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The MST3K Crew Reunites For Live Webcast

Posted by timothy on from the no-one-has-detonated-a-nuclear-bomb-tonight dept.

csn writes "On Wednesday, January 28th at 6:00 PM PST and 9:00 PM EST, the stars of the cult television hit 'Mystery Science Theater 3000' will reunite to do what they do best — heckle bad movies. Join Mike Nelson, Kevin 'Tom Servo' Murphy and Bill 'Crow T. Robot' Corbett as they make fun of the 1950 short film, 'Overcoming Fear,' live over the internet.

46 of 60 comments (clear)

  1. Wonderful! by solder_fox · · Score: 4, Insightful

    They always pick movies that are enhanced by their commentary, and yet which contain their own wonderful comic moments. The deadpan acting of a man who talks about what happened "while I was... green," for example.

    --
    --- Thousands are enslaved every day.
    1. Re:Wonderful! by Thrull · · Score: 1

      "The dog's meat, have you seen it?"

      -The Deadly Bees

    2. Re:Wonderful! by Timberwolf0122 · · Score: 1

      I love riff trax and the live even is going to rule.
      Big McLarge Huge
      Slag Bulkhead
      Slab Buttcrunch
      Bob Johnson... oh wait..

      --
      In the not too distant future, next Sunday A.D.
  2. Rifftrax Live by MrEricSir · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Anyone know if they're planning anymore live shows? I saw them in North Beach once, was a real blast.

    (Oh and Mike is really, really tall in real life.)

    --
    There's no -1 for "I don't get it."
  3. Not really a "reunion" by rizzo5 · · Score: 5, Informative

    This is just a production by Rifftrax, which has been doing this for a while now. The other half of the crew are doing a similar thing called Cinema Titanic I believe. From the headline, I thought both groups had reconciled and were doing something together.

    1. Re:Not really a "reunion" by Joe+Tie. · · Score: 1

      Yep, it's a cool thing. But nowhere near what I read it as, which was both Joel and Mike doing a movie together.

      --
      Everything will be taken away from you.
    2. Re:Not really a "reunion" by Hawthorne01 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Yeah, I am still pretty neutral on the Joel v. Mike debate because to me, the heart of the series was always Trace.

      --
      "Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."
    3. Re:Not really a "reunion" by LostCluster · · Score: 1

      Just wondering... who wound up with the Mystery Science Theater 3000 brand name and right to produce new episodes. Since the cast and crew seem willing, it'd make for an excellent podcast.

    4. Re:Not really a "reunion" by aredubya74 · · Score: 5, Informative

      Jim Mallon of Best Brains (the producer of the show from day 1) owns the trademark. Some schism between the camps of Rifftrax (Mike/Kevin/Bill) and Cinematic Titanic (Joel/Trace et al.) has yet to be explained, but it likely precludes any further collective work between the bunch of funny folks.

      --

      RW

    5. Re:Not really a "reunion" by WhatAmIDoingHere · · Score: 2, Insightful

      THe heart of the series was always the head writer. (AKA Mike)

      --
      Not a Twitter sockpuppet... but I wish I was.
    6. Re:Not really a "reunion" by BoberFett · · Score: 1

      Maybe so, but Joel's delivery was 10x what Mike did on screen.

    7. Re:Not really a "reunion" by nomadic · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Nah, Mike had the best delivery. Most fans seemed to prefer Joel because that's what they were used to, but I thought Mike was much funnier.

    8. Re:Not really a "reunion" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      I gathered that the schism was only (this is one-sided of course) that Jim was an ass to everyone. Joel and Mike never had issues with each other, they just drifted apart naturally the way friends do. Some people went to L.A., Mike to San Diego, the rest stayed in Minnesota. Frank traveled all over the place for awhile.

      Even after MST, Mike and Kevin's endeavor "The Film Crew" was delayed because Jim sent out signals that he might sue them for some sort of infringement, since he "invented" making-fun-of-movies and all....

      The only person still working with Jim, a couple years ago anyway, was writer Paul Chaplin. They were making amazingly awful flash animation "episodes" of the robots playing around. It was hideous.

      The only credit I give Jim is for not suing the fans for pirating tapes, which is not to say that he wouldn't if he could.

    9. Re:Not really a "reunion" by elrous0 · · Score: 1

      It's sad that after all these years, these two groups still seem to harbor grudges. It's even more tragic because they all worked together for years before Joel left. You would think a bunch of middle-aged guys would have left this silly shit behind a long time ago.

      --
      SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
    10. Re:Not really a "reunion" by elrous0 · · Score: 1

      It's a shame he's wasting such a cash cow on some old petty grudges. Even if MST3K couldn't get back on a network (and, considering the sheer number of networks now doing original programming, it seems like SOMEONE would pick it up), it would still clean up on DVD and the internet. Looking at Mallon's resume, it doesn't look like he's done anything in years.

