# Any suggestions for a new fan of MST3K? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 29, 2014, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-suggestions-for-a-new-fan-of-mst3k/689587 "2014-05-29T19:03:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-suggestions-for-a-new-fan-of-mst3k/689587/21 "2014-05-29T23:29:25Z")
> [@Nonsuch](#): > > Another vote _against_ **Manos** as a gateway MST3K episode. It’s the most overrated episode in the canon; it’s just not that funny, though as a specimen of train-wreck cinema, “Manos” itself is pretty hard to surpass. Someone recently found the master print and was going to [make a Blu-Ray of it](http://www.manosinhd.com/); I admit to being intrigued. > > **Touch of Satan** is a solid B-plus episode. There are better ones, but it’s an entirely satisfying effort. > > My suggestions to start with: > > Mitchell > The Final Sacrifice > Agent for H.A.R.M. > I Accuse My Parents > Teenagers from Outer Space > > And no knock against the OP —what you like is what you like — but the host segments are, to my mind, an essential part of the experience and helps to make the show what it is. I’m the first to admit they can be hit or miss, but the best of them — I’m thinking of [Owner of a Lonely Heart](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5OzF-ZT6QI), [Air on a Delta Knight](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aathldHtnJA) and, most insane of all, the [Holo-Clown Emitter](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtrPp-sDJ8k) —are as funny as anything in the movies. What is the Holo-Clown bit from? I’ve never seen it before that I recall. As for liking the host segments, well, they ARE hokey and cheesy. I think you have to watch a couple episodes to get into the characters and start enjoying them. _Pod People_ is a great place to start as far as riffs AND host segments. “IT STINKS!” This far in and no mention of the heavyweight champion of shorts: [Mr B Natural](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAKentKiGOY)! “The faces of those he’s wronged float up at him. . .” “Mr B, you’re HOT!” ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2014, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-suggestions-for-a-new-fan-of-mst3k/689587/22 "2014-05-30T00:01:35Z")
Oh, man. How could I have forgotten “Werrwilf”? ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2014, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-suggestions-for-a-new-fan-of-mst3k/689587/23 "2014-05-30T00:03:56Z")
> [@Nonsuch](#): > > Another vote _against_ **Manos** as a gateway MST3K episode. It’s the most overrated episode in the canon; it’s just not that funny, though as a specimen of train-wreck cinema, “Manos” itself is pretty hard to surpass. I’d agree that _Manos_ isn’t one of the best episodes to start will. It’s legendary among fans because the movie itself is one of the worst – possibly THE worst – ever featured on the show, but you probably need a fair number of episodes under your belt to really appreciate that. I’d personally recommend _Time Chasers_ and _Future War_ ahead of \*Manos \*for a beginner, but the OP may want to choose episodes based on whether the featured movie sounds like it will be entertaining for him. Not that any of these movies were _good_, but depending on one’s personal tastes making fun of a bad monster movie might be more entertaining than making fun of a bad haunted house movie. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2014, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-suggestions-for-a-new-fan-of-mst3k/689587/24 "2014-05-30T00:11:33Z")
I’ve said before that the best episodes of MST3K generally require a decent movie to riff on. They don’t have to be, but there are some that are just so bad or so boring that it’s hard to make a funny episode. The last two I listed earlier are still watchable without the MST3K treatment (if not great cinema) and that helps a lot. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2014, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-suggestions-for-a-new-fan-of-mst3k/689587/25 "2014-05-30T00:16:48Z")
> [@asterion](#): > > The Girl in Lovers Lane I probably haven’t seen this one in 15 years but I can still sing their fake version of the theme music. “Annnnd lots of actors there’s no time to name…” ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2014, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-suggestions-for-a-new-fan-of-mst3k/689587/26 "2014-05-30T00:54:24Z")
The Santa Claus movie with the international kids performances is hilarious. Final Sacrifice Mitchell Pretty much the same things everyone else has said. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2014, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-suggestions-for-a-new-fan-of-mst3k/689587/27 "2014-05-30T00:56:21Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > The Santa Claus movie with the international kids performances is hilarious. “You know, if seasonal holiday depression has a soundtrack this is it.” ---
**Author:** ![Randolph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Randolph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randolph)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2014, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-suggestions-for-a-new-fan-of-mst3k/689587/28 "2014-05-30T00:57:40Z")
> [@asterion](#): > > All the Gamera and Godzilla movies. Seconded. Eminently mockable, enjoyably cheesy movies. **o/~** _Gamera is really neat! He is full of turtle meat! We believe in Gameraaaaa!_ **o/~** ---
