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If I'm looking to introduce a skeptic to the series, what would be the best ones to show them? Doesn't matter if they're available on DVD or not.

I used to watch the show pretty regularly, but I'm not really sure where to start since my memories are a bit hazy. I watched "The Screaming Skull" a few nights ago and thought it was great ("Everyone knows it's Slink-skull!"). Is it me or are the post-Joel years vastly underrated? The non-movie bits got lamer and lamer but the film commentary was still awesome.

I also watched "Manos, Hands of Fate" and despite its status as fan favorite, I didn't really think it was that funny. The movie itself sure was awful though....doing your own Torgo impressions is fun.

 

[explodet]

I think some good episodes to introduce the show to a new person is one of the Godzilla movies... Godzilla's a familiar character to almost everybody, and the way Joel and the 'bots add in dialogue to the fight scenes really makes the episode. There were two Godzilla movies MST3K'd - one was Godzilla vs. Megalon, the other I don't remember. Go with the first one if you're going that route.

Another good one is "Outlaw". B-movie cheese at its finest, it's impossible to take seriously. It was the first episode I saw and it got me hooked on the show.

EDIT: Another tip, look for movies that have actors people recognize - one of the appeals of Outlaw is how much they make fun of Jack Palance for being in that film.

 

[dog$]

Mitchell!

 

[Guzim]

The Touch of Satan
Space Mutiny

though if you want to introduce a person, watch the movie

 

[Evenball]

Cave Dwellers
Santa Clause
Pod People
Manos

 

[Coin Return]

Space Mutiny
Mitchell
Time Chasers
Boggy Creek II
Manos

The other Godzilla one was Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster, both are halarious.

 

[skip]

anything with joe don baker.

 

[ckohler]

Overdrawn at the Memory Bank

Mitchell

Cave Dwellers

Space Mutiny

Time Chasers

Soul Taker

Prince of Space

 

[Prince of Space]

Parts: The Clonus Horror

the one about the giant spider

Space Chief

 

[Catapult Beetle]

Alien from LA(the one with Kathy Ireland).

Pumaman.

Some friends of mine who never really watched MST liked these episodes.

 

[Blackie]

My favorites were always Pumaman and Kitten with a Whip, but I don't know if those episodes have the necessary qualities to lure a skeptic into the MSTK3 fold.

 

[gblues]

The Wild, Wild World of Batwoman ("END!!! END!!!")

And Mitchell. ("It's the Starship Enterprise in dry dock!")

The MST3K movie was pretty good, too.

Nathan

 

[Cheesemeister]

Can't-miss episodes...

Godzilla vs. Megalon
Cave Dwellers
Pod People
Fugitive Alien
Santa Claus Conquers the Martians
Warrior of the Lost World
Eegah
Zombie Nightmare
Starfighters
Deathstalker and the Warriors from Hell
Parts: the Clonus Horror
Space Mutiny
Time Chasers
Pumaman
Werewolf
The Final Sacrifice

If you have to pick just one episode to introduce your friend to the show, go with The Final Sacrifice. It's a Canadian film about a hockey hoser named Rowsdower and a scrawny pre-teen who go up against an evil cult in the hills of Alberta.

 

[atomsk]

The Giant Spider Invasion (with Alan Hale Jr aka THE SKIPPER as the sherrif)
Operation Double 007 (starring Sean Connery's brother Neil...i shit you not!)

both are fantastic.

 

[impirius]

I'd introduce someone to MST3K with a Gamera movie or Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (especially around Christmastime). They're wacky enough to hold a newbie's interest. Manos and Cave Dwellers are wonderful, but I think they appeal more to MSTies. Mitchell is excellent too, but a lot is lost on the viewer who doesn't know the story of Joel and his robots.

 

[Tarazet]

I can never make it through a thread that ckohler posts in. I'm not sure why, I can't quite put my finger on it...

 

[Warm Machine]

Jack Frost is by far the best one I have ever seen. The first 10 minutes are sketchy but after that it is non stop.