      --
      SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
    11. Re:Not really a "reunion" by Hatta · · Score: 1

      So that just means we have 2 groups of talented funny people working on this kind of material instead of just one. That doesn't seem so bad to me.

      --
      Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
    12. Re:Not really a "reunion" by illegalcortex · · Score: 1

      Ditto. Having started out with the Mike episodes, I never found the Joel episodes nearly as funny. This doesn't mean Mike was better, as I might just prefer Joel because that's what I was used to.

    13. Re:Not really a "reunion" by Gizzmonic · · Score: 1

      The AC pretty much has it covered, but I also think that Mike Nelson and Kevin Murphy (directed many episodes and the most recognizable Servo voice) had Rifftrax in full swing before the Cinematic Titanic thing was underway. I'm guessing Mike and Kevin declined the offer to work with CT as they already had a cash cow.

      They're both very good, but Cinematic Titanic is more "classic" MST3k style and Rifftrax is newer and edgier. The downside is that Rifftrax is more of a pain to setup for movies that they don't have the rights to (most of them). also, they inexplicably do good movies like the original Star Wars, I don't understand the point of that.

      --
      (-1, Raw and Uncut is the only way to read)
    14. Re:Not really a "reunion" by Gizzmonic · · Score: 1

      True, but they're distracting. I guess if you've already seen the movie ten thousand times (like Star Wars) you wouldn't care, but I'd rather not hear them.

      --
      (-1, Raw and Uncut is the only way to read)
    15. Re:Not really a "reunion" by derfy · · Score: 1

      Mike was the perfect straight man to the bots.

      And he sometimes got a word in edgewise, as well.

  4. For sale... by kckman · · Score: 1

    went straight to cash. That was a mild disappointment.

  5. _Some_ of "the stars" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    I love the Rifftrax guys, but to call them "the stars" does a disservice to the many other major MST3K cast members (most of whom are now in the competing project Cinematic Titanic, including MST's founder Joel Hodgson. I'm just sayin'.

    1. Re:_Some_ of "the stars" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Mike Nelson was one of the writers for most of mst3k's existence. Given he was involved longer than Joel I'd say he is one of "the stars", just not the one you personally experienced first.

    2. Re:_Some_ of "the stars" by Count+Fenring · · Score: 2

      Operative phrase being "one of the stars." "The stars" seems to connote all of them, or at the very least, one entire group of actors.

      Also, it's a misleading article title, because both the Rifftrax group and the Cinematic Titanic group HAVE BEEN DOING THIS. Unless it's some sort of collaboration between them, this isn't really news.

  6. It's just a show, I should really just relax by MisterMikeyG · · Score: 5, Funny

    The date is misrepresented. It should read 'in the not too distant future - next Wednesday, A.D.'

  7. Just a reminder by djupedal · · Score: 3, Informative

    http://66.226.220.1579290stream.nsv/

    Don't forget to check out the Shoutcast TV MST3000 online media feeds available via WinAmp, VLC etc.

    1. Re:Just a reminder by beckerist · · Score: 1

      http://66.226.220.157:9290/stream.nsv

      Next time GP, how about YOU try? (That took me a whole....3 seconds to find. Thank you TP!)

    2. Re:Just a reminder by eno2001 · · Score: 1

      Crow T. Robot Sez: I'll tell you where you can insert a colon...

      --
      -"...bad old ideas look confusingly fresh when they are packaged as technology" - Jaron Lanier (Digital Maoism on Edge.o
  8. Re:Joel Hodgson, or it didn't happen by Aranykai · · Score: 1

    Sorry, cant talk now... Mike is tripping.

    --
    If sharing a song makes you a pirate, what do I have to share to be a ninja?
  9. I do prefer Joel, but... by Valdrax · · Score: 1

    As long as there's no Pearl, it's still all right. And no Bobo. You could no longer even see the shark the show had jumped over over the horizon by that point.

    --
    If it's for-profit but free, you're not the customer -- you're the product (e.g., the Slashdot Beta's "audience").
    1. Re:I do prefer Joel, but... by Cowmonaut · · Score: 1

      To each his own I suppose. I prefered the episodes with Pearl, Brain Guy, Bobo, and Mike. The weird mad scientist guy annoyed the crap out of me. The filler (eg when they weren't just making fun of the movies) was more entertaining for me with Mike/Pearl than Joel and stuff. Just, never laughed really at anything that happened then when it was joel and the scientist.

      I liked more of the movies too, and the jokes they made about them.

      But as I said, to each their own.

  10. Slashvertisement by argStyopa · · Score: 1

    C'mon, this is nothing more than an ad for Rifftrax online broadcast.

    1) it's nothing special. Rifftrax has been going for a while.
    2) It's not "the original stars", which would be the bulk of the original cast - it's about half of them.

    Weak.

    --
    -Styopa
    1. Re:Slashvertisement by elrous0 · · Score: 3, Informative

      Joel and the older cast are doing something similar over at Cinematic Titanic.

