Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume XXIII

Amazon has confused Volumes V, VI & XXIII, and the reviews for these three volumes are jumbled together (Roman Numerals are hard!)Be careful which Volume you are ordering.176 episodes of Mystery Science Theater 3000 were cablecast between 1989 and 1999 on Comedy Central and the Sci-Fi Channel.Rhino started issuing selected episodes on DVD in 2000, reaching Volume 12 in 2007 before Shout! Factory took over the project.The series is now up to Volume 38.Shout! is also reissuing the old Rhino Volumes - up to Volume 6 so far (Volumes 7-12 yet to come).-- 133 Episodes are currently on Shout!--- 28 Episodes previously on Rhino are out-of-print (a temporary situation).--- 15 Episodes have never been released by Rhino or Shout - I hope some of them will appear in future volumes (but I am an incurable optimist).-- MST3K EPISODES IN BROADCAST ORDER see Comment One (click on "Oldest first")-- MST3K EPISODES IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER see Comment Two-- OUT-OF-PRINT EPISODES ON RHINO see Comment Three-- EPISODES NEVER COMMERCIALLY ISSUED ON DVD see Comment FourSHOUT VOLUME V is a straight reissue of Rhino Volume 5 from 2004.No new bonus features were created, but all the old ones are carried over.Shout has a big price advantage: $27 (new) vs. $129 for Rhino.Another advantage: Shout has closed captioning (not SDH subtitles - see "Assorted Topics" below).Contents of Volume V:-- Time Chasers (Episode 821)-- The Touch of Satan (908)-- Merlin's Shop of Mystical Wonders (1003)-- Boggy Creek II: And the Legend Continues (1006)All four are from the Sci-Fi Channel era with Mike Nelson.Pearl Forrester is the villain, aided by Brain Guy and Professor Bobo (exception: Babysitter Steffi is guest villain in Episode 908)-- Episode 821: "Time Chasers", Crow uses a time machine to travel back to Wisconsin in 1985, where he alters history, causing unexpected repercussions on the Satellite of Love.-- Episode 908: "The Touch of Satan", Pearl Forrester is out-of-town and Steffi the Babysitter (Beez McKeever, photo 7) is left in charge of Brain Guy and Bobo.The only episode without one of the principal villains.-- Bonus: Thirty minute interview from 2004 with Kevin Murphy and Mike Nelson.SHOUT VOLUME VI is a straight reissue of Rhino Volume 6 from 2004.-- Attack of the Giant Leeches (Episode 406)-- Gunslinger (Episode 511)-- Teenagers from Outer Space (Episode 404)-- Mr. B's Lost ShortsAll three episodes are from the Comedy Central Era with Joel Hodgson.Dr. Clayton Forrester is the villain, aided by TV's Frank.Instead of a fourth episode, Rhino cheated by including "Mr. B's Lost Shorts", a collection of short films (they did the same with Volumes 1 & 2).Unfortunately, Shout reissues perpetuate this hoax.Thankfully, Volume 6 was the last time that we will have to put up with this.OCD compels me to put things in logical order.The thirty-eight MST3K volumes are a special challenge.A jumble of early and late shows, but you have the option of re-arranging the episodes in broadcast order (the host segments have ongoing story arcs) or alphabetical order.-- Volumes I-XII are packaged in four-disc DVD cases, but attractive fan-created single episode covers are available on the internet (see "Assorted Topics" below).-- Volumes XIII-XXXVIII: Each episode is already in an individual DVD case.STAR:-- Joel Hodgson = 86 Episodes (101-512), Seasons 1-5a-- Mike Nelson = 91 Episodes (512-1013), Seasons 5b-10MAD SCIENTISTS ("Mads")-- Dr. Clayton Forrester = 128 Episodes (101-706), Seasons 1-7-- Pearl Forrester = 48 Episodes (801-1013), Seasons 8-10[but Pearl's first appearance was in Season Six and she was a supporting character in Season Seven]ASSISTANT MADS:-- Dr. Laurence Erhardt = 13 Episodes (101-113)-- TV's Frank = 109 Episodes (201-624)-- Pearl Forrester = 6 Episodes (701-706)-- Professor Bobo = 48 Episodes (801-1013)-- Brain Guy (Observer) = 44 Episodes (805-1013)ASSORTED TOPICS1) KTMA EPISODES:The first season on Comedy Central was actually the show's second season.In 1988-89, 21 episodes aired on Minneapolis-St.Paul television station KTMA.All but one survive, but the picture quality is poor.For the curious, they are listed on Ebay.In the Ebay search bar, under DVDs & Movies, enter: MST3K KTMAGreat concept, but the riffs are pretty hit-and-miss.9 of the 21 KTMA films were re-done for Comedy Central, but with more laughs.2) NETFLIX:Fourteen episodes were produced in 2017.Joel Hodgson is the producer, but the writers and on-screen cast are entirely new.One good idea: Several episodes feature guest appearances by Mary Jo Pehl as Pearl Forrester, Bill Corbett as Brain Guy, and Kevin Murphy as Professor Bobo.If you are not a member of Netflix, you can get a one month membership for free.I haven't heard yet if there is a plan to release these episodes on DVD or Blu-Ray.