 

[xsarien]

Start with a Shorts reel, they're the most accessible. Once they're inevitably hooked, move onto the earlier CC episodes. Cave Dwellers is good, as is Pod People. Manos is overhyped, even with the commentary it's barely watchable. Some of the SFC episodes are also great for newcomers. Pumaman, Agent from H.A.R.M., and Giant Spider Invasion.

But yeah, start with any Shorts reel.

 

[impirius]

Start with a Shorts reel, they're the most accessible. Once they're inevitably hooked, move onto the earlier CC episodes. Cave Dwellers is good, as is Pod People. Manos is overhyped, even with the commentary it's barely watchable. Some of the SFC episodes are also great for newcomers. Pumaman, Agent from H.A.R.M., and Giant Spider Invasion.

But yeah, start with any Shorts reel.

Oh man, if you're doing shorts, there's one surefire winner:

A DATE WITH YOUR FAMILY

 

[DrForester]

Goign by episode, I'd have to say.

Jack Frost. It was hillarous.

I woudl have to say "This Island Earth (One from MST3K the movie) is probably my favorite though.

 

[sykoex]

Track of the Moon Beast was the first episode I saw and it had me on the floor! Now i'm a huge fan of the show.

BTW on a side note I recently watched the original War of the Worlds and realized that they got the name Clayton Forrester from the main character of that movie. Now I wish they would have kept this name for the 2005 version.

:lol :lol :lol @ sonarrat

 

[boredJonathan]

The only success I have had at hooking new people into MST3k is by showing them either Pod People or Cave Dwellers. Any collection of shorts would also work I would assume, but I didn't come into a decent colllection untill just recently so I wouldn't know first hand how those would fair.

As for Manos? It's a fan favorite because it is so god awful even with the commentary. It is just one of those films that is truly awful. It's not a fan favorite because the commentary is so great, (although is does have its moments), but just becasue its so bad. The MST3k fan page Sattelite News has an interesting breakdown on those kind of episodes. They called them 'Advanced Courses'.

So yeah, I'd go with Pod People personally as my ex girlfriend, who swore she would never watch MST3k, and purposefully watched Pod People with the intention of not laughing, was cracking up before the first break.

Ahh.. MST3k.. it it wasn't 1 AM right now I would probably go and watch one now.

 

[DyersEve]

Any of the Joel episodes, espacially any of the Japanese movies they did.

 

[JoshuaJSlone]

Most of these already mentioned, but deserving an extra vote:

Pod People ("Idiot control now!")
Space Mutiny ("Is this the man?" Mike: "Why, no sir, you da man.")
Pumaman ("He has the power to rear project major cities!")
Overdrawn at the Memory Bank (Raul Julia!)
Hobgoblins ("So the result of his complete immolation is just... minor redness and irritation.")
Prince of Space ("Your guns have no effect on me!")

All movies that are plenty bizarre on their own, rather than just being painfully awful or dull. Certainly my list is Mike-heavy; my main access to earlier episodes was when they were syndicated and played in the early AM locally.

For something more recent to interest someone, maybe one of their summer movie specials from the late 90s? I remember Mike Nelson saying something about how that was more accessible to some people, because they could recognize Arnold Schwarzenegger rather than going "Who the hell is John Agar?"

 

[Pudding Tame]

Space Mutiny, unless you want to save the best for last. That one had it all, Fat guy in a fake beard, space SFX ripped off from the original Battlestar Galactica, fugly love interest, girl killed in one scene then appering in the background of the next, "intense" car chase using golf karts, etc.

Just thinking about it makes me crack up.

What was the one with the Canadian that had the plane that could go though time, that was funny too.

 

[Koshiro]

Space Mutiny ("Is this the man?" Mike: "Why, no sir, you da man.")

Hahaha I remember this.

What was the movie that had a lady with a beehive hairstyle, and whenever she was on screen you heard Mike going "BzzZZzzzt. BzzzZZZZZZzt"?

 

[DarkCloud]

What was the one with the Canadian that had the plane that could go though time, that was funny too.

Time Chasers.


