"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 aboard the Satellite of Love, where mad scientists force them to sit through the worst movies ever made.

Plot Keywords:

Robot | Mad Scientist | Android | Good Versus Evil | Joke

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 / ... (142 episodes, 1988-1996)
Jim Mallon	...	Gypsy / ... (141 episodes, 1989-1998)
Michael J. Nelson	...	Mike Nelson / ... (122 episodes, 1990-1999)
Mary Jo Pehl	...	Magic Voice / ... (121 episodes, 1992-1999)
Frank Conniff	...	TV's Frank / ... (108 episodes, 1990-1999)
Joel Hodgson	...	Joel Robinson / ... (102 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		(166 episodes, 1988-1999)
Joel Hodgson		(154 episodes, 1988-1999)
Michael J. Nelson		(152 episodes, 1989-1999)
Bridget Jones		(138 episodes, 1991-1999)
Paul Chaplin		(136 episodes, 1991-1999)
Mary Jo Pehl		(121 episodes, 1992-1999)
Jim Mallon		(119 episodes, 1988-1997)
Trace Beaulieu		(118 episodes, 1988-1996)
Frank Conniff		(89 episodes, 1990-1995)
Colleen Henjum		(83 episodes, 1991-1995)
Bill Corbett		(51 episodes, 1995-1999)
J. Elvis Weinstein		(26 episodes, 1988-1990)
Mike Dodge		(24 episodes, 1994-1995)
David Sussman		(19 episodes, 1992-1994)
Timothy Scott		(6 episodes, 1993-1994)
Faye Burkholder		(2 episodes, 1989)
Brian Funk		(2 episodes, 1989)
Lynn-Anne Friese		(2 episodes, 1991)
Lisa Scheretz		(2 episodes, 1991)
Craig Tollifson		(2 episodes, 1991)
Tom Wedor		(2 episodes, 1991)
John Carney		(2 episodes, 1992)
Drew Jansen		(2 episodes, 1995)
Mike Gandolfi		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Kevin Murphy	....	associate producer / producer (144 episodes, 1988-1999)
Jim Mallon	....	executive producer / producer (125 episodes, 1988-1999)
Joel Hodgson	....	executive producer (43 episodes, 1991-1993)
Vince Rodriguez	....	associate producer (10 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:

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

Filming Locations:

Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

Company:

Best Brains

Trivia:

The Crow and Servo puppets used in the theater segments were spray-painted black, to ensure that they appeared completely black in silhouette, and to prevent the film from being projected through Servo's transparent head. The black Crow puppet was used in a host segment as Crow's alter ego, Timmy.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: In many episodes, you can hear the 'bots and the host turning the pages as they go through their scripts.

Quotes:

Crow:Does just walking through it make you want to kill yourself? Then it's a HIGH SCHOOL.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Homestarrunner.com: Everything Else, Volume 2 (2006) (V)

Soundtrack:

Jupiter

Should go down in history as one of the greatest shows ever written

Mystery Science Theater 3000 could quite possibly be one of the most inventive and hilarious shows of all time. In a nutshell, an average guy is rocketed into space by his evil boss and is forced to watch terrible, cheesy, poorly acted, poorly written, poorly shot, B-grade movies (sometimes even lower grade than that). The only way he keeps his sanity is by mocking and riffing on the movie-of-the-week with his robot friends, Tom Servo and Crow T. Robot. He is also kept company by the robots Cambot and Gypsy, who do not watch the movie.

Each episode of MST3K delivers almost non-stop laughs and great one-liners that make watching these awful movies not only bearable, but also hilarious! There are fans (known as MSTies) of all ages, from adults who have been watching it from the first televised episode to teens just discovering it thanks to the release of the DVDs.

All in all, I am a huge fan of MST3K and have never been dissatisfied with it. I've never seen an episode that didn't make me laugh out loud.

It's difficult to describe it to those who haven't seen it before, so if you're not one of the legions of fans of MST3K yet, hurry out and rent or buy one of the DVD sets. You won't be disappointed! 10/10