# 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:** 19\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2007, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-an-mst3k-episode-to-snag-a-skeptic/417742/61 "2007-09-05T16:35:13Z")
**Teenage Caveman** was the episode I remember laughing at the hardest, but that was also when I was pretty new to the series. Oh, the lines like, “Brought you some dinner. Hope you like sticks.” And the “running cavemen” chant. Priceless. Favorite line from **Boggy Creek II** : convenience store clerk: “Can I help you?” Crow: “Yes, do you sell turquoise plastic pith helmets?” (there’s one hanging overtly in the background) My suggestions are: **Teenagers from Outer Space** , **The Magic Sword** , **The Beast of Yucca Flats** , **Samson vs. The Vampire Women** , and one of my favorite unsung episodes, **The Dead Talk Back**. ---
**Author:** ![DeadlyAccurate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@DeadlyAccurate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadlyAccurate)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2007, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-an-mst3k-episode-to-snag-a-skeptic/417742/62 "2007-09-05T16:57:53Z")
We watched \*Tormented \*last night. That one had a lot of funny jokes (“She sounds like a seal,”) and the movie, while not very well executed, actually has a plot that holds together rather coherently. It was probably considered a banal but not particularly bad movie when it first hit theaters (1960). ---
**Author:** ![Archergal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Archergal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Archergal)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2007, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-an-mst3k-episode-to-snag-a-skeptic/417742/63 "2007-09-05T19:06:17Z")
[QUOTE=Mrs. Cake] _Santa Claus Vs The Martians_ is the one that hooked me. [/QUOTE] That’s got my vote. I watch it over the holidays every year. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![poetwarlord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/db5fbb/32.png) [@poetwarlord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/poetwarlord)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2007, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-an-mst3k-episode-to-snag-a-skeptic/417742/64 "2007-09-05T19:47:15Z")
The Leech Woman or The Atomic Brain. ---
**Author:** ![divemaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/divemaster/32/78_2.png) [@divemaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/divemaster)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2007, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-an-mst3k-episode-to-snag-a-skeptic/417742/65 "2007-09-05T19:57:17Z")
I’ll add a fourth (fifth? sixth?) vote for **The Day the Earth Froze** (SAMPO!). Laughed so hard I suffered an asthma attack, and I don’t even have asthma! “They’re roasting Bullwinkle!” “…and practiced slash-and-burn agriculture” “Heyyyyyy, no boat!” “Oh dead, bloated carp…” “Ma’am, the multicolored dome is an option you did not order.” “So, are you with the Bride, or the FAILURE”? “He’s a failure, la la la Total Failure, tra la la What a failure what a failure Failure failure la la la… he failed to bring back the sampo; we will die of starvation, la la la…” (the dancing and prancing around just \*makes \* this scene) ---
**Author:** ![Jayrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Jayrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jayrot)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2007, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-an-mst3k-episode-to-snag-a-skeptic/417742/66 "2007-09-05T20:26:39Z")
[QUOTE=Revenant Threshold] Prince of Space! [/QUOTE] Strongly seconded! I like that one VERY MUCH. ---
**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 5, 2007, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-an-mst3k-episode-to-snag-a-skeptic/417742/67 "2007-09-05T21:22:21Z")
I was worried about you folks for a while there. Nice to see more love for _The Day The Earth Froze._ I think I’ll pull my sampo out of storage tonight and play with it for a while. ---
**Author:** ![stolichnaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bcef8e/32.png) [@stolichnaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stolichnaya)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2007, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-an-mst3k-episode-to-snag-a-skeptic/417742/68 "2007-09-05T21:25:51Z")
As others have indicated, I think that _Space Mutiny_ has the most crossover appeal. The “Big McLargeHuge” run is fantastic, the movie is super-cheesy and pitiful enough to be a worthy foil, but not confusing or boring. I’ve never been a big fan of the interludes so I tend to disregard them when making a recommendation. ---
**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 5, 2007, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-an-mst3k-episode-to-snag-a-skeptic/417742/69 "2007-09-05T22:26:52Z")
Slim pickings among the single title commercial releases, most of the really good stuff is in the collections, dammit. Here’s what it looks like I get to chose from: _Manos, the Hands of Fate Santa Claus Conquers the Martians The Brain That Wouldn’t Die Mitchell Eegah The Wild World of Batwoman I Accuse My Parents The Crawling Hand The Hellcats The Beginning of the End Catalina Caper/Skydivers Sidehackers Red Zone Cuba_ (which is out, I couldn’t even sit through that one) Hey, how come _MST3K: the Movie_ costs almost $100? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![ladybug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/46a35a/32.png) [@ladybug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladybug)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2007, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-an-mst3k-episode-to-snag-a-skeptic/417742/70 "2007-09-05T23:27:10Z")
I would go with either _Space Mutiny_ or _The Screaming Skull_ (which, IIRC, has a hilarious Gumby short at the beginning). ---
