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Ask MST3k Creator Joel Hodgson
Posted by
CmdrTaco
on Wed Nov 21, 2007 05:07 PM
from the because-you-can dept.
from the because-you-can dept.
As turkey day approaches, we have the chance to ask Joel Hodgson whatever you can think of. If you've lived without electricity since the 80s, you might not be aware that he was the creator and original host of what may be the funniest show in history - Mystery Science Theater 3000, as well as the upcoming Cinematic Titanic. I've still got my fan club membership card even after nearly 2 decades. Standard Slashdot interview rules apply: ask your questions here, and we'll pass a bunch of the highest scoring ones for Joel to answer.
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News: Joel and Original Cast of MST3K Riding the Cinematic Titanic 185 comments
AugstWest writes "Unfortunately it's in separate projects, but just after Jim Mallon (the man who owns all things MST3K) announced that he would be bringing back Tom Servo, Crow and Gypsy in animated Flash shorts on the web along with Paul Chaplin (a writer from the original MST3K), Joel Hodgson, the series creator, has announced that he will be launching a new venture called Cinematic Titanic. It will feature horrible movies riffed by the original cast of MST3K, including Josh Weinstein (the original Tom Servo), Trace Beaulieu (the original Crow), Frank Conniff (TV's Frank), Mary Jo Pehl (Pearl Forrester) and, of course, Joel himself. They've already got the rights to 12 movies, and will be releasing one a month starting in December for DVD purchase or download."
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News: Joel Hodgson Answers 95 comments
I wanted to start out this interview by thanking Joel Hodgson, MST3k creator and soon
to be star of Cinematic Titanic. I've been
a fan so long, I can't even remember when. I've been shuttling my MST coffee mug from
desk to desk for like 15 years now, so I'm pretty pumped that he'd waste your time
with us. You can peruse the original questions, or just hit that magical link below and begin reading the interrogation.
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Rifftrax & The Film Crew (Score:5, Interesting)
Box Set Frustrations (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Box Set Frustrations (Score:4, Interesting)
Robert Fiveson, the director of "Parts: The Clonus Horror" which appeared in MST3K Volume 12 Set was smart about it appeared in an interview clip on the DVD. He said he'd originally realized that while MST3K would certainly mock his movie, which despite its low budget and cheesy production was actually a decent movie, so decent it was totally ripped off to create the recent "The Island" directed by Michael Bay. Fiveson went on to say that he received tremendous support from the MST3K fanbase when he pursued a lawsuit against the makers of "The Island", which ended in a settlement, IIRC. Fiveson said he's very glad to have been associated with the show.
All that said, however, there are still a large number of unreleased episodes of the show based on movies whose copyrights have lapsed or are otherwise in the public domain, and here's hoping Jim Mallon and everyone else in a position to do so will work with Rhino to continue these quality releases of the best TV show ever.
Expensive or not, I'm more than happy to support Best Brains and everyone who made this wonderful treasure of TV. Yes, that means I'd bought them all on VHS originally, but I think all those have subsequently been re-released by Rhino, and sadly, the rights have expired again on some movies meaning they can no longer sell Volumes 1 and 10 (I think those are the two).
Push the button, Frank!
Parent
How did MST3k come about? (Score:5, Interesting)
Sci-Fi Channel Years (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Sci-Fi Channel Years (Score:4, Interesting)
I had heard rumors that Sci-Fi was the end of MST3K.
Sci-Fi is where shows go to die. I have never seen a concept so promising completely fail to deliver in all respects, but the Sci-Fi channel is the penultimate failure of cable television. I love science fiction as much as anyone, but I intentionally and actively avoid that channel because the vast majority of the stuff they air is total crap.
Allowing your show to be put on Sci-Fi channel is the death knell of your intellectual property (prime example-- Highlander: The Source).
Parent
Why'd you stop? (Score:5, Interesting)
Public Domain (Score:5, Interesting)
Hollywood Trends (Score:4, Interesting)
New Content (Score:5, Interesting)
We've all laughed at the choice of just inane productions you guys have lambasted over the years. However, there's new choices for great commentary being made every day (skipping personal suggestions). What sort of licensing issues do you guys run up against for acquiring certain content? Is there a "sweet spot" for movies to be in for it to be worth fighting for? How do you choose?
How's it feel when people quote decades-old jokes? (Score:3, Interesting)
Cherokee D (Score:4, Interesting)
Also if you could could give the MS3K treatment to any move which movie would it be?
My vote would go to the original Star Trek movie.
How much improv? (Score:5, Interesting)
why (Score:4, Interesting)
Theme song (Score:3, Funny)
Does it contain a subliminal message?
Permission and Sets (Score:5, Interesting)
Has this caused limitations of content for your treatment?
What movie(s) did you really want to review but were denied for some reason?
One of my favorite parts of the show was the creative use of inexpensive materials for the set (except that Millenium Falcon on the door might be worth something now). Will your current project use the same creativity, or will it be more funded and "polished?"
The first (Score:5, Interesting)
What do you do in your own off-time? (Score:5, Interesting)
We all know what a great job you did with MST3K, what the show was about, etc. HOWEVER -- I'm more curious about you!
And, perhaps most interestingly, are there any particular movies that you wouldn't dare lampoon?
Inquiring knows want to mind!
Hey Joel (Score:5, Interesting)
What do you think of KTMA episodes being available (Score:4, Insightful)
Well... (Score:4, Funny)
Pissed off any target? (Score:5, Interesting)
Joe Don Baker (Mitchell), I Believe (Score:4, Funny)
Also, there have been some new introductions to the DVDs licensed by Rhino and I've watched them all. At the beginning, they often talk with or about trying to contact the actors/directors of the films. Oftentimes, it's kind of sad when they show the actors or actresses as they really poured their heart into the movie. For Time Chasers, Mike opens up saying that they invited the original cast to see the movie together with them. I guess they thought it was going to be more friendly
That said, I have spent considerable amount of time and resources researching Manos and although this is off-topic from your question, I must point out that it was written, directed, produced and starred in by the same man. Hal P. Warren, a fertilizer salesman from El Paso Texas. You can find considerable material on that movie including that the camera had no sound function and couldn't hold more than 60 seconds worth of film which resulted in many cuts and bad editing and three people doing the voices. The film crew was not allowed to do anything artsy and soon dubbed the production "Mangos: Cans of Fruit." The unfortunate story of Torgo is that he was supposed to look like a Satyr but instead put the metal leg inserts in backwards (supposed to make his legs look like that of a goat's) and, as a result, had hilariously large knees. This caused him great pain and, whether he was addicted to pain killers or shamed from the movie I can't say, but he committed suicide shortly there after. Rest in peace, Torgo [imdb.com]. After I found out about that, I did feel a touch bad for him, considering his short life.
Parent
Zippy TV show? (Score:4, Interesting)
Could you make it today? (Score:5, Interesting)