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A Mystery Science Theater Wrapup (for the moment, hopefully)
Since last commenting here on the early days of the new, “self-streamed” Mystery Science Theater 3000 episodes (right around when Emily Marsh became the second host of the season, “Emily Connor”), I have kept up with their premieres. The thought “it’s not all that good to drive yourself to the point of setting down an opinion on everything” that’s been coming to me of late, though, did nudge me away from making more posts on the episodes. So far as opinions unexpressed at the time on the subject went, my enjoyment did seem to be increasing as the premieres went on. Maybe too much could be made of the general opinion the original series picked up steadily from its first-season episodes to its third-season episodes and beyond. That might tie into a certain shaded thought of mine that’s been recurring ever since “the Gizmoplex” opened that the happy fandom is one that can blame “executives” for things going wrong with a continuing series, and with Comedy Central, the Sci-Fi Channel, and Netflix no longer in the picture an unfortunate clock might now be ticking.
For the moment, the circulating complaint that might be hardest to escape is about a few of the source movies being “oversold” as comparable to the most harrowing and memorable instalments of the original series. I think I’ve stayed a bit more relaxed on that subject. Although the movies of the revival might still be constrained by “having” to be in widescreen with good prints, there was a black-and-white movie from the 1960s in that mix (with a 3D gimmick, even if one that didn’t mean seeing what wearing red-and-blue glasses for an hour and a half straight would do). Joel Hodgson’s return as “Joel Robinson” for a few episodes also worked for me; he even got a Satellite of Love backdrop recreated from the original series, which might, however, keep pointing out the new bridge design doesn’t look as memorable without “found objects” attached to the walls. The original “doorway sequence” also being recreated for his episodes was a bit easier to just set alongside the new version of that.
While I’d kept up with the premieres, the “episode tributes” interspersed among them were harder to fit into my schedule, and that in turn kept me from keeping up with the self-contained shorts for all that I appreciated their presence. I did at least manage to watch one of the “Turkey Day” episodes the weekend after American Thanksgiving, selecting one not that many other people might with “The Starfighters.” As the last new episode approached, promised to be (somewhat) season-appropriate and to feature all three hosts, I did wonder a little more about whether we’d get an announcement at last about further episodes to follow. All I’ve really been able to do when considering what money’s come in is hope. The premiere included “audience reaction” from a recent get-together at a movie theatre, though, and Joel did make a comment there about plans being under way. As for the episode itself, I suppose I had to consider how the “live audience laugh track” had enhanced my own ability to laugh for all that I’d enjoyed these latest excursions and I’m hoping more will show up.
For the moment, the circulating complaint that might be hardest to escape is about a few of the source movies being “oversold” as comparable to the most harrowing and memorable instalments of the original series. I think I’ve stayed a bit more relaxed on that subject. Although the movies of the revival might still be constrained by “having” to be in widescreen with good prints, there was a black-and-white movie from the 1960s in that mix (with a 3D gimmick, even if one that didn’t mean seeing what wearing red-and-blue glasses for an hour and a half straight would do). Joel Hodgson’s return as “Joel Robinson” for a few episodes also worked for me; he even got a Satellite of Love backdrop recreated from the original series, which might, however, keep pointing out the new bridge design doesn’t look as memorable without “found objects” attached to the walls. The original “doorway sequence” also being recreated for his episodes was a bit easier to just set alongside the new version of that.
While I’d kept up with the premieres, the “episode tributes” interspersed among them were harder to fit into my schedule, and that in turn kept me from keeping up with the self-contained shorts for all that I appreciated their presence. I did at least manage to watch one of the “Turkey Day” episodes the weekend after American Thanksgiving, selecting one not that many other people might with “The Starfighters.” As the last new episode approached, promised to be (somewhat) season-appropriate and to feature all three hosts, I did wonder a little more about whether we’d get an announcement at last about further episodes to follow. All I’ve really been able to do when considering what money’s come in is hope. The premiere included “audience reaction” from a recent get-together at a movie theatre, though, and Joel did make a comment there about plans being under way. As for the episode itself, I suppose I had to consider how the “live audience laugh track” had enhanced my own ability to laugh for all that I’d enjoyed these latest excursions and I’m hoping more will show up.