Posted on 04/15/2017 5:44:36 AM PDT by Morgana
Fans don’t like to let their favorites go, but now they don’t have to. We live in a world desperate to remake, reboot, and flat-out return to beloved franchises, hunting the closest thing to a sure audience there is. But the more beloved these continuations are, they harder they are to get right. Fans want them to somehow be exactly the same while still being fresh and new, an impossible request—except, it turns out, for the return of Mystery Science Theater 3000.
The show returns today on Netflix with its 11th season, 18 years after season 10 ended in 1999. There’s an all-new cast, but it’s still the same show you remember—where two mad scientists force an affable guy and his two robot pals to watch bad, cheesy, and sometimes truly wretched movies, and they make fun of it. It’s a concept that is truly timeless, which may be the primary reason that the new MST3K feels like it’s effortlessly picked back up right where it left off. But what’s new—the cast, the sets, the mad scientists’ house band(!)—these things too feel authentically Mystery Science Theater, to the point where I have a hard time imagining even the most trepidatious fan being disappointed with the show’s return.
(Excerpt) Read more at io9.gizmodo.com ...
Sail on Servo, I like a robot with panache!
Here are my three favorites!
SRPING FEVER(NO SPRINGS!! HA! HA! HA!)
I’ve seen to episode 5 and it’s very good. Very fast paced riffing, funny original content, and the movies are horrible. A lot of cameos and the invention exchange is back. Worth it completely, and this is from a Joel era stickler.
I have at 10 of these shows.
They are hilarious. The Crawling Eye has to be one of the best.
The brilliance of the older MST3K episodes was the mix of academic, culture, and historical references. I just don't see that with "gamer" culture, hopefully they are moving away from gaming and bathroom humor. The original low-budget campy props, and obscure references (Saint Larry Czonka) seem at odds with new digital culture.
Former writer for John Stewart is involved. Can Jonah recreate the chemistry with Mike, Bill, and Kevin? That's a tough one. Feels too commericalish this time around with "celebrities" from outside MN/mid-west, popular TV show writers.
Honestly not feeling it, but I reserve judgement on the reboot. I wish them the best.
Many of everyone was happy, working and life was getting materially better by the month.
Our technology was advancing nicely and we were on target for robotics and cars and cel phones and a ton of stuff that made OUR lives so much better and easier.
We were falling in love and doo wop rock n roll helped us kids through a LOT of teenage angst ... we weren't alone and life was fun.
Then someone decided we needed turmoil and it hasn't stopped.
Until another someone(s?) decided it IS time to stop and take back control of our lives.
I think THAT is the point we are at now and the election of President Trump is a referendum on just that ..... WE LIKED IT BACK THERE AND WE WANT TO GO BACK !
So ... let's attempt to stop warring, rid ourselves of evil agitators, eliminate government indoctrination (public schools) and get on about rearing our families in the fear and admonition of the LORD.
At midnight tonight, the TV USED TO sign off after the Anthem and a prayer with, "Tomorrow is Sunday, everyone should go to church .... the family that prays together, stays together"
The indoctrination and teachings we received back then were not for evil but for good.
Not for progress but for strengthening the present.
(Oh yeah ... and MST was a great spoof on our Saturday morning movie going experiences, where we had ridden our bikes down to the Rialto, parked and locked 'em with chain locks, paid our quarter and in a sense "read a book" for two or three hours.
We spent the rest of our day with friends just playin' and goofin' around.)
I'm 69 and I have a hard time dreaming about the future.
I don't know if it's because I LIKE meditating on the past or perhaps, there's not much adventure in the future, unlike MY childhood.
I could dream of space travel and even dare to think I could become president.
I don't think many kids today dream (much about anything) space travel ... it has already been accomplished and it became a bucket list cross off.
No ... kids don't dream today ... they took that away with computer graphics and modern electronics where pretty much nothing you see can be trusted because it can be manipulated
OK ... it's time for THIS ol' fart to get into the garden.
I agree. I think it is just a cash grab.
Also, even though Joel was funny Mike Nelson was way better. And he is not particpating in this “reboot”, “relaunch” or whatever they call it.
I wish I was younger so I could fight more effectively for America's future.
Lose Patton Oswalt and I’m on the bandwagon. Otherwise, the original run rerun is worth the repeat.
I have NEVER seen a re-make of anything, probably because I HAVE seen a couple of second and third chapters (of whatever) and nothing can add to or entertain me as much as the original.
Planet of the Apes ENDS with Heston and his girl going off to have babies and start all over again and we don't need to be part of that trek ... it's already recorded in the Bible.
Have you seen Ben-Hur with Heston?
"You once asked how do you fight an idea .... I will show you ... with another idea"
One of the greatest lines ever written into a script.
ANYone that's following news and politics today is VERY aware of misdirection ... which is just another idea.
Huge fan here, and pretty much agree with your assessment. Think I have all of the previously televised eps, including the KTMA versions. Went to both ConventioCon Expo-Fest-a-Ramas. Even ran a very early website that won a (minor) early web award.
Watched the first new program last night and was generally impressed and amused. I won't address specifics about the cast or sets, just comment on the content. I have thoughts on these issues, but don't want to get into long discussions or arguments here...
The movie - Reptilicus - was very enjoyably bad! I think the riffing was quite well-done. Surprised that they seem to keep in mind that a lot of their fans are OLDER folks like me. There was one line -- can't remember it, BECAUSE I'm old -- that nobody under 55 could possibly get! Glad they're not dumbing it down to cater to younger viewers. Keep the humor broad!
I won't be binge-watching. I'll be doling these out, maybe on/week, like a fine wine...
I’m afraid to look.
Too many of these revivals just wear the old clothes, but have none of the soul.
I loved this show too much to see it made to look stupid in the name of nostalgia.
That’s one thing I loved about being a kid in the 80s was all of the 50s nostalgia references in almost all of pop culture as well as the fact that I live in a part of the nation where a great deal of 50s were still a normal part of everyday life. Buildings, roadside attractions, drive-ins, even a few restaurants and stores still retained their 1950s-early 60s look. Not to mention a lot of the older adults!
Of course 50s movies, cartoons, and TV shows were a normal part of what you watched.
I love them.
Movies, television ETC. were under a lot of regulation by churches and family groups. The three networks, they had a choice to provide family friendly programming or face boycotts. TV shows, the public always provided feedback and said they wouldn't watch certain shows if they didn't like it either because it sucked or because it was immoral. Since they weren't watching the advertisers would pull out and the Networks would be stuck at the drawing board.
TV shows, movies, they were optimistic and the only purpose was to promote positive thinking and optimism and get people to look forward to a better future. TV programming (Then and now it was all about programming) was about getting people to count their blessing and look forward to tommrow.
The reason we look back on it and smile is because back then looked better and more idealistic than now. No one then could've forseen the crisis we face today,
No one in 1955 imagined that in their lifetimes, transgendered sickos could be allowed into female bathrooms with little girls, that God, prayer and the 10 commandments would be expunged from schools and courthouses, that death metal satanic prayers and hip hop music glorifying fornication, drugs, alcohol and mass murder would be acceptable entertainment, that TV shows would portray women as sluts and strippers instead of god fearing housewives or moral defenders, that children would murder their parents or each other.
They had problems yes but even those problems are pale compared to what we face now.
Racism is still alive even in our communities, white are more now the targets. Rock and roll had to go but had nothing on what our children listen to today. Music today glorifying devil worship, murder and mayhem.
But back then, our problems now paled by comparison.
Those were some wholesome times. Not the best but better than now.
I never had a doubt that it would be terrific, since Joel was so heavily involved in getting it done right.
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