# Help me choose an MST3K episode to snag a skeptic **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 1, 2007, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-an-mst3k-episode-to-snag-a-skeptic/417742 "2007-09-01T19:14:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2007, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-an-mst3k-episode-to-snag-a-skeptic/417742/1 "2007-09-01T19:14:30Z")
My brother, who has a sense of humor that screams MST3K, has not been properly inducted. He loved the Mike’s Mega-Cheese book and is thinking, with some hesitation, of sticking a toe in. I considered sending him the first _Hercules_, or maybe _Mutiny in Space_, but I keep changing my mind. After all, another person’s MST3K future rides on this decision. So, you get to choose. Come to a consensus on the perfect episode for a newbie and I’ll send it to him for his birthday. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2007, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-an-mst3k-episode-to-snag-a-skeptic/417742/2 "2007-09-01T19:16:53Z")
I vote for _Mitchell_ or possibly _The Brain That Wouldn’t Die_. _Mitchell_ is probably the one that gets the most quoted around here, though. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2007, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-an-mst3k-episode-to-snag-a-skeptic/417742/3 "2007-09-01T19:29:11Z")
What about _Manos, the Hands of Fate_? ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2007, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-an-mst3k-episode-to-snag-a-skeptic/417742/4 "2007-09-01T19:51:27Z")
I dunno. _Manos_ is a classic because it’s widely considered the worst movie of all time, but for that very reason, I’m not sure it’s the best one for introducing a newbie to the series. It’s really pretty unwatchable, and the jokes only help so much. JMHO, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2007, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-an-mst3k-episode-to-snag-a-skeptic/417742/5 "2007-09-01T20:03:02Z")
Are we limited to commercial releases? If so, then “Mutiny in Space” is a good choice. Otherwise “The Final Sacrifice” gets the nod. ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2007, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-an-mst3k-episode-to-snag-a-skeptic/417742/6 "2007-09-01T21:44:47Z")
[QUOTE=Otto] Are we limited to commercial releases? If so, then “Mutiny in Space” is a good choice. Otherwise “The Final Sacrifice” gets the nod. [/QUOTE] I’d rather send him something that’s a commercial release, but I’ll leave it open. [QUOTE=MsWhatsit] I dunno. _Manos_ is a classic because it’s widely considered the worst movie of all time, but for that very reason, I’m not sure it’s the best one for introducing a newbie to the series. It’s really pretty unwatchable, and the jokes only help so much. JMHO, of course. [/QUOTE] Agreed. I think for a newbie the movie has to be watchable on some level, which [sadly] leaves out _Manos_. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2007, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-an-mst3k-episode-to-snag-a-skeptic/417742/7 "2007-09-01T23:19:20Z")
Mutiny in Space, or Hobgoblins. Hobgoblins! -FrL- ---
**Author:** ![light\_strand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a6a055/32.png) [@light\_strand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/light_strand)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2007, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-an-mst3k-episode-to-snag-a-skeptic/417742/8 "2007-09-01T23:58:54Z")
Killer Shrews. ---
**Author:** ![BabaBooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dfb087/32.png) [@BabaBooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BabaBooey)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2007, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-an-mst3k-episode-to-snag-a-skeptic/417742/9 "2007-09-02T00:02:31Z")
Final Sacrifice. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2007, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-an-mst3k-episode-to-snag-a-skeptic/417742/10 "2007-09-02T00:35:11Z")
_The wild, wild, wild world of Batwoman_ is a favorite of mine, as well as the sodium one. I like the b&w monster movies best, though. I will happily watch any of those with no commentary at all. But the sodium one has some really good jokes (Aaaaaaave Mariiiiiia…) ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2007, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-an-mst3k-episode-to-snag-a-skeptic/417742/11 "2007-09-02T01:18:59Z")
I was considering _The Skydivers_, but the DVD set it is on may be out of print. For a second choice, I would concur with _Hobgoblins_. ---
**Author:** ![Number](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/number/32/242_2.png) [@Number](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Number)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2007, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-an-mst3k-episode-to-snag-a-skeptic/417742/12 "2007-09-02T01:50:46Z")
_Godzilla vs. Megalon_ or _Pod People_. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2007, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-an-mst3k-episode-to-snag-a-skeptic/417742/13 "2007-09-02T02:01:56Z")
[QUOTE=light strand] Killer Shrews. [/QUOTE] Seconded. My favorite. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2007, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-an-mst3k-episode-to-snag-a-skeptic/417742/14 "2007-09-02T02:07:54Z")
_He TRIED to kill me with a forklift!_ Fugitive Alien, Season 3, Joel era [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeMHN2r0yqA) ---
**Author:** ![totoismomo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/59ef9b/32.png) [@totoismomo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/totoismomo)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2007, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-an-mst3k-episode-to-snag-a-skeptic/417742/15 "2007-09-02T02:12:17Z")
I’ve recently treated some MST3K noobs to “The Final Sacrifice” and it went over really well. Also, I would recommend “Time Chasers,” “Overdrawn at the Memory Bank,” “Hobgoblins,” “Boggy Creek 2”, “The Touch of Satan,” and “Space Mutiny”. Any of those I think would be good introductory material. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2007, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-an-mst3k-episode-to-snag-a-skeptic/417742/16 "2007-09-02T02:14:29Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/KF5bY53jokQ/hqdefault.jpg "MST3K 319 Short Mr. B Natural Part:1") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KF5bY53jokQ) ---
**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2007, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-an-mst3k-episode-to-snag-a-skeptic/417742/17 "2007-09-02T02:36:28Z")
Prince of Space! ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2007, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-an-mst3k-episode-to-snag-a-skeptic/417742/18 "2007-09-02T03:29:20Z")
[QUOTE=NoClueBoy] _He TRIED to kill me with a forklift!_ Fugitive Alien, Season 3, Joel era ![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/SeMHN2r0yqA/maxresdefault.jpg)https://www.youtube.com/embed/SeMHN2r0yqA?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque [/QUOTE] 😃 [QUOTE=Frylock] Mutiny in Space, or Hobgoblins. Hobgoblins! -FrL- [/QUOTE] You know, I think _Hobgoblins_ is a great idea, but then it opens up the possibility of _Puma Man_, _Soul Catcher_ or _Wuhrr-wolf_. Of course, _The Screaming Skull_, _Devil Doll_ and _Quest of the Delta Knight_ each need consideration. _Final sacrifice_, _Killer Shrews_, _Danger!Deathray_, _Pod People_, _Mitchell_, _Prince of Freakin’ Space!_ See my problem, here? So many prospects and such high stakes. The pressure is killing me. ---
**Author:** ![Nuveena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a587f6/32.png) [@Nuveena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nuveena)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2007, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-an-mst3k-episode-to-snag-a-skeptic/417742/19 "2007-09-02T03:36:30Z")
I would not pick any Coleman Francis films. I think The Amazing Colossal Man is pretty watchable. ---
**Author:** ![Not\_A\_Tame\_Lion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e36b37/32.png) [@Not\_A\_Tame\_Lion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Not_A_Tame_Lion)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2007, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-an-mst3k-episode-to-snag-a-skeptic/417742/20 "2007-09-02T06:39:56Z")
What? No love for _The Day The Earth Froze_? That shit had me rolling with laughter. (I think that’s what it’s called; the one based on the Kalevaala.) On the other hand, hard to go wrong with either _Secret Agent Super Dragon_ or _Girls Town._ Oh, hell, now you’ve got me going. I’m going to have to watch this stuff all over again! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-an-mst3k-episode-to-snag-a-skeptic/417742.md?page=2)