**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:** [September 6, 2007, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-an-mst3k-episode-to-snag-a-skeptic/417742/71 "2007-09-06T00:03:50Z")
[QUOTE=koeeoaddi] Hey, how come _MST3K: the Movie_ costs almost $100? :eek: [/QUOTE] DVD long out of print. ---
**Author:** ![Terrifel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2007, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-an-mst3k-episode-to-snag-a-skeptic/417742/72 "2007-09-06T00:57:12Z")
[QUOTE=koeeoaddi] Slim pickings among the single title commercial releases, most of the really good stuff is in the collections, dammit. Here’s what it looks like I get to chose from: _Manos, the Hands of Fate Santa Claus Conquers the Martians The Brain That Wouldn’t Die Mitchell Eegah The Wild World of Batwoman I Accuse My Parents The Crawling Hand The Hellcats The Beginning of the End Catalina Caper/Skydivers Sidehackers Red Zone Cuba_ (which is out, I couldn’t even sit through that one) Hey, how come _MST3K: the Movie_ costs almost $100? :eek: [/QUOTE] :smack: Opps! Well, so much for that idea. Sorry, I thought it’d be one of those titles you could pick up at Wal-Mart for like 4 bucks or something. In that case… based on the above list, and excluding **Red Zone Cuba** – oh come on, why not? How can you not love that one scene where the “Tungsten Trio” hurl that bizarre-looking, apocalyptically downbeat frog-leg vendor guy down the well? Plus John Carradine sings!!! But if you must eschew **RZC** , I’d go for either **Mitchell** or **The Brain That Wouldn’t Die.** As Joel’s last episode and Mike’s first episode respectively, either one would be a good jumping-on point. Somewhere I recall seeing a 2-DVD set of the episodes \*\*“Manos” The Hands of Fate \*\* and **Santa Claus Conquers the Martians**. But it would probably cost a million billion dollars by now. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2007, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-an-mst3k-episode-to-snag-a-skeptic/417742/73 "2007-09-06T01:40:19Z")
[QUOTE=Terrifel] :Somewhere I recall seeing a 2-DVD set of the episodes \*\*“Manos” The Hands of Fate \*\* and **Santa Claus Conquers the Martians**. But it would probably cost a million billion dollars by now. [/QUOTE] Slightly less, at [Amazon.](http://www.amazon.com/Mystery-Science-Theater-3000-Collection/dp/B0002M5TOI/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-7631594-3707138?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1189042034&sr=8-1) ---
**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 6, 2007, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-an-mst3k-episode-to-snag-a-skeptic/417742/74 "2007-09-06T01:46:10Z")
[QUOTE=jsc1953] Slightly less, at [Amazon.](http://www.amazon.com/Mystery-Science-Theater-3000-Collection/dp/B0002M5TOI/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-7631594-3707138?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1189042034&sr=8-1) [/QUOTE] I think we have a winner. I’ll make sure he starts with _Santa Claus Conquers the Martians_, before attempting _Manos_. Unless of course, someone ambles by and talks me into Eaagah, or … ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2007, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-an-mst3k-episode-to-snag-a-skeptic/417742/75 "2007-09-06T01:50:04Z")
Given your options, I’d say _The Brain \* or Head_That Wouldn’t Die\*. But _Space Mutiny_ and _Overdrawn at the Memory Bank_, which are in the same box set - Volume 2, I think - would be my top choices. I remember loving _Jack Frost_, but things being the way they are, I haven’t seen it in 10 years or something. It’s not a Mystery Science Theater episode, but I feel like I should recommend Mike Nelson’s commentary on the DVD of _Reefer Madness_. I wanted the 'bots to be there, but he’s very funny on that one and I think it will keep your friend’s interest. ---
**Author:** ![ACC\_Expat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/76d3ee/32.png) [@ACC\_Expat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ACC_Expat)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2007, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-an-mst3k-episode-to-snag-a-skeptic/417742/76 "2007-09-06T02:52:02Z")
I’ve introduced quite a few people to the show. If I can get a VCR, I go to my VHS of _The Final Sacrifice_ or _Gamera_, and if I’m limited to DVD I go with _Eegah!_ or _Mitchell_. In my experience _Manos_ is an effective introduction if you are watching it with a large and enthusiastic crowd that will riff along. The Coleman Francis films test the will of even the most veteran MST3K fans, so I’d stay away from those. /the “charge!” scene of RZC, while one of the funniest MST3K moments ever, does not atone for the rest of that film ---
**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 10, 2007, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-an-mst3k-episode-to-snag-a-skeptic/417742/77 "2007-09-10T21:33:04Z")
Update: the die is cast. I sent him the 2-DVD set of _Manos: The Hands of Fate_ and _Santa Claus Conquers the Martians_. I also threw in a VHS of _Pod People_.\* Hope I get a convert out of this – thanks for all the advice. \*“It stinks!” ---
**Author:** ![Terrorcotta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dbc845/32.png) [@Terrorcotta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrorcotta)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2007, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-an-mst3k-episode-to-snag-a-skeptic/417742/78 "2007-09-10T21:52:47Z")
“We like it very much!” ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2007, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-an-mst3k-episode-to-snag-a-skeptic/417742/79 "2007-09-10T22:35:30Z")
[QUOTE=ArizonaTeach] I always thought _The Cave Dwellers_ was the most accessible. [/QUOTE] The choice has been made, but I would have seconded this. Dopey movie that’s already funny but isn’t horribly dull to watch, some recognizable cast members, and some utterly inspired riffing. “Dad! Stop shakin’ me, Dad!” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-an-mst3k-episode-to-snag-a-skeptic/417742.md?page=3)