# What's the best MST3K episode? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 12, 2004, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-mst3k-episode/254670 "2004-07-12T05:39:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![PoorYorick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecccb3/32.png) [@PoorYorick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PoorYorick)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2004, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-mst3k-episode/254670/21 "2004-07-12T15:18:58Z")
My vote has to be for _Prince of Space_. “Your weapons are useless against me!” ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2004, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-mst3k-episode/254670/22 "2004-07-12T15:39:10Z")
Manos the Hands of Fate is a classic. ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2004, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-mst3k-episode/254670/23 "2004-07-12T16:17:30Z")
> [@todd33rpm](#): > > _Huge_ fan of the Mike-era episodes checking in. > > I’m sure a lot of people won’t agree, but I don’t think Mike really hits his stride until season six. He’s got a few good moments prior to then, but by the time they hit the trio of Coleman Francis films in six, he’s at the top of his game. > > It’s something about the delivery: Mike’s just looser, and all three seem easier-going about laughing at the movie. And he’s INCREDIBLY sexy. Okay… Kevin Murphy is hot too. And they’re both fine writers. Oh to be the filling in that sandwich cookie. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2004, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-mst3k-episode/254670/24 "2004-07-12T16:22:52Z")
> [@Mockingbird](#): > > Otto, you doof… As he correctly stated, Best Brains has an open policy that as long as the episodes aren’t commercially released, they advocate fans trading them. > > Is it normally your nature to come into a thread and spout off without knowing what you’re talking about? No, I leave that up to you, the OP, and everyone else who thinks that Best Brains has the power to waive the rights of the copyright holders of the underlying movies. Unless you have a cite from copyright law indicating that using the entirety of someone else’s work as part of your own means that you now own the original work. Or a cite from Best Brains’ licensing agreement with the copyright holders authorizing downloads of commercially unavailable episodes. Either really. If it were really OK to download those eps that are commercially unavailable, don’t you think BB would have a site for it? And even accepting that non-released eps are fair game, many of the suggestions here have been commercially released. > [@SolGrundy](#): > > Who would he be stealing from? The copyright holders of the original underlying films. ---
**Author:** ![Nutty\_Bunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d07c76/32.png) [@Nutty\_Bunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nutty_Bunny)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2004, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-mst3k-episode/254670/25 "2004-07-12T16:32:29Z")
> [@Otto](#): > > And even accepting that non-released eps are fair game, many of the suggestions here have been commercially released. I’m sure the people making the suggestions in this thread didn’t go to the website first to see if they are available for download. They are merely answering the question, which was “What’s the best MST3K episode?”. ---
**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:** [July 12, 2004, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-mst3k-episode/254670/26 "2004-07-12T16:46:57Z")
_Deathstalker_ and _Santa Claus_ are two of my favorites. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2004, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-mst3k-episode/254670/27 "2004-07-12T17:43:21Z")
When I saw the thread title, the first episode I thought of was _Jack Frost_. _Overdrawn at the Memory Bank_ (“this is how much pure cocaine you would need to enjoy this movie”) and _Space Mutiny_ (“ho ho ho”) are also classics. There are some MST3K DVDs, by the way. I have Shorts, Vol. 1, which comes with three full-length movies as well, and I think there is at least one more volume. ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2004, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-mst3k-episode/254670/28 "2004-07-12T17:44:51Z")
> [@Otto](#): > > No, I leave that up to you, the OP, and everyone else who thinks that Best Brains has the power to waive the rights of the copyright holders of the underlying movies. > > Unless you have a cite from copyright law indicating that using the entirety of someone else’s work as part of your own means that you now own the original work. Or a cite from Best Brains’ licensing agreement with the copyright holders authorizing downloads of commercially unavailable episodes. Either really. > > If it were really OK to download those eps that are commercially unavailable, don’t you think BB would have a site for it? > > And even accepting that non-released eps are fair game, many of the suggestions here have been commercially released. > The copyright holders of the original underlying films. A good percentage of the films are public domain. None of the MST3K’d films are shown in their entirety as they did edit for time and spots where there wasn’t any point. You’re a hypocrite who gets judgemental on people for your presumption that others are breaking the rules. Glass houses and stones, Otto. Now beat it. The adults are talking now and children belong at the small card table. ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2004, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-mst3k-episode/254670/29 "2004-07-12T17:48:15Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > When I saw the thread title, the first episode I thought of was _Jack Frost_. _Overdrawn at the Memory Bank_ (“this is how much pure cocaine you would need to enjoy this movie”) and _Space Mutiny_ (“ho ho ho”) are also classics. > > There are some MST3K DVDs, by the way. I have Shorts, Vol. 1, which comes with three full-length movies as well, and I think there is at least one more volume. Therehave been three volumes of shorts and a special tape put out directly from Best Brains that features Assignment Venezuela. You can find the special tape for sale in the store at [http://www.mst3kinfo.com](http://www.mst3kinfo.com) ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2004, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-mst3k-episode/254670/30 "2004-07-12T18:48:51Z")
