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

Creator:

Joel Hodgson

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 / ... (182 episodes, 1988-1999)
Jim Mallon	...	Gypsy / ... (143 episodes, 1989-1998)
Trace Beaulieu	...	Crow T. Robot / ... (139 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 / ... (99 episodes, 1988-1999)

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:

The invention exchange that took place at the beginning of each episode was ended shortly after Joel Hodgeson left the show. The tradition continued after Mike arrived but only for a few episodes, seeing as how Joel was always the one who came up with the inventions.

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:

Mike Nelson: You know guys, the whole situation, being stuck up here in space, forced to watched cheesy movies, interacting with other life forms... it kinda bites.
Crow T. Robot: You're starting to catch on, Kimosabe.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The 40 Year Old Virgin (2005)

Soundtrack:

Where, O, Werewolf

A consistently great show

A lot of the movies on which I've commented on this website I've seen as episodes of "Mystery Science Theater 3000." However, I find it difficult to write about this show as a whole - not because I can't think of anything to say, but because there is so much to say that I don't know where to begin or end.

I guess I'll start by saying I approached this show prepared to be unimpressed. A show about a janitor and two robots goofing on bad movies in space? That's about the dumbest idea for a TV show I've ever heard! And in lesser hands this could have been an idiotic show, not worth bothering with. But in the hands of the troupe of writers and performers who call themselves Best Brains it is a show of rare intelligence and wit. The writing is first rate and the performances (especially in the host segments, in which skits are performed which are more or less inspired by the movie) are sharp and enthusiastic. So good was the writing that show was able to remain fresh and entertaining despite several major cast changes (by the time the series ended after ten seasons none of the original cast members remained).

Best of all, this show helped broaden my appreciation for cheesy movies. I've always loved horror and sci-fi movies (horror especially), and some of the movies shown here were familiar, but there were others I would never have seen were it not for this show. Some laughably bad, others cheesy and surreal, others pretty darned interesting. (Still others were just plain bad.)

In short, this was one of the best shows ever shown on television.