"Mystery Science Theater 3000" (1988) TV series 1988-1999

Creator:

Joel Hodgson
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11

Release Date:

24 November 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

We've got movie sign!

Plot:

In the not too distant future, a man and his robots are trapped on the Satellite of love, where evil scientists force them to sit through the worst movies ever made.

Plot Keywords:

Robot | Mad Scientist | Good Versus Evil | Chroma Key | Irreverence

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 1 win & 11 nominations

Cast

Kevin Murphy	...	Tom Servo / ... (184 episodes, 1988-1999)
Trace Beaulieu	...	Crow T. Robot / ... (141 episodes, 1988-1996)
Jim Mallon	...	Gypsy / ... (141 episodes, 1989-1998)
Mary Jo Pehl	...	Magic Voice / ... (121 episodes, 1992-1999)
Michael J. Nelson	...	Mike Nelson / ... (121 episodes, 1990-1999)
Frank Conniff	...	TV's Frank / ... (108 episodes, 1990-1999)
Joel Hodgson	...	Joel Robinson / ... (101 episodes, 1988-1999)

Series Directed by
Kevin Murphy		(52 episodes, 1992-1999)
Jim Mallon		(35 episodes, 1991-1997)
Trace Beaulieu		(21 episodes, 1992-1996)
Michael J. Nelson		(18 episodes, 1992-1999)
Vince Rodriguez		(9 episodes, 1988-1989)
Joel Hodgson		(8 episodes, 1992-1993)
Todd Ziegler		(2 episodes, 1989)

Series Writing credits
Kevin Murphy		(149 episodes, 1988-1999)
Michael J. Nelson		(136 episodes, 1989-1999)
Joel Hodgson		(133 episodes, 1988-1999)
Bridget Jones		(127 episodes, 1991-1999)
Paul Chaplin		(126 episodes, 1991-1999)
Mary Jo Pehl		(121 episodes, 1992-1999)
Jim Mallon		(102 episodes, 1988-1997)
Trace Beaulieu		(101 episodes, 1988-1996)
Colleen Henjum		(72 episodes, 1991-1995)
Frank Conniff		(70 episodes, 1990-1995)
Bill Corbett		(51 episodes, 1995-1999)
David Sussman		(28 episodes, 1992-1994)
J. Elvis Weinstein		(26 episodes, 1988-1990)
Mike Dodge		(24 episodes, 1994-1995)
Timothy Scott		(6 episodes, 1993-1994)
Tim Scott		(5 episodes, 1993-1994)
Faye Burkholder		(2 episodes, 1989)
Lynn-Anne Friese		(2 episodes, 1991)
Craig Tollifson		(2 episodes, 1991)
Tom Wedor		(2 episodes, 1991)
John Carney		(2 episodes, 1992)
Mike Gandolfi		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Kevin Murphy	....	associate producer / producer (143 episodes, 1988-1999)
Jim Mallon	....	executive producer / producer (110 episodes, 1988-1999)
Joel Hodgson	....	executive producer (43 episodes, 1991-1993)
Vince Rodriguez	....	associate producer (9 episodes, 1988-1989)

Series Cinematography by
Ken Fournelle		(108 episodes, 1990-1995)
Jeff Stonehouse		(54 episodes, 1996-1999)
Kevin Murphy		(35 episodes, 1988-1990)

Series Film Editing by
Bradley J. Keely		(110 episodes, 1992-1999)
Timothy Scott		(48 episodes, 1992-1994)
Tim Paulson		(15 episodes, 1991-1995)
Charles Zimmerman		(14 episodes, 1993-1994)
Karen Lindsay		(4 episodes, 1991-1992)
Bill Gibb		(4 episodes, 1999)
Randy Davis		(3 episodes, 1989-1990)

Series Production Design by
Joel Hodgson		(3 episodes, 1988-1993)
Trace Beaulieu		(2 episodes, 1989-1993)
Jef Maynard		(unknown episodes)

Series Art Direction by
Trace Beaulieu		(89 episodes, 1989-1996)
Jef Maynard		(72 episodes, 1992-1995)
Joel Hodgson		(66 episodes, 1988-1993)
Patrick Brantseg		(48 episodes, 1997-1999)

Series Set Decoration by
Joel Hodgson		(9 episodes, 1995-1996)
Jef Maynard		(9 episodes, 1995-1996)
Trace Beaulieu		(7 episodes, 1995-1996)
Wendell Jon Andersson		(2 episodes, 1996)

