Welcome back for a whole new season of experiments!
Before we begin to explore Season One, there is a bit of information that I would like to relay to all of you readers.
Primarily, since I was only in possession of three of the Season One Episodes when this forum started in January of 2007, I may repeat some things that have already been posted. (This will become evident if you go to the
Experiment Guide and read
Experiment #102). Please be tolerant. Now, let's get down to business.
A lot of changes to the show have occurred since the boys left Minneapolis TV station KTMA and signed on with the Comedy Channel.
When Jim Mallon and Joel Hodgson returned from New York with a contract from the fledgling cable network Comedy Channel, Mallon and Kevin Murphy quit their jobs at KTMA. Along with Joel, Trace Beaulieu and Josh Weinstein, the quintet formed their own production company to be forever after known as
Best Brains, Inc.. They set up shop in a one story office complex in Eden Prairie, Minnesota and began retooling and rethinking the premise of the show. Joel and the gang have built new sets, redesigned the Bots (most notably the newly named "
Tom Servo"), shot a new opening theme sequence, new end credits, reconstructed a new door sequence leading into/out of the auditorium, and now have the Mads conducting their experiments from a new location known as Deep 13.
There are even different lyrics to the theme music:
In the not too distant future,
Next Sunday A.D.
There was a guy named Joel,
Not too different from you or me.
He worked at 'Gizmonic Institute',
Just another face in a red jumpsuit.
He did a good job cleaning up the place,
But his bosses didn't like him,
So they shot him into space.
"We'll send him cheesy movies."
"The worst we can find." (La-la-la).
"He'll have to sit and watch them all,
And we'll monitor his mind." (La-la-la)
Now keep in mind Joel can't control,
Where the movies begin and end.
Because he used those special parts
To make his robot friends.
Robot Roll Call! (All right, let's go!)
Cambot! (Pan left!)
Gypsy! (Hi, girl!)
Tom Servo! (What a cool guy!)
Croooow! (He's a wise-cracker!)
If you're wondering how he eats and breathes,
and other science facts (la-la-la)
Then repeat to yourself, "It's just a show,
I should really just relax
For 'Mystery Science Theater 3000'!"
Welcome to Season One. And without further adieu...
Let the experiment begin!
Experiment #101 ~ THE CRAWLING EYE (1958)
Original Air Date: approx. November, 1989
Genre: Horror/Sci-Fi
Studio: A Tempean Production
Starring: Forrest Tucker, Laurence Payne, Jennifer Jayne
Directed By: Quentin Lawrence
Theatrical Running Time: 85 Minutes
Tagline: "The Nightmare Terror of the Slithering Eye that Unleashed Agonizing Horror on a Screaming World!"
Film Synopsis: Dr. Allen Brooks
(Forrest Tucker), a United Nations scientist, is dispatched to Switzerland to unravel the secrets behind a series of mysterious mountain climbing deaths, which may be associated to a stationary radioactive cloud hovering on the south face of Mount Trollenberg.
Invention Exchange: Joel presents the "Electric Bagpipes" (bagpipes attached to a leaf blower), and delivers unique (to say the least) renditions of
'Amazing Grace' and a special cover version of Led Zeppelin's
'Whole Lotta Love'. (Whhhhaaaaaannn. Whole Lotta Love. Whhhhaaaaannn...). The Mads present "Human Anti-perspirant derived from canine pineal glands." (Dogs never sweat, but Dr. Erhardt pants like crazy until the antidote is administered, yet not a drop of underarm sweat!).
Host Segments:
Host 1: Crow questions why everyone in today's movie is so upset about people losing their heads! Joel tries to explain how humans are made differently. The Bots press the issue by asking why humans use such phrases as "I'd lose my head if it weren't screwed on", or "My head's not in the right place". In fact, Crow once heard the Mads say that "Joel has his head up his a...!" "And what about 'head games', 'head trips' and, how do you explain 'head cheese'!?"
Host 2: Gypsy uncoils herself and has her 'exo-service-spinal-bundle' spread all over the bridge of the 'SOL'! She has an itch at 'vertibrae 6905 thru 7018'.
Host 3: Joel and the Bots discuss the flaws in the 'eye-creatures' invasion plan. "Aside from landing on a sharp mountain top (which everyone knows is an eyeball's natural enemy), one could just walk up and throw salt at it! Or squeeze lemon juice onto it!"
End: Joel asks each of the Bots for a 'good thing/bad thing' about today's film. They answer, and everyone gets a ram-chip as a reward. The Mads seem pleased with the results of this week's experiment.
Items of Note:
~ This episode is the introduction of what will become the Mads' home base, 'Deep 13'.
~ This could be the first 'official Invention Exchange' ever.
~ Before and after the first film segment, Servo leaves the auditorium under his own power!
~ Joel momentarily removes Gypsy's "eye" in 'Host 2'! She seems very upset.
~ This episode also introduces the new "MST3K Fan Club" address...
MST 3000 Fan Club
P.O. Box 5325
Hopkins, MN 55343
Personal Notes:
~ The film is also known by the title(s) "Creature from Another World", "The Creeping Eye" and "The Flying Eye".
~ The film is based on a 1950's BBC television serial titled "The Trollenberg Terror".
~ Actor Forrest Tucker is probably best known as Sgt. Morgan O'Rourke on the 1960's TV series "F Troop".
~ It seems that every action or plot point in this film requires one or more of the characters to consume an alcoholic beverage. Traveling by train? Have a drink! Checking into your hotel? Have a drink! Fainted? Have a drink, (once you've been revived)! Mountain climbing? Have a drink!
The 'Riffs':
~ (
Crow): "She could eat 'corn-on-the-cob' through a picket fence!"
~ (
Crow): "Hey, She's chasin' rabbits in her sleep! 'Pepper!', 'Fluffy!', 'Bugs!'" (
Tom): "Rico!, "Youngblood!"
~ (
Tom): (
as a train conductor...) "TROLLENBURG! Home of the Crawling Eye! All stops lead to a bloody death!"
~ Pop culture references ranging from Michael Nesmith, Julie Andrews, Fibber McGee and Molly, Mighty Mouse and a relentless series of "I" (eye) jokes that eventually becomes irritating. Not a lot of great riffing in this episode. The film's print quality and sound are poor at best. However, BBI's production values have radically improved from the KTMA era, and this diamond in the rough is really beginning to shine.
Rating: 1-1/2 "Giant Eye Charts" out of 5
"Keep Trading the Discs (and Tapes)"
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