'Manos' the Hands of Fate (30 Jan. 1993)

This cult classic episode starts off with Joel experiencing what it would be like if the bots actually looked up to him and immediately realizing just how hollow it leaves him inside. The ... See full summary »

Director:

Joel Hodgson

Writers:

Joel Hodgson (creator), Michael J. Nelson (head writer),

Stars:

Trace Beaulieu, Joel Hodgson, Jim Mallon

Cast

Episode cast overview:
Trace Beaulieu	...	Crow T. Robot / Dr. Clayton Forrester
Joel Hodgson	...	Joel Robinson
Jim Mallon	...	Gypsy
Kevin Murphy	...	Tom Servo
Frank Conniff	...	TV's Frank
Michael J. Nelson	...	Torgo
Mary Jo Pehl	...	Magic Voice

Storyline

This cult classic episode starts off with Joel experiencing what it would be like if the bots actually looked up to him and immediately realizing just how hollow it leaves him inside. The Mads' Chocolate Bunny Guillatine goes up against Joel's Cartooner in the invention exchange. Joel and the bots endure the movie in any way they possibly can, ranging from debating whether or not Torgo is actually a monster to pantomiming a car drive through Texas (which only backfires on them). While Joel pretends to be the Master and the bots beat each other up in diaphanous robes, Torgo delivers a pizza to the Mads, who refuse to take the Crazy Bread for a very good reason. It gets worse when they realize how Torgo has kept the pizza warm.

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Plot Keywords:

towel | reference to jerry reed | male tears | reference to dagwood bumstead | spitting | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Sci-Fi

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 January 1993 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Eden Prairie, Minnesota, USA

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

The character of Torgo would become a recurring character on the series, always accompanied by the weird Torgo theme music. Head writer and later host of MST3K Michael J. Nelson played Torgo on the show.

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Goofs

(at around 1 min) Joel can be seen turning to Crow, revealing that he's wearing glasses.

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Quotes

Margaret: Why don't we sing a song to help pass the time?
Margaret, Mike, Debbie: [singing] Row, row, row your boat, gently down the stream...
Tom Servo: Yes, sing, damn it, sing!
[MST3K gang join in]

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Crazy Credits

The "haunting Torgo theme" plays over the end credits rather than the normal instrumental theme song.

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Connections

References The Honeymooners (1955)

User Reviews

Hands: The Hands Of Fate

I Actually Saw The Original Movie Before I Saw The Episode (I Am Not One Of Those People That Was In El Paso On The Premiere Night I Saw This Unedited - I Am A Masochist) To Be Perfectly Honest I Riffed Through The Movie And Most Of The Lines I Said The MST3K Guys Also Said. Joel's Foot Poncho Is Also Funny If You Know About The Hand Poncho Used In The Actual Movie. I Will Also Say That I Prefer The Episode "Werewolf" To This And "Manos" Isn't The Worst Movie Of All Time (It's Close Don't Think I'm THAT Dellusional). Overall A Must See For Both Bad Movie Buffs (Believe Me Seeing This Through MST3K Was WAY Better Than Seeing It Unedited) And New Fans Of MST3K.