Series Makeup Department
Andrea Jackson DuCane	....	hair stylist / makeup artist / ... (88 episodes, 1992-1999)
Clayton James	....	hair stylist / makeup artist (38 episodes, 1989-1993)
Faye Burkholder	....	makeup artist / hair stylist (19 episodes, 1988-1991)
Crist Ballas	....	makeup artist / special makeup effects artist (10 episodes, 1992-1996)
Jennifer Turner	....	hair stylist / makeup artist (2 episodes, 1997)
Brian Wade	....	special makeup effects artist (unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Jann Johnson	....	production manager (53 episodes, 1992-1997)
Peter Rudrud	....	production manager (35 episodes, 1997-1999)
Alexandra Carr	....	production manager (28 episodes, 1989-1992)
Jill Roozenboom	....	production manager (12 episodes, 1997)
Wendell Jon Andersson	....	production manager (6 episodes, 1996)

Series Art Department
Joel Hodgson	....	set design / gizmonic devices (128 episodes, 1989-1996)
Beth McKeever	....	props / props assistant / ... (54 episodes, 1996-1999)
Patrick Brantseg	....	designs / prop assistant / ... (34 episodes, 1992-1999)
Ed Miarecki	....	props (24 episodes, 1994-1995)
Trace Beaulieu	....	set designer / set design (6 episodes, 1989-1994)
Helena Espinosa	....	props (6 episodes, 1996)
Jef Maynard	....	toolmaster / set design / ... (3 episodes, 1991-1994)
Barb Oswald	....	prop assistant (3 episodes, 1991-1992)
Dean Trisko	....	prop assistant / props assistant (2 episodes, 1996)

Series Sound Department
Timothy Scott	....	sound / sound editor / ... (38 episodes, 1991-1994)
John Sims	....	boom operator / foley artist (36 episodes, 1997-1999)
Bradley J. Keely	....	sound (31 episodes, 1993-1995)
Todd Ziegler	....	audio / unconfirmed (18 episodes, 1988-1989)
Brian Wright	....	sound (18 episodes, 1991-1992)
Fred Street	....	sound post-production / sound / ... (8 episodes, 1991-1997)
Alexandra Carr	....	audio (2 episodes, 1989)

Series Special Effects by
Trace Beaulieu	....	special effects (unknown episodes)

Series Stunts
Bruce Paul Barbour	....	stunt performer (1 episode, 1996)
Conrad E. Palmisano	....	stunt coordinator (1 episode, 1996)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Ken Fournelle	....	lighting technician / lighting (61 episodes, 1991-1994)
Michael Parker	....	grip (45 episodes, 1997-1999)
Timothy Scott	....	lighting technician / lighting (39 episodes, 1992-1994)
Jeff Stonehouse	....	lighting technician (26 episodes, 1994-1996)
Dan Breyer	....	grip (22 episodes, 1998-1999)
Kevin Murphy	....	lighting / camera operator / ... (20 episodes, 1988-1992)
Bradley J. Keely	....	lighting technician (5 episodes, 1994)

Series Editorial Department
Lisa Erickson	....	color consultant (10 episodes, 1988-1989)
Jim Erickson	....	post-production assistant / post-production staff (3 episodes, 1989-1990)
Ken Fournelle	....	post-production staff (3 episodes, 1989-1990)
Jim Fuller	....	post-production staff (3 episodes, 1989-1990)
Karen Lindsay	....	on-line editor (2 episodes, 1991-1992)
Ellen McDonough Thomas	....	post-production coordinator (2 episodes, 1993)

Series Music Department
Charlie Erickson	....	composer: theme music / composer: love theme (19 episodes, 1988-1999)
Joel Hodgson	....	composer: theme music / lyrics: theme music / ... (19 episodes, 1988-1999)
J. Elvis Weinstein	....	lyrics: theme music / composer: theme music / ... (15 episodes, 1988-1999)
Michael J. Nelson	....	composer: additional music / composer: theme music (9 episodes, 1994-1999)
Kevin Murphy	....	composer: additional music / lyrics: Air on a Delta Knight / ... (2 episodes, 1996-1998)

