Mystery Science Theater 3000 is a TV series starring Joel Hodgson, Michael J. Nelson, and Trace Beaulieu. In the not-too-distant future Joel Robinson is held captive by Dr. Forrester and TV’s Frank, forced to watch B-Grade movies on…
Release Date: November 1988
10. The Painted Hills
Air Date: 26 Sep. 1993Season 6, Episode 10
Joel and the Bots learn from Body Care and Grooming (1947) that they might as well be dead if they don’t keep their socks tidy. Later, the guys take on The Painted Hills (1951) in which famous collie Lassie witnesses the murder of a prospector. Crow gives a detailed report on bearded guys and the crew discusses the end of the film.
9. The Giant Gila Monster
Air Date: 13 Jun. 1992Season 5, Episode 2
Joel and crew can’t settle on which of two film actors in a giant carnivorous lizard movie are more like TV actor Tige Andrews or comedian David Miller.
8. The Amazing Colossal Man
Air Date: 3 Aug. 1991Season 4, Episode 9
Crow and Tom build a cardboard fort while Joel introduces his idea for non-permanent tattoos during the invention exchange. In Bert I. Gordon’s The Amazing Colossal Man (1957), an army colonel becomes a giant after an atomic blast. Later, the crew gets a visit from the Colossal Man himself.
7. The Final Sacrifice
Air Date: 25 Jul. 1998Season 10, Episode 10
It’s “Canada Bashing Day” on the SOL in every respect between progressive world domination and bizarre looting.
6. Earth vs. the Spider
Air Date: 14 Sep. 1991Season 4, Episode 13
Joel and the Bots get tips on public speaking from the short “Speech: Using Your Voice” and watch a spider devour a town in Earth vs the Spider (1958). Crow forces the guy to read his screenplay “Earth vs. Soup” and Joel sets up a rehearsal for his rock band Spidorr.
5. Teenagers from Outer Space
Air Date: 27 Jun. 1992Season 5, Episode 4
Joel and the Bots discover the difference between real and “reel” life, how to dispose of snacks in space, a real ‘boss’ visitor, and how JFK can wreck a fashion show in this episode featuring the classic “Teenagers From Outer Space”.
4. The Killer Shrews
Air Date: 25 Jul. 1992Season 5, Episode 7
A small town cowpoke straightens out some rowdy kids by making them put on a rodeo show in Junior Rodeo Daredevils (1949). A group of drunken scientists battle with dogs dressed as rabid shrews in The Killer Shrews (1959). Joel and the Bots concoct a Killer Shrew drink and the Mads are thwarted in their latest attempt to destroy the world.
3. Space Mutiny
Air Date: 7 Nov. 1997Season 9, Episode 20
Mike and the ‘bots learn the 80s were worse than they thought as they endure the putrid sci-fi epic, Space Mutiny (1988).
2. I Accuse My Parents
Air Date: 4 Sep. 1993Season 6, Episode 7
Joel and the Bots hear all about new-fangled farming techniques in the 50s short The Truck Farmer (1954). Afterward, a one-time overachiever blames his boozy, neglectful parents for his run in with the law in I Accuse My Parents (1944). The guys analyze the main character from the movie and reenact a few choice scenes.
1. ‘Manos’ the Hands of Fate
Air Date: 30 Jan. 1993Season 5, Episode 24
The Mads present the satellite people a film so bad that apologies are sent, and Tom Servo goes off his nut from it.