in my college days, but never had a chance to visit. A friend of mine back then did actually manage to get a tour of the place and got quite a few photos of the original set and "the ball". The set wasn't much more than sheets of plywood with dozens of rubber dog toys glued to them, covered in a matte grey paint. (Kind of explains why the SOL was always depicted as a bone in the show.)
Sci-Fi Channel Years (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Sci-Fi Channel Years (Score:4, Interesting)
I had heard rumors that Sci-Fi was the end of MST3K.
Sci-Fi is where shows go to die. I have never seen a concept so promising completely fail to deliver in all respects, but the Sci-Fi channel is the penultimate failure of cable television. I love science fiction as much as anyone, but I intentionally and actively avoid that channel because the vast majority of the stuff they air is total crap.
Allowing your show to be put on Sci-Fi channel is the death knell of your intellectual property (prime example-- Highlander: The Source).
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MST3K was, and always will be a niche show, and TV executives as a group have some sort of bizarre mental block when it comes to niche shows. They don't understand them, don't like them and usually destroy them (see Futurama). If it's not "American Idol" or some similar lowest-common-denominator dreck, they treat it like some kind of radioactive waste. And these guys are geniuses
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Finally, you're saying there should only be room for the mainstream on TV? Wow. What a sad, sad comment. Why in the world are you even reading this article when you could be watching "American Idol"?
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Why'd you stop? (Score:5, Interesting)
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Public Domain (Score:5, Interesting)
Hollywood Trends (Score:4, Interesting)
New Content (Score:5, Interesting)
We've all laughed at the choice of just inane productions you guys have lambasted over the years. However, there's new choices for great commentary being made every day (skipping personal suggestions). What sort of licensing issues do you guys run up against for acquiring certain content? Is there a "sweet spot" for movies to be in for it to be worth fighting for? How do you choose?
How's it feel when people quote decades-old jokes? (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:How's it feel when people quote decades-old jok (Score:2)
Allovertheworld!
Hikeeba!
MITCHELL!
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Allovertheworld!
Hikeeba!
MITCHELL!
See also this XKCD Comic [xkcd.com]. We love when somebody does something cool, original, and funny - are we missing the point by fixating on it like this?
Cherokee D (Score:4, Interesting)
Also if you could could give the MS3K treatment to any move which movie would it be?
My vote would go to the original Star Trek movie.
So... (Score:2)
Cheap Seats (Score:2)
Cheap Seats [imdb.com]
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How much improv? (Score:5, Interesting)
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Still, there are moments I could swear were ad-libs, especially during the Joel years, where Joel or one of the bots would say something and earn a surprised-sounding laugh from the others.
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I always wondered about possible ad-libs... I get the impression they were few and far between after season 1, because by the time they show was actually being recorded, the actors, who were also all writers, had seen the movies several times. Besides, some jokes are so good they could provoke laughter ev
why (Score:4, Interesting)
Theme song (Score:3, Funny)
Does it contain a subliminal message?
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The bastardized song from Pod People
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Which nation's national anthem are you referring to? And if you mean the Star Spangled Banner, let's hear all four verses! :)
Re: Star S*p*ngled banner (Score:2)
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We gather together to watch cheesy movies
at Comedy Central on Thanksgiving day.
It's 40 straight hours of Mystery Science
*breathe* Theater 3000 it's called Turkey Day!
It just ain't Turkey Day without a MST3k marathon...
Permission and Sets (Score:5, Interesting)
Has this caused limitations of content for your treatment?
What movie(s) did you really want to review but were denied for some reason?
One of my favorite parts of the show was the creative use of inexpensive materials for the set (except that Millenium Falcon on the door might be worth something now). Will your current project use the same creativity, or will it be more funded and "polished?"
I endorse this question (Score:2)
This is the question I came here to ask, but someone beat me to it. The copyright issues involved in getting the show done were probably pretty complex.
Dear Joel, (Score:3, Interesting)
The first (Score:5, Interesting)
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What do you do in your own off-time? (Score:5, Interesting)
We all know what a great job you did with MST3K, what the show was about, etc. HOWEVER -- I'm more curious about you!
And, perhaps most interestingly, are there any particular movies that you wouldn't dare lampoon?
Inquiring knows want to mind!
Earlier-than-documented influences? (Score:3, Interesting)
All of the on-line biographies of you gloss over your "formative years" and seem to concentrate on your prop comedy stand-up work in the Twin Cities as being the impetus for MST3K. However, having grown up in the Green Bay area myself, I can't help but think that some of MST3K (especially its connection to irresistibly awful movies) was inspired in part by WLUK's TJ and the ANT [milwaukee-...-hosts.com] show. Can you comment or elaborate on whether you enjoyed this show as a teenager?
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Long-term effects of spaceflight? (Score:3, Funny)
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Hey Joel (Score:5, Interesting)
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Did you get a bulk of letters that referenced things so far from the current shows that you really had to dig back to see just what they were talking about?
My best friend and I wrote your show when we were teenage geeks, making references to the episode we watched, paid our respects, and tried our hand a quirky humor in hopes that it would be read on the air. It wasn't until over a decade later that we re
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That's pretty much what I see when I watch an episode of MST3K. If I wanted that kind of immature nonsense I'd go to a school holiday session at the local picture theatre.