Series Other crew
Jef Maynard	....	toolmaster (77 episodes, 1991-1995)
Bradley J. Keely	....	technical supervisor / production coordinator (76 episodes, 1994-1999)
Tim Johnson	....	controller (69 episodes, 1994-1999)
Barb Tebben	....	info club Poobah / assistant: Poobah / ... (56 episodes, 1995-1999)
Heide LeClerc	....	manager: business affairs / manager of business affairs (54 episodes, 1991-1994)
Timothy Scott	....	technical supervisor (33 episodes, 1991-1994)
Patrick Brantseg	....	intern / technical puppetry / ... (26 episodes, 1992-1999)
Julie Walker	....	info club Poobah / info club coordinator (24 episodes, 1993-1996)
Pete Keffer	....	intern (24 episodes, 1993-1994)
Michael J. Sheehan	....	intern (24 episodes, 1993-1994)
E. Jane Short	....	intern (24 episodes, 1993-1994)
Rob Burkhardt	....	engineer (22 episodes, 1992-1993)
Stephanie Hynes	....	intern (17 episodes, 1993)
Wendell Jon Andersson	....	intern / production coordinator (13 episodes, 1994-1996)
Alexandra Carr	....	production assistant / fan club coordinator (12 episodes, 1989)
Nathan Devery	....	intern (12 episodes, 1992)
Sara Swanson	....	intern (12 episodes, 1994-1995)
Dave Bellmont	....	intern (12 episodes, 1994)
Shannon McNeely	....	intern (12 episodes, 1994)
Peter Nicolai	....	intern (12 episodes, 1994)
Curtis Anderson	....	intern (11 episodes, 1992-1993)
Dan Breyer	....	intern (11 episodes, 1997-1998)
Suzette Jamison	....	intern (9 episodes, 1992)
Michael Parker	....	intern (9 episodes, 1994-1995)
Cyn Eells	....	intern (8 episodes, 1991-1992)
Christopher Wurst	....	intern (8 episodes, 1991-1992)
Joel Hodgson	....	gizmonic devices designer (7 episodes, 1991-1992)
Scott Bowman	....	intern (7 episodes, 1997-1998)
Elliot Cobb	....	intern (7 episodes, 1997)
Mytch Parks	....	intern (7 episodes, 1997)
Nick Prueher	....	intern (7 episodes, 1998-1999)
Erin Erskine	....	intern (7 episodes, 1999)
Josh Huschke	....	intern (7 episodes, 1999)
Jann Johnson	....	production assistant / production coordinator / ... (6 episodes, 1989-1994)
Danica King	....	intern (6 episodes, 1996)
Kelly Schrandt	....	intern (6 episodes, 1996)
Meshach Weber	....	intern (6 episodes, 1997)
Ed Dykhuizen	....	intern (6 episodes, 1999)
Sarah Lemanczyk	....	intern (6 episodes, 1999)
Kelly Nathe	....	intern (5 episodes, 1992-1993)
Barb Oswald	....	junior toolmaster (5 episodes, 1992-1993)
Steven Sande	....	intern (5 episodes, 1992)
Ellen McDonough Thomas	....	production coordinator / post-production coordination (5 episodes, 1993-1995)
Todd Severson	....	intern (5 episodes, 1997-1998)
Dan Tanz	....	intern (5 episodes, 1998)
Julie Van Goethem	....	intern (4 episodes, 1994)
Ben Mooers	....	intern (4 episodes, 1996)
Tamara Melloy	....	intern (4 episodes, 1997)
Joseph Olson	....	intern (4 episodes, 1997)
Randall Smith	....	intern (4 episodes, 1997)
Ken Fournelle	....	production staff (3 episodes, 1989-1990)
Jim Fuller	....	production staff (3 episodes, 1989-1990)
Steve Rosenberer	....	production assistant (3 episodes, 1989-1990)
Sara J. Sandborn	....	production assistant (3 episodes, 1989-1990)
Brendan Glynn	....	intern (3 episodes, 1992)
Cindy Hansen	....	intern (2 episodes, 1991)
Sarah E. Wisner	....	production assistant (2 episodes, 1993-1994)
Kirsten Lind	....	choreographer (2 episodes, 1993)
Jeffrey P. Young	....	director of operations (2 episodes, 1994)
Beth McKeever	....	intern (2 episodes, 1996)
Lane Stiller	....	intern (2 episodes, 1997)
Steve Zocklein	....	intern (2 episodes, 1997)
Frank Conniff	....	script supervisor (unknown episodes)

Series Thanks
Mark Gilbertson	....	special thanks (35 episodes, 1992-1993)
Bryan Beaulieu	....	special thanks (11 episodes, 1989-1992)
Bill W.	....	special thanks (7 episodes, 1991-1992)
David Campbell	....	special thanks (3 episodes, 1989-1990)
Randy Herget	....	special thanks (3 episodes, 1989-1990)
Rick Leed	....	special thanks (3 episodes, 1989-1990)

