Season ran from 3/14/98 to 9/26/98: Flush off a pretty successful 22 episode season, things looked good to us fans, but it seems Sci-Fi’s love affair with the show would be a short lived one. While we did receive a couple of half hour specials, there would be no marathon and number 9 would only feature 13 experiments. Gasp! Still there were memories made, the best of the came with Beez McKeever as Stefi the sitter, that vunerful Whurwilf, Puma Man (our first superhero movie) and of course Zap Rowsdower was the best thing to happen to MST since Torgo.

In addition to that, year 9 saw Pearl, Bobo and Brain Guy move into Castle Forrester. The British Invasion (Projected Man, Deadly Bees, Gorgo), the coming of Rick Sloane (Hobgoblins) and Pearl riffing in the theater. As well as guest Leonard Malten.

MST in 1998
Mike and the gang riff on previews! "The Academy of Robots’ Choice Awards Special" airs on March 19th 1998 and the "2nd Annual Summer Blockbuster Review" airs Sept 4nd 1998

February - Mike and the bots riff on Playstation video game footage. Released on Playstation Underground, Vol. 2, #1.

What else was going on in 1998?
Dale Earnhardt wins the Daytona 500 on his 20th attempt.
Actor Charlton Heston becomes president of the National Rifle Association.
This is the year of the Monica Lewinsky/President Clinton scandal
Google is founded
Jesse Ventura, former professional wrestler, is elected Governor of Minnesota.
One of my all time favrote films, "Dark City", is released
Sea Hunt star Lloyd Bridges dies. He was the inspiration for the riff, "By this time my lungs were aching for air"

My Favorite Season 9 experiments (culled from my top 50+ list)
1. The Final Sacrifice (#6 overall)
2. Touch of Satan (#16)
3. Werewolf (#22)
4. Puma Man (#38)
5. Gorgo (#62 Hon mention)

Award Breakdowns
Best in Show: 3 total
Final Sacrifice, Touch of Satan, Werewolf
Platinum: 1 total
Puma Man
Gold: 1 total
Gorgo
Silver: 4 total
Hobgoblins, Phantom Planet, Space Children, Screaming Skull
Bronze: 3 total
Projected Man, Deadly Bees, Devil Fish
Tin Foil: 1 total
Delta Knights