In the not too distant future!

I’ve come to a conclusion.  The second favorite decade of my life was 1988 to 1998… or thereabouts- the run of Mystery Science Theater 3000.  I say the second, because I think that the next one, and probably the one after that will be the best.   

If you’ve never watched MST3K, all I can say is- I’m very sorry for you.  It was a brilliant show that encapsulated much of what my life was, and is- using my vast knowledge of movies, television, books and music to run a continual reference filled commentary on a life that is usually passing me by.  And it had robots.   I’ve been a nerd my entire life- science fiction movies, television and books have been my best and longest friends.  I often blame the fact that my parents watched Planet of the Apes and 2001:  A Space Odyssey right before I was born on my geek tendencies.

I discovered MST3k in about 1989 or 90, when I was at CU Boulder.  They were in their first couple of seasons at Comedy Central.  We discovered them by accident, coming home from the club late and not wanting to go to sleep.  CC used to repeat the 8.00 pm, or whatever, showing at midnight back then.  We soon had a new Friday ritual.  We'd have loads of people over, drink beer, make piles of popcorn and watch the brilliance.  

The show also presented several college tours in the mid-90s, called Free/Fresh Cheese Tours.  They were free showings of new episodes, and included shirt giveaways and raffles for other prizes.  I was lucky to see two of the shows- Outlaw- one of my favorite episodes- and Zombie Nightmare.  Watching an MST3K episode with 120 other rabid fans is the best!  And I scored a raffle giveaway of one of the advertising banners- which I still have.

I've also been lucky to meet members of the MST3K cast on three occasions.  In 1992 some of the cast- Joel Hodgson, Jim Mallon, Trace Beaulieu and Kevin Murphy came to Denver to appear at Star Con!  I was there!  We got to meet them, and get autographs.  During the Q&A someone asked if they would mention Denver in the show.  They did!  During one of the host segments of Crash of Moons- Episode 417- they talked about sending Bannergrams  (named for one of the movies stars- John 'Sgt. Shultz' Banner) to people… in Denver!  They mentioned us three times.  It was awesome.  

They must have had a great time doing the Con, because the show then threw themselves two conventions in Minneapolis- ConventionCon ExpoFest-A-Rama in 1994, and - ConventionCon ExpoFest-A-Rama 2: Electric Bugaloo in 1996.  Yup… still have the badges from those!  They conventions were an amazing weekend of panels, guest stars, signature sessions, episode viewings, looking at props from the show, Best Brains studio tours, and a costume contest and ball.  For the first convention, I went for a deep cut and dressed as a Renaissance Fair leather cup maker, one of the punching bags that the Mads presented as their experiment in The Giant Gila Monster.  Of course I am Tolkien reading freak. In 1996, we went as skydivers, and I think we may have scared Mike Nelson.   

Best Brains- the company that the cast created to produce the show created a video called the MST3K Scrapbook, with bloopers, behind the scenes and other extras that included scenes from the 1994 ConventionCon.  I'm in it twice!  Ok, you hear my voice at the beginning of the segment saying 'We're here!  And it's wonderful… that's all there is to it!  We're never leaving!'  A few minutes later, you can see the back of my head.  

Perhaps the ultimate highlight of my MST3K experience, though, has to be that I saw the live version of This Island Earth!  They performed it at the ConventionCon in 1994.  Eventually it became MST3K: The Movie, which I saw on opening weekend at the Tivoli.  I think there were 32 of us there.  I have to admit- I would have gone with Bootsy Collins instead of Leona Helmsley, myself.  I watched MST3K right up to the end, throwing a huge finale party in 1999.  It was an incredible run. 

But my involvement of all things MST3K didn't end when the show did.  When the SciFi Channel took over the show in 1996, they began an online gamed called 'Caption This!'  The game was interactive and allowed a community of 'cappers' to crack wise at screen grabs of what was showing on SciFi at the moment.  A core group of Cappers went to New Orleans to take part in a Capping panel at the American Pop Culture Association conference in April, 2000.  I think there were 16 of us and we had a great time- exploring New Orleans and talking MST3K.  

But then, I hit a low point and I stopped watching MST3K.   See, I shared all the original MST3K experiences with my then wife.  When we broke up, I just didn't want to be reminded.  I'd watch an episode here or there, and I was still in contact with many of my capper friends, but for the most part, it was just too hard.   It was another decade before I watched again.  Funnily enough, it was another break up that did it.  I can't even tell you why, but I'd forgotten how good MST3K made me feel, and since the initial 'wounds' were long forgotten I was able to enjoy it again.  

I pulled out all the MST3K stuff I'd packed away- the videos, the DVDs, the Con badges, the episode guides- both published and hand-made- all my fan club stuff, the posters, the Free Cheese banner, and the Servo heads and other bot parts I'd found.  I even put my Fan club card (60346) back into my wallet.   MST3K was back!  

And it continues!  I can often be seen in my red  Gizmonics jumpsuit, and sport Gizmonic colors on the bag I carry daily.  I also look forward to the newest Shout Factory! DVD packages.  Most recently, I was finally able to complete my replicas of Tom Servo and Crow T. Robot- after collecting parts for years and years.   
 
All in all, I'd have to say that MST3K is in a close tie with Star Wars to being my all-time favorite thing.  Now, if I could only get the kids into it…