I’m a Joel fan, since he was the one I saw first, and spent many happy family days (well, me, my father and brother, my mother never quite “got” the show)gathered 'round the television laughing 'til it hurt watching him and the robots. Nothing at all against Mike, though, he’s cool in his own right, but by the time he came on, my father kind of flapped his hands at him and stated his preference for Joel, and by default and sheer bias, my brother and I gave up on the show, too. I have begun to watch more Mike episodes recently, though, and I’ve got no beef with him. He’s good.
But Christmas just isn’t Christmas without “A Patrick Swayze Christmas”, with Crow, Tom, and Joel.
I’m not only going to have to go with Joel, but admit a certain level of suprise on the number of Mike votes in the thread. Not that I have anything against Mike, but Joel was just…goofier. There was a playfulness that Mike never captured.
I had ordered all the Mike episodes from ebay a while back, the next time I have the cash to spare I think ill get the rest so I can have a frame of reference and see the beginnings of the show and Joel.
Joel: Quirky, weird, absolutely one-of-a-kind television presence. He has all the range of a paper airplane, but his style is unique and extremely likable and charming. You end up liking him as much for his flaws (he constantly forgot his lines, and you can hear him fumbling in many a scene) as for his strengths.
Mike: Much more straightforward and “ordinary,” but with a far wider comedic range. Anyone who can convincingly play Morrissey, Torgo, Andy Rooney and Captain Janeway is a force to be reckoned with.
When I was watching the show in its original run, I initially hated what I took to be Mike’s frat-boy blandness. It didn’t take long, though, to realize how tremendously talented he is, and in weighing him and Joel I’d have to say it’s pretty much a wash. I think Joel/Bots/Forrester/Frank will always be the “classic” MST lineup, but they did some first-rate work after Joel left. In fact, I slightly prefer the more pugnacious and sharper tone that came into the show later (through Bill Corbett I always assumed) to the more winsome approach of Joel’s episodes.
Just got back from Turkey Day vacation late Saturda, had no time to hit the boards till now.
I’m for Mike.
Joel … Joel was lethargic very often. While Mike had some bland moments, Joel often looked like he was about to pass out on the stage. It also affected his line delivery - he didn’t enunciate like Mike. And while Joel was silly and random, I felt Mike had more of a playful wit, when they weren’t playing up the ‘big dumb white guy’ angle.
Also, stoner mannerisms irk me. Just a little.
I also felt that Joel’s paternal role with the 'Bots was limiting. Mike was more of a peer, which I felt was a better dynamic.
Lastly, I felt Mike made more sense as the test subject. Joel’s clearly smarter than his captors.