**Author:** ![dzeiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/46a35a/32.png) [@dzeiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzeiger)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2014, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-suggestions-for-a-new-fan-of-mst3k/689587/29 "2014-05-30T03:15:48Z")
> [@asterion](#): > > I’ve said before that the best episodes of MST3K generally require a decent movie to riff on. They don’t have to be, but there are some that are just so bad or so boring that it’s hard to make a funny episode. The last two I listed earlier are still watchable without the MST3K treatment (if not great cinema) and that helps a lot. Yeah, that’s what I liked about _Cave Dwellers_. It’s a crappy Conan rip-off, but it’s a watchable Conan rip-off as long as you’re OK with such things–and it has enough WTF moments for Joel and the Bots to riff off of. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2014, 8:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-suggestions-for-a-new-fan-of-mst3k/689587/30 "2014-05-30T08:33:12Z")
_Deathstalker and the Warriors from Hell_ is a personal favorite of mine, perhaps if only because I enjoy goofy sword & sorcery flicks. And potatoes. The Gamera movies, too. Good if you like the late Showa-era Godzilla films, but wish they weren’t so [del]sober[/del] somber and intellectual. _Time of The Apes_ is interesting in that, despite being a cut-rate dub and re-editing of a Japanese Planet of the Apes ripoff TV series into a two-hour movie, is actually somewhat closer to the industrial level of the Ape society shown in the original novel, _La Planète des singes_. Meaning, of course…apes with jeeps and machine guns. And snappy uniforms. ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2014, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-suggestions-for-a-new-fan-of-mst3k/689587/31 "2014-05-30T14:19:35Z")
I see most of the recommendations I would have made. Some of my personal favorites, just to be redundant : Operation Double 007 (AKA Operation Kid Brother on home video) Danger! Death Ray Diabolik Fugitive Alien 1 and 2 Mitchell The Brain that Wouldn’t Die The Thing that Couldn’t Die The Undead Deathstalker and the Warriors From Hell The Magic Voyages of Sinbad The Day the Earth Froze Jack Frost The Sword and the Dragon Final Sacrifice Space Mutiny Pumaman … and I could go on for a while. ---
**Author:** ![awldune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@awldune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/awldune)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2014, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-suggestions-for-a-new-fan-of-mst3k/689587/32 "2014-05-30T14:35:33Z")
> [@Ranchoth](#): > > _Time of The Apes_ is interesting in that, despite being a cut-rate dub and re-editing of a Japanese Planet of the Apes ripoff TV series into a two-hour movie, is actually somewhat closer to the industrial level of the Ape society shown in the original novel, _La Planète des singes_. > > Meaning, of course…apes with jeeps and machine guns. And snappy uniforms. I also loved Time of the Apes, not sure why it is relatively low in the lists. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2014, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-suggestions-for-a-new-fan-of-mst3k/689587/33 "2014-05-30T19:42:42Z")
Well damn, it looks like Netflix only has 20 titles, most of which have not been suggested here. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2014, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-suggestions-for-a-new-fan-of-mst3k/689587/34 "2014-05-30T19:58:30Z")
Pretty much every MST3K ever has been uploaded to youtube. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2014, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-suggestions-for-a-new-fan-of-mst3k/689587/35 "2014-05-30T20:02:00Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > Well damn, it looks like Netflix only has 20 titles, most of which have not been suggested here. Almost all the episodes are on YouTube unless there has been a crack down. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2014, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-suggestions-for-a-new-fan-of-mst3k/689587/36 "2014-05-30T20:13:08Z")
Gotta love that YouTube. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2014, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-suggestions-for-a-new-fan-of-mst3k/689587/37 "2014-05-31T00:52:10Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > Gotta love that YouTube. Thanks. Yeah, the guys have pretty much allowed Youtube to have them at this point, just like they didn’t mind the tapes being passed around when it was on the air. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2014, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-suggestions-for-a-new-fan-of-mst3k/689587/38 "2014-05-31T01:19:06Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > Gotta love that YouTube. Thanks. Yeah, check the link I posted before where you can sort by seasons and viewer ratings. It has links to all the episodes on Youtube. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2014, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-suggestions-for-a-new-fan-of-mst3k/689587/39 "2014-05-31T01:35:18Z")
I really love the short subjects, in particular: “Hired, Pts 1 & 2,” “What to do on a Date,” “Junior Rodeo,” and “Here Comes The Circus.” Crow–“Here Comes The Devil,” Servo–“The horror that is the circus,” “I’m a bad clown, a very bad clown.” (Emmet Kelly does nothing but eat) ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2014, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-suggestions-for-a-new-fan-of-mst3k/689587/40 "2014-05-31T01:46:26Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > I really love the short subjects, in particular: “Hired, Pts 1 & 2,” “What to do on a Date,” “Junior Rodeo,” and “Here Comes The Circus.” Crow–“Here Comes The Devil,” > Servo–“The horror that is the circus,” “I’m a bad clown, a very bad clown.” (Emmet Kelly does nothing but eat) [A Date With Your Family is my favorite short.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEtaaW3UFZA) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-suggestions-for-a-new-fan-of-mst3k/689587.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-suggestions-for-a-new-fan-of-mst3k/689587.md?page=3)