#26: Mitchell
Season 5 * Host: Joel – Joel's final show is one of MSTs most heralded episodes. The humor zeroes in on Joe Don slobbishness, they are pretty relentless. They supplement these barbs with pop culture references as well.
Favorite Riff: "But I'm not a salesman, I'm the chubby blue line!" - Servo as Mitchell (the Mitchell theme is a riot too)
Favorite Skit: Not my favorites, I’ll go with the experiment (Daktari Stool)
#27: The Human Duplicators
Season 4 * Host: Joel – The humor is one note but that note is pitch perfect. They could do Richard Kiel voices while reading the phone book and I’d still howl with laughter. Also, the angry Beaumont material is a delight. As with Samson, I really enjoy watching the cheesy movie as it adds to my enjoyment,
Favorite Riff: “Suppose you tell me how a man whose been dead for several hours, can drive a car up a mountain road, get out and jump over a cliff?" - " He's Jesus?" - Hugh/Crow – Boy I sure love the Jesus riffs don’t I? This clever quip ranks as one of my all time favs.
Favorite Skit: All are a joy but if I have to pick one, Hugh Beaumont returns! Joel’s Beenie copter cracks me up as well. That deadpan delivery would do Buster Keaton proud.
#28: The Thing That Couldn't Die
Season 8 * Host: Mike – As with Werewolf, this is a movie that’s begging to be riffed. There is a plethora of colorful characters, each with their own distinct personality quirks, and an evil head looking for its body. It culminates with one of the lamest endings I’ve ever seen. Tom doing the "Jessica" song over and over in one scene was drop dead hilarious, I’ve always laughed when they do things like that (ala Star Force’s Rocky/again bit)
Favorite Riff: "Wouldn’t it be funny if she found Devine?"- Crow as Jessica is walking around with her divining rod (Mike responds with a quick "Uh, no"). This is just one of many great Jessica related riffs.
Favorite Skit: An observer observes the SOL crew
#29: Track of the Moonbeast
Season 10 * Host: Mike – Oh wow, moon rocks! The material sometimes goes blue, but it's still so funny. With characters like Johnny Longbone, er bow, you can't go wrong. There are a lot of 'adding to the dialog' style jokes here and it's all such a gas. I feel this was MST3Ks last great episode.
Favorite Riff: "I know what you're thinking." - "I'm boring and my slide show eats." - Longbow/Servo
Favorite Skit: The band who sang California Lady is wickedly on target. It really captures the spirit of those VH-1 documentaries.
#30: Beginning of the End
Season 5 * Host: Mike – Bert I Gordon’s giant bug flick is a lot of fun and the guys are in a silly mood, throwing out innuendo and adding a few witty references (Brian Eno) as well.
Favorite Riff: "I'm hiding from a lion, it's got these women scared stiff" – Servo. A funny line in context with the scene, it exemplifies the goofy nature of the material
Favorite Skit: The Peter Graves screenplay is memorable but I like the Mads being caught playing house
#31: War of the Colossal Beast
Season 3 * Host: Joel – Goofy jibes mark this experiment. There are a lot of cheap jokes, about poop or whatnot that are funny never the less. But if that doesn't appeal, they add spice by tossing in some literary, film and music references as well. This irreverent work-over surpasses the original on the funny-meter. Also includes the shock and terror of Mr. B Natural as a bonus.
Favorite Riff: "It's like really hard Sir, you try it" - Joel as Soldiers. This is spoken as soldiers try to keep Glen in check. The humor comes from Joel voice and delivery.
Favorite Skit: A weak bunch, they all run about the same 'fair' humor level.
#32: Horror of Party Beach
Season 8 * Host: Mike – Party Beach is a cheese-fest that opens itself up to ridicule quite nicely. Our merry jesters pepper the picture with pop culture references and are on top of every oddball situation, plot hole and colorful character - quipping each with smarts and silliness.
Favorite Riff: "What do you want to hear?" - "How about, Mmmm.." - "Bop!" - Del Aire/Elaine/Crow – I know it’s a simple ‘listen and respond’ style riff, but It never fails to make me laugh hard.
Favorite Skit: The skits are fair and have a few good laughs tossed in there. The ‘music of the Gods’ bit is cute but Mike's bathing suit dance is the best.
#33: Gamera vs. Guiron
Season 3 * Host: Joel – A delightfully absurd movie. Jokes directed at the characters offer the biggest laughs - from little sister; her traffic obsessed brother and of course, Corn Job. The Richard Burton quips and impressions are a kick, though I’ve heard they go over the head of younger fans (which is okay. I like that MST aims high and that not everyone will get everything. Keeps things fresh when watching these things years down the line).
Favorite Riff: "I'll show her, I'm gonna grow up to break up the Beatles!" - Crow as little girl. Sums up the fun character based humor.
Favorite Skit: Michael Feinstein stops by Deep 13 and sings the Gamera theme.
