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

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.

http://www.newhousenews.com/images/lileks.jpg

"Eat my photons, smallheads!"

Brilliant! They're both going on my wishlist.

http://www.lileks.com/institute/interiors/yourhost.jpg

But where's Hercules Against the Moon Men???

Sandstorm...

SAAAAAAAANNNNNNDSTORRRRRMMMMM!!!!!!

Not bad for '74 in an earth-tone way. Maybe he should just shave his head -- Mike seems to know how to wear it short with it comes to balding.

So does Lileks force Mike to talk about Lileks' daughter and shit?

Good lord, I hope not.

As we reported earlier, Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection, Volume 7 is due out in April. While Rhino couldn't confirm an exact date for us, industry insiders are telling us that it is slated for release on April 19th. The DVD set will contain (hold on to your hat):

episode 407- THE KILLER SHREWS (with short: JUNIOR RODEO DAREDEVILS)
episode 408- HERCULES UNCHAINED
episode 410- HERCULES AGAINST THE MOON MEN
episode 816- PRINCE OF SPACE

A bonus feature will be ASSIGNMENT: VENEZUELA, the short originally MSTed for the ill-fated CD-ROM project and which was never shown on television. Rhino has confirmed for us that this bonus will contain the contents of the entire "Venezuela" tape currently available from the Info Club, which also includes the shorts CENTURY 21 CALLING and A CASE OF SPRING FEVER.

http://moblog.co.uk/blogs/68/moblog_04897de692fa6.jpg

"HAH! HAH! HAH! HAH! HAH!"

Three bonus shorts all winners as well.

-- Ash (ashbyma...), January 29th, 2005.

Hey, your wish came true!

Nelson has thought plenty about his next target, perhaps the worst film of all time.

"I have actually dared to take on what some people may consider hallowed ground," Nelson said. "I'm doing (director Ed Wood's) Plan Nine From Outer Space."

!

Anyway, no reason why he shouldn't, although I'd rather he found another film which is interesting but very hard to watch without commentary, like Reefer Madness.

That Happy Kitty book up above has finally been published and Amazon shipped it to me two days ago, so I can't wait to get it!

Bless this internet!

when they broke out an Andy Capp gag from nowhere that was so obscure that no-one who wasn't from england would've got it, i knew i was in the presence of pure genius.

went down well with nachos and a case of bud

(Every episode including KTMAs and every random bit of extra comes out to around 160+ Gb.)

Our friends at Rhino Home Video have given us the list of episodes to be included in the Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection: Volume 9 DVD set. They are... wait for it....

104- WOMEN OF THE PREHISTORIC PLANET
207- WILD REBELS
613- THE SINISTER URGE (with short: KEEPING CLEAN AND NEAT)
812- THE INCREDIBLY STRANGE CREATURES WHO STOPPED LIVING AND BECAME MIXED-UP ZOMBIES

As a bonus for "Women of the Prehistoric Planet," Rhino has taped a short intro to the episode with Irene Tsu, who played Linda in the movie. There will also definitely be a bonus intro to "The Sinister Urge" with Conrad Brooks, who played Connie.

Women of the Prehistoric Planet is of course the real kicker since that's only the second Josh Weinstein-era episode (after The Crawling Hand) to get a video/DVD release. And the other three are all winners, so yay! These bonus intros they mention could be fun.

What do I win? Does Cthulhu open up a dimensional gate so I can proceed to Level Two?

"JUST POUND THEM DOWN
YOU STUPID CLOWN
THEY'RE WIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIILLLD."

(I know I quoted that up above but hurrah for a redo.)

http://mst3kbt.blogspot.com/

"the second E is a grammatical thing, otherwise it would be Crepy Girl"

The idea they had to sell their services as an extra commentary track for regular DVDs was brilliant, sad that nobody's taken them up on it. Maybe they could do a Kevin Smith and just record commentaries for current movies then create a subscription download service?