(I wish they would - I hate watching movies on my computer.)3) SINGLE EPISODE DVD COVERS:Do a google search for:mst3k dvd covers joshway4) CLOSED CAPTIONING:Shout! Factory never publicized this, but in 2015 they started issuing DVDs with Closed Captioning (not the same as SDH Subtitles)It was first used in Volume XXX.MST3K Volumes 1-5 and 30-38 have Closed Captioning.-- "Closed Captioning" is a forty year-old technology devised for broadcast television.In order to see the closed captioning, press the "Captioning" or "CC" button on your TELEVISION'S remote control while the disc is playing.One major problem:Closed Captioning will not work if your DVD or Blu-Ray player is connected to the TV using the preferred modern method of HDMI cable.It will only work with the older three plug (red-white-yellow) cable (or with ancient 75 ohm coaxial cable).-- "English SDH Subtitles" were developed specifically for DVD.When you load the disc, the Disc Menu gives you the option of Subtitles, or you can press the "Subtitle" button on your DVD PLAYER'S remote control."SDH Subtitles" are superior technology, but "Closed Captioning" is better than nothing.PHOTO 1 = Dr. Clayton Forrester with Dr. Lawrence Erhardt (season 1)PHOTO 2 = Dr. Clayton Forrester with TV's Frank (seasons 2-6)PHOTO 3 = Dr. Clayton Forrester with Pearl Forrester (season 7)PHOTO 4 = Pearl Forrester with Professor Bobo and Brain Guy (seasons 8-10)PHOTO 5 = Joel Robinson with robot friends (seasons 1-5aPHOTO 6 = Mike Nelson with robot friends (seasons 5b-10)PHOTO 7 = Babysitter Steffi (guest villain in episode 908)

Another great SHOUT MST3K boxset, filled with fun informational extras, well chosen experiments, and cool art direction. Plus, this is the JOEY THE LEMUR BOX SET! Like the leitmotifs of great symphonies, MST3K often used call back jokes to earlier episodes. But how astute could this audience be, to catch a callback joke in season 6, when Dr. Forester and Frank sing the JOEY THE LEMUR song, that was first sung in season 2? And, how cool is SHOUT to pull those two disparate episodes into a single box set? Too cool. It all started back in season 2....1. KING DINOSAUR--Episode 210--Another film with giant monsters courtesy of Burt I. Gordon, who brought us more MST3K experiments than any other single director-writer. Your basic boy mets girl mets foreign planet just like earth with monster beasts. Joey the Lemur (its really a Kinkajou) is just one of the odd beasts hanging from the tree, that Joel and the 'bots sing about, using an ugly hairy puppet.EXTRAS---included is a 35 MINUTE DOCUMENTARY about producer and theater chain owner Robert Lippert. The more I watch these documentaries that SHOUT! pins on these DVDs, the more I appreciate what we are REALLY observing during a MST3K experiment...the evolution of modern Entertainment. Its hard to believe that most of these B movies were produced before TV movies were ever heard of. Mr. Lippert produced a long string of cheap B films on shoestring budgets, because the BIG studios kept their own films for showing exclusively in their OWN theater chains. Who Knew? TV's FRANK makes special appearances in both this box set's documentaries, as the MST3K movie historian.2. LAST OF THE WILD HORSES--Episode 611--The film is a totally forgetable horse opera, with a good natured stage coach robber,Duke, who works for Remedy, to try and save the wild horses. This experiment is famous for the STAR TREK send up the cast produces. The first Star Trek had an episode where there's an EVIL Kirk from an evil alternate universe, that got pulled into the ship during a transporter mishap. And wouldnt you know it, when Dr. Forester sends up a mater transference device to the Satelite of Love, Gypsy and Tom get sent