Mystery Science Theater Turns 20

RimmerExperience writes "Hard to believe that Mystery Science Theater 3000 is 20 years old. This NY Times article provides a brief synopsis from the humble but inspired beginnings in a Midwest TV studio, to the making of MST3K: The Movie, to what the creators are up to today. It's interesting that the original creators are still involved in MST3K-style riffing in some way. So if you are looking for your traditional Turkey Day fix, plug in your old VHS, tune into BitTorrent or check out their current projects — Riff Trax (Mike Nelson) or Cinematic Titanic (Joel & Trace). Keep circulating the tapes, er, MPEGs."

Comments

What do you want for Christmas?

[phrackwulf]

"I want to decide who lives and who dies!"

Commemorative Box Set

[eldavojohn]

Shout! Factory has come out with a Box Set to mark this occasion, with four new movies and a bunch of extras. I already ordered mine and am thoroughly enjoying Werewolf (1996) complete with Joe Estevez, Emilio's uncle and Martin Sheen's brother. Oh do they rail him for his B-Rated movies in that classic. That DVD alone is worth this box set!

Re:Commemorative Box Set

[iluvcapra]

True stories:

• Kieth Bilderbeck, the composer of Wereworlf (or Arizona Werewolf as it was called in production) is a friend of mine and is quite proud of his contribution.
• I have worked on a few shows with Steve Kempster, who, before becoming Trevor Rabin's recording engineer among other more notable credits, recorded the end credit song for Space Mutiny. I once asked him about it and he nearly demanded that I never mention it again.
• A few editors I worked with recently on High School Musical 3 had credits as assistants on Alien from LA. At the time they knew it was kindof goofy, but they really appreciated the director's vision and thought it was very Terry Gilliam-esque.

I love this town! It's easy to ridicule these films, and I love MST, but the really interesting stories are from how these films get made in the first place, and the fact that people often pour their hearts into the work, and they themselves may be very talented but other factors simply doom the thing.

Not to defend Golan-Globus of course. The last few Rhino box sets had interviews with actual cast and crew from some of the films on the DVD, and I really treasure these, as it gives me some perspective on my job. It's like a hacker reading about the Tech Model Railroad Club.

Sorry it's OT, just thought I'd share.

Re:died at 11

[Hatta]

MST3k didn't turn 20, it died at 11.

The Simpsons recently turned 20

Yeah, but it died at 8.