Production Companies

• Best Brains
• Comedy Central (1989-1996)
• Home Box Office (HBO) (1989-1996)
• KTMA (1988)
• Sci-Fi Channel, The (1997-1999)

Distributors

• Comedy Central (1991-1996) (USA) (TV)
• Comedy Channel (1989-1991) (USA) (TV)
• KTMA (1988) (USA) (TV)
• Rhino Home Video (1996-2008) (USA) (video)
• Sci-Fi Channel, The (1997-1999) (USA) (TV)
• Shout! Factory (2008-) (worldwide) (video)
• Vivendi Entertainment (2008-) (USA) (video)

Special Effects

• Gizmo's Inc.

Other Companies

• Best Brains  lyrics to theme
• Blue Thumb Scenic  set design
• PostAudio Inc.  audio post-production

Also Known As:

"MST 3000" - USA (short title)
"MST3K" - USA (short title)
"Mystery Science Theater Hour" - USA (rerun title)
"The Mystery Science Theater Hour" - USA (syndication title)

Runtime:

97 min (199 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:M | USA:TV-14 | USA:TV-PG

Filming Locations:

Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

Company:

Best Brains

Trivia:

The 3000 at the end of the title is supposed to be a version number, not a year, and was originally was 2000. Since it was fairly close to the year 2000, Jim Mallon changed it.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: There are several times where the rod used to control Tom Servo is visible as he is being carried in or out of the theater.

Quotes:

Boss:I always knew leadership was important dad, but I never thought about it n connection with my own business. But come Monday things will be different.
[we cut to a meeting on Monday]
Joel:We're going to have leadership the way my old man told me. You, put a handkerchief on your head! You, swat at imaginary elves! You, rock on the porch all night!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Cheap Seats: Without Ron Parker: Creative Breaking Champs/K-1 Fighting (#2.2)" (2005)

Soundtrack:

When I held Your Brain in my Arms

Excellent! Ranks right up there with "The Simpsons" and "The Daily Show" !

For those unfortunate few who have never seen an episode of Joel Hodgson's MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000 (referred to by fans as 'MST3K'), here is a brief rundown on all the fun you've missed out on. Dr. Forrester is your typical mad scientist. He sports big glasses, an oversized lab coat, crazy hair, and an insatiable urge to take over the world. In an effort to kick off his latest foolproof world-domination scheme, Dr. Forrester abducts a dry-witted janitor named Joel Robinson from the research center they both work at. Joel is blasted into space in an apparently escape-proof ship called the Satellite of Love, forever doomed to orbit the planet Earth. Forrester keeps contact with Joel via satellite transmission, and each week sends hims an unbearably awful b-movie which he is forced to watch. The mad doctor's idea is to keep sending movies that are so mind-numbingly terrible that it will eventually drive Joel and his viewers to insanity, thus giving him an easy outlet for conquering the world. To help preserve his sanity, Joel uses parts from the ship to build four wise-cracking robot friends that keep him company and help us to avoid cinema-induced lunacy by mercilessly heckling the films.

The show aired weekly, and re-introduced old 1950s-70s era drive-in swill to a world that has long forgotten about it. The movies they chose--The Brain That Wouldn't Die, Time of the Apes, and (most notorious) Manos: The Hands of Fate, for example--were truly some of the most awful abominations in cinema history, and how they were able to find clear, working prints of these (mostly) obscure films is beyond me. Not only was it great to be able to witness some of these "masterpieces" first-hand, but the non-stop commentary by Joel, Tom, and Crow was absolutely hysterical. There was never a dull moment when those boys hit the SOL's onboard movie theater. On occasion, there would be a break from the movie to show a humorous sketch that would further the basic plot of the show. While many of these segments were admittedly not all that funny, they didn't last long, and Forrester would call for "MOVIE SIGN!" again in no time. Come to think of it, it may not even be that these primitive skits weren't funny, but that they simply paled in comparison to the sheer hilarity that took place in the ship's movie theater.

MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000 is one of the few television programs that seems to be loved by virtually everybody. Seriously--I know of not a single person who didn't like this show, nor have I ever read a single negative comment or review of it. That being said, why on Earth was such a brilliant show like MST3K canceled? It couldn't have been because of poor ratings, since the show had a huge cult following and a substantial amount of regular viewers. If anyone has any information regarding why this series was taken off the air, please contact me!