#34: The Starfighters
Season 6 * Host: Mike – The gray, repetitive, whole lotta nuthin’ movie must have been a challenge. That the MST gang were able to squeeze out any laughs, let alone make this as drop dead hilarious as they do, is a testament to their impressive comedic talents. The poopie suit scene had me doubled over with laughter.
Favorite Riff: "Did you know flying a plane is like making love." - Uh, you have to pay?" - Colonel Hunt/Crow
Favorite Skit: So many classic ones to chose from: The Servo chorus, the BBQ sauce bit and Crow surfing the information super highway! I’ll give the slight edge to the Bold BBQ sauce.
#35: Operation Double 007
Season 5 * Host: Joel – A fun bright flick, featuring cast members from the 007 franchise. The riffs follow suit, though Neil Connery takes a few shots, the material is generally light-hearted fun
Favorite Riff: I laugh like mad at their additions to the movies theme song,
Favorite Skit: I’ve always enjoyed it when they would imitate a scene from the movie and Joel acting like the villain never fails to cheer me up.
#36: This Island Earth
Movie * Host: Mike – Riffing for the masses. While there are esoteric quips, and they throw out the word 'hit-hole' this is generally a newbie friendly experiment. The wisecracks go down smooth and easy and the movie isn’t a chore to sit through.
Favorite Riff: "Until we find out what happened, all three of us are blind." - "I'll go poke Webb's eyes out." - Cal/Crow as Joe
Favorite Skit: Dr. Forester spanking himself with a clipboard is pretty funny.
#37: Deathstalker
Season 7 * Host: Mike – The humor takes on a darker tone as the gang sneer at the smug hero and the overacting villain and smack ‘em silly. The potato people add a quirky element to the festivities. This would make a nice double header with “Cave Dwellers”
Favorite Riff: "Quick! Jam a potato in the wound!" - Servo
Favorite Skit: Mike visits Tom and Crow’s Ren-Fest.
#38: Puma Man
Season 9 * Host: Mike – Though I felt the laughs slowed down at the end, it’s got a killer first half and the goofy superhero costume, manner of flight, Donald Pleasence and an Aztec mentor/Priest keep things interesting.
Favorite Riff: "You know, I have almost no respect for pumas now. I now know that if I ever run into a puma I can just push it the hell over." - Crow
Favorite Skit: Mike’s dry-look haircut.
#39: The Violent Years
Season 6 * Host: Mike – Girl gang flick was penned by Ed wood and aside from that long-winded Judge it was a kick to watch. Perceptive bon mots and cute additions to the dialog are the episodes strengths. It also features a pretty funny short about a squishy girl (Young Man’s Fancy).
Favorite Riff: "Dr. Forrester has sent us a TRULY great movie" – Crow. This is one of many funny quips spoken during the scenes where the gals take a guy out in the woods and have their way with him.
Favorite Skit: The theme songs. I howl at Tom's dramatic number - that is soooo Servo.
#40: Sword and the Dragon
Season 6 * Host: Mike – Another Russian gem, the opening sequences are about as funny as anything done on the show. While the funny does take a dip in the middle sections, the episode finishes up strong and the movie is a trip. Ilya Muromets is my hero!
Favorite Riff: Crow’s line about Ilya's body consisting only of a torso always cracks me up.
Favorite Skit: The Bergman sketch is spot on, while the Mads on a date offer many laughs and an insight into what geeks these 2 were. lol
#41: Village of the Giants
Season 5 * Host: Mike – Nice mixture of riffs, from the intellegent to the naughty as well as several cute references. Nice music too on this, our final Bert I. Gordon flick.
Favorite Riff: "What sins could a duck commit in a single lifetime?" - Crow as a Giant Duck. What a classic callback to another wonderful Bert I flick, the Amazing Colossal Man
Favorite Skit: Frank is fired and replaced by Torgo. These are all enjoyable.
#42: Time Chasers
Season 8 * Host: Mike – Sarcasm is used with impunity on Chasers - a low budget time travel flick that earns laughs from skydiving grandma's, women's wear and pointy chins. This is one of those ‘mood’ episodes. Unlike a Santa or Yucca Flats, which are always killer no matter where or when I watch it, I have to be in the right state of mind for TC. When I am, it strikes my funny bone hard and that's why I've kept its grade high.
Favorite Riff: "So in the future kids become gay agents?" – Crow. This snarky quip always earns a laugh and is the kind of smart aleck-style humor you can expect to hear on this experiment.
Favorite Skit: These are pretty good, Crow goes to Mike’s past and surly brother Eddie ends up on the SOL.
#43: 12 to the Moon
Season 5 * Host: Mike – There are a few dead zone, but once they land on the moon, the comedy is out of this world. Both brainy and cheeky. The invisible face shields, kitties and “Me-ite!” are a few of the highlights.
Favorite Riff: "Now I'm activating my wings and I'll fly" – Crow's response to the absurd invisible face shield.
Favorite Skit: The Neuvena bits are a hoot.