> [@Mockingbird](#): > > A good percentage of the films are public domain. Name three. > [@Mockingbird](#): > > You’re a hypocrite who gets judgemental on people for your presumption that others are breaking the rules. Glass houses and stones, Otto. If you want to take this to the Pit for some reason, feel free. Otherwise my friendly suggestion is that you knock it off. ---
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2004, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-mst3k-episode/254670/31 "2004-07-12T19:18:14Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by **Otto** > Name three. There are considerably more than three; click [here](http://www.retrofilm.com/index2.html). Not that it matters one way or the other, of course. MSTies are concerned with protecting the Best Brains’ interests, not the original movie copyright holders, because the original movies themselves aren’t worth anything (to us) outside of the MST context. No one’s going to waste bandwidth downloading the original **Attack of the Giant Leeches**. ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2004, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-mst3k-episode/254670/32 "2004-07-12T19:24:42Z")
> [@Otto](#): > > Name three. > If you want to take this to the Pit for some reason, feel free. Otherwise my friendly suggestion is that you knock it off. Manos, the Hands of Fate I Accuse My Parents The Girl In The Gold Boots And as you were the one coming in here throwing around accusations and pointing fingers and PERSIST in being jerkish, you open the pit thread and I’ll respond, oh hypocritical one. If you’re going to demand all rules and laws be followed, you best be doing the same. ---
**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2004, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-mst3k-episode/254670/33 "2004-07-12T19:41:28Z")
Nobody’s mentioned **Village of the Giants** yet? For God’s sake, people, it’s got **Beau Bridges** , pre- **Happy Day’s** Ron Howard _and_ Toni Basil. And giant hippies. It doesn’t get any better than that. ---
**Author:** ![malkavia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malkavia/32/5621_2.png) [@malkavia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/malkavia)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2004, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-mst3k-episode/254670/34 "2004-07-12T19:52:11Z")
I also recommend Mitchell and Pod People. Both incredibly brilliant. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2004, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-mst3k-episode/254670/35 "2004-07-12T20:06:28Z")
OK, OK, OK. Otto is quite right that downloading these episodes isn’t exactly legal. Most of the movies involved are still under copyright of their own. I’m aware of at least two instances where people have received cease-and-desist letters from a movie studio for sharing MST3K episodes online featuring movies owned by that studio. And Sandy Frank, the guy who owns the American rights to the Godzilla and Gamera movies, has stated publicly that he hates what MST3K did to his movies, he regrets giving them permission to use his films in the first place, and he’ll never give them permission to release those episodes commercially. Additionally, although several of the people who made MST3K have stated publicly that they’re aware of and approve of the downloading that goes on (I know Mike Nielsen, Kevin Murphy, and Mary Jo Pehl have, off the top of my head), that’s a far cry from any sort of legal permission. In fact, if any one person can be said to have control over that permission, it would probably be the producer, whose name escapes me at the moment, who has been conspicuously silent on the subject. However, having said that, this thread has not provided any advice or instructions on how to find or download any episodes. It’s basically a simple “what’s your favorite episode” poll. As long as no one crosses the line into giving advice or instructions on how to do anything illegal, I can’t see where the mods would have reason to be upset. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2004, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-mst3k-episode/254670/36 "2004-07-12T20:12:48Z")
> [@Nonsuch](#): > > There are considerably more than three; click [here](http://www.retrofilm.com/index2.html). > > Not that it matters one way or the other, of course. MSTies are concerned with protecting the Best Brains’ interests, not the original movie copyright holders, because the original movies themselves aren’t worth anything (to us) outside of the MST context. No one’s going to waste bandwidth downloading the original **Attack of the Giant Leeches**. Great, if the movies are in fact in public domain and if BB has no objection to their being downloaded, have at it. ---
**Author:** ![SolGrundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@SolGrundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SolGrundy)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2004, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-mst3k-episode/254670/37 "2004-07-12T20:20:30Z")
> [@pepperlandgirl](#): > > Oh, I forgot about Space Mutiny! “She’s presenting like a Mandril!” > “It’s real understanding of their boss to let the dead woman come back to work.” “Look alive, everybody! Oh… sorry, Debbie.” ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2004, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-mst3k-episode/254670/38 "2004-07-12T20:25:09Z")
> [@PoorYorick](#): > > My vote has to be for _Prince of Space_. “Your weapons are useless against me!” Heh. That’s one of the few MST3K eps I’d willingly pay money to own a copy of. The other is **Manos** and, possibly, **The Pod People**. And now I’ll have to go to this town’s good video place and rent **Mitchell**. I’ve seen it on the shelves, but I’ve never actually brought it home. **Otto** , what did you hope to gain from your persistent, ill-informed sniping? ---
**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:** [July 12, 2004, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-mst3k-episode/254670/39 "2004-07-12T20:28:11Z")
_He TRIED to kill me with a forklift…_ ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2004, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-mst3k-episode/254670/40 "2004-07-12T20:56:57Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > **Otto** , what did you hope to gain from your persistent, ill-informed sniping? Take it to the Pit or STFU. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-mst3k-episode/254670.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-mst3k-episode/254670.md?page=3)