"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 signs!

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 | Breaking The Fourth Wall | Anti Hero | Cult Comedy

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 1 win & 10 nominations

Cast

Kevin Murphy	...	Tom Servo / ... (182 episodes, 1988-1999)
Jim Mallon	...	Gypsy / ... (143 episodes, 1989-1998)
Trace Beaulieu	...	Crow T. Robot / ... (139 episodes, 1988-1996)
Michael J. Nelson	...	Mike Nelson / ... (121 episodes, 1990-1999)
Mary Jo Pehl	...	Magic Voice / ... (120 episodes, 1992-1999)
Frank Conniff	...	TV's Frank / ... (107 episodes, 1990-1999)
Joel Hodgson	...	Joel Robinson / ... (99 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		(143 episodes, 1988-1999)
Michael J. Nelson		(133 episodes, 1989-1999)
Joel Hodgson		(127 episodes, 1988-1999)
Paul Chaplin		(125 episodes, 1991-1999)
Bridget Jones		(125 episodes, 1991-1999)
Mary Jo Pehl		(121 episodes, 1992-1999)
Jim Mallon		(96 episodes, 1988-1997)
Trace Beaulieu		(95 episodes, 1988-1996)
Colleen Henjum		(70 episodes, 1992-1995)
Frank Conniff		(67 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 (140 episodes, 1988-1999)
Jim Mallon	....	executive producer / producer (103 episodes, 1988-1999)
Joel Hodgson	....	executive producer (43 episodes, 1991-1993)
Vince Rodriguez	....	associate producer (9 episodes, 1988-1989)

Series Cinematography by
Jeff Stonehouse		(5 episodes, 1997-1999)

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 / hair & makeup / ... (87 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 (26 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)
Helena Espinosa	....	props (6 episodes, 1996)
Trace Beaulieu	....	set designer / set design (5 episodes, 1989-1993)
Barb Oswald	....	prop assistant (3 episodes, 1991-1992)
Jef Maynard	....	toolmaster / set design (2 episodes, 1991-1993)
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 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 (17 episodes, 1988-1999)
Joel Hodgson	....	composer: theme music / lyrics: theme music / ... (17 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 (8 episodes, 1996-1999)
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 (68 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 (32 episodes, 1991-1994)
Patrick Brantseg	....	intern / utility infielder (25 episodes, 1992-1994)
Julie Walker	....	info club Poobah (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)
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)
Todd Severson	....	intern (5 episodes, 1997-1998)
Dan Tanz	....	intern (5 episodes, 1998)
Jann Johnson	....	production assistant / production coordinator (4 episodes, 1989-1991)
Ellen McDonough Thomas	....	production coordinator (4 episodes, 1993-1995)
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)
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 (1989-1996) (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 2000 (USA) (working title)
Mystery Science Theater Hour (USA) (rerun title)
Mystery Science Theatre 3000 (UK)
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:

Joel's last words after escaping the Satellite of Love ("I can't come back! I don't know how it works! Good-bye!") are a reference to the wizard's last words in The Wizard of Oz (1939).

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: In many episodes you can hear the sound of the bots and the host turning the pages as go through their manuscripts.

Quotes:

Tom Servo: Let's recap the action so far.
Joel: Uh, nothing really.
Tom Servo: Okay, moving on.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Formula (2002) (V)

Soundtrack:

Hired! Original Broadway Cast

A consistently great show

A lot of the movies on which I've commented on this website I've seen as episodes of "Mystery Science Theater 3000." However, I find it difficult to write about this show as a whole - not because I can't think of anything to say, but because there is so much to say that I don't know where to begin or end.

I guess I'll start by saying I approached this show prepared to be unimpressed. A show about a janitor and two robots goofing on bad movies in space? That's about the dumbest idea for a TV show I've ever heard! And in lesser hands this could have been an idiotic show, not worth bothering with. But in the hands of the troupe of writers and performers who call themselves Best Brains it is a show of rare intelligence and wit. The writing is first rate and the performances (especially in the host segments, in which skits are performed which are more or less inspired by the movie) are sharp and enthusiastic. So good was the writing that show was able to remain fresh and entertaining despite several major cast changes (by the time the series ended after ten seasons none of the original cast members remained).

Best of all, this show helped broaden my appreciation for cheesy movies. I've always loved horror and sci-fi movies (horror especially), and some of the movies shown here were familiar, but there were others I would never have seen were it not for this show. Some laughably bad, others cheesy and surreal, others pretty darned interesting. (Still others were just plain bad.)

In short, this was one of the best shows ever shown on television.