to the Evil mirror Universe, and the mirror universe's Dr. Forester and Frank, who are of course GOOD, get set to OUR SOL. And, that's when Dr. Forester and Frank sing JOEY THE LEMUR! Four years after it was first sung. Also, this episode has FRANK and Dr. F in the movie theater, riffing for two chunks of the film. So, forget the film and enjoy the wrap around story. EXTRAS---Vintage MST3k Promos. I'd NEVER seen any of these, cos I never got Comedy Channel when MST3K was on. This is 20 minutes of promos, all incrediblely funny, usually extended from the skits. In all but two cases, these promos are from JOEL episodes. The first promo for a TAXES AND DEATH MST3K special, is a black and white Igmar Bergman parody that matches the "If you're out of Slits you're out of Pier" skit. Other promos include the PINK TOM, who of course is nude, plus Joel and the 'Bots sporting mock muscle man costumes for HERCULES, and so on. At first I assumed this extra was going to be a waste of time, however its my favorite extra of those on this boxset.3. THE CASTLE OF FU MANCHU--Episode 323--This is one of my favorite MST3K episodes, because the movie is just so horrible. My theory is the worse the movie, the better the episode. (aka The MANOS Principle) FU MANCHU has always been noted as having been a particularly difficult film for BEST BRAINS to riff upon, since they couldnt make any since out of the plot. I've watched this episode at least 5 times, and all I can grasp about said plot is this: Fu Manchu wants to destroy the world with his ice machine. His lair consists of a castle in Istambu where he stores his opium he uses to fund his despicitableness. Mr Manchu lives with his cool Kung Fu daughter who digs chicks. The Fate of Fu Manchu includes sinking the Titantic via stock footage, and there's a heart transplant involved, tho why that's in the film I couldnt tell you. One of the funniest skits is when Crow, having a nervous break-down because the movie's so bad, recites this anti-racist diatribe against whites portraying Asian actors. Come to think of it, everybody in the SOL falls apart during this Experiment. Dr. Forester won that time.EXTRAS--Frank gives a brutal introduction to the movie, preparing the would be viewer for the terrible film that Christopher Lee got himself involved with. The other extra explains about this amazing Video Game DARKSTAR, that Joel, Trace, Josh, Beez, and Mary Jo worked on. Its a sort of Scifi interactive story, about a black hole, and a future space ship going back in time to save Earth. I'd say its part of a "were are they now?" theme, that shows what the cast did after BEST BRAINS split up.4. CODE NAME: DIAMOND HEAD--Episode 608---This experiment used a TV pilot from the mid 1970s made by Quinn Martin, that a knock off of Hawaii Five-O. Altho not the worst film in this boxset, I feel it's one of the weaker episodes from the series. Its about a secret agent nammed Diamond Head who works for Aunt Mary, trying to stop a weapon dealer who's a master of disguises named TREE. Also, TREE wants to steal this snail poison the Military is producing.EXTRAS---There are two documentaries on this DVD. First, Kevin Murphy talks about his work post-BEST BRAINS. He wrote a book about seeing 365 movies in 365 different movie theaters around the world. Also he was involved in a couple of Internet projects with Mike and Bill. Kevin's greatest success, tho, is the FIlM CREW, and RIFF TRAX. The other extra is another documentary, this time about Quinn Martin. Narrated by a writer who'd written a book about Quinn's life, we hear how Quinn Martin wrote and produced TV shows back in the late 60s and 70s. Like the LIPPERT documetary but shorter, it shows the changes commercial TV underwent during that era. Once more we are lead to reflect on the evolution of America's Entertainment culture, provideing the whole Boxset with a dash of intellectual, sociological value beyond nostalgia TV programming.And there you have MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000: XXIII. Buy it to witness the nadir of Christopher Lee's career, to discover the history of America's changing entertainment values from WWII thru 1975, and to enjoy the JOEY THE LEMUR story. Or, Buy it cos it goes good with the other 22 MST3K dvd sets up on your self.

Just as advertised