Wired: MST3K - The Next Generation

Cinematic Titanic Steams Into Mystery Science Theater Waters
By John Scott Lewinski 12.07.07 3:00 PM
wired.com

The creator of Mystery Science Theater 3000 is returning to the movie-mocking business as captain of the Cinematic Titanic.

Joel Hodgson is reuniting with J. Elvis Weinstein (the original Tom Servo) and Trace Beaulieu (Crow T. Robot) to sink any B movies remaining afloat in the long-running cult TV show's wake. The celluloid target of their inaugural Dec. 10 release: 1972 horror debacle Brain of Blood.

Hodgson and crew plan to mine the depths of the sci-fi and horror genres for movies that bear the special MST3K level of delightful god-awfulness. Rather than call the reunion a "show," Hodgson described Cinematic Titanic as "a movie-riffing delivery system" that will keep loyal MST3K enthusiasts stocked with fresh laughs.

"History has been very kind to us," Hodgson said. "We have a very loyal fan base, and every (MST3K) DVD set we release sells better than the previous one. Since the supply of those original episodes is finite, we wanted to give our fans something new that kept the spirit and the tone of the original show."

The original MST3K started in 1988 on Minnesota television, then aired for a decade on various national cable channels. Created and initially hosted by Hodgson, the show endured a turnover of its entire cast before ending its run on the Sci Fi Channel in 1999. Earlier this year, the Sci Fi cast reunited to work on two separate MST3K-style satirical projects.

For Cinematic Titanic, Hodgson is partnering with movie-download service EZTakes to enable buyers to purchase and create DVDs themselves. The Cinematic Titanic website will sell DVDs, and eventually buyers will be able to download the film, commentary, liner notes and cover art to "self-fan-u-facture" DVDs at home.

Cinematic Titanic's five cast members (MST3K veterans Mary Jo Pehl and Frank Conniff also join the crew) will appear on screen in a multi-tiered silhouette arrangement reminiscent of a shadowy Hollywood Squares set, as the mockable movies play.

To launch Cinematic Titanic, the cast will perform Dec. 8 for Industrial Light & Magic staffers at George Lucas' Presidio campus in San Francisco, Hodgson said. A DVD of the invitation-only show will be up for sale alongside the Brain of Blood release.

Will fans hoping for a reunion of the original MST3K embrace multiple spinoffs of their favorite show? Nathan Heckel of MSTies Anonymous said it's encouraging to see the original show's alumni collaborating.

"I'm sure I'm not the only one who'd like to see the original show revitalized," Heckel said. "Even a one-off performance would be greatly welcomed."