What do you think of KTMA episodes being available (Score:4, Insightful)
Other Stuff (Score:3, Interesting)
Well... (Score:4, Funny)
Pissed off any target? (Score:5, Interesting)
Joe Don Baker (Mitchell), I Believe (Score:4, Funny)
Also, there have been some new introductions to the DVDs licensed by Rhino and I've watched them all. At the beginning, they often talk with or about trying to contact the actors/directors of the films. Oftentimes, it's kind of sad when they show the actors or actresses as they really poured their heart into the movie. For Time Chasers, Mike opens up saying that they invited the original cast to see the movie together with them. I guess they thought it was going to be more friendly
That said, I have spent considerable amount of time and resources researching Manos and although this is off-topic from your question, I must point out that it was written, directed, produced and starred in by the same man. Hal P. Warren, a fertilizer salesman from El Paso Texas. You can find considerable material on that movie including that the camera had no sound function and couldn't hold more than 60 seconds worth of film which resulted in many cuts and bad editing and three people doing the voices. The film crew was not allowed to do anything artsy and soon dubbed the production "Mangos: Cans of Fruit." The unfortunate story of Torgo is that he was supposed to look like a Satyr but instead put the metal leg inserts in backwards (supposed to make his legs look like that of a goat's) and, as a result, had hilariously large knees. This caused him great pain and, whether he was addicted to pain killers or shamed from the movie I can't say, but he committed suicide shortly there after. Rest in peace, Torgo [imdb.com]. After I found out about that, I did feel a touch bad for him, considering his short life.
Too funny (Score:2)
Zippy TV show? (Score:4, Interesting)
Illegal video downloads (Score:3, Insightful)
Alternate question: What is it like to watch regular movies with those jokes going on inside your head?
Do you know that you trained people? (Score:2)
Turds and Treasures (Score:2, Interesting)
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I'm sure quite a few got a one-way trip to the trashcan while the tape was still warm.
Hassled by actors/directors? (Score:2, Interesting)
Live tours? (Score:2, Interesting)
Always liked you more than Mike.
Live action facsimiles of MST3K have been popping up (most notably, at least for Austin, Mr. Sinus Theater (which had to change its name)) lately, and with technology improving, have you considered doing a live action tour? Perhaps with a Jazz band opening act? or TMBG?
Do you regret leaving the show? (Score:2)
I remember reading an interview in which you said you felt uncomfortable in front of the camera, and that you left MST3k primarily for that reason. Do you
What about of MST3Ks of "fanfic" or Chick Tracts? (Score:2)
Some MST3k fans have given unofficial MST3k treatments of fan fiction, called MSTings [keithpalmer.ca], and even of a cheesy Jack Chick tract [humpin.org]. What do you think of those?
Could you make it today? (Score:5, Interesting)
I'm wondering (Score:2)
So Joel... (Score:3, Funny)
What's "Mystery Science Theater 3000"? (Score:2, Interesting)
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U-Matic tapes (Score:2)
Favorite Movie? (Score:2)
Regret any of the jokes? (Score:2)
Sandy Frank (Score:2)
The Bad Film Society (Score:2)
and how do you feel about them and similar off-shoots of your idea? I hope you feel you've made a cultural impact and you're not pissed at them. re your cultural impact, I'm in the UK, my US wife started me watching your stuff (on YouTube, but that another question) and I'm hooked. I need more! Its a really nice common thready of humour between our two cultures.
Merchandising? (Score:2)
What movies did you WANT to roast, but didn't? (Score:2)
I can think of a bunch that would have been killer... Last Year At Marienbad, Tarkovsky's Solaris (heck the remake was even more unwatchable...) the list is long. but what ones were "left on the table"?
RS
Soo... (Score:2)
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So, what year did you wire the cave, Calibanos?
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Your ignorance is not Slashdot's fault.
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I didn't think your generation was big enough to be on the net yet. Welcome!
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I have never heard of MST3k either. It must be a Yank thing.
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It was. That show and imports of the original UK version of "Who's Line Is It Anyway?" helped establish Comedy Central as a TV network in its early days. Basically, the show was a bunch of people making fun of really bad movies. It varied between being occasionally funny and nothing short of awesome. An awful lot of jokes from the show are a huge part of American geek culture.
I was just being trollish to the original poster who said "never hear
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I guess that appeals to some peoples sense of humour but I find it rather obnoxious and rude. I suppose it reminds me of the kind of people who actually do sit in movie theatres and talk loudly.
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Cause he'll stick a shiv in it!
Seriously people, I think he was trying to be funny..he wasn't, but he doesn't deserve flamebait.
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We kick the nipple beer.
Steady as a goat,
We're flying over trout.
Getto down the highway
At the speed of light.
All I want to feel now is
The wind in my eyes.
Sack of monkeys in my pocket,
My sister's ready to go.
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What, he was supposed to do the same thing forever? He wanted to go other places with his career.
He doesn't owe you crap.
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What, he was supposed to do the same thing forever? He wanted to go other places with his career.
He doesn't owe you crap.
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