Mystery Science Theater 3000

Each program consisted of a schlocky B-movie, with running commentary from the audience, shown as silhouettes in the bottom right hand corner of the screen. The audience were a human astronaut (Joel Hodgson[?] from 1988 through 1993, and Mike Nelson[?] through the series' end) and two wisecracking robots, "Crow T. Robot" and "Tom Servo", shot into space by a mad scientist, Dr. Forrester (Trace Beaulieu), to test their responses to the worst movies ever made. Among the horrid films deconstructed on the series included Santa Claus Conquers the Martians, Manos: The Hands of Fate, five Japanese Gamera monster movies, and the Ed Wood film Bride of the Monster.

The movie commentary (depicted as the characters' defense against being driven mad by the movies they were forced to watch) ranged from bad puns to incessant references to highbrow and lowbrow culture. Occasionally Joel (or Mike) and the robots would be shown acting in skits or singing original songs related to that episode's movie. Most of the early episodes also included screenings of unintentinally hilarious short films, such as a training film for Chevrolet sales managers, or films intended to teach children about posture or personal cleanliness.

The show's run coincided with the growth of the Internet, and numerous websites were devoted to the series. Fans also sent one another tapes of back episodes. Several Star Trek-esque fan conventions were held. Celebrity fans included Time film critic Richard Corliss and ESPN anchor Keith Olbermann.

After KTMA was forced to cancel MST3K due to financial difficulties, the show began its run on the cable channel Comedy Central. When the series was cancelled, the show's Internet fan base staged a precedent-setting write-in campaign for the show to continue. The show was picked up by the Sci-Fi Channel[?], where it resumed with most of the original cast. Instead of being menaced by Dr. Clayton Forrester, Mike and the 'bots were threatened by Dr. Forrester's mother, Pearl. Many fans of the show felt that it had decreased in quality somewhat by the time it was cancelled by Comedy Central, but that it improved at Sci-Fi until the last (10th) season, when the series finally came to an end.

A feature motion picture, in which Mike and the 'bots worked over This Island Earth[?], was released in 1996.

Usenet Newsgroup: rec.arts.tv.mst3k.misc

External Links

• Listing of all MST3K movies (http://www.geocities.com/TelevisionCity/4619/alph)
• History of channel 23 (http://www.nebraskaradio.com/history.htm)