If you’ve ever wondered what happens when an astronaut and his robotic sidekicks endure the absolute worst films ever produced, the answer is simple: pure comedic gold. For cinema cultists everywhere, Mystery Science Theater 3000 wasn’t just a TV show; it was a cultural touchstone. We are diving deep into the history of MST3K to see if you truly know your stuff.
The Midwest Origins of MST3K
Long before it became a national phenomenon, Mystery Science Theater 3000 found its footing in the Midwest. But which station gave the show its first broadcast?
The answer is KTMA-TV (now WUCW) in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Before spreading its wings to the Comedy Channel, Comedy Central, the Sci-Fi Channel, and eventually Netflix in 2017, the show was a local staple in Minnesota. The other options, KVFD-TV in Iowa and WISC-TV in Wisconsin, simply aren’t the correct origin story for this cult classic.
From Beeper to Servo
Robots evolve. It’s how they stay relevant. You might remember that the character we know as Tom Servo didn’t always look or sound the way he does in the main series. In the pilot episode, the nonverbal machine communicated solely with beeps.
That early version was named Beeper.
Some might guess “Squeaker” or “Little Beeper,” but the character evolved from Beeper into the witty, sarcastic robot we know today. Slammer? Not even close.
Defending the Turtle
Gamera is a Japanese monster with a specific design that makes him easy to spot on screen. When MST3K riffed on five different Gamera flicks in its early seasons, they drew the ire of the American distributor, Sandy Frank.
So, what exactly is Gamera? He is a giant turtle.
He is not a deadly mantis, nor a killer shrew. If you are looking for turtle soup, you might be out of luck, but if you want to see a giant turtle fighting other kaiju, Gamera is your guy. The riffing crew didn’t hold back when critiquing these films.
The Fertilizer Salesman Director
One of the most infamous movies in B-movie history is the 1966 horror flick Manos: The Hands of Fate. It’s beloved by MST3K fans for all the wrong reasons. The film was directed by Harold P. Warren, a man with no prior filmmaking experience.
Before he was directing horror, Warren worked as a salesman. What did he sell?
He sold fertilizer.
Not propane, not tractors. Fertilizer. This detail adds a layer of absurdity to the already bizarre story of Manos.
The Forklift Song
There are running gags in TV history, and then there are the ones that become part of the lexicon. Joel and the bots broke out into song after being threatened by a forklift. The song is set to the bombastic theme music from a 1978 film.
That film is Laserblast.
It wasn’t Fugitive Alien or Teenagers From Outer Space. The “forklift” song remains one of the most popular running gags in the series’ history, tied directly to the over-the-top nature of Laserblast.
MST3K: The Movie Runtime
Here is a trivia question that might trip you up. The 1996 film Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie parodies the 1955 sci-fi classic This Island Earth.
Is the MST3K movie shorter than the film it parodies?
True.
This Island Earth originally had an 87-minute runtime. MST3K: The Movie is just 73 minutes long. The runtime was trimmed to allow time for the host segments, proving that sometimes, less is indeed more.
The Name of the Fans
In the world of Glee, fans call themselves “Gleeks.” But what do die-hard Mystery Science Theater 3000 fans call themselves?
They are MSTies.
Not Crow-magnons (though that sounds fun), and definitely not Riffheads. One notable MSTie is former Minnesota Vikings running back Robert Smith, who guest-starred in the “Mole People” episode.
Clint Eastwood’s First Role
You might recognize the name Clint Eastwood from spaghetti westerns or modern directing. But did you know he made his film debut in a pulp sci-fi movie that MST3K later spoofed?
That movie is It Conquered the World.
It wasn’t The Black Scorpion or Revenge of the Creature. When Crow T. Robot saw Eastwood in Revenge of the Creature, he quipped, “This guy’s bad. This is his first and last movie.” The joke, of course, being that it was his first and last movie.
Pearl Forrester’s Relation
Dr. Clayton Forrester is the show’s original villain, a mad scientist with a distinct lack of social grace. But who is Pearl Forrester?
She is his mother.
Played by Mary Jo Pehl, Pearl made her first appearance in the season six episode “Bloodlust!” She later became the main antagonist of the series. She is not his niece, nor are they clones. The family dynamics in MST3K are as twisted as the plots of the movies they riff on.
Miles O’Keefe’s Reaction
Sometimes, the subjects of the riffing love it. Actor Miles O’Keefe personally contacted the MST3K team after they made fun of him in a classic episode.
Which episode featured him? Space Mutiny.
O’Keefe plays “Ator” in this Conan: The Barbarian knockoff. Report
