Mystery Science Theater 3000: C/D, S/D.

During a preview of Contact "From The Producer of Forrest Gump" appears on the screen.

Mike: "So you can't say we didn't warn you."

Volume 1: Bloodlust, Catalina Caper, Creeping Terror, Skydivers
Volume 2: Angels Revenge, Cave Dwellers, Pod People, Shorts vol.1
Volume 3: Atomic Brain, Unearthly, Sidehackers, Shorts vol.2
Volume 4: Girl In Gold Boots, Hamlet, Overdrawn at Memory Bank, Space Mutiny

And I'm thinking of getting her "Manos" to boot...

As for which one, well, if she's a fan of the later seasons when Pearl was in charge, then definitely number 4 (and as it is I think all four of those episodes are among their finest). Volume 1 is mostly Mike as opposed to Joel (if that matters), who just does Catalina Caper, but that and Skydivers are both great, Creeping Terror not far off. But all that said, I'd go with volume 2 for starters -- a fantastic Mike episode, two of Joel's best and some of the best shorts they did. No Mr. B Natural though, which is a crime. (Volume 3 I'd get last -- good episodes but none that immediately standout as spectacular, a couple of the shorts aside).

"Catalina Caper" is a must.

Space Mutiny, fucking Space Mutiny. I have been present to see three or four board regulars see that for The First Time Ever and their glee was uncontrolled. My god, so bad, so wonderfully wonderfully bad. I think I'll watch that one first!

"Whaddaya got me, Rick Astley?"

"The death of Rick Springfield."

"Shake it Ralph Macchio!"

"The Home Economics Story"
"Junior Rodeo Daredevils"
"Body Care & Grooming"
"Cheating"
"A Date With Your Family"
"Why Study Industrial Arts?"
"Chicken of Tomorrow"

A fine selection (even if two of them unfortunately recur from episodes also on DVD).

Angel's Revenge is just insane, especially thanks to the 'special guest stars.' Jack Palance, Peter Lawford, Pat Buttram, Alan Hale, Jim Backus, Arthur Godfrey! What the fuck!

You are dead to me.

"Overdrawn" was fantastic

You live again!

Dan is right about The Girl With Gold Boots just being plain nuts. I'm trying to dig up this brilliant picture from the film that was from a scene *cut* from the MST3K version of all things...

http://www.jabootu.com/images/ggbundercover.JPG

(Stolen from Jabootu.com's brilliant review of the whole ridiculous thing.)

EAT, I'm afraid, does not excite my palate. But they do have tacos.

Suddenly, due to an apparent splice in the master print from which this video was taken, Buz magically appears at the table in the middle of the conversation. (This kind of stuff never happens when they transfer Martin Scorsese’s films to video.) )

"Hey Malta... GET A TREE!"

"oh come on, nobody's THAT Southern!"

The final final ever TV broadcast of a MST episode is later this month -- The Screaming Skull of all things, but it does have that great Gumby short to go with it. Sci-Fi Channel decided not to renew the repeat contract alas, so after five years of a half-life the show will be permanently a tape/filetrade/DVD experience.

"hey look, it's lou costello in drag."

Rodeo Daredevils:
"You should see the boys with her at the dances."
CROW: "Yeah, they buck her off right away."

Destroy: MST3K: The Movie. I'll take their claims that it basically halted their momentum cold at face value. And it's really not even a very funny episode. If it was in with the rest of the magnificent season six it would easily be the worst in the bunch.

"Ah yes, the opulently appointed San Francisco International"

"Ditch him at the gate."

"That bitch, I'm the hostage!"

"I made-for-TV love you."

"Meet the new boss."

"The parents of the Beatles!"

... and that magnificent run of jokes at the expense of the kid whose mom is trying to let him down gently.

Mom: I'm going to try to explain this to you again, Jimmie.
SERVO: You're a loser and we're sending you away.
Mom: It's just that sometimes married couples need to spend some time away.
SERVO: Apart from their kids, I mean.
Jimmie: You're going to get a divorce, aren't you?
SERVO: Yes, and I don't want custody.

I could go on all day with this episode.