#44: Devil Doll
Season 8 * Host: Mike – Originally I was a bit overwhelmed by the sheer ugliness of this movie (Vorelli's a real sleazball). But there are some great lines -Aunt Bea Airlines, a reference to C.S. Lewis' 'Screwtape' and lots of swipes at the British- and the first time we see Vorelli's act, I was out of breath from laughing so hard.
Favorite Riff: "You'll never win, you'll always lose" - "You're Harold Stassen" - Vorelli/Crow. This is the kind of smart reference I’ve always looked forward to and loved from this show (Stassen ran for President 9 times, and never even garnered the Republican nomination)
Favorite Skit: Crow is an evil ventriloquist and Mike is his dummy
#45: Space Mutiny
Season 8 * Host: Mike – Though many fans rank this higher, for some reason it doesn’t resonate as sharply with me. It is funny though - mirroring riffs from “12 to the Moon” and taking swipes at the broad characters. The movie so ridiculous you can’t help but laugh at it apart from the riffing.
Favorite Riff: Anything that taps into the idiocy, such as… "I think it's very nice of you to give that dead woman another chance." - Crow as 'Sting'
Favorite Skit: Mike tripping over safety railings makes me laugh. I’m often entertained by those gags where they repeat a word or an act, and it interrupts and/or irritates another character.
#46: Teen-Age Strangler
Season 5 * Host: Mike – The episode opens with a stellar short (Is This Love?), which gets the ball rolling nicely what with its Romulan woman and uproarious end credits ("Know your ointments"). The grade Z feature has some charm and is buoyed by the character of Mikey, every time he was on screen the quality of the riffing spiked. Another high spot was the song "Yipe Stripes".
Favorite Riff: Anything concerning Mikey, the guy was such an easy target. I think Crow's simple "What are you?" -when Betty finds the geeky kid standing in her house- delivered the biggest laugh.
Favorite Skit: This was a good bunch, with the Frank-N-Forcer and Mike's spot on impression of Mikey as standouts.
#47: Zombie Nightmare
Season 6 * Host: Mike – A more modern film and not one I’d normally take to, but the humor is solid and its got Adam West in it!
Favorite Riff: “He (Thor) just did everything in this film... he's just like a Michael Landon" - "Oh so you mean he's a bed wetter?" - Servo/Crow
Favorite Skit: The Voodoo bit with the Mads and M&TBs getting even is childish and silly but boy does it makes me laugh like a goon
#48: Terror From the Year 5000
Season 8 * Host: Mike – M&TB create a lot of fun out of making fun of the cast. I really enjoyed the opening bits with our hero -the sharp haired Sgt. Carter look a like- and his dim bulb secretary with her "restrained rage" issues. The riffing that accompanied those two had me rolling in the aisles. The rest of the episode is a hoot as well (what with that perverted 'Jimmy Carter' handyman to toy with)
Favorite Riff: "Brought to you by the Onan Family Foundation" – Crow. I've always liked the way these guys would turn a phrase. They even manage to elevate a common masturbation joke
Favorite Skit: Crow goes back in time and dates one of Mike's old girlfriends.
#49: The Sinister Urge
Season 6 * Host: Mike – Ed Wood's look at the smut industry is one of those that inspire great character driven riffs. The subject matter also provides much amusement. Includes a good short, “Keeping Clean and Neat”.
Favorite Riff: "Do you have a daughter Mr. Romaine?" - "Would she be interested in the smut picture racket?" - Carson/Crow. Ahh Trace’s sweet delivery makes it all the better.
Favorite Skit: Boy, can’t say I have one for this episode. They weren’t among my favorites.
#50: Ring of Terror
Season 2 * Host: Joel – The jokes primarily circle around one major topic, the age of the students. Despite the heavy reliance on this target, these jokes are fresh and funny start to finish. This -with Wild Rebels- is my favorite episode from season 2. I love Joel's smooth easy delivery. And the chemistry between he, Crow and Servo is tight as a drum. 'Course there are other kinds of jokes (I dig the ones about "They"). The "Phantom Creeps" short is shown at the end.
Favorite Riff: "You taste just like They!" - Joel as Betty. This classic running gag is especially funny here.
Favorite Skit: So many goodies to chose from – Frank’s Chauffeur song is a jewel, but I'll give the edge to Mr. Hoover’s autopsy. Both of these skits have fun with the short/movie shown.
Honorable Mentions: Sadly, these episodes were squeezed out but are among my favorites and were in the running ‘till the end:
51 The Amazing Colossal Man * 52 Wild Rebels * 53 Master Ninja II * 54 Godzilla Vs. the Sea Monster * 55 The Rebel Set * 56 Bride of the Monster * 57 Day the Earth Froze * 58 Gamera * 59 Project Moonbase * 60 Daddy-O (Alphabet Antics) * 61 Teen Age Crime Wave * 62 Gorgo * 63 San Francisco International * 64 Gunslinger * 65 Soultaker * 66 Hercules * 67 Escape 2000 * 68 Skydivers * 69 Magic Sword * 70 Parts: The Clonus Horror
A listing of the Top 100 +
Many of these images came courtesy of the MST3K Picture Archive
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