      --
      SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
  11. I'm pleased they're all still riffing by jollyreaper · · Score: 1

    www.rifftrax.com is the home of Mike, Kevin (Tom Servo), and the false Crow. I'd neglected to try them out for years because I didn't have the original movies on DVD, wasn't about to pay for them, and synchronizing the tracks seemed like too much bother. But there's good news! Not only are they available on the torrent sites pre-syched and convenient for use, there's also a tip jar on their site so you can help keep the doors open.

    I think that the ultimate MST3K reunion would involve everyone, including Joel, coming back and setting up the bluescreen so they can get the theater seats on the bottom of the screen once more.

    --
    Kwisatz Haderach
    Sell the spice to CHOAM
    This Mahdi took Shaddam's Throne
    1. Re:I'm pleased they're all still riffing by Dripdry · · Score: 1

      They also have a rpgoram which syncs up the DVDs and tracks automatically. Otherwise, I wouldn't be buying Rifftrax.

      --
      -
    2. Re:I'm pleased they're all still riffing by Tetsujin · · Score: 1

      www.rifftrax.com is the home of Mike, Kevin (Tom Servo), and the false Crow.

      Josh is the true Mighty Voice of Tom Servo! :D

      Slashdot says the body of my message is missing - so I've provided a second one. Here it is:

      Josh is the true Mighty Voice of Tom Servo! :D

      --
      Bow-ties are cool.
    3. Re:I'm pleased they're all still riffing by jollyreaper · · Score: 1

      Here in my car -- I make analogies
      It is handy because -- you can relate to them
      In cars...

      And here I thought my sig was a reach. :)

      --
      Kwisatz Haderach
      Sell the spice to CHOAM
      This Mahdi took Shaddam's Throne
    4. Re:I'm pleased they're all still riffing by Tetsujin · · Score: 1

      Here in my car -- I make analogies
      It is handy because -- you can relate to them
      In cars...

      And here I thought my sig was a reach. :)

      Have you ever watched the video for "Cars"? Gary Numan's all rocking out on the Tambourine like he means it. Great stuff. It was truly a different era. :D

      Took me a minute (plus some Google searching) to get yours... Not well versed on Dune, I'm afraid...

      --
      Bow-ties are cool.
  12. Missing the point by Outsdr · · Score: 2, Insightful

    The news isn't that they're doing these riffs, the news is that the are now doing them live via streaming at the site, and then a short live question and answer afterwards. They did one already, and it went well. They released the studio version of the riff, but I haven't seen it to see how different it was from the live version.

  13. Props for/by Joel by Tetsujin · · Score: 1

    Joel gets the props for creating the show, but Mike's wise-ass delivery was always funnier.

    Wait wait... I thought Joel got the show for creating the props? Have I had it backwards this whole time?

    --
    Bow-ties are cool.
  14. Anything that Keeps MST3K in the News by Apple+Acolyte · · Score: 1

    . . . is fine with me, even if the headline was substantially inaccurate. Be sure to check out the full MST3K 135GB torrent!

    --
    Part of the hardcore faithful who believed in Apple long before it was cool again to do so
  15. ...Candy-gram... by Tetsujin · · Score: 1

    They also have a rpgoram which syncs up the DVDs and tracks automatically.

    Ah, yes... Some nerd shows up at your door wearing a cape, says "Mellon!" as he comes in, and then gives you your damn message in some weird script written out on graph paper, and makes you roll 1D20 to see if you can "decode" it - RPG-o-grams were kind of fun but really not an effective or reliable way of getting a message to somebody...

    --
    Bow-ties are cool.
  16. Cinematic Titanic hits the road in Feb/Mar!! by ZipK · · Score: 4, Informative

    Anyone know if they're planning anymore live shows?

    Joel, Trace, Frank, Mary Jo and J. Elvis hit the road in February and March: http://cinematictitanic.com/wpmu/121/

  17. Re:Yawn... by Gizzmonic · · Score: 1

    Check Cinematic Titanic for Joel's similar venture.

    By the way, Mike "showed up" in the first season as head writer and transformed MST3k from 3 guys riffing the movie on the fly to the hilarious show you enjoy today.

    --
    (-1, Raw and Uncut is the only way to read)
  18. Re:Joel Hodgson, or it didn't happen by derfy · · Score: 1

    I promise I will never send another bad movie with Joe Don Baker in which a dark haired sheriff in a small role gets shot and slides down a wall twice! OK? Happy?!

    You win!

    Oh look, Mike's tripping...

  19. Swamped with Requests by SpaceToast · · Score: 1

    Looks like they've been Slashdotted. Couldn't connect at 5:50 PST, and can't do it now, four hours later.

    I certainly hope this server-crushing interest translates into sales. I laughed my cheeks off to the Phantom Menace RT. Who else sells something that makes your existing movie collection better, you know?