Bring Back MST3K Kickstarter!

[livius drusus]

It worked for Veronica Mars and Reading Rainbow, so why not Mystery Science Theater 3000?

[The Lone Ranger]

Who would host, I wonder?

I liked Mike, but I actually preferred Joel's more laid-back style. Once the show got its footing, anyway -- the first season was kinda awkward and uneven, to say the least.

I also liked Joel's interaction with the 'Bots better, too. It was more of a parent/child type of interaction, whereas the 'Bots never truly respected Mike.


To me, at least, the best episodes were those with Joel, Dr. Forrester, and TV's Frank. I liked Joel's interaction with the Mads; again, even though the Mads were "Evil," they were genuinely entertaining and they were even somewhat sympathetic (Frank in particular, of course). And more to the point, the Mads seemed to have a certain degree of genuine respect for Joel that wasn't present in their interactions with Mike. Plus, I never cared for the Pearl/Bobo/Brain Guy interactions; they got old pretty quick.

Of course, that's just my opinion.



Anyway, MST3K has a huge built-in fan base, and it can be made on a shoestring budget. I'm actually kind of surprised it has taken this long for somebody to put forth a serious revival attempt.

[specious_reasons]

Originally Posted by The Lone Ranger

Anyway, MST3K has a huge built-in fan base, and it can be made on a shoestring budget. I'm actually kind of surprised it has taken this long for somebody to put forth a serious revival attempt.

I think the main reason is that Joel did Cinematic Titanic between the end of MST3K and now (actually CT ended over a year ago, and they were just having a DVD clearance sale something like a month ago).

I have a couple of DVDs, and we went to a show a few years back. It's good, but the MST3K show is somehow more fun.

[specious_reasons]

BTW, from the Kickstarter page:

The simplest answer is: until now, we couldn't bring MST3K back.

I've been thinking about ways to re-animate MST3K for over a decade... and over the last 15 years, I've met thousands of you who said that you wanted MST3K back too. But two things have finally changed that make this the right time. And I'm not talking about the legalization of marijuana or the proliferation of water jet pack use.

1. Crowdfunding gives fans the power to get what they want.

In less than two years, I've watched fans use crowdfunding to bring back Veronica Mars, Reading Rainbow and Super Troopers – all cult favorites, like us – and it made me wonder how MSTies would respond if we had the chance to return. Now we're going to find out… and then maybe LeVar Burton can finally stop acting like he’s so much better than us.

2. We had to work through some complicated legal issues.

Even though we've always wanted to bring MST3K back, it wasn't that easy. Thanks to the Last Will and Testament of one eccentric old heiress, the rights were tied up for years. It took time to work those issues out, but with the help of my friends at Shout Factory, a special chokehold I perfected in WuDang that I like to call “The Persuader,” and a night I had to spend in a haunted house as a term of the the old lady’s will, we succeeded.

OK, so I backed this. I need a new MST3K coffee mug.

[specious_reasons]

Being a long time Nerdist podcast listener, based on the voice (and the silhouette), the new host is probably Jonah Ray - he's definitely the human in the Kickstarter video.

[The Lone Ranger]

Okay, I wasn't a big fan Pearl Forrester, but this, this looks like good casting to me.

[livius drusus]

Telethon Friday night to reach the final $5.5 million goal. It starts at 5PM PST and ends at 10. Watch here.

[curses]

I watched a bit of the telethon (and a choice flick from a dvd set that Ymir gave us) and mr curses is now a convert. I also backed it because 1) awesome, new episodes! and 2) T-shirt!

This is the thing that did it, oddly enough, for my husband. He lost it at one point.

MST3K - Uncle Jim's Dairy Farm - YouTube

[BrotherMan]

Originally Posted by curses

mr curses is now a convert.

Now?

[livius drusus]

I watched some of the telethon last night and enjoyed its budget goofiness. I enjoyed watching the numbers rise even more. Finally tally was $6.3 million raised to fund 14 episodes. MST3k Becomes the Biggest Crowd-Funded Video Project in Internet History

[curses]

Originally Posted by BrotherMan

Now?

Yep. Now. He would walk in to see what I was laughing at, usually I was too far in for him to get the in jokes and such. I told him we were watching the live stream during dinner and he was ok with that. It really clicked during that Dairy Farm short. He gets it now.

Also take that, Reading Rainbow! (weren't they the highest funded before this?) Oh, nvm I should have read the article liv linked.

also "I personally was on-hand in Atlanta at a live event for the telethon with new host Jonah Ray, aka “Jonah Heston,” as he will be known on the show." I WAS NOT AWARE OF THIS OMG.

[Kyuss Apollo]

From Crowdfund Insider:

In the campaign’s recent update, [creator Joel Hodgson] shared:

“When the clock ran out, our final combined total was $6,364,229! That’s 114% of what we needed to make a full season, so now we’ll be making fourteen new hot-off-the-griddleMST3Ks! That’s really good news for anyone whose reward package included all of the new episodes as downloads ($85+) or in the boxed set ($200+). It’s also really good news for anyone who loves cheesy holiday movies… because, yes, one of those 14 episodes will also be a brand-new Holiday Special.”

[specious_reasons]

So, for backers of $85 and above, the season is available for streaming.... RIGHT NOW! ....and available for download when the Netflix version goes live on the 14th.

I watched the first 1/2 of episode 1101 during lunch and I'm cautiously pleased. It's not exactly the same, but pretty similar. A few LOL moments, and I can tolerate the new Crow and Tom Servo.

[curses]

I'm gonna bamp this thread so I can gloat about getting to go see the MST3K Live show this year. It was Jonah Ray, Rebecca Hanson, a few henchmen, Crow, Tom Servo, and Gypsy live on stage with recorded bits from Felicia Day and Patton Oswalt. It worked really well. It's not something that looks like it would translate to a live audience but there was enough breaking the fourth wall to make it really enjoyable. They riffed Eegah (Watch Out for Snakes was the name of the tour, though if you're feeling the need to look it up).

They said they were working on securing the rights and funds and such for a new season, so here's hoping! We've really enjoyed the rebooted one.

[BrotherMan]

I would have already binged right through all of the new ones but my roommate likes to watch them too so I haven't. He's definitely not a binger like I am. We've only seen a couple of the new ones. THANKS ALOT NETFLIX. And other television shows getting in the way. I'm mostly sort of jeally you got to see a live show.

[curses]

It was sheer luck. My friend couldn't go last minute so she gave them to us. Very nice of her and very appreciated.

[specious_reasons]

I liked the whole season - it had ups&downs, but the last 4 shows hit a creative stride and does really well overall.

My wife is really indifferent about Jonah, though. His riffing is fine, in the host segments, his character is unmotivated and bland, like Jonah doesn't know exactly who "Jonah Heston" should be and why he's doing what he does....

I agree about the lack of clear motivation, but I like Jonah Ray as a comic, so I'm more tolerant of his personality.

[curses]

I do agree with the assessment of Jonah. It feels like he's trying to get that Midwestern nice down but he doesn't understand quite what makes it work.