Samson Vs the Vampire Women, Zombie Nightmare, and Jack Frost are my personal favorites...

also there was the one with the ex crack addict turned nun who helps an escapee alien slave go up against his cyborg captors and their pet mini T-Rex's...Can't recall the name of it though. (FRED BURROWS!!! HELP ME!)

 

[JoshuaJSlone]

also there was the one with the ex crack addict turned nun who helps an escapee alien slave go up against his cyborg captors and their pet mini T-Rex's...Can't recall the name of it though. (FRED BURROWS!!! HELP ME!)

Oh hell yeah, Future War! I love that one. It's also interesting for the fact that the Van Damme-lite star Daniel Bernhardt went on to be an agent in The Matrix Reloaded.

 

[DarkCloud]

Oh hell yeah, Future War! I love that one. It's also interesting for the fact that the Van Damme-lite star Daniel Bernhardt went on to be an agent in The Matrix Reloaded.

THAT's the name. Finally. Time to hit up ebay.

Some quotes (from the MST3K characters for this film found on IMDB...seriously have to find this movie again.

"The sad thing is they're all former prostitutes." (in relation to the prostitute/crack addict nun's big friends)

(runaway strikes a pose and his shirt is ripped off of him) "My shirt fell off...It DID! ...You think I tore my shirt off don't you!"

"Well that was easy. Maybe it was butterflies that killed all the dinosaurs."

"Cardboard boxes aren't working try throwing a piece of paper or a cotton ball."

(punches alien handler) "He's got clown-white all over his fist now."

(runaway points up, trying to indicate that hes from space) "I live in your air vent"

(SWAT team comes upon remains of dinosaur's prey) "Reminds me of the time Chief Gates chunked all over headquarters."

Cop: "Hey captain! I think we've got something here!"
Servo (mimicking cop's voice): I found part of a burger I wanna know if I can eat it.

(dinosaur roars after other dinosaur dies) "Jerry nooooooo! He was only three days away from retirement!"

(Runaway tosses something at a dinosaur killing it) "Gack...gurgh...ki-killed by a pencil!"

(Tyrannosaurs are facing eachother across the room) "I only wish my arms were long enough to hold you."

Woman: Thank you for not killing me.
Crow: They should make a hallmark card for that

 

[Cheesemeister]

What was the one with the Canadian that had the plane that could go though time, that was funny too.

Actually, it was Vermont. Close enough, eh?

What episode(s) did you wind up picking, border?

 

[Ninja Scooter]

whats the name of the one with that fat canadian dude with a mullet who is trying to rescue some kid from a cult? His name was like Rausdaur or some shit.

 

[xsarien]

Most of these already mentioned, but deserving an extra vote:

Space Mutiny ("Is this the man?" Mike: "Why, no sir, you da man.")

I much prefer "Okay everyone, look aliv---oh, sorry."

 

[Goreomedy]

The episode which featured "Lassie: The Painted Hills" along with the short "Body Care and Grooming" is the best of the series. Joel era, too.

I'll echo the recommendations for:

Pumaman
Space Mutiny
Zombie Nightmare
And MST3k Movie

 

[Cheesemeister]

whats the name of the one with that fat canadian dude with a mullet who is trying to rescue some kid from a cult? His name was like Rausdaur or some shit.

If you have to pick just one episode to introduce your friend to the show, go with The Final Sacrifice. It's a Canadian film about a hockey hoser named Rowsdower and a scrawny pre-teen who go up against an evil cult in the hills of Alberta.

I just watched The Painted Hills last night.

 

[Evenball]

That one was the final sacrifice.

IMO I always thought the commentary on Manos was top notch

I'll also have to second Werewolf (where there's a full moon every night) and Pumaman, plus add "The Incredibly Strange Creatures That Stopped Living And Became Mixed Up Zombies" (yes, that's the title) and The Amazing Colossal Man

 

[pnjtony]

There was a japanese knock-off planet of the apes where they called the monkey's fingers "link sausage". Which one was that?

 

[Cheesemeister]

There was a japanese knock-off planet of the apes where they called the monkey's fingers "link sausage". Which one was that?

Time of the Apes.

 

[Jotaro]

I misread "Best" for "New", you nearly gave me an heart attack.