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

Recent Mike and Mary Jo interviews.

! FAINT PRAISE, sir.

"I'M BACK!"

xpost I know but since I stopped watching the show in, what, 1995? I always kinda forget that these last episodes are from 1998.

This is true, especially since there is no "Mike and the bots" dynamic to speak of. Mostly, I think, because Mike and Crow spend all their time ACTING! whereas Bobo and Brain Guy are a bit more natural.

The South Park thing was exactly what I first thought of re: Vinnie's question!

I should have said 'say' rather than 'saw.'

If you order through http://mst3000dvd.com, or by calling 800-645-2400, you can get Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Essentials--featuring episode 424- "MANOS"-THE HANDS OF FATE and episode 321- SANTA CLAUS CONQUERS THE MARTIANS--PLUS a SPECIAL BONUS DISK--Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Shorts, Vol. 3!

This collection, never before on DVD, includes: Speech--Using Your Voice (from episode 313- EARTH VS. THE SPIDER), Aquatic Wizards (from episode 315- TEENAGE CAVEMAN), Is This Love? (from episode 514- TEENAGE STRANGLER), Design for Dreaming (from episode 524- 12 TO THE MOON), The Selling Wizard (from episode 603- THE DEAD TALK BACK), Out of this World (from episode 618- HIGH SCHOOL BIGSHOT) and Once Upon A Honeymoon (from episode 701- NIGHT OF THE BLOOD BEAST).

The price is $24.95 plus $4.95 shipping and handling.

This is a MAJOR bonus as some of those are among the best shorts ever -- "Speech: Using Your Voice" ('plenty of lip and tongue action'), "Design for Dreaming" ("This was the response to Roger and Me"), "Is This Love?" ("Mmm...get the cuffs") and "Once Upon a Honeymoon" (two words: flaming angel) in particular. Order away!

Furthermore:

Rhino Home Video has informed us that The Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection, Vol. 6, due out Sept. 21st, will include:

episode 511- GUNSLINGER
episode 404- TEENAGERS FROM OUTER SPACE
episode 406- ATTACK OF THE GIANT LEECHES (with short: UNDERSEA KINGDOM PT. 1)
MR. B's LOST SHORTS??!! (which includes "Mr. B Natural" (from episode 319- WAR OF THE COLOSSAL BEAST), "X Marks The Spot" (from episode 210- KING DINOSAUR), "Hired!--Part 1" (from episode 423- BRIDE OF THE MONSTER), "Design for Dreaming" (from episode 524- 12 TO THE MOON), "Johnny At The Fair" (from episode 419- THE REBEL SET) and "Are You Ready for Marriage?" (from episode 616- RACKET GIRLS)

Gunslinger was the last Rhino VHS release to be ported over to DVD, and looks like they'll be happily adding more titles as they go. Another slew of great shorts (pity about the "Design for Dreaming" duplicate), particularly "Are You Ready for Marriage?" and of course, above all else, the insanity of insanities, "Mr. B. Natural."

And finally:

Special Edition "Carnival of Souls" Now Available
A while back we told you that Legend Films would be bringing out a colorized version of the movie CARNIVAL OF SOULS featuring a separate commentary track by Mike Nelson, similar to the REEFER MADNESS DVD that is already available. We were originally told that it would be available in October, but we've just learned that it won't be officially released until next year.

BUT...we have a special offer just for MST3K fans.

You can purchase a special edition of "Carnival of Souls" release now. The cover is autographed by Mike, and there's a printed note from him inside. The cost is $19.95 plus shipping and handling.

This special edition can only be bought at http://www.offcolorfilms.com/cos.html and will never be avaible in stores. The disk contains the restored, colorized version, and for you purists, the original black and white version is also included.

We've seen preview copies of this and Mike's commentary is terrific, alternately offering insights into the making of the film and his own witty observations about it.

Nice, I do hope that the commentary really *is* as described, as I noted upthread the Reefer Madness commentary was sorta eh.

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0810992000.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

From turn-of-the-century novelties and Depression-era distraction, through wartime comfort, to Hello Kitty and Jeff Koons, cuteness has thrived in the fertile soil of American modern-age media and pop culture. What is it about fluffy bunnies with bows, baby ducks splashing in puddles, kittens snuggled in baskets, and little lambs on their way to school? Happy Kitty Bunny Pony celebrates America's "cult of the cute" in all its campy, kitschy, ironic glory.

With more than 200 images from the print and advertising archives of the Charles S. Anderson Design Company, this collection is an amazingly rich testament to America's fascination with cute things. The hilarious commentary by Mystery Science Theater 3000 host Mike Nelson, spiked with fun and curious facts, bits of sarcasm, and dry and not-so-dry wit, is as surprising and bizarre as the images themselves. So go ahead and join the fun-everyone from art students to your grandma is already shouting the cult-of-the-cute battle cry: "Happy Kitty Bunny Pony!" AUTHOR BIO: The Charles S. Anderson Design Company is ranked by Graphis magazine as one of the world's 10 most influential design firms. Their clients include Ralph Lauren, Warner Brothers, Coca-Cola, Levi's, and Nike. Michael J. Nelson, an actor and writer, was the head writer and on-air host of the legendary television series Mystery Science Theater 3000. He is the author of Mike Nelson's Movie Megacheese, Mind Over Matters, and the novel Death Rat.

I like the sound of this. I half assume this came about because Mike and that Lileks feller have been palling around lately (similar dry humor -- at the same time, similarly right/neo-con politics), but perhaps it was all dreamed up by Mike and this design company on their own, who knows?

Oh christ no.

Hate to disappoint ya but it's true:

http://www.northernallianceradio.com/

The radio show Lileks and others do regularly now -- Mike has been a regular guest commentator, I believe. You'll notice the cover of Mind Over Matters there on the right side of the screen among the other books that participants have written.

I'm guessing Mike can do this far better than Lileks

It'll be a nice variation on Mike's non-MST3K written work so far, which has been text straight up -- your guess may well be spot on.

I'M NOT LISTENING! I'M NOT LISTENING! LA LA LA LA LA!

Snarf.

I'M NOT LISTENING! I'M NOT LISTENING! LA LA LA LA LA!

Face the truth (I do not say embrace it). Keep in mind that Mike's political/social take on the world is still pretty much something he keeps for specific parts of his life and work, as best as I can tell -- this discussion of a recent appearance:

http://www.mst3k.com/satnews/brains/mikenc.html

...was from the sound of it apolitical.